Wife wants 4wd/Awd. Wife wants some towing.

"Grindintosecond" (Grindintosecond)
08/27/2014 at 16:28 • Filed to: None

We have to buy used. I want complete reliability of buy it and it runs forever so I don't have to dick with anything in the future. Sort of like the base model RAV4 2wd gutless 4-cylinder we have now which will be stolen traded-in. It's been a perfect car SUV but, she wants to get or on occasion rent a pop-up towable in the near dreamland future and where we live, the 4wd option is very nice given what we have been almost or sometimes stuck in on occasion, which sucks when i'm out of town on work and there's small kids crying/stressing.

Have the 5 year old or slightly newer american makes of SUV/crossovers become reliable enough to rival the RAV/4-CRv dominance seen in the last 10 years? Like a straight-6 Trailblazer? (I don't think that's particularly reliable but I could have farts on the brain been mis-informed.) I would like some options besides just trading in my 08 RAV for an 08 RAV-v6-awd model. It appears the trade-in value is about $10k, and that makes the budget about 12-15 I think? Where I live, the Subaru name adds another $2,000 and it's covered in dog-hair so paying such premiums is out of the picture.

thoughts? My mind is clogged so apologies for taking up y'alls time. At least I got a cool related picture.

DISCUSSION (24)

mcseanerson > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:31

There's a straight six trailblazer? I'm gonna need Logansteno to weigh in on this.

HammerheadFistpunch > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:32

man alive this sounds familiar. I had a 96 rav4 awd, and bought a 2005 forester xt 5 speed when that got deer'd. Decided we wanted a popup so I bought the cruiser and a popup.

Grindintosecond > mcseanerson
08/27/2014 at 16:34

yep. the 4.2 LL8 Atlas engine....made into the 4,5,6 cylinder versions. Also found in the SAAB 9-7x !!! wut??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_…

GhostZ > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:34

Define 'some towing'. As long as you're not towing other trucks or cars, it sounds like Jeep has your number. Three Jeeps for you, ranging from cheapest to most expensive:

Kinja'd!!!

Probably the best value here.

Kinja'd!!!

Dunno how cheap you can find one of these for, but you'll never sell it for less that what you bought it for.

Kinja'd!!!

Much, much more expensive (probably like, 10-15x more expensive to buy and own than either the Wagoneer or XJ Cherokee) but new enough to carry a warranty.

PatBateman > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:35

Here you go. PERFECT!

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

HammerheadFistpunch > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:35

This isn't vehicle advice, per-se, but I've found that to get a decent popup you are looking at 2400 lbs gross max at a minimum (trailer max weight is what you should be looking at, not dry weight) which rules out just about any 4 popper. The forester we had could do 2400 lbs but i didn't like the Idea of maxing it out all the time and since we bought our trailer used we only had so many choices to choose from and most of those were in the 3000-3800 lbs range). The trailer we ended up with is 3400 lbs max. I would make sure to buy something with at LEAST 3500 lbs towing. The V6 rav4 could do it no problem, as its the same engine in the 5000 lbs rated highlander, though you will have to install a brake controller.

HammerheadFistpunch > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:36

The atlas was a cool motor, it was saddled to a turd of a vehicle though.

mcseanerson > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:37

Huh, no idea. My first recommendation would be a Forester XT but with your premium in your area I guess that's a no go. What about a Colorado/Canyon with a crew cab?

Grindintosecond > GhostZ
08/27/2014 at 16:39

Can't get that last one for the price range i'm looking at and the mpg is a bit dreadful for all three of them. The wife has to approve as well. I love the pre-Daimler cherokees but it's hard to find them without a ton of miles already done, which don't matter, but the wife....the wife....

Grindintosecond > PatBateman
08/27/2014 at 16:41

budget exploded

BJ > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:42

If you're willing to go a bit bigger, a 4Runner or an 05-12 Pathfinder would be a good option. Real 4WD, big and roomy, 7 seats (in the Pathfinder), good towing capacity. Reliability I don't know.

PatBateman > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:44

Go on, tell your wife that you don't love her that much. I'm sure she'll take it well.

