Opinions on Next Vehicle

[TheGrayMan214]

Hope this finds the Tribe well.

Tuesday night, my transmission went out in my 1995 Ford Ranger 2WD with 5 Speed/2.3L Inline 4. NOT happy about it... But... Now I'm in a great situation to get a new vehicle.

I don't have much money to play around with, as I have recently invested VERY heavily in getting my martial arts school to "go commercial" and acquire our own facility. Not there yet, but it's sapping my funds. This could NOT have come at a worse time.

However, God works in his own way, and has now given me the opportunity and necessity to acquire a new Off Road vehicle.

What vehicles are good to look into for around 3K?

Need reliability, capability to go off road and endure rough and ragged trails to get to my hunting/retreat land, and of course a plethora of useful accessories for me to spend money on...

[Ragsbo]

You should get a mini van for all the kids you'll be having!!!! (I know, I couldn't help it!)

[Grey Man]

Funny I was going to put up a thread about needing a vehicle for the XO and Ragsbo gets express permission to nail me for considering a mini van . . .

[clintofio]

Funny I was going to put up a thread about needing a vehicle for the XO and Ragsbo gets express permission to nail me for considering a mini van . . .

You'd be surprised how many AK's you can hide in the floor boards on a Stow-N-Go seating equipped Chrysler Town and Country.

[cco45acp]

I have a 15+ year old Jeep Grand Cherokee. When I first got it i thought it was going to be a sissified soccer mom 4X4. I was wrong. It has held up great (145+K miles) and is surprisingly good off road. I see a lot of them on the road still. Also have used Jeep Cherokees (not Grand, lates 1980s/early '90s) as a work vehicle. They were also great in rough conditions.

I'd bet you can get one for less than $3K

[nw-outlaw]

I would also look at older cherokees, 4.0 and a 5speed.

[Grey Man]

You'd be surprised how many AK's you can hide in the floor boards on a Stow-N-Go seating equipped Chrysler Town and Country.

Interdasting :ponder:

I would much rather get an SUV or something but -minivans seat lots of kids and are much cheaper . . . I'm 23 next month with a kid and a wife that wants many more . . .I've accepted the fact that I'm just not cool anymore :ouch:

[usmc1986]

I sold my 95 Grand Cherokee 4x4 for about $3100 a few years back. 175k miles and still going strong.

[John Chambers]

Look for an older 4Runner. Can't go wrong with a Toyota.

[olywa]

i am considering a Land rover discovery. problem is i need to find one with the great repair history.

[Shdwdncr]

Interdasting :ponder:

I would much rather get an SUV or something but -minivans seat lots of kids and are much cheaper . . . I'm 23 next month with a kid and a wife that wants many more . . .I've accepted the fact that I'm just not cool anymore :ouch:
A minivan will also help maintain the perception of the gray man.

And as it was said, not only is it more roomy than an SUV, but you can also hide more toys there.

Just yesterday the wife and I were discussing getting one.

S.

[ZMB HNTR]

We have been more than happy with our Odyssey, but I don't think you will find one for $3k - at least not a relatively new one.

[Grey Man]

I'm looking for something in the 5-7 range and its tough to find something in the 90-120K range thats in the early 2000 years.

[ERN]

Interdasting :ponder:

I would much rather get an SUV or something but -minivans seat lots of kids and are much cheaper . . . I'm 23 next month with a kid and a wife that wants many more . . .I've accepted the fact that I'm just not cool anymore :ouch:

Learn to love the minivan. They are the ultimate grey vehicle. They are not great off road, but that does not stop me from taking mine down many dirt roads.

The drive better than SUVs, hold more stuff better, better gas mileage, haul kids in car seats better. There are many advantages, but you have to check your ego at the door. Not great off road vehicles, however.

If you life turns out like mine, you will soon appreciate a Maxi-Van after about three kiddos. Just skip the suburban because a full size van kills it for hauling stuff. Again, you get the off road compromise.

[ERN]

Early 2000 Odyssey vans in the 100+k mileage range are superb, just budget for a transmission if it hasn't been replaced.

[rstegjr]

If they made a minimal that was also 4x4 and had some off-road capability I'd consider getting one.

[Ragsbo]

I think you can get a mini van in all wheel drive too!

I was just joking about it but it does have a lot going for it (yeah I have one!)

[ERN]

If they made a minimal that was also 4x4 and had some off-road capability I'd consider getting one.

I think that's a Subaru:)

Honestly, all the high wagon designs (every manufacturer has one now) are nice, but suffer from the same dismal interior space of a Jeep. The lack of sliding doors also sucks when dealing with kids in car seats.

[TheGrayMan214]

Wound up with a 92 camry wagon that my uncle has had and babied since he bought it new. Only had 112k on it. He rebuilt the motor/tranny at 75k because he does that with *all* of his vehicles.

Pics to follow if I get a decent camera around.

Not great offroad but it's very grey... Literally, and figuratively.

[Grey Man]

from a grey man to another grey man :finger:

[kabar]

Interdasting :ponder:

I would much rather get an SUV or something but -minivans seat lots of kids and are much cheaper . . . I'm 23 next month with a kid and a wife that wants many more . . .I've accepted the fact that I'm just not cool anymore :ouch:
This makes me smile because it doesn't seem all that long ago that you were the resident "kid" here on WT and we got to watch you grow up... and now you're resigning yourself to middle age. :biggrin: Most of us here would kill to be 23 again and married to a lovely young wife with our whole lives ahead of us. Compared to us you're wallowing in cool.

[Kelveren]

I'm shooting for a small truck/SUV for the 4wd. If they made more reputable AWD minivans (not just the little subarus like was mentioned above), it probably wouldn't be a contest, the space is easier to use, better mileage, usually more comfortable, cupholders and all, lol... Plus plenty of space for subwoofers... if that's your thing...:biggrin:

I drove a 94 (I think) Plymouth Voyager SE LWB with a V6 for a few years shortly after I graduated high school. I loved that thing. The thing had some guts, and handled pretty well, especially if you do a little weight reduction. You can shave a lot of weight with these things easily. Few other vehicles can fit 5 adults, 3 guitars, a drum set, mic and mic stands, sound system w/ monitors, etc. comfortably. With room to spare and still having a full field of vision, front and back.

Minivan is grey man, for sure... but with serious potential if you're type to not leave your vehicle alone... just google minivan drag race

[Claybob]

I have to second on the 4runner. They are reliable and through work horses. Not to big but not to small. Plus they can found with any combination of drive trains.

[thh420]

I used to live in Moore county myself. My brother and I would get cars and trucks super cheap from the dwi/DUI auction they have in lillington, up in harnett county, it's been years since I been to it or NC in general, but call the Harnett county sheriffs office, they have the info for that auction.