What SUV? Wait, What’s An SUV? My Query.

jyl · jyl's Garage

For some reason, I have been thinking about getting an SUV. Not a new soccer dad SUV, or a lifted rock basher SUV, but something cool and interesting. Not-see-that-every-day vehicle a plus. DIY-friendly a plus. Affordable and/or will hold value a plus.

Maybe I shouldn’t use the term “SUV” which is awfully generic nowadays. I see Mustang Mach-E called SUVs, for heavens sake.

How about a four door + seats five + sizeable enclosed cargo area, tall and two-box shape, four wheel drive vehicle. It should be legit off-road capable, not prone to leaving plastic body cladding or bits of oil pan on the trail. It should have enough civilized comforts to not bake or freeze or deafen your spouse - or deafen you from his or her complaining - around town or a long road trip. Not averse to luxe features but don’t require them.

So, not an Audi Q5 or Volvo Cross-Country (not tall, not off-road), not a Jeep CJ or Series Land-Rover or Unimog (too uncivilized), not a Honda Pilot or Hyundai Santa Fe (not interesting), not a crew-cab F250 or Tacoma (not two box) - you get the idea.

Examples of vehicles that might fall in the category - old Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Toyota Landcruiser, first gen Range Rover and Discovery, I’m sure I am overlooking many others and that’s one reason for this query.

Do vehicles like BMW X5, Mercedes GL-class, Porsche Cayenne qualify? I don’t know, that’s another reason for this query.

Ideas? I come at this from a position of ignorance, having owned a Series Land Rover and a gen 1 Range Rover but otherwise with no experience in SUV-land.

wilnj · 03-12-2023, 05:27 AM

Cayenne

https://youtu.be/jgtt5eJHQr0

Full Size Bronco. This one is not for off road but might get juices flowing

https://www.vanguardmotorsales.com/inventory/4722/1979-ford-bronco-restomod-4x4

Of course the GM companion to the Bronco is the K5

https://youtu.be/3c5MAhOisPQ

And if you’re a Mopar guy and want something you won’t see 2 of in the same place, there’s this.

https://youtu.be/ePgCocNJ4v8

Can’t go wrong with one of the original full size SUVs

https://youtu.be/llYjtu9whpg

https://youtu.be/fFPgvRc5gcM

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pavulon · 03-12-2023, 05:34 AM

Seahawk · 06:01 AM

This is an interesting thread, or at least will be

We have had 4Runner's for the last 20 years and they have been flawless but are as common as trees here in Maryland.

Also FJ's but I think they are too small for your needs.

My only other experience in this field has been the 1996 LC I bought from a friend of mine that moved to Florida when he retired. It has been almost 4 years since I bought it.

I DD it and have put about 45K miles on it. I did have wiring replaced, hoses (all), shocks and upgraded the exhaust. Other than that, zippy.

I get offers on it all the time and a lot of interest from young men in their 20/30's...especially since it is "tripled-locked" and has a lot of other good stuff. It is stock height.

BTW, compared to any 1/2 ton truck, the LC is small, which I like.

Now to the "interesting".

It is slow off the stop and a bit cumbersome. Not an issue for me since I understand the LC is nearly 30 years old and adjust.

It handles freeway speeds up to a point. I jump in my Tundra for any long trips and sail effortless down the road quietly at speed. I took the Tundra to SC last week and could not believe how fast the traffic was moving.

I drive it to Yorktown where my company is all the time but stay off the interstates. It is just makes sense and the drive is very pleasant at 65mph.

Gas mileage. Don't look. I get 16 to 17 if I baby it.

So, if you have other, more modern vehicles for some of the trips you would not want to do in the LC, jump: it is been my favorite car I have ever owned.

Edit: I have also had a Defender 90, a Bronco (full and II - older) and, to be honest, rarely drove the 4Runner's since they were my wife's DD. Also, check out newer LC's than mine...I just have no direct experience.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Try:

https://wagonmaster.com/

Rebuilt Jeep Wagoneers for $80k to $150k

1990C4S · 03-12-2023, 05:58 AM

It sounds like you want something with a frame, not something uni-body? Or you don't care?

