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"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo) 09/04/2014 at 13:39 • Filed to: Car Buying, Ask Oppo

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What are some reliable 6-cylinder SUV/Off-road capable vehicles?

I have need of a vehicle that can get decent highway mileage to drive from Ohio to Virginia once or twice a year, and still be capable of getting to my family's house 3 miles up a gravel mountain pass in 6 inches of snow. (I am thinking worst-case scenario. I doubt I will need to worry about the snow, but want to be prepared)

The 1999-2004 Jeep GCL is on the list, but I am leery of where they are being sold now; skeevy buy-here/pay-here lots.

The dealer I work for currently has a 1999 Lexus LX470 with 186k miles for 10,700. But it only gets 16 highway, which is rather terrible. (Yes I know it's a V8, but it's a proven engine that was made in huge numbers so parts should be easy to get.)

I have been eying the GM Trucklet twins, but if we go that route I will have to wait much longer to get a BRZ and after driving one Monday I have been smitten.

As Du Volant > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:40

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For what it's worth you can expect mileage in the teens from a Grand Cherokee as well.

Your boy, BJR > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:42

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seriously doe

Party-vi > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:42

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XJ. 4.0L and 5-spd manual. The newest example is going to be a 2001, but you can get low to mid 20s highway MPG and they're very competent off road.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:43

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I love my Sonoma, gas milage sucks though.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Your boy, BJR 09/04/2014 at 13:43

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Honda Pilot? What years? Can it off-road?

Jcarr > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:44

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The GMT360s (Trailblazer, Envoy, etc.). The interior material build quality isn't the best, but the chassis and powertrain are quite solid. We have an '04 Envoy with just under 100k miles and it gets 18-20 on the highway and gets around with ease during Iowa winters.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > As Du Volant 09/04/2014 at 13:44

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Yeah, my parent's have one and they get about 18 highway. I just know that engine it damn near un-killable.

JAREAL > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:45

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/Thread

CAR_IS_MI > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:45

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Wrangler is always the answer.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Party-vi 09/04/2014 at 13:46

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XJ? I am unfamiliar with this.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:46

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Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy

Chevy Trailblazer/GMC Envoy/Oldsmobile Bravada/Buick Rainer/Saab 9-7x

Toyota 4-Runner

Nissan Pathfinder

Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

CAR_IS_MI > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:46

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What's your budget?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > JAREAL 09/04/2014 at 13:47

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What years need I look for?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/04/2014 at 13:48

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The 4Runner has crossed my mind.

Party-vi > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:50

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Model designation for the Jeep Cherokee (non-Grand version). You could try to find a newer Diesel Grand Cherokee for highway mileage, but they might be a bit pricey.

JAREAL > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 13:52

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1995-2002

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2014 at 13:58

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$9-10k , we can stretch a bit. Basically I want to be able to pay it off in a year.

I'm in Dayton Ohio, if that helps narrow the market.

CAR_IS_MI > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 14:10

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Don't know how big of a vehicle you need but the Liberty's are going for fairly cheep. good on gas, 4x4, and decently capable off road.

BigBlock440 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 14:20

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30 mpg highway, within budget, and can certainly handle a gravel driveway and snow just fine.

Seriously though, they've got like 6" of ground clearance, and I've had one up a snow covered cabin driveway before. Sure you may have to back down and get a good run, maybe even a few times, but so did the AWD Imprezza I was with. I've also towed a Miata off the highway during a snowstorm with it because they were sideways across both lanes and not moving anywhere.

Your boy, BJR > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 14:21

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Mine is an 04. And it's no unimog, but it'll do what you need it to.

nermal > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2014 at 14:35

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Yep. Mine is a 2008, first year of the new body style, and going prices for them seem to be dropping now that the new Cherokee came out.

The 3.7L engine is slower than dirt, but mine gets a consistent 18 mpg no matter what I try to do to it. The biggest thing you need to do to them is regular oil changes. The oil filter is located in Narnia or thereabouts, and is surrounded by various sharp things, so it's well worth paying a dealer to change it. It's also quite finicky about spark plugs, and needs a new set of the cheap copper variety, properly gapped, every 30k. The plugs are easy to get to though.

Brakes are a bit of an issue, it eats the rears at about 2x the rate of the fronts. It needs good ceramic pads, don't waste your time with the cheap ones, and make sure the brake fluid gets changed every 30k. Some have had problems with the rear calipers sticking.

My front wheel bearings went out at about 80k, which seems to be somewhat common. The suspension is due to be updated as well, and my plan is to go with the Old Man Emu springs & shocks.

With all that being said, my Jeep has been awesome and served it's purpose quite well. It has never left me stranded, or gotten me stuck in the winter time. Obviously you need good tires, but otherwise the traction on it is amazing, relative to anything else in the class. The BLD (Brake Lock Diff aka traction control) works great in the snow, and it also has a "real" locking center diff and low range.

Alex from Toronto > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 14:41

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land cruisers 4 runners any jeep with the 4.0

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 15:29

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All the obvious ones are taken, so let's go with something unconventional:

215hp, 230ft-lb, ~20mpg highway, and you get Range Rover offroad capability in a trucklet the size of a RAV4. I've seen these advertised for as low as $4,500, if you can snag yourself one of the just four thousand examples in the U.S. you've got yourself a right little treat.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > BigBlock440 09/04/2014 at 16:30

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I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS!!!

Lol.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/04/2014 at 16:33

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Wife would no go for that. Also parts would be very hard to find. As much I love driving the only one of something local to me.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 16:52

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It shares an engine with the Trooper, which there's a billion of, so keeping it running won't be too expensive. The issue is only... well... just about every other part on the vehicle.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/04/2014 at 17:04

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I like the idea of owning one. The reality is not what I want though.

BigBlock440 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2014 at 19:34

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Sounds like the perfect vehicle for your needs

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > BigBlock440 09/04/2014 at 23:01

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No. Not even close.

Before I can even attempt to clear the pot-holed and steep gravel driveway to my family's house, I must first make it up the 3 mile unpaved gravel mountain pass. There is zero room for reversing to gain momentum or for error when the wheels catch and you veer off course. I would never think of attempting it with that car if there was snow on the road.

The rest of the year anything will do so long as you go slow enough to avoid breaking the shock mounts on your unibody car. True story, my dad had the strut shoot through the mount on his Rendezvous from hitting a pothole at like 20.

BigBlock440 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/05/2014 at 07:04

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Well, ok. Without seeing it I guess I can't say. I only know what I put mine through with half-worn all-seasons. Whatever you get, make sure you've got good tires if it's that tough.