Texas SUV help...

Hey folks, I am in the market for an SUV, but am pretty particular about what my needs are. Didn't know if any of you could recomend a SUV and maybe even a place that would have it...I am from the sports car world and know nothing about SUV's.

What I am looking for is:
1. SUV (Not wagon) that can drive in a sloped snow driveway in our get away house in new mexico mountains and have room for two guests and our two medium size dogs in the rear. (750 miles away)
2. under 11k price tag
3. around 50k or so on the miles (I need reliable)
4. relatively inexpensive to fix
5. can use as a daily commuter if i need (30 miles a day)
6. 4 wheel drive or AWD to get into our driveway when it snows...

I looked at Land Rover's and thought, man, I can get a LAND ROVER for under 10k with less than 60k on the clock!!! That is awesome...except when you read all the reviews and they ALL say unreliable and expensive...so now I am apealing to you folks for help after that dissapointment

Anyway, I might be asking for the moon here, but surely there has to be something out there.

Thanks in advance folks!

Ryan

 

Stay away from Land Rovers, their air suspension system is notorious for being destroyed by unknowledgable service shops. Plus the electrical system on those things is the stuff of legends... Not the good ones either. haha

Now, to be completely honest, I'd go with a 4x4 Chevy Suburban/Tahoe or a Ford Expedition. I would not go for a Excursion unless you like having a fuel tanker follow you around. Well, the diesels get pretty good mileage, so I take that back. I think any of these would fit your needs pretty well and they're all common enough to have repair parts very available, nothing exotic or special order to speak of.

What part of NM is your cabin? My wife's family has a cabin in Cloudcroft, very nice place to visit.

Hope this helps,

Brian

 

look for an older 1998-2001 Jeep Cherokee with the straight 6, 4.0 liter. you can fix it at any Sears auto and they are great. My brother put 250k miles on his. it rusted out from Cleveland winters before the car had any mechanical issues.

 

I'd say a Tahoe. Big enough to do just about anything, common enough to be able find one easily, and American so it should be easy to find someone to work on it. It might be bigger than you want, but I'd rather have too big than too small. You could also use it to trailer the sports car if needed.

I had a 95 and it was a great truck. Traded it for a 2001 Yukon XL. It was great too.

 

Be sure to get a gas guzzler! Summer gas prices are coming

 

so far a Jeep Liberty seems to be the option I have found so far...unless I want a chevy tracker

 

Ford Escape?

 

Get a older Toyota 4 Runner or Land Cruiser, they are built better than most new trucks, easy to work on & get parts for.

 

so far I can get a 2005 4wd Jeep Liberty (with very good ratings) with 30k on the clock and in great cosmetic and mechancial shape...parts are cheap and the car is relatively easy to work on...I haven't seen much else in this ball park, which is actually a bit weird...

 

Since you are looking at a Liberty might as well consider a 2004 or higher Subaru Forester, maybe an XT. A slightly used one would be in your price range.

 

I am a fan of these and the Jeep Patriot.

 

Jeep's are okay, but they can have annoying little problems. Stick with a Toyota. Get a 96-02' 4Runner 4x4 V6. In the stock form they can get 21-23mpg and are bulletproof in there reliability.

 

"The real reason British drink warm beer is because they all have Lucas refrigerators."

 

If the Subaru Tribeca B9s dropped in price, it should be perfect for what you need. Bought one when they came out in 2006, absolutely perfect SUV. Symmetrical AWD, fantastic motor, no issues, definitely a keeper.

 

That's exactly what I was going to post. A 4.0 liter is "bulletproof".

 

Jeep Cherokee and the Jeep Liberty seem to be in the price range right now...surprisingly enough, they both seem VERY reliable based on all the reviews...I am still shocked at the overwhelming amount of negative reviews though of the Land Rovers

 

i had an 03 liberty. can't really comment on the reliablity, as i got rid of it b4 30k miles. have you considered a nissan pathfinder or qx4. i had one of those and put 100k on it, with no problems at all. very well built, and a good awd system in it. also, more comfortable than the jeep for longer drives.

-ben