"Asking for a friend": DD/Tow vehicle edition

"Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow" (chriskf) 03/30/2016 at 23:42 • Filed to: None

1

56

So my “friend” is seriously considering selling his sports car in favor of purchasing a mid-size SUV or truck and a cheap track beater, and would like some input.

Reasons for selling the car are:
1. Eliminate a high monthly car payment, frees up a lot of extra money each month for other expenses and reduces insurance cost. (a move into a more expensive place is coming this summer, so that’d be a nice help)
2. No longer risking his only means of transportation, which is technically owned by his credit union, at track days.
3. Cheap beater track car would have much cheaper parts/consumeables, and wouldn’t require track day insurance.

The replacements for the sports car would be, as mentioned above, a mid-size pickup or suv that would serve as a reliable daily driver and possible tow vehicle down the road.

This post is mainly about options for the new daily, occasional tow vehicle, though. Here are the requirements:

Price : Sub $10k mark, looking to be in the $5-9k range.
Top Factors:
- Reliability : As a daily driven vehicle that has a weekday commute of ~48 miles and will see its fair share of weekend/holiday road trips, reliability is definitely the top priority. Given the price range the vehicle will likely have around 100k (=/- about 20-30k) miles. Don’t want to running into a lot of major repairs.
- Towing Capability : Probably looking in the 3,500-5,000lbs tow capacity range. Looking to eventually pull a small to small(ish) track car on occasion, either on a tow dolly or open trailer.
- 4x4/AWD : Simply easier in Chicagoland winters. Also offers more opportunity for off-road adventures as well.

The Top Contenders :
-3rd or 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner/Tacoma: Because Toyota reliability
-Nissan Xterra/Frontier: Priced well, but not sure about reliability. Any input?
-Toyota Land Cruiser: They tend to be pricier, but if the right deal came along....

Other Considerations:
-BMW X3/X5
-Volvo XC90
-Acura MDX
-Lexus RX300/330

The main reason the above aren’t top contenders is because of unfamiliarity and uncertainty about reliability of used models. I know the general stereotype of high mileage German vehicles, which is why I tend to lean more towards Japanese models.

Would be curious to hear some Oppos opinions/experiences with any of the above models or any I haven’t mentioned that I should consider.

(For those of you who are curious, the cheap track beater will likely end up being a Miata, E30, E36, or Civic/CRX/Integra.)

1111111111111111111111 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:50

1

I’m listening too. I need a pickup, and would like to tow a track day car. But a new pickup isn’t terribly economical. So perhaps a conversion van, so easy camping.

E92M3 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:51

1

I vote for the MDX. Toyota like reliability, 5,000lb towing capacity, better interior materials than a comparable Toyota/Lexus. In his price range he can can only get a 1st generation. I would look for a 2006, as the early ones did suffer from trans failures. If he can somehow find a 2007 (2nd gen) in his price range, it’s even better. The 2nd gens suspension was tuned on the nurburgring, and it handles as good as a X5. It’s the best handling Japanese SUV.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > 1111111111111111111111 03/30/2016 at 23:51

2

I love the idea of a conversion or transit van as a tow vehicle, but am 99% confident my girlfriend would break up with me if I started dailying one. lol

Nibby > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:52

2

If he’s going to do more than occasional towing, avoid all those crossovers you listed. Body on frame SUVs and pickup trucks are better designed for towing.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:52

1

First generation Frontiers/Xterras are pretty solid, but from what I’ve heard, the second generation is not as much.

d15b > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:52

3

Mobile sexy time room.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/30/2016 at 23:54

0

Good to know.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Nibby 03/30/2016 at 23:56

0

Definitely something that’s been considered. Just trying to broaden the prospects a bit.

It wouldn’t be a ton of towing, as the track car would remain street legal for the forseeable future. But having the ability to tow it to events when desired or if it broke down and needed to be towed home would be ideal.

Nibby > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:58

0

You should also go for 4WD and not AWD

shop-teacher > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/30/2016 at 23:59

0

Regarding #1, you won’t save any money on insurance with two vehicles over one. The bulk of insurance costs is liability/uninsured motorist/medical. My beater Roadmaster costs nearly as much to insure as my wife’s 2015 CX-5.

I’m not saying this is a bad idea, just don’t expect to save money on insurance.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Nibby 03/31/2016 at 00:00

0

That’s generally my thought too. I just know I’ve seen AWD tow vehicles before, and was wondering if 4x4 is really that much more preferential. Like I said it won’t be a lot of towing but in the future could turn into an okay amount, and obviously somewhat longer trips (since race tracks tend to be far away from most major cities)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > shop-teacher 03/31/2016 at 00:01

1

Yeah, I honestly wasn’t really expecting to save much there. That’s more of an after thought than an actual factor.

1111111111111111111111 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 00:04

1

Yeah. As a haver of wife and Kid they’re pretty much stuck with my uncoolness. But it would solve sleeping, travel and towing. Would work well for my sitch.

