Explorer Thread!

[BimmerM3]

Although if you want to do some serious offroading, logic would dictate losing the manual transmission...

I'm leaning towards that more and more. I won't be doing serious offroading all the time, but being out in the Rockies, it would be nice to have the ability to do so. Even if the trails within driving distance of the Denver area are pretty good (no idea if they are or not), I can definitely see myself doing longer, excursion-type trips where the extra utility would come in handy.

It's looking like the 4Runner might be the right choice. 2nd gen XTerra automatics apparently had some transmission issues.

[BimmerM3]

He didn't say he wanted to do any "serious" off roading

I'm reconsidering that stance. Around Atlanta, serious offroading is generally limited to rednecks with giant, lifted trucks who do it just for the sake of doing it. Most of the stuff worth seeing is pretty easy to do in a day hike.

But the Rockies are much more expansive and demanding, so while I probably won't be doing serious offroading just for the hell of it, there might be places I want to go that would be more demanding. Plus having something better for towing wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

[hotrodalex]

It's looking like the 4Runner might be the right choice. 2nd gen XTerra automatics apparently had some transmission issues.

What about an Explorer/Tahoe/Durango or something? Might be able to get newer/less miles without the Toyota markup.

[BimmerM3]

What about an Explorer/Tahoe/Durango or something? Might be able to get newer/less miles without the Toyota markup.

I've always been pretty "meh" on American SUVs. I'm especially weary of Chrysler products after the problems my parents have had with their Jeeps. I'd rather pay a premium for a car that I trust more, especially at 100k+ miles. Feel free to convince me otherwise, but that's why I haven't really been looking at them.

[r0tor]

I'm leaning towards that more and more. I won't be doing serious offroading all the time, but being out in the Rockies, it would be nice to have the ability to do so. Even if the trails within driving distance of the Denver area are pretty good (no idea if they are or not), I can definitely see myself doing longer, excursion-type trips where the extra utility would come in handy.

It's looking like the 4Runner might be the right choice. 2nd gen XTerra automatics apparently had some transmission issues.

Yea, been there and drew the same conclusion on an SUV transmission.  I wanted a manual and realized my search was drifting towards towing/off road ability and realize a manual would be more of a liability then asset.

[Cookie Monster]

I feel like even with opening up to automatics you're not going to get any more choices.

I need to take my 4Runner offroading to see what this "manual sux offroad" thing is all about.

[BimmerM3]

I feel like even with opening up to automatics you're not going to get any more choices.

I feel like you haven't spent much time looking at this market segment in this price range.

There are several additional models that can be found in auto, not to mention that there are many more examples of each model to choose from.

[Cookie Monster]

I feel like you haven't spent much time looking at this market segment in this price range.

There are several additional models that can be found in auto, not to mention that there are many more examples of each model to choose from.

No, I mean you'll get a lot more options since automatics are more common, but you've ruled out american and German SUVs already, so what else is there really? Maybe a pathfinder?

[BimmerM3]

No, I mean you'll get a lot more options since automatics are more common, but you've ruled out american and German SUVs already, so what else is there really? Maybe a pathfinder?

A not old 4Runner.

[SVT32V]

I've always been pretty "meh" on American SUVs. I'm especially weary of Chrysler products after the problems my parents have had with their Jeeps. I'd rather pay a premium for a car that I trust more, especially at 100k+ miles. Feel free to convince me otherwise, but that's why I haven't really been looking at them.

I would rather have a newer lower milage GC  than an overpriced high mileage 4runner, even if it needed trans work it would still be cheaper in the long run. At most $1K for the trans work. That plus 4runners have their own problems, probably end up with a timing belt replacement in the V6 that is going to feel gutless in the altitude anyway.

[ifcar]

Now that you're looking at automatics, another car you might want to consider is the first-generation Kia Sorento, from before they turned it into a crossover. They don't have the best reliability record compared to other cars of the same age, but you can get one much newer and with much lower mileage than an alternative in your price range.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30363&endYear=2010&modelCode1=SORENTO&driveCode=AWD4WD&showcaseOwnerId=100029468&startYear=2008&makeCode1=KIA&driveCodes=AWD4WD&maxMileage=100000&searchRadius=200&maxPrice=13000&mmt=%5BKIA%5BSORENTO%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=384951710&Log=0

[68_427]

Kia Borrego V8

[BimmerM3]

I would rather have a newer lower milage GC  than an overpriced high mileage 4runner, even if it needed trans work it would still be cheaper in the long run. At most $1K for the trans work. That plus 4runners have their own problems, probably end up with a timing belt replacement in the V6 that is going to feel gutless in the altitude anyway.

Where do you take your car where an AT rebuild only costs a grand?

Not to mention, the issues my parents had were recurring. Again, they were older generations, but they make me paranoid.

There are a whole lot of them available with way lower miles than 4Runners though. I'll put some thought into them.

