I have a 2002 Mountaineer V8 AWD 155k with a bad transmission, bad wheel bearings, a noisy rear end. I have been poking around online and based on what I am seeing these things just do not hold up that well. I have not seen any for sale on Craigslist with more than 160k miles and about half of those need a transmission. I was going to fix it and keep it around but it may be not worth the expenditure based on that research. I am kind of leaning toward selling it for whatever its worth as-is, and getting a different kind of truck.

I need something to haul the dog around in, drive on the beach, and light towing. Max budget is 5k but coming in lower would be nice.

It seems like Tahoes and Expeditions (late 90s to mid 2000s) seem to go in that price range in decent mechanical condition, and they must hold up well. There are people selling them with over 300k miles on the body.

Does anyone have any suggestions of which way to go, or any known issues with either model that should make me lean one way or the other, or any suggestions for a different truck? Opinions which one will hold up longer?

2/28/2013 8:43:21 PM

4runner

it will last forever and is cheap, change the gearing to get better fuel econ

2/28/2013 8:48:55 PM

tahoe would be my choice.

first gen durangos are cheap and pretty good vehicles. gives up a lot of power to the tahoe for no gains in mpg, though.

2/28/2013 8:56:52 PM

Pathfinder/Xterra 02+ range, great reliability and plenty to choose from.

2/28/2013 9:18:08 PM

The parts for those imports are not cheap (4wd)

Ford is your best bet. So much of it is interchangeable

2/28/2013 9:20:20 PM

1st gen 4runner is cheap

2/28/2013 9:28:36 PM

For light towing that's easy get a 4runner. Plus the rear window rolls down. If you need full size towing capacity I'd get a Suburban over a Tahoe for the same money. Or if you want to get an older SUV that won't depreciate much find a Land Cruiser.

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 9:40 PM. Reason : Also a 5.9L Grand Cherokee would be cool]

2/28/2013 9:31:08 PM

Cherokee (XJ) with 4.0 inline six, or early 4Runner with a 22R is probably what I'd look for. You can get a pretty decent example of either for less than $5k.

2/28/2013 9:39:51 PM

land cruiser = 10 mpg with just you and some gas

2/28/2013 9:51:36 PM

I gave some serious thought to the 6 Cyl Cherokee Classic (XJ). Still have not ruled that out. Those things will hold up forever.

As far as the Grand Cherokee I thought those were not really known for longevity.

The Toyotas and Nissans are an interesting suggestion that I have not looked in to at all.

2/28/2013 10:51:44 PM

grand cherokee = cherokee, all things considered (they are not the exact same, but, where it counts, yes they share drivetrain, etc.)


- xj's are 'tiny', but goddamn are they useful.
- tahoes are good, but shitty gas mileage.
- 4runners are nice, but can be expensive to maintain 'pristine-ness'.


my dad just bought an '03 4-door dakota, 4x4, 4.7 v8, and that thing's awesome (minus the current 16mpg average)

3/1/2013 7:44:48 AM

I really liked my 02 Pathfinder, I'd have to think between that and the 4runner

3/1/2013 8:41:08 AM

what are you going to use your beater suv for?

something with 4x4?

towing?

what?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-Ford-Excursion-Limited-Sport-Utility-4-Door-7-3L-DIESEL-/221194837940?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item33803d5fb4#ht_500wt_1182

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Chevy-Sierra-Classic-2500-4x4-6-2l-Banks-Turbo-Diesel-4-3ton-Truck-/151003056459?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item23287bc94b

[Edited on March 1, 2013 at 9:14 AM. Reason : .]

3/1/2013 9:08:45 AM

I threeve a XJ,


I'm not sure about:

Quote :

"grand cherokee = cherokee,"

My family has owned 3 XJs, a ZJ, and a WK. All of the XJs were really reliable (note: two of these were AMC Jeeps).

The ZJ had rear diff problems and I think that is a common complaint for them (which is weird b/c I think it had a D35 - same as the XJs?). The WK had some transmission troubles (fuckin' chrysler). Of course all that is just anecdotal too.



what about a really clean "OJ Simpson" Bronco?

[Edited on March 1, 2013 at 9:28 AM. Reason : Despite the problems on the Grands, they were still overall solid vehicles we drove for many miles]

3/1/2013 9:22:56 AM

^well.... a D35 is a D35 is a D35, no matter what vehicle it's in - yes, they came in the xj's as well. I'm not arguing with you about the zj thing, but there's only a handful of engine/trans/transfercase/axle combinations between the two models, and most overlap.

I guess I'm saying, i'd not be worried about either


(because racejeep )

3/1/2013 9:31:40 AM

I love the oj broncos but they're really not great vehicles for anything lol.