1111111111111111111111 > E92M3 03/31/2016 at 00:04

0

I know two people with MDXs. They both love/hate them. Love driving them, hate the poor reliability.

1111111111111111111111 > d15b 03/31/2016 at 00:05

0

Oh yeah.

Thisnewformatisrubbish > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 00:09

0

Loved my 00 xterra and 98 fronty. 200k on em. Towed all kimds of stuff. But the value in a old suburban is great. Get a newer one with high miles, rebuild the trans and brakes, drive.

shop-teacher > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 00:12

0

If your willing to try a full size, anything GMT-800 will do an awesome job. They’re pretty cheap, very comfortable and very reliable. I find Tahoes and short wheelbase Yukons quite easy to park and manuver ... But then again my sense of size and ease is warped by the fact that I daily drive a crew cab pickup (I find the Roadmaster incredibly easy to park).

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 00:27

1

Stay away from the MDX. We have one and while it’s a decent DD, the tranny is going out and they all have that issue. Plus only 4k towing, and I wouldn’t trust the tranny to last long with any towing.

E92M3 > 1111111111111111111111 03/31/2016 at 00:43

0

What years? They were really reliable until the 3rd gen.

1111111111111111111111 > E92M3 03/31/2016 at 00:51

0

Both are mid 00. One was going to be bought back as a lemon, but they paid him off, the other has had multiple 1k+ repairs at least once a year for the last few years. Family drivers, and not abused.

E92M3 > 1111111111111111111111 03/31/2016 at 01:08

0

That’s unusual. It’s tied with the RX350 with a 4.6 out of 5 consumer rating on edmunds. The current generation is a different story.

1111111111111111111111 > E92M3 03/31/2016 at 01:10

0

Yeah, what can I say. Coincidence happens.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 01:34

1

Avoid the BMW X3/5 like the plague, at your price point you’re only going to find ones that will be serious headaches. A Tacoma or Frontier are probably the two best that come to mind.

DanZman > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 02:01

2

Why are there no American vehicles in your list of contenders? You know that Trucks is pretty what American manufacurers do, right? My friend just picked up a nice ‘00 S10 for $2k. You can easily find a nice(reliable) full size truck from ‘04-’06 for less than $8k. Parts will be plentiful and cheap.

KatzManDu > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 02:46

0

Touraeg.

boxrocket > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 07:10

0

I like the Frontier/Xterra and Tacoma/4Runner idea, but they may be a bit underpowered for what you want. Your budget allows for a V8 Explorer/Mountaineer/Aviator and Expedition/Navigator, which will be similarly-sized to the Land Cruiser but without the “Toyota tax”. There’s no perfect vehicle, and reliability can have a lot to do with the prior owner. The crossovers may also feel underpowered and a bit awkward as tow vehicles but make better DDs. The I6 and V8 XC90s could work, but the ones in your budget may need [expensive] work.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DanZman 03/31/2016 at 07:54

0

Sorry, for some reason I forgot to put the Ford Ranger in my list. I’d consider a mid-2000s F-150, and am really looking a lot at Tundras and Sequoias now too. I’m not looking for anything to rebuild right now though. Plus driving most full size vehicles in the Chicago, good chance I’ll be moving further into the city, with a 48 or more mile roundtrip commute doesn’t sound all that appealing. Haha

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KatzManDu 03/31/2016 at 07:55

0

Any particular reason(s)? I’ve known people with them and they’ve just been problem after problem.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > boxrocket 03/31/2016 at 07:58

2

The V6 versions of the Frontier/Xterra and Tacoma/4Runner tend to have enough towing capacity for what I’d be looking for, which is why they’re at the top of the list. I think the Tundra and Sequoia will be thrown in as top contenders too now, just to get some V8s on the board. I really like mid-2000s F-150s as well, so that might be a consideration if I found the right truck.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Trunk Impaired 318 03/31/2016 at 07:59

0

I figured as much.

KatzManDu > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 08:05

0

I had one and it was nice; but with too many electrical gizmos there can be gremlins. Otherwise it was solid.

RutRut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 08:23

1

Just because they have a towing capacity rating doesn’t mean they tow it well. You also need to make sure they can support the tongue weight, a new F150 can technically pull a small 5th wheel camper but the bed can’t support the payload. Up until the past few years there wasn’t a standard set of tests to rate towing capacity. Personally, I’d look for a mid-2000s silverado with a 5.3.

f86sabre > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 08:30

1

If you have any interest in a LeMons prepped 1991 Escort with 2 spare engines and a couple of spare sets of wheels let me know. It has run 6 races and done pretty well.

Quadradeuce > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 08:40

2

Saab 9-7x. That’s what I have. It basically has the half ton truck drive train, but a much nicer interior than anything else the general was making at the time.

I bought mine for $10k with lower miles and it has been reliable and cheap & easy to work on myself.

