Looking for a new ride...

[Dropy]

... well a second vehicle really. The diesel only gets 13-14 mpg, so we looking for something a bit more economical. Here is a list of our criteria....

1. NON GMC/CHEVY! this is nonnegotiable.
2. 4x4 is a MUST!
3. better than 20 mpg highway. more is better.
4. Pric around or below 5,000$.
5. extend cab/4 door plz. need to be able to put 4 adults inside the cab area.
6. truck or suv is fine here.

Wish the old dodge d50 made an extend cab.. =/

I am looking at Nissan xterras, and jeep liberty as possibles. also ford ranger or dodge Dakotas. There are other possibilities depending on price an bang for the buck.

Thoughts?

[bacpacker]

Toyota Fore Runner comes to mind, same with a 4 door toy truck. A smaller model is the Rav 4.

[Dropy]

yeah been thinking along those lines also. Want something reliable as well. usually yotas are had to kill.

[bacpacker]

The only one I have killed (wife actually) was a 85 Corona. The tranny died at 350,000+.

[helomech]

I don't believe any of the nissans or toyotas will get above 20mpg. Maybe if you baby them, but getting a 4X4 above 20mpg is not very likely.

[bacpacker]

You sure won't in a newer model. But for the $5000 limit the OP mentioned would put you in an older model. The older Toyotas had 22R 4 bangers and most of them would do 20+ in stock trim. Driving style will play into that as well.

[Sniper-T]

been running toy trucks for over 25 years... not known for mileage... REKNOWNED for longevity! I run my rides hard! and rarely, if ever have any issues other than consumables...

This week, I replaced tires, and will pick up parts tomorrow to do rear universal, hanger bearing, and lower ball joints...

I have 305000 km on the truck, and am still running EVERYTHING else original, including brakes and battery!

Out of my last five toys, I have over 2,000,000 km and counting (and one I wrote off at 300,000 and one I popped the engine at 300,000 due to a faulty oil pump)

I cannot extol the virtues of a toy truck enough... but mileage does not apply

kinda crowded for 4... but I have done 6 adults inside at times. (best if at least 3 are cute and cuddly!)
:cool:

[ElevenBravo]

Jetta TDI for economy, end of story.

No 4X4 meets your criteria, end of story.

Drop your MPG expectations and a slew of options become available.

EB

[mitunnelrat]

I love my Ranger, but I can tell you from my search and experience it gets no better mileage than a full size truck, jump seats are tight for adults, and (at least in this area) 5g is almost scraping the bottom of the barrel in condition. I had to wade through a lot of shit to find a good one and went over budget to do it.

[Stormfeather]

Do some searching on craigslist, I have also found that there are quite a few buy/sell/trade/barter forums popping up on facebook, although I belong to quite a few, as others have said, you have to wade thru some shit sometimes to get to the good stuff.

[helomech]

We are in the process of looking for a new to us vehicle. We found some isuzu rodeo's for good prices. Under 3g for some decent ones. Now mileage will probably not break 20mpg.

[Dropy]

Yeah I can be lenient on MPG here. Relaibility and other factors are more important. Could even maybe consider a little better on price also.

Dodge d50 would be nice if it was extend cab. But they aren't =/. I may look at a full size half ton also. Gotta see.... I am also seing Isuzu rodeos for under 5k. But don't know much about them.

[bacpacker]

Never owned one, but they have been around forever on the foreign markets. Ba k in the day they made the motors for the old Chevy Lov Trucks.

[helomech]

The 2000 rodeo has a honda 3.2 engine with a chevrolet 4l60 transmission.

We just picked up a toyota rav4 for the wife. I think we got a great deal on it.

[ElevenBravo]

I had an Isuzu Rodeo for a while, same as the Honda Passport...

Anywho, I totally loved it. It sat too low for a deep snow, but otherwise it was a quite a pleasure to drive and was reliable for the duration I had it.

Ive parked the WarWagon because it needs too much ($$) to keep it on the road, I just bought a '97 Jeep Grand.. Also have a 2" lift to put on it (budget boost kit). It rides damn nice and comfy.. Not quite the off road warrior the Blazer is, but its a nice Jeep and should be pretty reliable.

My ZJ gets 14.5 MPG with a mix of city and highway every day. Not superb, but typical of just about any 4X4 in that size.

EB

[Sniper-T]

EB, details on the lift please... my toy is allergic to ground...

[Vodin]

If you can get your hands on a Toy 4 Runner there will be no disappointment. We have a 2006 Toyota Four Runner Limited V8 with 140K reg maint and tires. I drive city and highway constantly and average 16MPG. And the new ones have 18/22 City/Highway sadly they are a little more than 5K for new. Had to correct the MPG put 20 gallons in and get 320 miles with bout 1/2 gallon left.
http://www.toyota.com/4Runner/

[Dropy]

So I am strongly considering a 90-99 Toyota 4 runner. they match MOST of the ill for me. I can get them 2500-5005 and still be in good shape. Only issue will be MPG but they are still better than the big diesel I have. And if I only spend 2-3k on one it leaves me some fix er up monies. for roof rack and such.

[ElevenBravo]

Sniper, pick your poison.. 2" or 3"...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=grand%20cherokee%202%22%20budget%20boo st&clk_rvr_id=752106058758&mfe=search


This is NOT a complete lift... but WILL give you some lift. Off road will be a little better.

For a PROPER lift, you will want to have longer radius arms, proper shocks, sway bar drop brackets, sway bar disconnect AND longer break lines.

Ive run a 2" budget boost on my older square body Cherokee before, it road damn near factory, looked a LOT better and did a little better off road.

I am looking to do a 3.5" proper lift in the future... all new springs, etc.. however that is at leat $1,000 to do it RIGHT.

I personally wouldnt go over 2" with a budget boost, but YMMV.

Dont forget, no matter what route you take, get a front end alignment when done.

EB