I loved my xj if it wasn't my DD with mud terrains on it i'd probably still have it

3/1/2013 9:34:40 AM

I will go on the record and say the 4.0L is tuff as hell. I overheated one to the point of it shutting off twice (cracked coolant reservoir - i know, real stupid) before I could limp home and get more coolant into it. I put another 30,000+ miles on it after that with no problems (sold it at 225,000 miles).

3/1/2013 9:55:50 AM

my xj had an 8.25 in it....

if you get an xj you want one without abs because the 8.25 cannot have abs and is way stronger then the d35.

3/1/2013 10:07:12 AM

Quote :

"first gen durangos are cheap and pretty good vehicles. gives up a lot of power to the tahoe for no gains in mpg, though. "

My cousin has one and it's been kind of a money pit. Maybe he just got a bad apple but it's enough to make me wary. Also the mileage is pretty damn bad--he claims about 12 MPG city, 16-17 highway.

I'd be patient and wait for a 4runner in my price range to come along. Tahoes are solid but it sounds like more vehicle than you need. XJ Cherokee could be another good possibility.

3/1/2013 2:14:41 PM

if the durangos have the same tranny as V8 Zjs FUCK THAT SHIT...


everyone i know with a v8 zj has a transmission tally on the wall..

some 2, some 3 one 5 (lifted heads cam tune)

3/1/2013 2:49:46 PM

iirc the v8's share the same 46re transmission as the dakotas... I don't know why it's so hard for people not to spend a g or 2 on a good build...or jsut swap in the 47re and call it a day.

[Edited on March 2, 2013 at 9:28 AM. Reason : same case and all.]

3/2/2013 9:28:30 AM

Quote :

"Tahoes are solid but it sounds like more vehicle than you need."

so what? you can get a tahoe that is comparable in price and the MPG is the same. the tahoe will tow more and has more space.

i've been through the same shit with trucks. i got a V6 extended cab dakota because a full size truck was "more truck than i needed", but when i got a bigger boat, the dakota sucked at pulling it even though it was under the towing capacity claimed by the manufacturer. i bought a full size extended cab GMC and get better fuel mileage and my backseat is now actually big enough for people to sit in.

3/2/2013 9:52:17 AM

+1 for the tahoe

3/2/2013 10:18:48 AM

Quote :

"i've been through the same shit with trucks. i got a V6 extended cab dakota because a full size truck was "more truck than i needed", but when i got a bigger boat, the dakota sucked at pulling it even though it was under the towing capacity claimed by the manufacturer. i bought a full size extended cab GMC and get better fuel mileage and my backseat is now actually big enough for people to sit in. "

boom goes the dynomite.

3/2/2013 11:01:12 AM

if i'm gonna get shitty fuel mileage, i'm at least gonna have enough power to pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass

3/2/2013 12:23:59 PM

Sold the mountaineer. It held up great for a long time, but too much expensive shit went out on it all at one time.

By light towing I mean hauling a junk trailer or pig cooker around Raleigh. My wife has a newer Tahoe for anything we might need to tow on a road trip. The problem is whenever I want to do something on the weekend she is not here. She does not want me to drive it on the beach either (which I am kind of in agreement on) so I have a perfect excuse to buy another, much cheaper SUV. Kure & Carolina beach do not allow dogs in the summer so I NEED something I can drive up on the north end.

I have been on craigslists pretty much non-stop for the last week because I sold some houses and have closings coming up.

4Runner: These have always been hard to come by. There are usually not that many for sale and anything in my budget is like early-mid 90s.

Pathfinder: This was a great suggestion from this thread. There is a better selection for sale and new ones pop up daily.

Durango: I had not even thought about these, but looks like a good option. Gonna look in to this some more, they are pretty inexpensive for a nice one. But if its the same trans as a Grand Cherokee I dunno.

Tahoe: Cant go wrong here, powerful V8, guzzles gas, but big comfortable seats and plenty of room inside, tons of room for gear. Hold up well and cheap to maintain. They pop up for sale every day so with some patience I can definitely find one.

XJ/Cherokee Classic: Cant go wrong here on quality. They are indestructible. I have always wanted one. Gonna find one to drive around to see how comfortable the driver seat is, that might be my only turn off with this one, it might be a little bit too small.

Grand Cherokee: Everyone I know has had problems with theirs. It seems some people here are swearing by them, but others have the same opinion I have. Lots of transmission problems, I have also seen lots of them pissing oil all over the floor without that many miles on them.

4/22/2013 10:38:33 PM

tahoe isn't going to get any worse MPG than anything else you listed. i know it doesn't seem logical, but that's the way it is. trucks and SUVs underpowered with V6s suck. i've had two of them and i'll never go back (only exception i'd make would be a 4 banger toyota pickup).

