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Help me choose cheap transportation.

post #1 of 5
7/27/11 at 12:29pm
Thread Starter 
Driving habits:
  • ~28 miles each way to work 5 days / week on the expressway
  • Occasional 15 mile jaunts on the weekends.

Previous vehicle:
  • '98 Ford Ranger
  • 2.5L 4 cyl.
  • 5-speed
  • Slipped timing belt / possibly burnt valve. Ready for a new truck anyway.

Budget:
  • absolute max 6k
  • more realistically 4k
  • ideally 3k

Options:
  • 5-speed Cherokee
  • -- There's a couple on craigslist, one with the 2.5L and another with the 4.0L
  • 5-speed Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport
  • -- again, a couple on craigslist, but the one I like (and the cheapest) isn't 4x4. Also, I've read that the engines tend to lock up.
  • Tacoma
  • -- usually too pricey, but I've found a couple that might work.
  • S-10 with ZR-2 package
  • -- I don't really want another base-model pickup. If I get a pickup, I'd like it to be 4x4 / v6, or at least have a lift package (I've ran into trouble trying to traverse water in my Ranger).

I guess I'm looking for a daily driver that isn't a coupe or sedan and can get through Chicago winters. Reliability is, of course, a factor, but not a main one unless the issue is debilitating at ~200,000 miles.

Thoughts? Thanks.
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post #2 of 5
7/28/11 at 10:01am
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=299205367&dealer_id=54681477&car_year=1995&systime=&doors=&model=4RUN&search_lang=en&start_year=1990&body_style=SUV&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1311872304191&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67769&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1999&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=16&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=60611&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=5000&make=TOYOTA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=6&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=299916575&dealer_id=66142137&car_year=1994&systime=&doors=&model=4RUN&search_lang=en&start_year=1990&body_style=SUV&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1311872304191&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67769&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1999&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=16&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=60611&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=5000&make=TOYOTA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=4&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=298839517&dealer_id=100023180&car_year=1996&systime=&doors=&model=4RUN&search_lang=en&start_year=1990&body_style=SUV&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1311872304191&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67769&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1999&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=16&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=60611&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=5000&make=TOYOTA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=8&standard=false
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post #3 of 5
7/30/11 at 9:59pm
Last week when I was at the beach they had a (96ish?) 3500 dually diesel 4x4 ram for $3,850. I did not look at miles or anything else because if I did I would have bought it. What you want is easily found. I know my 2002 nissan frontier v6 on a 4x4 frame but 4x2. with 125k miles I can get 5k easy. (I have taken it offroading with my buddies with 4x4's plus I have driven it in deep snow.) I learned deep snow from a stop I am screwed but as long as I have some forward force I am good. If you find someone who really wants to sell you can get a hell of a deal.
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post #4 of 5
7/31/11 at 6:26am
if you are looking at cheap transportation, i wouldn't look at a 4.0L Cherokee or anything else that has a big engine. with the miles you drive the bump in fuel costs will certainly make your incremental total costs far over $3-4k even if you got the car itself cheap.

what did your Ranger get, like 20-25 mpg? a Cherokee might only give you 16.

do you have to have a pickup? a used Civic can be had well under your budget and with far better fuel consumption. reliable too.

otherwise, you're probably stuck with something like a Tacoma 4x4
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post #5 of 5
7/31/11 at 12:27pm
As HRoi asks, does it have to be a pickup truck?

I would take a look at Subaru at your price point -- you can get a late 1990s well within your budget, with a reasonable milage (100-150k). They come with AWD, good ground clearance and will probably have a much better MPG than a truck.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=297346556&dealer_id=584929&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&scarid=295881684&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=100&min_price=3000&rdm=1312140105857&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=60601&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=6000&make=SUB&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=37&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=298619215&dealer_id=584929&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&scarid=295881684&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=100&min_price=3000&rdm=1312140105857&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=60601&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=6000&make=SUB&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=37&standard=false

This is newer (2003), but the milage is rather high and it's pushing it budget wise. Would take a look though. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=300033845&dealer_id=72756&car_year=2003&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&scarid=295881684&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=100&min_price=3000&rdm=1312140105857&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=&max_mileage=&color=&address=60601&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=6000&make=SUB&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=33&standard=false
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