Grindintosecond > BJ
08/27/2014 at 16:52

Good options there. Thank you. Looking now the 05 4runners i can find for $13k with 100,000 miles on it at a not-dealer. The Pathfinders get more affordable. $15k for 63k miles. interesting ideas. It gets trucky in that range and when we hit up a vacation the mileage will seriously hit but if she really wants to tow something, she had better come up with gas money. Personally I want the big persian tent

Grindintosecond > PatBateman
08/27/2014 at 16:53

Ill tell her to make more to fix the hole in the budget. She will love me forever for saying that

WhiskeyGolf > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:53

My family has driven a Mazda Tribute since 2004. First we had an '04 then replaced it with an '08 that my parents still have. Both were V6 AWD. It handles snow very well. We bought the V6 to tow our 17ft bowrider, but it gets annoying to pay the tow penalty every time you drive. Still, that generation of Escape and Tribute is immensely practical and has been a great car (we remember that each time we load it with gear for the cottage!).

TJDMAX > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:54

You could probably find something like an 08 tahoe or suburban for around your price range but it would be a high mileage vehicle plus excessive for your desired towing needs. You could look for like a Toyota 4Runner, or a Nissan Pathfinder or Xterra. Both 4wd, easily would tow a pop up, and Japanese so should be reliable.

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

GhostZ > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 16:54

MPG is just a variable for cost anyway. Here's a comparison between the 3 Jeep sedans that might give you some perspective:

Here's some details:

Assume 125,000 miles for the first two, 50,000 for the last one, assume that we put 30,000 miles on it in 3 years. Fuel economy averages from Fuelly, $4 a gallon for gas, resale prices based on what 3-year older (and 30,000 miles higher) models sell on ebay now. Towing cap from various forums and wherever I can find it.

1990-1996 XJ (Grand) Cherokee

Towing capacity: 5000lbs
Purchase Price: $4000-$5000
MPG: 16
Resale Price in 3 years: $3500-4500
3 year fuel cost: $7500
$/lb towing: $1.6

Total 3 year ownership cost: ~$8000 for the XJ

Wagoneer (1980-1990)

Towing Cap: 5000lbs w/towing package
Purchase price: $9000
MPG: 12
Resale price in 3 years: $10000
3 year fuel cost: $10000
$/lb towing: $1.8

Total 3 year ownership cost: ~$9000 for the Wagoneer

2005-2007 Wrangler Unlimited

Towing Cap: 2000lbs
Purchase price: $20000
MPG: 18
Resale price in 3 years: $15,000
3 year fuel cost: $6666
$/lb towing: $5.88

Total 3 year ownership cost: ~$11666 for the Wagoneer

EDIT: And for fun, let's do a 2007 Rav4.

2007 Rav4Wrangler Unlimited
Towing Cap: 3500lbs
Purchase price: $13000
MPG: 23
Resale price in 3 years: $9,000
3 year fuel cost: $5200
Total 3 year ownership cost: ~$9200 for the Rav4
$/lb towing: $2.62

I was actually quite surprised at how well the Rav4 holds its value!

Nibbles > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 17:03

The Atlas 4.2 will run long after the rest of the TrailBlazer has fallen to bits.

Grindintosecond > Nibbles
08/27/2014 at 17:06

Yeah. tis a shame.

Nibbles > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 17:09

It really is. It's one hell of a motor, tied to a competent transmission, sitting in a strong frame, with a body by Fisher-Price on top :(

Textured Soy Protein > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 17:33

From a little poking around it looks like all but the largest pop-up campers are in the 2500-4500 lb gross weight range (that includes the trailer itself plus cargo).

You can get into that range of towing capacity without going to a full-on trucky SUV. If you went for a slightly bigger awd V6 crossover, you'd have plenty of towing while still retaining halfway decent gas mileage.

It looks like in your price range, a Highlander or Pilot will be older and higher mileage than you want. Might have better luck with a Murano or Santa Fe.

deekster_caddy > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 21:26

the Passat Wagon has a 3500 lb tow capacity, enough for most popups. Ours in an '08 and I love it. Used '08-'10s are in your price range. AWD available on the higher end models. I would have no problem towing a popup with the 2.0 T, plenty of power but AWD was only available with the V6. Think they stopped making it in '11.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Grindintosecond
08/27/2014 at 22:17

F150. Cause MURICA!!

Kinja'd!!!

BJ > Grindintosecond
08/30/2014 at 09:35

It depends on your market, but I've seen nice 05-07 Pathfinders for about $9k in the Montreal area, with about 160000 km (100k miles) on the clock.