"RPM esq." (rpm3)
04/02/2014 at 15:22 • Filed to: None
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"RPM esq." (rpm3)
04/02/2014 at 15:22 • Filed to: None | 0
| 7 |
I posted some months ago about beginning the hunt for a winter car, soliciting my fellow Opponauts' opinions. Some unexpected and urgent home improvements delayed the search by depleting my budget for awhile, but that seems to be firmly in the past. It didn't stop me from spending a lot of time on Craigslist, though. So below are some options I've narrowed it down to, with pictures of what the ideal (realistic) example for me would look like. My criteria is as follows: needs to transport a kid and a dog to dog park, soccer, etc.; needs to be good in inclement weather, including snow; needs to be capable enough for rough roads (not offroad, just gravel/ruts) to get to hiking trailheads; needs to be able to transport bikes and skis (roof rack, presumably). My budget is about $3k; I might be able to stretch a little for the right car. The main problem is that the cars that are probably the best options for my needs—or at least the most different from my daily driver (E46 M3), and therefore the most added value—just don't really excite me. Small/medium-sized SUVs like the Cherokee, 4Runner, and Pathfinder are great, but SO BORING. I'm also terrified that if I ever own a Subaru I might wake up one morning wearing sandals with socks and sporting a COEXIST bumper sticker. HELP ME OPPO YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE.
1. the venerable Jeep Cherokee (XJ):
2. Toyota 4Runner (2nd or 3rd gen)
3. 1st-gen Nissan Pathfinder
4. Land Rover Discovery Series I
5. Several European wagons, all of which trouble me for various reasons—E34 tourings are relatively rare and don't have AWD, and if I got one it would have to be a manual, which is doubly rare; Audi A4/A6 Avants aren't available in manuals and the autos have transmission problems; Volvo V70s/XC70s have even worse transmission problems. And Top Gear's Africa special ruined my 850/V70R dream (for good reason) by demonstrating how bad the low/stiff suspension and low-pro tires are on rough roads.
6. What I'm most tempted to buy right now, because I found a good one on Craigslist, is a rare E34 540 manual. This does nothing my M3 doesn't already do, wouldn't be much good as a trailhead/winter car, and I'd be just as worried about the dog on the back seat as I would be in my M3. But I love E34s and have always wanted a 540. Please tell me this is not a good idea, because otherwise I'm going to go buy this tonight. Save me from myself Oppo!
So what do I do, Oppo? And if/when I give up and buy a Subaru, which one should I get?
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> RPM esq.
04/02/2014 at 15:45 |
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could look for something like this:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/439223…
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/435647…
or maybe you're thinking too small lol
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/439893…
(out of your choices though, I pick the JEEP. great motor tons of accessories/aftermarket! goes anywhere in anything)
Textured Soy Protein
> RPM esq.
04/02/2014 at 15:47 |
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I have a 135is and a '99 Grand Cherokee Limited V8. Yes the GC is boring but it's actually kinda a nice contrast with the 135is. Now that the weather's nicer, I'll still take the GC out if I want some extra room to spread out, just relax, bounce off the shitty potholes that aren't quite fixed around here yet, etc.
Really the Cherokee & Grand Cherokee are the way to go imho. I was trying to buy something quickly before the snow started falling, and the best Grand I could find was a V8, but with more time to search I might steer toward the I6 for some better mileage.
I didn't like the older 4Runner & Pathfinder over the Grand Cherokee. The 4Runner is surprisingly cramped inside, and the Pathfinder didn't get full-time 4WD until '05 and those are still too expensive.
Discovery - OH LAAAAAWWWWWWDY stay the hell away. I test drove an '04 (the only year of the Disco II that had a center diff lock) and hated it. You sit wayyyy up high, have a great view out, but it's super cramped in there, and the build quality is terrible. It squeaks and shudders all over the place. Rear visibility is awful because of awkwardly-placed and too small side mirrors, plus the spare tire on the tailgate.
Really the dark horse if anything is the '01-'05 Audi Allroad, it's got the 2.7T and a trick air suspension. There was a good one locally when I was looking, but it was a few grand more than my GC ended up costing and I got scared off by potential repairs.
NaturallyAspirated
> Textured Soy Protein
04/02/2014 at 16:14 |
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I have to agree, Cherokee or GC with the I6 make damn good winter cars. The GC is more luxurious, and the XJ Cherokee would likely be more rugged.
TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW!
> Textured Soy Protein
04/02/2014 at 18:57 |
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I also have to concur with the Jeep GC. I have a 98 (last year of the ZJ), and after about $250 in parts mine is solid and has run for a over a year with nothing but oil and filters. And gas. So much F*ing gas. Coming from an M3, it will not be a shock, but even the 4.0L I6 has a bad gas habit.
As others have commented, it is a go anywhere, do anything kinda ride. And it's comfortable and holds all your crap with ease.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> RPM esq.
04/09/2014 at 19:06 |
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I would go with an Isuzu Trooper/Gen 1 Mitsubishi Montero:
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RPM esq.
> Textured Soy Protein
04/11/2014 at 14:32 |
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Thanks for the thoughtful post... I like the Allroad but I'm terrified of the costs of repair and maintenance. The problem I'm having now is that most of the XJs here have been completely ruined by rednecks, which is making the city-owned Subaru Outbacks look pretty attractive.
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Textured Soy Protein
> RPM esq.
04/11/2014 at 16:00 |
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There's usually a good supply of decent condition WJs out there, although some of them are rusty. Basically my main criteria when looking for my WJ were no rust, good tires, good brakes.
Outback will be better mileage of course.