Now that you're looking at automatics, another car you might want to consider is the first-generation Kia Sorento, from before they turned it into a crossover. They don't have the best reliability record compared to other cars of the same age, but you can get one much newer and with much lower mileage than an alternative in your price range.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30363&endYear=2010&modelCode1=SORENTO&driveCode=AWD4WD&showcaseOwnerId=100029468&startYear=2008&makeCode1=KIA&driveCodes=AWD4WD&maxMileage=100000&searchRadius=200&maxPrice=13000&mmt=%5BKIA%5BSORENTO%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=384951710&Log=0

Interesting thought, though they look really small. And, not gonna lie, the idea of owning a Kia isn't the most appealing thing in the world, lol. They are low mileage and surprisingly powerful *checks Edmunds*, but holy hell, that small and 4400 lbs? WTF? That seems like a lot. 

And yes, I actually did stop typing that sentence and to go check Edmunds. The rest of the sentence was my actual reaction.

[BimmerM3]

In all seriousness, should I take a closer look at the other Americans? I don't really know enough about them to totally discount them. I don't want anything too huge, and the new Explorers seem pretty huge.

This is turning into a much more complicated problem than I thought it'd be. I was hoping I'd post this, everyone would say, "Yeah Forester!" and I'd be done with it.

[2o6]

the forester is a goddamn station wagon

[Eye of the Tiger]

Samurai

[BimmerM3]

No one's mentioned Escapes/Tributes/Mariners yet either. Can they hold their own offroad?

[2o6]

No one's mentioned Escapes/Tributes/Mariners yet either. Can they hold their own offroad?

no

[BimmerM3]

the forester is a goddamn station wagon

no

Well aren't you cheerful this evening?

[2o6]

I have a fuckload of homework and I'm using carspin as a distraction



The Tribute is just as "bad" as the CRV and RAV4 off road.





Suprisingly, the Compass and Patriot are actually pretty good off road. (Especially the Patriot)

[ifcar]

Interesting thought, though they look really small. And, not gonna lie, the idea of owning a Kia isn't the most appealing thing in the world, lol. They are low mileage and surprisingly powerful *checks Edmunds*, but holy hell, that small and 4400 lbs? WTF? That seems like a lot. 

And yes, I actually did stop typing that sentence and to go check Edmunds. The rest of the sentence was my actual reaction.

They're not especially small -- they slotted above the Sportage, maybe a half-size bigger than a Forester (though probably about the same on the inside). It's definitely from the era before Kia mastered weight management, though, no question. Car and Driver had a whole "where's the beef?" infographic for the first-generation Sedona van, which came out at the same time and was similarly porky.

[2o6]

In order to make the cars ace US safety crash tests, early Kias IIRC are made of different steel, and super reinforced.


IIRC, the Gen 1 Sedona was somewhere like 2000 lbs heavier in the US compared to the European/Korean version.

[hotrodalex]

I hope you meant 200 lbs, not 2000.

[2o6]

I hope you meant 200 lbs, not 2000.

Quick search shows it's like 1000 lbs.

[Rupert]

I'm leaning towards that more and more. I won't be doing serious offroading all the time, but being out in the Rockies, it would be nice to have the ability to do so. Even if the trails within driving distance of the Denver area are pretty good (no idea if they are or not), I can definitely see myself doing longer, excursion-type trips where the extra utility would come in handy.

It's looking like the 4Runner might be the right choice. 2nd gen XTerra automatics apparently had some transmission issues.

4Runner is a great choice, but go look at the 2001?3? to ? Explorer. Good size, great ride, pretty good quality all around, pretty bomber everything. Has an IRS but real 4WD (high and low range, center diff locks). My folks have a 2007? and I love it. Much higher quality stuff than mine.

[Rupert]

I feel like even with opening up to automatics you're not going to get any more choices.

I need to take my 4Runner offroading to see what this "manual sux offroad" thing is all about.

It's not that manual sucks and makes it impossible to do any off road driving (low range is especially good to have), it's that an automatic makes it easier.

[Rupert]

No one's mentioned Escapes/Tributes/Mariners yet either. Can they hold their own offroad?

No, they certainly cannot.

[Cookie Monster]

It's not that manual sucks and makes it impossible to do any off road driving (low range is especially good to have), it's that an automatic makes it easier.

I really want to try using the starter to get over stuff.

[hotrodalex]

I would have to be stuck for 3 hours before I convinced myself to use the starter.

[BimmerM3]

4Runner is a great choice, but go look at the 2001?3? to ? Explorer. Good size, great ride, pretty good quality all around, pretty bomber everything. Has an IRS but real 4WD (high and low range, center diff locks). My folks have a 2007? and I love it. Much higher quality stuff than mine.

There's a 2002-2005 and a 2006-2010. The 2006s and up look huge but the 02-05s might not be so bad. Definitely cheaper than 4Runners, though equally difficult to find one with low miles.