SUV rant!

I've started looking for a new car, and it's going to be a 4x4.

However, I'm an offroader at heart, and if there's one thing I must have, it's 2 rigid axles, front and rear. No independent suspension crap for me!

How many current SUVs can you find with 2 axles? Jeep Wrangler, up to 2k4 Grand Cherokee, Benz G-Wagen, 4.6 Range Rover, Ford Excursion, hummer H1 ... and that's about it!

And that's about it. I'm just upset I have so few trucks to chose from and I'll actually have to compromise (wanted a manual!) no matter how I look at it.

There, rant over.

 

Wrangler/Unlimited has a manual, doesn't it?

Not the last word in luxury, but a real rock basher.

 

Yup, last man standing! I would get it in a heartbeat if I could spring 30k (cdn) on a brand spankin' new car that will depreciate like a stone within a year or 2. If I'm honest, the truck I'm considering right now (either Grand Cherokee or RR -yes, I know, reliability headache-) will just allow me to wait until I can afford an 07 Wrangler Rubicon.

 

Doesn't Jeep have a certified used program? Might find a deal there maybe an '04 or something. Does it have to be brand new? Remember the Millionaire Next Door principle!

 

From all the cars you quote, I'll recommend the Jeep Grand Cherokee manual: that's the car I have!!

No problem with it in the last 2 years since purchase. Good off-roader and comfortable on the road too. Tough and good value for money.My Jeep dealer is very good too.

I eliminated the RR as too costly, the G-Wagen because only obtainable in auto here (and very rare), the Hummer because the nearest dealer is 200 miles away. I would have gone for a Wrangler to be honest, but 'her indoors' didn't like it. I don't regret my choice.

 

Buy a 97 or older land cruser.
Rock solid, Strait axle's, even lockers front and rear.
I have the lexus version, 97 lx 450.
Im not a hard core 4 x 4 guy, but this rig can be build up easily.

http://www.ih8mud.com

 

I have an '03 JGC that I've never had a problem with until last week. I got code P0456............ I replaced the gas cap and all is good.

I'm looking for a '72--'75 Ford Bronco.... I miss my old one

 

Why in the world Would anyone prefer 2 solid axles over fully independent system...It is surely Masochistic to go off road with such heavy non conforming eqiptment. MY OPINION ONLY!!

And dont tell me IRS is for sissies

 

Agreed!

I second www.ih8mud.com

I wheel my trucks pretty hard, way harder than the average consumer. If you can live with the size, I recommend Land Cruiser. I've owned and wheeled 80-series trucks and now own and wheel 100-series. The UZJ100 has been superior offroad for me and to boot, it's even comfortable on the highway getting to the trail.

Don't discount a 100-series till you've PUSHED it wheeling, I mean REALLY pushed it.

 

H1 has independent suspension at both ends.
Have you considered a Land Rover Defender?

 

IRS is for sissies.

Reason is, I just hate how IRS (or IFS) vehicles behave offroad, always a wheel in the air when you want it the least. Straight axles give so much more flex it's just unfair. And they are tougher.
I guess it's just the old school guy in me wanting "the good old stuff".



I do love the Series 80 Toyota Land Cruiser (or anything Toyota for that matter). I just wish I could find one with less than 500k miles! The 100 series is one of the very few IFS trucks I seriously consider, although it's quite pricey. No doubt it's among the very best.

William, you guys are lucky to get the manual. Over here, it's V8 and auto (actually, it's also available with the 4.0 inline 6). However, having driven one extensively, I could live with the Grand Cherokee's auto tranny. It's pretty modern. RR are feared around here, a used 4.0SE starts around 12-14k $us.

ryalex - it can't be brand new! It must be used, as I just can't afford the depreciation hit of a new car! CPO? Maybe they do have it, but I'm not worried about that. If it was a Ford, yeah, I'd want it, but not the Jeep. Seems like a very solid car.

mls, defender is 40-50 grand. A shame, as I'd have loved a 90 or 110. . I may almost get one from Europe (only 15 years old to be allowed in Canada). There again, if I go through that hassle, I may just get a Toyota KZJ73, or a Nissan Patrol GR ... those are my kind of trucks!

edit - Tyler, thanks for that link!!! It's awesome to see people using their Land Cruisers like they were meant to!!!

 

Well, while I agree that independent suspension is ideal for road vehicles, following off-road competition here in UK, I can see that solid axle is more practical off-road.

Independent suspension has been adopted by lots of SUV, which are not basically used off-road, but as family car, for Mums to take the kids to school, etc... IS gives better comfort, better handling, a road comportment not too different from a sedan.

But off-road, it's a different matter. In extreme conditions, IS shows its fragility and vulnerability. Solid axles are a lot tougher. IS vehicles have half shafts ball-joints, gaiters to contain grease, articulations in the suspension, which are very vulnerable to rocks, water ingress, etc...
I've seen many IS vehicles getting stuck with bend half shafts on rocks, wrecked suspension, ruined ball joints, torn gaiters, etc...
A solid axle survive better these extreme treatments; basically, unless you break the axle tube, you are safe.

Of course it's not too important for 90% of SUVs that never go off-road, but serious off-roaders tend to go for solid axles.

 

Strait axles are better for rock climbing. Independent are better for other things, like dessert racing.
It just depends on what your using it for.

One is not better than the other.

Oh ya Land cruiser are AWSOME, 80's and 100's.

 

Agreed!

Here's my 2000 on my daily commute.
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The Wrangler Unlimited (4 doors) is a great truck. You can get the manual shift as well. I got one recently and love it.