Best value SUV?

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 05/18/2014 at 21:26 • Filed to: None

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After this weekend, I've had a thought: I'd be better off with a 2 car combo of SUV and sports car.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Sonic. But ultimately it's a series of compromises. As a practical car it does fine, but it's a bit too small to carry all the things I need it to carry easily. A nice sized SUV would do better. As a sports car it does okay, it's a ton of fun to drive and puts down decent Autocross times, but a proper coupe with more power would be better.

So here's my thought: at some point I'd like to swap the Sonic for an SUV and a sports car. Figure ~$20k-$25k. I'd like a Corvette, so if I assume $15k for a nice Corvette, that leaves $5k-$10k for an SUV.

So I ask my oppo brethren: if I wanted a reliable SUV for $5000 to $10000 dollars, what would you recommend?

Manuél Ferrari > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:27

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OJ's Bronco

For Sweden > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:28

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Bro, do you even XJ?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:28

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GMT800 Suburban or Yukon XL

Can be easily has in good condition for less than 10k. And they're the best of the GM trucks for a mix of Utility and Amenities.

Brian Silvestro > For Sweden 05/18/2014 at 21:30

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Came here to XJ

Nibby > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 21:31

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Agreed!~

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:33

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90s Land Cruiser. They're built like god-damn tanks.

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:33

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Not technically an SUV, but man I love AMC Eagles of the SX4 variety

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Brian Silvestro 05/18/2014 at 21:35

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Someone say XJ?

Manuél Ferrari > Jay Lauer 05/18/2014 at 21:41

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+1

LC or Tahoe all the way

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:42

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I believe this is a good choice: 2006 Nissan X-Terra V6 4WD 6 speed Manual with less than 100,000 miles.

Price is just on the Budget at $9,924, but it is pretty much one of your best options.

Jedidiah > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:48

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If you want something fairly nice and useful get a Blazer, Bronco, or Land Cruiser.

Jeep Wranglers and XJ Cherokees are fun little backwoods toys, but they can't tow much, are uncomfortable on the highway, and are slow.

If you want something vintage, get an old full size Jeep like a Wagoneer or SJ Cherokee or a International Harvester Scout.

Jayhawk Jake > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 21:50

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I like those, but it's none of those things...

Jayhawk Jake > Vicente Esteve 05/18/2014 at 21:50

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Honestly, I'd want an automatic in the truck

Jayhawk Jake > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 21:52

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This is probably what I'd go for. Any reason to not go for the Tahoe?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:53

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I would look at pickups in addition to Suvs. Tacomas, xj cherokees, Tahoes, maybe a Ford ranger.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 21:53

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No, there's just more room in the Suburban. Tahoe would work perfectly as well.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jedidiah 05/18/2014 at 21:54

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Uhh Xjs with the 4.0 are not slow...

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 22:01

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Oh, that changes it all way round.

I give you the Godfather of the Pimpmobile:

Priced at $8,995 with 114,000 miles.

Or, a Grand Cherokee for Offroad use: This one is a V8 with 87,600 miles within budget

AthomSfere > Vicente Esteve 05/18/2014 at 22:12

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Caddys are stupid expensive for repairs though...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:16

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I don't get how that is, they're essentially Tahoes underneath the skin.

The AWD system I could see being a touch expensive.

Jedidiah > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 05/18/2014 at 22:16

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I'm a jeep guy—I love them, but I think they're slow. My family has owned a 66 Gladiator, 2 XJs, 2 TJs Wranglers, and a 2 TJ Rubicons. Even with a 4.10 gear ratio, the 4.0 still feels sluggish. They pull nicely off of idle, but they start getting wheezy real fast. The 4.0 and even the bigger 258 ci (4.2 L) AMC straight 6 will get easily left behind by similarly geared off-roader of the same weight. Both my mother's and my father's Rubicon struggle to keep up with traffic, despite the fact that they are 5 speeds and have 4.10s.

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 22:17

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No it is not, just a random suggestion.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jedidiah 05/18/2014 at 22:20

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Okay, but compared to most SUVs XJ's have a pretty good power to weight ratio, I've never felt like my XJ was lacking for power.

AthomSfere > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 22:22

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I don't really get it either, but going off second information from owners of various Cadillacs of that era...

And it has the air suspension that likes to drop the rear end if I remember correctly, a common failure.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:24

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Huh, I didn't even know GM offered air suspension on any SUV, I though it was Magna-ride or good 'ole shocks.

AthomSfere > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 22:25

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Could be... I have the image of these dragging their asses around though. Off to Google!

Jayhawk Jake > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:28

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Why? Isn't it the same underpinnings as the Suburban?

Jedidiah > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 05/18/2014 at 22:29

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They don't feel underpowered around town or in the woods, but they do leave a bit to be desired when you need some mid-range power like on the highway. They're not probably not slow compared to other SUVs, but I'm biased because I'm used to big V8 Oldsmobiles with highway gears.

AthomSfere > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 22:30

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OK, yup yup...

Air.

Not sure year by year but:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadilla…

And, some TrueDelta numbers: http://www.truedelta.com/Cadillac-Escal…

8% of reported problems have to do with suspension, 48% of those cost $500 or more and 17% costing $2500 or more.

Reading around a bit, two most common problems seem to be the sensor or the compressor.

Jayhawk Jake > Jedidiah 05/18/2014 at 22:31

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Vintage would invariably cost too much to run, and since I'll probably end up leaving it outside I'd feel a bit guilty.

Blazer's and Bronco's would be a bit on the small side I think.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:32

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That's interesting! I really didn't know there was Air-Ride.

