SUV Recommends
- This topic has 44 replies, 30 voices, and was last updated Aug 9, 2014 at 8:46 am by
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I have 3 Jeeps in the driveway. ’06 commander is my fishing truck. Only issue I’ve had was my off roading dented the catalytic converter and cost me to replace it. No major issues with hauling etc. but they no longer make it. I am due to change the front struts this year, but more from my abusing it than normal wear and tear.
We have a 2013 Grand Cherokee limited for the wife. The design was done by Mercedes engineering when Diammler(sp.?)
owned them and is rock solid.
Daughter has a liberty ’07
I have owned 4 jeeps over time and never any issues.Zach,
This ones easy. Go with the 4 runner. I have a 99 tacoma that I bought used in 2001. I’ve never had to do much of anything to it. It’s rock solid and dependable. I’ll only buy another tacoma, tundra, or 4 runner.Good luck with a new purchase.
I have been considering a 4Runner also .. but will prob end-up with another Tacoma. Have gotten a solid 240k miles out of my. Did replace the transmission at 180 or so. I had Nissan truck, before my Tacoma, and was not impressed with it. I will def be buying another Toyota.
Speaking of new off-road vehicle features … Have you seen the video for the new (concept) Land Rover xray HUD? http://goo.gl/ymLCPi
As stated above, I would look at the Tacoma with the shell. Long wheelbase for towing, and super reliability.
Also, consider the new F-150 – aluminum body and with getting something like 19-23MPG. My dad is a Ford dealer, as you are aware….
Here is my .02 Zach.. After selling many different brands over the last 10 years youll find that most of the new stuff is very nice.. Its more about what you like and fits what your going to use it for.. The 4runner has really gotten away from what it used to stand for… Rugged, off road capabilites ect.. Now its much more about people comfort. With all that said.. I would still choose the 4runner because you keep them for 4-6 yrs and put lots of miles on it, and its one of the few vehicles that tends to hold its value.. My other choice believe it or not would be a 4dr hardtop wrangler.. Only because of resale value.. However its a distant second Zach..
Take a long look at the 14 Subaru Forester and Outback. Best awd this side of a rover or Audi and great mpg to boot. Mechanically bullet prof and cheap. I got a forester to replace a z71 and it’s scary good off road and tows a mak just fine.
I just passed my 2000 4Runner on to the next generation and replaced it with a 2014 4Runner. The old one had 200K on it and has been in some pretty bad places with no problem. I’m a forester and drove it as a work vehicle. The 2014 has already been down a couple of bad roads with no problem and does fine pulling a 1000 pound boat.
Don’t look any further than the 4Runner. I have a ’98 with 220K on it and it runs like a top. Had a Cherokee and, aside form a ’94 Saab 900, worst car I ever owned–doesn’t matter you owns them.
OK, I’ll admit I’m a diehard Subaru fan. I am now on my 5th Outback and would not have anything else for the outdoors. It has a bullet proof engine and running gear, good ground clearance and lower roof line (for loading my kayaks). Due to the engineering and design, it also has an amazingly low center of gravity, which increases stability. It also gets good gas mileage. That being said, if you are pulling more than 2,000# you have to step up to the 3.6L engine. It also lacks the macho image so much in demand by “outdoorsmen”.
I am a little surprised by the love for the 4Runner. I rented one several years ago and found it to be very unstable offroad. As I recall, it was somewhat akin to riding a bucking bronco, but maybe they’ve fixed that now.
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I drive an outback as well. It‘s a great fly fishing vehicle. AWD, handles off road and the snow pretty well, nice long body with a lot of storage and room to take along fishing buddies, dogs and gear. I love being able to hit a few different spots and not have to break down my 9‘ rod. Plus my one piece 7‘ baitcasters fit no problem (cant say the same for my Ford Ranger). Rear seats fold down flat, so you can easily sleep in it if need be. The only downside is tow capacity. But I don‘t own a big boat, and getting 30+mpg HWY makes up for it. Hoping to finally get a kayak this year and the subi will be perfect for it.
The 2015s look good. I wish my 2013 had the same lines on the body.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox InstagramWith the Outback, what I want to do guys is get my fiancee Tracy into one of the new CrossTreks, which are basically the old-model Outback body. I really like those and she does too, and of course they have the all wheel drive.
The outback can hold an assembled 9 ft rod up the middle of the cabin with no problems. While I’ve not measured, it would appear that the CrossTreks have the same short rear as the Forresters, hence lack of storage. I can get a family of four and all the fishing gear in the Outback in comfort and only use about half the gas of my F150.
I looked at the Crosstrek when I bought my last Outback. It is essentially a beefed up Imprezza wagon. It is significantly smaller than the Outback. Still, it is a good choice if you want a smaller vehicle that is still good off road.
4 Runner — Sold my 2005 to my father and it is still running like a top 176,000 miles later. I use mid grade gasoline, Mobile 1 synthetic oil and stay on top of maintenance….it’s never been in the shop.
Well change my recommendation from a Subaru Forester to a Subaru Outback. I traded in my 14 Forester for the Outback as my dog had trouble getting into the back of the taller Forester. Outback is nicer in every regard and is only marginally more expensive.
The Subaru AWD is real tough to beat. Mine is better off road than my previous two 4x4s a 06 Z71 Chevy and a 09 Ram. Perhaps due to less weight but its definitely better on greasy two tracks and fire roads.
Scooooby Dooooo…………..
I’m on my second Outback…love it, so does the wife.
I still have a Defender which is the dogs favourite, probably because it means we’re going shooting, but not a vehicle for long distances etc.
I’ve had a couple of Range Rovers (classic) and loved those, but really can’t get on with the new shapes, nor their “Chav’y” appeal!
The Outback has gone places I couldn’t believe – a Landcruiser with BFG ATs on struggled to follow the OB with highspeed tyres on!
I also like the stealth of the OB…big flat six with Prodrive gearbox, light (1300kg) which leaves a Boxster behind………My current situation is an F150 with 2wd and a 4.6 v8 that I have owned for 11 years with zero problems that is my daily driver and tow truck. You could probably pick up one similar for $2,500.
For long trips, my wife and I have a 2011 Subaru Outback that we couldn’t be more happy with. Many beach trips with tons of gear, dogs, boats on the factory roof rack, and a few skiing trips. Can’t speak on the towing performance, manual says 2,700 lbs, but I would think that would be pushing it.
If you have the car paid off and it only has 130,000 miles on it you’ve got it made. Run it into the ground. Buying new cars is the best way to burn cash in America. That being said if I were to burn some cash I’d import a Hilux. Rode in one in Nicaragua that had 350,000 HARD miles on it and ran like a top. Basically a T100 with a 2.something diesel and skidplates… I priced it and it’d be around 35k after you got it to Atlanta. Then there’s the whole registration and emissions thing…
The toyotas are nice but as mentioned they’ve gone away from the bulletproof late 80s-early00s design to have a luxury model now available. The Wranglers are very nice but you are paying a hefty sum for a vehicle that excels at nothing at all(the 4doors have too long a wheelbase to be viable offroad stock). You cant even get a 5spd, manual lever 4wd tacoma anymore. Used trucks are almost the same price as new ones right now. Especially 4wd. If you are planning on towing a lot get something big. As far as new cars go you’d be better off just buying a truck and swallow the cost and gas. Subaru’s are very expensive for the mileage and maintenance costs, then factor in pulling a boat. Selectable 4wd is your friend. I am probably not a great person to ask though considering I drive a 95 trooper 4wd 5spd that gets 19 mpg with 205,000 miles on it
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