4/23/2013 7:54:57 AM

Xj will get 22-25 hwy (with a manual)

But has probably half the interior volume of the Tahoe

Tahoes don't use any air leveling crap do they ?
That junk ALWAYS goes bad.

4/23/2013 10:31:38 AM

The "air ride" is kind of why I stopped looking at expeditions, it is listed as a top thing that fails on the Internets.

4/23/2013 10:35:04 AM

old man told me there are 3 things most men will lie about:

1) women the screwed
2) what they paid for something
3) gas mileage they get

4/23/2013 10:37:09 AM

I'll kiss your ass if an xj gets more than 18mpg

with stock tires.

4/23/2013 3:38:25 PM

Let us know what you end up picking so we can spend a few pages telling you why you got the wrong one.

4/23/2013 3:45:24 PM

Get me a 99 Cherokee sport classic 5 speed with dynomax exhaust and holley air cleaner and pucker up :-)

4/23/2013 6:51:28 PM

Quote :

"grand cherokee = cherokee"

Oh hell no...

Get an XJ...think about how many of them you still see running around

Quote :

"I'll kiss your ass if an xj gets more than 18mpg with stock tires."

I get 20 mpg hwy with 30s on mine...could hit 23 mpg hwy with stock tires and a light foot

[Edited on April 23, 2013 at 6:58 PM. Reason : durka durka]

4/23/2013 6:57:03 PM

then your odometer or calculator is broken

4/23/2013 7:12:21 PM

bull shit

i totally got 25 on the way back from cleveland with it...never again but on that trip i did.

i got 22-23 a bunch...

4/23/2013 7:36:54 PM

Jeep Wrangler or 4 runner

4/23/2013 11:23:47 PM

I usually get about 21 mpg highway (pure highway driving) on the trip from Norfolk to Raleigh in my 2000 Jeep Cherokee (automatic, 2wd). If your mileage with an XJ was worse than that it probably had shit wrong with it like my first car (1990 Laredo). That piece of shit got as low as 11mpg in short city driving and 16 mpg on the highway.

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 2:05 AM. Reason : Find a 4wd cherokee with decent records that wasn't taken off road and drive it into the ground]

4/24/2013 2:04:30 AM

properized x5.

no, not really...

4/24/2013 2:36:01 AM

I've had a ZJ Grand Cherokee, 3rd gen 4runner and a UZJ100 Land Cruiser. All were great cars. I would focus on finding a clean example of whatever you're looking for. The ZJ/XJ option will probably be cheapest. But you'll have to deal with Jeep people. Don't get a Pathfinder. If you want to be miserable you can get a fairly new Land Rover Dicsovery for the same money. You'll need a backup car though.

4/24/2013 6:44:56 AM

I've always wanted to take a zj 5.2 and build the shit out of it.

They do have an aluminum Dana 44 out back iirc.

4/24/2013 7:10:24 AM

shenanigans!

adam8778 always got 17-19ish with 30's, iirc.

4/24/2013 8:02:57 AM

That was on 28s lol

On 31s (4" lift) I couldn't scratch 18 let alone 20 unless I was drafting a rig.

Also 5 speeds have 3.06 axles instead of 3.55/3.73 so that makes a difference too.



[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 8:22 AM. Reason : .]

4/24/2013 8:16:58 AM

^don't forget about the OD vs 5th gear ratios differing...!

4/24/2013 8:37:41 AM

whats the yuppiest SUV that will get me on the north end of Carolina beach?

4/24/2013 8:44:11 AM

Amg G wagon or rang rover anything


Yuppiest SUVs.

And some of the most capable

^^ 2.66 auto final drive 2.42 manual final drive.

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 8:52 AM. Reason : .]

4/24/2013 8:48:12 AM

i see videos on youtube of the new explorers on sand, but i just don't believe that hers would make it

4/24/2013 9:01:12 AM

Exploders aren't that yuppie but they have decent awd systems I think they stole some of the programming from range rover.

4/24/2013 10:12:07 AM

I may try it next week, I'll post pics if I get it buried. I'm not an experienced offroad driver, but I've driven on that part of the beach plenty of times.

4/24/2013 10:16:48 AM

^ key is to air down your tires, try between 12-15psi..some prefer 18 if you're scared, but that is probably the biggest key factor, as opposed to aggressive tread, large tire size, driving ability, type of AWD.

gun it on the way in and DO NOT STOP on the way off and you should be fine.

There is a gas station relatively close so you don't have to worry about riding without air for too long.

4/24/2013 4:23:25 PM