I seem to have a knack for finding broken SUVs

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/29/2014 at 18:56 • Filed to: None

For the past few weeks, I've been looking for potential replacements for my '99 Grand Cherokee winter car. Seems like every time I find something I like, it turns out to have problems. At least I haven't been stuck with a lemon, but I'd like to actually, you know, buy something.

So far, my discoveries have included:

A 2001 Infiniti QX4 (a.k.a. Nissan Pathfinder LE with a different front fascia) that turned out to have !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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A 1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited with locking rear differential that I bought and traded in my Jeep for, but it turned out to have a bad transmission !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and gave me back my Jeep.

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A 2007 4Runner Sport that the same Toyota dealer was willing to give me a good price on for all the trouble with the '99 4Runner, but turns out its !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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Today, I looked at an '05 Grand Cherokee Limited with Hemi and Quadra-Drive (a.k.a. front and rear automatic locking differentials). The dealer didn't have any pictures on their website. It had a crunched front bumper, the carfax showed an accident on the driver's rear corner so I checked that wheel well and found a rusting out seam weld. There were shitty LED lights glued to the outside of the headlights, so I looked under the hood for aftermarket wiring, and I found random wires running from the positive battery terminal to a grommet in the firewall. Just bare wires, not even run with some split loom tubing. Fuck that noise.

Then I looked at an '05 Lexus GX470. It was more than I want to spend but it had no nav or 3rd row (both options that I prefer to avoid on the GX) so I figured I'd check it out and see if I could get the dealer to haggle a bunch. The power locks were acting wonky, there was a chip in the windshield, and the headlight lenses were foggy. The dealer was willing to write these fixes into the deal. But the air suspension was also acting wonky, although with some fiddling with the switch I was able to get it to raise and lower itself.

I tried to hammer out some numbers with the dealer anyway, but they were only willing to come off their price by $1000, which was still out of my budget. Probably for the best, because if the air suspension goes out, it can !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to fix.

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I have a specific list of vehicles I'm looking at, and yet every time I find an example of one of my options, something is wrong with it.

Time to keep on looking.

Oh and before people start inevitably chiming in with a bunch of suggestions, here's my list. I don't want anything else.

'02-'10 Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Drive
'99-'00 4Runner Limited with rear locking diff
'03-'09 4Runner Limited without air suspension
'01-'04 Pathfinder LE
'01-'03 QX4
'01-'06 Montero Limited

DISCUSSION (34)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:02

Trailblazer with a rainy day transmission fund.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:03

Have you considered another Jeep or do you just want something that's foreign/not a Jeep GC?

Textured Soy Protein > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/29/2014 at 19:05

Nope.

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
11/29/2014 at 19:06

Did you miss the part where I looked at a Grand Cherokee today?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:06

It was no worse than any Jeep I've ridden in. Especially the higher trims. If that is a big deal, there is the 9-7x.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:09

I. Am. An. Idiot.

I'm having a real good day paying attention... Sorry

Textured Soy Protein > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/29/2014 at 19:09

I'm not overly picky about having a fancy interior, as my Grand Cherokee isn't exactly super high quality. The Trailblazer is just too damn plasticky though. I'm kinda sorta willing to consider an Envoy or 9-7x, but pretty much all I'm finding around here is ugly cloth interior Trailblazers.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:13

dam.

I think I remember you knocking this out of contention...but what SUV's did honda have? I know they had the CRV...what was before the pilot? I'm wondering if they had AWD the way you want.

My citroen won't start > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:18

It's time.

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:21

I want something with full-time 4wd that has a real limited-slip center differential of some kind, plus the ability to lock the center differential and pop it in 4wd low range. That's what my Jeep has. The Pilot and CR-V are both more crossover-y and have neither 4wd low range nor the ability to lock the center diff.

I'd also like to get additional 4wd gimmicks like locking or limited-slip front or rear diffs. My Jeep doesn't have these—they're part of the Quadra-Drive 4wd system. The 4Runner I bought and returned had a locking rear differential. If I get another Jeep, it'll be one with Quadra-Drive.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:23

ahh, ok.

how about the ultimate in financial suicide: LAND ROVER :P

Textured Soy Protein > My citroen won't start
11/29/2014 at 19:23

I want something at least somewhat reliable.

Also I tried out an '04 Discovery II HSE before I bought my Grand Cherokee, and it was quite possibly the worst vehicle I've ever driven.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:25

I tried out an '04 Discovery II HSE before I bought my Grand Cherokee. Aside from the inevitable sky-high maintenance and repair costs, it was frankly awful to drive.

My citroen won't start > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:28

Kinja'd!!!

Look for Monteros, the newer ones. Few things to go wrong, capable and somewhat luxurious.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:28

huh.
other option: older misubishi? maybe you can find a pajero or something.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:35

Pajero is called Montero here in the US. They have a certain appeal. I've waffled back and forth on whether I'll go for one. They're very capable, but have camshaft seal issues, and timing belts so it's always an exercise in finding documentation of the timing belt having been replaced.

