Rupert Got An XTerra!

[Soup DeVille]

I remember Mike Tyson driving one of those in white back in the day! Damn that thing was loud!!!

Hunter S. Thompson so drove one; called it a "big weird jeep."

[Eye of the Tiger]

I just built a new Chevrolet Trax. You know, the new almost subcompact CUV thing. (Thank goodness the Captiva is dead! Who bought those useless things, anyway?) Anyway, a well equipped AWD Trax is a steal at $32,040. One thing Chevrolet claims is "...head-turning good looks...", and the Trax has 15 interior storage compartments, while the Renegade only has 12. Trax wins by a mile.

[Madman]

Thank goodness the Captiva is dead! Who bought those useless things, anyway?

Rental fleets bought them.  The Captiva wasn't offered for sale to the general public.  See also Chevrolet Malibu Classic and mid-naughties Ford Taurus.

[BimmerM3]

Didn't I just advise you buy an Explorer?

Yup! And I did for all the reasons stated... Haha. 4Runner is too expensive and I got scared of Xterras with auto, and they're hard to find with manuals. Unfortunately there just aren't very many options for what you're looking for.

[Rupert]

How many miles did it have when you got it? $13k? I'm going to figure out how much I can/should/want to spend and I want to make sure I give myself realistic expectations, etc.

[Rupert]

Alright, $14-15k max, I would love to be under $12k. I think that might be doable.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I recommend a Mighty Max. Just budget $6.80 for a new head gasket.

[BimmerM3]

Alright, $14-15k max, I would love to be under $12k. I think that might be doable.

That's definitely doable, especially since you're not particularly in a hurry. Mine is a V8 Limited (basically all the fancy bits except the third row and rear seat DVD player) that had 88k miles and I got it for about $12.7 after all taxes and fees (which was like ~$11.2 before taxes and fees). And it's a really nice car - all my friends have been surprised when I tell them that it's 9 years old and has 90k miles. If you're okay with a V6 (it was a tad slow for me), you can probably find something closer to $10k, if the market in your area is similar to where I was looking anyway.

[Madman]

https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/5179073923.html


Miles are high but you're not going to find low miles for anywhere near $6K.  Looks pretty decent, has 4WD, plenty of room and it can tow.

[Rupert]

https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/5179073923.html


Miles are high but you're not going to find low miles for anywhere near $6K.  Looks pretty decent, has 4WD, plenty of room and it can tow.

If I wanted a high miles rig I would keep the one I have...

[Rupert]

That's definitely doable, especially since you're not particularly in a hurry. Mine is a V8 Limited (basically all the fancy bits except the third row and rear seat DVD player) that had 88k miles and I got it for about $12.7 after all taxes and fees (which was like ~$11.2 before taxes and fees). And it's a really nice car - all my friends have been surprised when I tell them that it's 9 years old and has 90k miles. If you're okay with a V6 (it was a tad slow for me), you can probably find something closer to $10k, if the market in your area is similar to where I was looking anyway.

I think things are a little more expensive here. I want the V6-- don't need power, do need best possible MPGs. My folks' is about the same as yours, which is why I know it's so nice.

[MX793]

IIRC, fuel efficiency on the 4.0 Cologne isn't appreciably better than the mod V8.  I know with Mustangs it was only 1-2 mpg despite a 100 hp difference in power.

[giant_mtb]

4.0 is a gas hog.  It works hard.

[BimmerM3]

IIRC, fuel efficiency on the 4.0 Cologne isn't appreciably better than the mod V8.  I know with Mustangs it was only 1-2 mpg despite a 100 hp difference in power.

Yeah, I think the V6 is rated for 14/20 and the V8 is 13/19. But when I was shopping, the V6s seemed to be a grand or two cheaper, so it still might be worth it from that perspective if he doesn't really care for the extra power.

[MX793]

Yeah, I think the V6 is rated for 14/20 and the V8 is 13/19. But when I was shopping, the V6s seemed to be a grand or two cheaper, so it still might be worth it from that perspective if he doesn't really care for the extra power.

My point was more that the V8 shouldn't be completely ruled out on fuel economy grounds.

[Madman]

If I wanted a high miles rig I would keep the one I have...

You'll need to up your budget if you want something with low miles that isn't old enough to qualify for Antique/Historic plates.

Trust me, $6,000 doesn't buy much these days, especially in the truck/SUV world.

[Cookie Monster]

You'll need to up your budget if you want something with low miles that isn't old enough to qualify for Antique/Historic plates.

Trust me, $6,000 doesn't buy much these days, especially in the truck/SUV world.

Alright, $14-15k max, I would love to be under $12k. I think that might be doable.

[Rupert]

Seriously Madman, I'm waaay aheadd of you.

[Rupert]

IIRC, fuel efficiency on the 4.0 Cologne isn't appreciably better than the mod V8.  I know with Mustangs it was only 1-2 mpg despite a 100 hp difference in power.

Eh, I'll take what I can get...

[Eye of the Tiger]

Eh, I'll take what I can get...

Why would you choose to can get an Explorer?

[BimmerM3]

My point was more that the V8 shouldn't be completely ruled out on fuel economy grounds.

I got it! Just pointing out that there is a financial advantage to the V6 other than fuel economy.

[BimmerM3]

It's a little far and a little more than you want to spend, but only 53k miles!

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=408425776

[Rupert]

And white... If I'm going to take out a loan (goddammit), I'm getting a color I like, which is all of them except for white.

[Rupert]

I got it! Just pointing out that there is a financial advantage to the V6 other than fuel economy.

If the right V8 showed up for a V6 price, I'd be open to it. I've never had a V8, but it seems like a lot of engine for an SUV this size. Honestly, if there were a four cylinder that got 24 mpg on the highway and could cruise at 85, I'd be into it.

[Rupert]

If there were a diesel that got 30 mpg, I'd pay extra for it!

[Rupert]

Why would you choose to can get an Explorer?

Appears to be the only thing that meets criteria, plus I can know it's a pretty good rig.

[BimmerM3]

I've never had a V8, but it seems like a lot of engine for an SUV this size.

I don't know what the 0-60 time is, but it can haul ass when I make it. The issue was more that I thought the V6 really struggled when accelerating down an on ramp or changing lanes into faster traffic. I would have been okay with a V6 4Runner (not nearly as fast as the V8 Explorer, but got the job done when it needed to) and the Xterra's V6 was actually pretty fun with the manual transmission (didn't drive any autos), but I drove a few different V6 Explorers and just knew that I'd be constantly disappointed by it if I bought one.

The transmission might be part of the issue too - the V8 has a 6-speed but the V6 has a 5.

To each his own though - if you don't mind a big ol' slow SUV, rock the fuck out.

[BimmerM3]

If there were a diesel that got 30 mpg, I'd pay extra for it!

Now with that big of an economy advantage, I'd probably do it too.

[Madman]

Seriously Madman, I'm waaay aheadd of you.

Oops, I missed where you increased the budget to the $14K-to-$15K range.  That's a lot more realistic.

[Rupert]

I was never expecting to actually pay $6k for anything.