Nissan Xterra also fits your requirements. Maybe. Rugged-ish. Reliable. Boxy.

wilnj · 03-12-2023, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Try:

https://wagonmaster.com/

Rebuilt Jeep Wagoneers for $80k to $150k

Saw one in its natural setting. A suburban NJ parking garage.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tdw28210 · tdw28210's Garage

If you can wait, how about a new (VW) Scout EV? The new factory is being built in upstate South Carolina between Columbia and Charlotte, NC. Available in 2024.

tdw28210 · tdw28210's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdw28210

If you can wait, how about a new (VW) Scout EV? The new factory is being built in upstate South Carolina between Columbia and Charlotte, NC. Available in 2024.

here's a pic below. The previously linked picture was HUUUGE.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

LWJ · 03-12-2023, 07:16 AM

I daily a 2000 LandCruiser. Just yesterday, I used it to pretension a tree before I dropped it. Hauled the tree and some others away to recycle with a trailer. Then, changed gears and put my Dirtbike on back and bounced up a potholed road in the woods.

Today? If I recover it’s taking me skiing (not sure about recovery!)

I love that I use my SUV. Not too many dents but lots of dirt. Oh. Other than tires and oil and brakes? It has only needed a coil-on-plug replaced. Reliable as the Sun.

Gas mileage is crap. Drives like a car(positive). Towed a large Massey Ferguson tractor once and didn’t complain.

And, on a trip to Montana, I looked down and was shocked to see 95 MPH.

Count me a fan.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Actually, what is your budget, we are getting ready to sell my former dentist 2002, one owner, fully documented Lexus LX420.
I will get pictures this afternoon and it was just at Lexus for a full check up.
Now, it does have 327K on it, but it has been maintained.

LWJ · 03-12-2023, 08:34 AM

A note. I had a 91 3/4 ton Fleet service suburban. Which was pretty awesome. You could sleep two in back. It was a total zombie apocalypse rig. Bought for a whopping $850 when gas was spiking.

Until I was rear-ended. Solid frame = lots of damage in my neck/spine.

I’m mostly healed but I sold the rig for scrap, because it seemed very unsafe. No airbag. No energy absorption. No antilock brakes.

Ngrich99 · Ngrich99's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWJ

I daily a 2000 LandCruiser. Just yesterday, I used it to pretension a tree before I dropped it. Hauled the tree and some others away to recycle with a trailer. Then, changed gears and put my Dirtbike on back and bounced up a potholed road in the woods.

Today? If I recover it’s taking me skiing (not sure about recovery!)

I love that I use my SUV. Not too many dents but lots of dirt. Oh. Other than tires and oil and brakes? It has only needed a coil-on-plug replaced. Reliable as the Sun.

Gas mileage is crap. Drives like a car(positive). Towed a large Massey Ferguson tractor once and didn’t complain.

And, on a trip to Montana, I looked down and was shocked to see 95 MPH.

Count me a fan.

100 series landcruiser FTW! I also have a 60 and 80 series but the 100 series is more refined and at 327k miles is still drop dead dependable and value is the same as when I bought 13 years ago.

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Why do you want it, as in what do you believe you'll use it for? DD, hauling, weekend in the woods, pulling an RV/toys etc.? Body on frame vehicles will be different from unibody, a lot really depends on the use case, and even narrowing it down that way you're gonna get opinions and suggestions as varied as number of members to this forum.

For my part I've had multiple Grand Cherokee's, Ford Edge, Subaru's OBW and Foresters, Toyota's and Audi Q5 & Q7, we daily drive a Q5 and a GLC300 and wouldn't trade either, but for utilitarian I bought an F150 Crew Cab that has me thinking differently now.

Every one had their ups and downs. Never had an issue that was more than 'stuff wears out' with any.

For the value, I'd go back to the 3-6 year old Grand Cherokee's, they tick off all the boxes for me.

Pazuzu · 03-12-2023, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

For some reason, I have been thinking about getting an SUV. Not a new soccer dad SUV, or a lifted rock basher SUV, but something cool and interesting. Not-see-that-every-day vehicle a plus. DIY-friendly a plus. Affordable and/or will hold value a plus.

Maybe I shouldn’t use the term “SUV” which is awfully generic nowadays. I see Mustang Mach-E called SUVs, for heavens sake.