If I found one locally, I'd probably go check it out. But so far I've only found them down in Chicago, which is 150 miles away from me in Madison, WI.

Textured Soy Protein > My citroen won't start
11/29/2014 at 19:36

They have a certain appeal. I've waffled back and forth on whether I'll go for one. They're very capable, but have camshaft seal issues, and timing belts so it's always an exercise in finding documentation of the timing belt having been replaced.

If I found one locally, I'd probably go check it out. But so far I've only found them down in Chicago, which is 150 miles away from me in Madison, WI.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:38

hmm. how about a chevy blazer? mentioning this just because I just remembered getting into my buddies 2 door a few days ago and seeing a diff-lock button. ..i think.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:44

They do have the sort of 4wd I want, but the interior is just so shitty that I can't get myself to consider one. The GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x are the same basic truck with better interiors, but I'm not finding as many of those locally.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:48

the inteoir wasnt so bad...

then again I havent been inside any other car for something like 4 months now, so to me ANY car interior was good.

guess this is why most american machines arent on here (refering to explorer mainly..kinda forgot what chevy and GM were peddling at the time)

in keeping with the jeep theme... wrangler?

ORRRRR. be hardcore. G-wagen. not the new, luxury soccer mom-post-plastic-surgury-mobile. But a real, Diesel, G-wagen

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:51

Don't get me wrong, the interior in my '95 4Runner that has spent most of it's life in the Cali or Florida sun has held up better than our old '02 Trailblazer. But it is the only GM I would ever recommend anybody. Just with the provision to save up for a trans rebuild.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:54

To me, this is pretty bad.

Kinja'd!!!

Wrangler isn't really my style. I want something comfy.

G-Wagen of any sort is probably way too many repair and maintenance bills for what I'm trying to accomplish, which is a relatively cheap and trouble-free car to daily drive in Wisconsin winter and use the rest of the year for hauling and road tripping.

bob and john > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:56

new g-wagen I can see that.
the older ones? about as bullet proof as they come. but meh, if you dont like it, you dont like it.

its that 4WD that you want thats making this choice so ahrd for you. good luck in anycase :S

My citroen won't start > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 19:58

What is your price range? I might help with the search, I love those sorts of things.

Textured Soy Protein > bob and john
11/29/2014 at 19:59

I have my list of options: Grand Cherokee (with Quadra-Drive), 3rd gen 4Runner Limited with rear locking diff, 4th gen 4Runner Limited without air suspension, R50 Pathfinder LE or QX4 with the VQ35 motor. I just haven't found a good one locally in my relatively small (250k people) city.

Textured Soy Protein > My citroen won't start
11/29/2014 at 20:06

$13k tops. I'm in Madison, WI (zip code 53711). I want to buy from a dealer so I can trade my Jeep in rather than have to sell it on my own. My list:

'02-'10 Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Drive
'99-'00 4Runner Limited with rear locking diff
'03-'09 4Runner Limited without air suspension
'01-'04 Pathfinder LE
'01-'03 QX4
'01-'06 Montero Limited

My citroen won't start > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 20:26

The oddball.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

Low mileage base Grand.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

Montero

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

High mileage Grand

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/4782079618…

Damn good 4runners are hard to find.

SwedishMachine > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 21:01

I say stick with the 99-02 4runner limited. I wish you had been looking back in March because my grandfather was selling his mint 1999 limited 4wd with 110k, full service history and a mint garage kept exterior and interior for $6k.

They are durable trucks. If you take care of a 3rd gen 4Runner you can easily see 600k with no major issues. Believe me, I've seen it. I spent 7 years as a Toyota expert tech and those trucks were fairly bulletproof. The 4th gens were more issue laden, and just not as much fun as the rough and tumble 1st-3rd gens.

Textured Soy Protein > SwedishMachine
11/29/2014 at 21:23

Welp, that's why it's on the list, and why I bought one. Although I will say it's the least comfy of all my potential options since it's the only body-on-frame truck platform in the bunch.

Textured Soy Protein > My citroen won't start
11/29/2014 at 21:26

I should point out that Quadra-Drive is standard on the Overland and Limited Hemi, optional on the Limited 4.7 V8, and not available on any V6 or Laredo.

My citroen won't start > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 21:32

Completely forgot about the Quadra bit, sorry. My mind just went directly into finding low mileage Jeeps

Rico > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 22:15

It's a sign from the Oppo Gods to throw some snows on the 1 series and hoon the shit out of it!

Textured Soy Protein > Rico
11/29/2014 at 22:18

I put it in storage today. I've already got the Jeep for winter, I just want something in better shape.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2014 at 22:23

its a good list.