I need a hauler...

[MadMonkey]

My Integra sold today... the guy said he wanted it before he even saw it in person (!). He checked it out, liked it, gave me the money, and took off...

So, I'm a little richer and looking for a new vehicle; if all goes to plan I'll be buying in about 3 weeks (knowing the way my plans usually turn out, though, I'm not betting on it ).

I'm looking to spend about $4000ish, maybe a little more if I get a GREAT deal on something.

Here's what I need:

1. Cargo space

This will be primarily my RC plane hauling vehicle, serving double duty as a daily driver until my Miata sells (if it does). I'll be pulling out everything but the front two seats.

2. Automatic

I'm tired of shifting my DD. I'd rather relax a bit.

3. Reasonable gas mileage

Biggie because I'm guessing the gas prices will go up once again fairly soon.

4. Reliable

Obviously.

Right now I'm leaning heavily toward a Mazda MPV in the 2000-2001 models, which can be found all day on Craigslist for <$4000.

I'm also looking at Subaru Foresters, but I don't know a while lot about their reliability.

Any other vehicles I should be looking at?

Thanks for any suggestions

[HudsonHawk]

The foresters have a good reputation for reliability. But they tend to hold their value so may be hard to find one in your price range.

Why not look at a 2wd jeep cherokee. They can be found cheap and are reliable.

BTW: Don't be afraid of a Jeep 4.0L with 150K miles on it. Those engines are stout.

[Treibenschnell]

I feel the integra will soon be back in his life... why not just wait for that?

[MadMonkey]

The foresters have a good reputation for reliability. But they tend to hold their value so may be hard to find one in your price range.

Why not look at a 2wd jeep cherokee. They can be found cheap and are reliable.

BTW: Don't be afraid of a Jeep 4.0L with 150K miles on it. Those engines are stout.

People keep telling me that but I didn't know they were reliable...

I've been seeing 99 (or thereabouts) Foresters for around $4k or slightly over... that's why I was curious about them.

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too What year is good?

I feel the integra will soon be back in his life... why not just wait for that?

Nah, this time it was sold outside the family. I doubt I'll be seeing it again

[sammm]

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too What year is good?

FYI...MPG will suck.

[HudsonHawk]

I guess I'll look at a few Jeeps too What year is good?

94 and newer. They don't have the pertronics fuel injection systems which have proven to be problematic.

As far as MPG, I think you will be suprised. That is why I specifically said the 2wd not the 4wd version. They will get close to 20 MPG.

[Walsted]

My wife's '98 2WD Cherokee gets 14MPG city with her driving, and low 20s highway with me driving. We've only had to do preventative maintenance (oil changes, plugs, etc) since we've had it, and it has over 200K on the odometer.

Hope this helps.

[channelmaniac]

I've had 5 Jeeps over the years - 3 Cherokees and 2 Grand Cherokees.

If you change the transmission fluid every 50k they'll run and run and run. The only problem part on the 4.0L straight 6 is the Crank Position Sensor. I ran through one of those every 80k miles. They are cheap and not hard to install either.

RJ

[Sharpie]

Our 2000 MPV gets about 18 mpg around town and 21-22 on the hwy.

[trickyrix]

My mom had an '88 Cherokee 2WD with the 4.0L motor and an automatic. That sucker was stout and dead-nuts reliable. It was a basic strippo model with no power windows or door locks (problem areas on Jeeps, from what I've seen). If you can find one, it ought to be dirt-cheap and, IMHO, a good buy.

[Titus]

Our 2000 MPV gets about 18 mpg around town and 21-22 on the hwy.

And it was Mrs Titus's before it was Mrs Sharpie's. It was a great van and could hall a TON. I pulled the seats out and loaded it up with a bunch of crap on several occasions. I would highly recommend it for hauling, but you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

[black roadster]

...but you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

That Sucks Titus. I can only assume you had a different vehicle before your daughter was born. The MPV hasn't hindered our sex lives.

[MadMonkey]

you can kiss any chance of getting laid goodbye if you are going to use it as a DD.

Actually... I'm not so sure. One of my good friends and I borrowed my sister's Villager for the day when I visited up here. We had at least 2 cars full of girls flirting with us and acting stupid... and that's never happened in another vehicle

Either way I'm sure it's more attractive than a wrecked Integra

Of course, I'm still a virgin and he's dating a fat (and ugly) chick.

[MadMonkey]

How are Mitsubishi Monteros? I kinda like the look of them but I have no clue on reliability/mileage...

I found this one on CL. Good deal?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/974914362.html

[HudsonHawk]

Heck for that kind of money I would say go drive it. If you like it then buy it. I am curious why the engine was replaced at 117K miles though. But hey its a new engine.

[altiain]

Heck for that kind of money I would say go drive it. If you like it then buy it. I am curious why the engine was replaced at 117K miles though. But hey its a new engine.

I seriously doubt $1300 bought a new engine. More likely a junkyard replacement. FWIW, a friend of my wife's had a '98 Montero Sport and had nothing but trouble with it. YMMV, and that's my only experience with them.

If it were my money and I was looking for an SUV of that vintage, I wouldn't look at anything other than a Toyota 4Runner. There's a reason you still see them everywhere on the road - they're absolutely bulletproof. You are going to pay a little more for a Toyota up front, but over a couple of years I can almost guarantee you it will cost less to own. Autotrader.com shows over a dozen within 200 miles for less than $5500.

My father has 150k+ on his '97 4Runner to date, and it has been the most reliable vehicle our family has ever owned. In 11 years, the only non-maintenance items we've replaced are the factory head unit (stopped playing CDs) and the shocks.

BTW, my dad hauls his RC planes around in the back of his.

[altiain]

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

[POS Racing]

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

Actually my '06 V6 4Runner has averaged 21.35 MPG since we started logging it's mileage with about 400 miles on the odometer we are at 50,000 now .

I agree with Iain the 4Runner is a Tank!

[cam76034]

BTW, none of the mid-size SUVs from that time are going to be particularly fuel efficient. Expect 16-18mpg in mixed driving from something like a 4Runner or Montero Sport.

They're not that much better now. Looked at a new Forester sitting at the mall while Christmas shopping and was surprised at the EPA mileage estimates to be 20 city, 23 hwy IIRC.

However, it does have the BOXER engine which, according to the young lady from Teape Subaru, is based on aircraft engine design! When I asked what exactly that meant, she admitted this was her first day and that's all she had been programmed to say.

[MadMonkey]

If it were my money and I was looking for an SUV of that vintage, I wouldn't look at anything other than a Toyota 4Runner.

I like 4Runners.... have to look more closely at them. Honestly I'm not as worried about fuel efficiency with the hauler as I am with the DD, but better is obviously better

However, it does have the BOXER engine which, according to the young lady from Teape Subaru, is based on aircraft engine design! When I asked what exactly that meant, she admitted this was her first day and that's all she had been programmed to say.

Hah, anything to make a sale. Although I doubt it's as reliable as the horizontally-opposed Lycoming engine in our old Mooney M20C.