8% isn't a bad amount if you consider how many Escalades there are on the road.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jedidiah 05/18/2014 at 22:32

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To be fair mine is a 2-door RWD with a 5-speed, so it's probably as quick as they get. I certainly don't have a good idea of what a more set up off-roader XJ would be like.

Jayhawk Jake > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 05/18/2014 at 22:32

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Ranger is too small to be worth swapping the Sonic for. Pickups will be considered, but I'd need a topper, so I'd probably be better off just getting an SUV

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 22:35

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You've got a lot of options for solid, low cost SUVs then. Tahoes, XJs, Land Cruisers, Hell even Grand Cherokees are okay. Depends on how large of a SUV you need, whether you want to tow something etc

Vicente Esteve > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:38

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Really? Wow, air suspension is CRAP

Jedidiah > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 22:40

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I suggested smaller SUVs because I think they are more fun. A Suburban is probably a good choice for mix of comfort and usefullness.

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 22:43

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Same platform/ chassis yes... All I really have after that are horror stories of silly things costing entirely too much from friends and coworkers who own caddys.

AthomSfere > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2014 at 22:47

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It is when you realize what that number means though. It means for every 100 problems reported to TrueDelta 8 were suspension related. In the 10 cars I have owned I can tell you easily how many suspension related failures I have suffered, exactly none. Engines, transmissions, fuses, HVACs, ignition switches, thrown rotors and melted brakes too... But not once has my suspension on a car died or started acting unexpectedly lowering half my car...

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > AthomSfere 05/18/2014 at 22:51

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just a thought : if it did go out, how much would it be to just swap suburban shocks into it?

AthomSfere > dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter 05/18/2014 at 22:58

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No freaking clue. Probably more than replacing just a compressor or just a sensor... But if it gets to be a pain point and always under repair...

My gut says $2k is probably the ballpark though.

Jayhawk Jake > Jedidiah 05/18/2014 at 23:29

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I don't need fun. I have a Sonic RS and if I got an SUV I'd probably replace the Sonic with a Corvette

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jayhawk Jake 05/18/2014 at 23:56

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Unless you really need to tow something, if you ask me, don't even bother looking at an older American SUV. If you want big, get a Mitsubishi Montero or a Toyota Sequoia . If you want something a little smaller, you can't go wrong with an FJ80 , which will keep running forever and ever and ever, or an Isuzu Trooper . I have nothing against American cars, but in the late 90's and early 2000s, the Japanese built their SUV's to last longer, drive better, tackle rougher terrain, and get (slightly) better mpg. There is, however, one exception. The 4.0 XJ Cherokee is built tougher than hell, and it is a real off-road machine. But as far as your Explorers, Expeditions, Durangos, Tahoes, Suburbans, and Blazers are concerned, I wouldn't bother. Just me, though.

Jayhawk Jake > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 05/19/2014 at 07:52

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I don't care about offroad capability.

I think it's funny that on here everyone has to have some other use for the car. Manual for it to be more fun, a smaller lighter SUV so it handles better, offroad capable...

Those things are nice if you want them, but I don't. I just need a ton of enclosed space. Nothing more, nothing less.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jayhawk Jake 05/19/2014 at 08:22

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Then go for the Trooper. Its a cavern inside without having insane exterior dimensions.

BoulderZ > Jayhawk Jake 05/19/2014 at 11:40

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I'll take a different angle, and suggest considering a pickup rather than an SUV. If you really need the 7 passenger seating and enclosed space (and maybe you do, it is useful for a lot of people), then by all means go for the SUV, of whatever model. But I've found open cargo space to be way more useful over my last 24 years of driving. Greasy/muddy gear (bikes, camping, grills, whatever) all go in the back. Go to a parts yard and carry the dirtiest stuff home, no cleaning necessary. And I don't know how anyone can own a house, or even a condo/townhome, without a truck. Mulch, dirt, drywall, lumber, demolition debris, crushed stone, pavers, tile. Load it up. Just drive the loader/forklift up to it and off you go. Best Christmas-Tree-pickup/disposal vehicle ever. Cheaper purchase, registration and insurance usually, too. Parts/repairs are almost always easy availability and cheap. If you need more than two seats, get an extended cab, or even a 4 door. Unless you're a contractor, a 6' bed is fine, or even one of those 4' beds plus the down-tailgate-extendo-rack thing. And 2wd is fine if you don't regularly need to do true off-road trails or drive to ski areas every weekend. Downsides: finding a good used one is hard as most people don't sell their truck until it's totally beat to hell. Everybody thinks you automatically will loan them your truck, or help them move.

Jayhawk Jake > BoulderZ 05/19/2014 at 11:47

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I need enclosed space to haul my RC planes comfortably, otherwise I'd go for a truck.

BoulderZ > Jayhawk Jake 05/19/2014 at 11:55

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Ah, that makes sense. FWIW, I carried my 2-meter span RC sailplanes in my truck, but I had a cap/camper top on it. It was removeable, but it was kind of a PITA to do so. The Subaru wagon, at the time, was much easier for plane transport. That may be the only good thing I have to say about that car, come to think of it.

In any case, happy shopping!

ben loves his new "real" SUV > Jayhawk Jake 05/31/2014 at 04:52

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If the Tahoe has the 3rd row, no room in the back for hauling things. Also, due to shorter wheelbase, the rear doors cut into the wheel arch, which in turn will not let the rear side windows roll down more than about 4 inches.

The Tahoe will get roughly the same mileage as the 'burb, so more is better, right?

I personally went for a 1997 Lexus LX450 (wanted a Land Cruiser, but found my Lex, and they are the same car), since I am planing on taking it off-road quite alot.

If you just need something to haul stuff, then the Suburban is the way to go. If you want an off-roader, don't let the miles of a Land Cruiser in your price range (they will be pushing 200k) concern you. You will be able to go anywhere you want to go.