How about a four door + seats five + sizeable enclosed cargo area, tall and two-box shape, four wheel drive vehicle. It should be legit off-road capable, not prone to leaving plastic body cladding or bits of oil pan on the trail. It should have enough civilized comforts to not bake or freeze or deafen your spouse - or deafen you from his or her complaining - around town or a long road trip. Not averse to luxe features but don’t require them.

So, not an Audi Q5 or Volvo Cross-Country (not tall, not off-road), not a Jeep CJ or Series Land-Rover or Unimog (too uncivilized), not a Honda Pilot or Hyundai Santa Fe (not interesting), not a crew-cab F250 or Tacoma (not two box) - you get the idea.

Examples of vehicles that might fall in the category - old Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Toyota Landcruiser, first gen Range Rover and Discovery, I’m sure I am overlooking many others and that’s one reason for this query.

Do vehicles like BMW X5, Mercedes GL-class, Porsche Cayenne qualify? I don’t know, that’s another reason for this query.

Ideas? I come at this from a position of ignorance, having owned a Series Land Rover and a gen 1 Range Rover but otherwise with no experience in SUV-land.

Wait wait wait...you want a "thing", but you don't exactly know what a "thing" is? Then you don't want a "thing", you want whatever image pops in your head when you think of "thing". WHAT is that image?

You reference several vehicles, which span decades and some major design changes, then you compare to a bunch of brand new shiny things. Do you want a capable shiny thing, or a classic thing, or the best of the best thing?

Problem is, you want " Not-see-that-every-day vehicle a plus. DIY-friendly a plus. Affordable and/or will hold value a plus" and by now, I think you know that the thing you're imagining doesn't exist...you can have one, maybe two of those requirements, but not all of them...

Just get a 1995 Toyota 4Runner. It's what you're brain is thinking of when it thinks "capable SUV".

WPOZZZ · 03-12-2023, 10:08 PM

Land Cruiser or 4Runner. Had an 88 Grand Wagoneer and while it could haul a bunch, and was easy to work on, it lacked power and the brakes left a lot to be desired. Btw, I had the 360 V8.

look 171 · 03-13-2023, 01:06 AM

Like most guys here praise the LC. I am a huge fan of the 80 LC but it does ride a bit rough compare to the 100 series. If I were in need of one, the 100 series would be it. Now I daily a 5 gen 4 Runner with the V6. Plenty of creature comfort and doesn't ride like a truck at all. Quiet and pretty fast too for those none off road duties to the markets. Gets 19 on the hwy. Lets face it, they all suck gas but are sure reliable. I would jump in it today and drive across the country or into Canada without doing anything. That 4 Runner will get you out of trouble and home safely. They are really common around here. I bought a 3rd gen V6 4Runner for my kid because I know how reliable they are and many people that own them have over 300k on them and still runs well without issues but a bit less refine compare to my newer one.

look 171 · 03-13-2023, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Wait wait wait...you want a "thing", but you don't exactly know what a "thing" is? Then you don't want a "thing", you want whatever image pops in your head when you think of "thing". WHAT is that image?

You reference several vehicles, which span decades and some major design changes, then you compare to a bunch of brand new shiny things. Do you want a capable shiny thing, or a classic thing, or the best of the best thing?

Problem is, you want " Not-see-that-every-day vehicle a plus. DIY-friendly a plus. Affordable and/or will hold value a plus" and by now, I think you know that the thing you're imagining doesn't exist...you can have one, maybe two of those requirements, but not all of them...

Just get a 1995 Toyota 4Runner. It's what you're brain is thinking of when it thinks "capable SUV".

I think the 95 4 runner has a 3.slow, I mean 3.0, engine in it. While it is reliable, but it really lacks power. Get the later year 3.4L V6. 98-02 are the 3rd year with the 3.4L. Many of them have huge amounts of miles on them. The 98-01 Limited has a factory locker to get you out of a real jam. I used it once on my kids car. Worked great.

look 171 · 03-13-2023, 01:15 AM

I hear too many scary things about BMWs, Benz, and even Porsche having a bit of trouble with their SUVs. But none with Toyota and that's why there's the Toyota truck tax. People who has owned them know how good they really are. Body on frame is a requirement for me when it comes to a vehicle like it since we occasionally run trails out in the desert or explore the local hills.