Danger > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 09:00

1

I went with an 05 v8 4runner for towing peace of mind. 5 speed auto with super low 1st gear, vvti, decently comfortable with the limited package when not towing, factory tow package means no wiring to hook up a brake controller. They can be super reliable if maintenance was done by previous owner. Oh and it is rated for 7,000 lbs of towing.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > f86sabre 03/31/2016 at 09:24

1

I’ll likely end up with an E36. The track car will need to be streetable for awhile, and my storage space for spare parts is currently limited to a storage unit. haha

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > RutRut 03/31/2016 at 09:26

0

Yeah, I’m aware of that but not all that concerned. It really won’t be towing anything that much. The towing capability is more an option I’d like to have if I choose to use it. The track car will be streetable and driven to events for the most part.

That being said, a full-size pickup with a V8 is looking to be more of an option. I’d lean Tundra or F-150 though.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Quadradeuce 03/31/2016 at 09:27

0

Interesting. Hadn’t considered that at all.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Danger 03/31/2016 at 09:29

1

Yeah, I really started to think about the 4th gen V8 4Runners on my drive into work this morning. I owned a 4th gen V6 SR5 before my FR-S and really miss that thing. Thankfully I sold it to my folks and get to drive it when I’m back visiting them in Arizona.

Plus 4th gen V8 4Runners are all over the place in Chicagoland. It would give me the towing piece of mind of a V8 while retaining the overall body size I’d prefer for getting around/parking in the city.

Quadradeuce > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 09:31

3

Really any GMT360 with the 5.3 V8 will be cheap and easy to work on. Some had better styling and interiors than others...

RutRut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 09:38

0

Is interior space a factor? I noticed mostly SUVs as opposed to pickups. If not you can always look for a RCLB combo since they are typically lower retail cost than a ec/cc

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > RutRut 03/31/2016 at 09:40

0

Eh, not particularly. But I am personally very opposed to RCLB, can’t stand the way it looks. lol I’m either an SUV or ECRB kinda guy.

Danger > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 09:44

1

Yeah, anywhere outside of CO/UT the price drops significantly, which is good. But being in Chicago, I’m sure you already know to look out for rust. I tow a 16' tandem axle enclosed trailer for moving, but can flatbed my Grand National no problem. The 4Runner is much more manageable around town than an Expedition sized vehicle, which is great for towing, but kind of hard to justify the rest of the time for me.

Danger > Quadradeuce 03/31/2016 at 09:47

1

The 5.3 is an awesome motor for almost all real-world truck purposes.

RutRut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 10:14

0

Crew cab is nice. I couldn’t do a regular cab again personally, but if you can stomach it you can usually get something newer/less miles for the same money.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 10:18

0

So why not a half-ton pickup? They are a dime a dozen, will meet the towing requirement, can be had with part-time 4WD, and can be had with a crew cab and short bed (so not ridiculously sized).

Plus most of the V8s and V6s (other than the EcoBoost and the GM 4.3L V6 that eats intake gaskets) are dead reliable with regular maintenance.

uofime-2 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 10:21

0

I can tell you from personal experience that driving an f150 around the city sucks.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > RutRut 03/31/2016 at 10:54

0

I could probably a regular cab regular bed, but would definitely prefer extended cab.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > uofime-2 03/31/2016 at 10:55

0

Yeah, I figured as much. There’s a chance I might move to Lincoln Park too, so yeah.... lol

I’m thinking a 04-06 V8 4Runner is looking like my best bet.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 03/31/2016 at 10:56

0

Size. I live in the north suburbs of Chicago, and have to do a lot of street parking and maneuvering on smaller roads.

RutRut > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 12:49

1

Soooo a Lightning? Because I am hearing a Lightning.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 13:08

0

Well you must be closer to the city or the lake for that (e.g. Skokie or Evanston).

As long as you have off street parking, it’s doable. Otherwise it is challenging, but not completely impossible.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 03/31/2016 at 13:55

0

You got it, Evanston.

The reality is that I won’t be towing very often at all. The track car will be streetable and driven to nearly all events. Eventually if it gets a cage, the plan in a couple years, then it would actually need to be trailered. Until then a V6 4Runner could pull it the few times that I might choose to without much issue at all. But I think a V8 4Runner might be the best compromise.

uofime-2 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 14:52

0

Now I see what you meant when you said moving to a more expensive place, great area though!

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > uofime-2 03/31/2016 at 14:55

0

There are lots of possibilities though. Evanston, Glenview, Winnetka, Lincoln Park, Highland Park, Wilmette. All are expensive. GF has to be able to take the train downtown for med school, and I have to drive to work up in Vernon Hills. So it’s basically finding somewhere that’s a compromise. LP is less of one, but I like the area a lot and wouldn’t mind trying living more in the city for a little bit.

uofime-2 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 03/31/2016 at 15:19

0

My gf lived there for 2 years, moved across the border to lakeview last year. I can tell you the commute to Vernon hills will be brutal unless you can use flex hours to shift your work like an hour to an hour and a half earlier. Of course the other side of that is commuting into the city from highland park or glenview is probably no fun either. Tough compromise you’ve got to make there.