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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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Best family truckster under $16k
Vehicle must be AWD, safe, have a high ride (wife has bad back and two boys under 2) Just threw her back out [again]putting junior in the car seat of the A6.
This is your mission should you choose to accept it. My current thoughts: '01-'03 Mitsubishi Monetero LTD. '01-'02 Toyota 4Runner '98-'99 RANGE ROVER ( yea I know) Thoughts? Others??
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier Last edited by lendaddy; 11-29-2005 at 04:16 PM.. |
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11-29-2005, 04:14 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,976
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2003 - 2004 Xterra. I just bought an '05 and love it, though it does have quite a few more horsies.
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11-29-2005, 04:16 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,484
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Tahoe/Yukon, late model Durango, Grand Cherokee, a Ford Escape...
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11-29-2005, 04:29 PM
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Who is John Galt?
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 638
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Quote:
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'79 911sc Targa '02 slk230 kompressor '84 Tamiya Falcon A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. |
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11-29-2005, 04:33 PM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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Never like Chrysler products, always seemed like the worst of the Big3 to me (and that's an accomplishment)
 Seriously though maybe I should look at some American metal.
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-29-2005, 04:34 PM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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OK, what about the Merc ML430's? I've heard bad things about the sixer, but is the eight a good vehicle?
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-29-2005, 04:52 PM
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The Range Rover (just like you expected)
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11-29-2005, 05:32 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: los angeles, CA.
Posts: 41,306
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The good news is that the used market is in the toilet after the fuel price spike+ all of that employee pricing crap, I would think that you can steal a used Tahoe or Expedition right now.
You have to factor in the fuel, obviously, ie. a 2003 Tahoe for dirt cheap = (X) amount of saved dough towards gas, and conversely you might spend $400 @ month on petrol w/ the Range Rover. None of these trucks are efficient for moving people around, but the RR and Durango are in a class of their own for fuel consumption. |
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11-29-2005, 05:41 PM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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In '99 the Rover went to a differnty engine though I'm not sure how much better it is. Truth is that my wife drives very little now that she works from home so I really couldn't care less about mileage.
I spoke with a guy that said the '99-'01 Rovers really were reliable???? My '95 never left me stranded or anything but reliable? Not so much. Now the Rover was the safest feeling most unstoppable vehicle I have ever ridden in much less own so it gets points there.
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-29-2005, 05:45 PM
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The RR and Disco have so much personality that you forgive the gremlins that plague the brand. Plus as you said they are the real deal and fabulous to drive. About a year into our Expedition ownership and my wife still eye's with jealously any Disco that happens by. We just might rethink this whole thing soon...
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11-29-2005, 05:50 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Calgary Alberta, CANADA
Posts: 2,113
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Hi,
I just spent weeks doing research cause I wanted to buy a SUV for the wife. My criteria was simple: 4x4, bells and whitles, power, and most important very good price. The winner: Trailblazer (or Envoy). Truthfully I'm really impressed. The ride is really cushy and lots of towing power. To my surprise awesome gas mileage: 20 mpg!! Jap SUV are way too expensive -Jasper
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We're all in the gutter,but some of us are looking at the stars. -Oscar Wilde |
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11-29-2005, 10:02 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Posts: 888
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My wife just got herself a BMW X3 with the 3.0 engine. Fantastic car IMO. Used X5's may also be good buys now, as the new X5 is scheduled to arrive in 2006 sometime. Just get one of the later models (after 2003 I think) that has the same X-drive system as the X3.
L
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'90 964 C2 coupe (sold  )There are no old Porsches, only new owners. |
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11-30-2005, 12:28 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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I don't think there are many (or any) BMW X5's under $16K. Trailblazer/Envoys are just plain cheap right now. You could certainly buy a 2003, maybe even a 2004 for under $16K. A lot of rig for the money, and WAY more for the money than a used Japanese SUV.
E |
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11-30-2005, 04:52 AM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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Hmmm I'll give those a look-see. Thanks.
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-30-2005, 05:55 AM
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My parents' Explorer has been surprisingly inexensive to own (if you don't factor in the absurd depreciation of the last year or so). It's a 1998 at 120k miles and aside from an O2 sensor that was replaced under warranty and a couple of minor things out of warranty, it's been easy on the wallet. Not one dime spent on tires (after the Firestone fiasco Ford ponied up $700 to pay for new tires) and they just had the brakes done for the first time!
You should be able to find a 2003 for under 16k easily.
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1987 325 eta |
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11-30-2005, 06:17 AM
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MBruns for President
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I drove the crap out of my Mitsu Montero Ltd. 120k miles and only brakes, tires and oil. I pulled all kinds of boats and cars - it was nice to have the transfer case in bad weather - rode very nicely - pulled bushes and trees out of the yard with it. Basically abused it (it was a company vehicle)
It was a little underpowered - but still got decent mileage (20 or so a gallon). Big, but not too big.
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Current Whip: - 2003 996 Twin Turbo - 39K miles - Lapis Blue/Grey Past: 1974 IROC (3.6) , 1987 Cabriolet (3.4) , 1990 C2 Targa, 1989 S2 |
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11-30-2005, 06:36 AM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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The TrailBlazers/Envoys do give a good bang for the buck......Some of these things have gone from $35k trucks to $15k trucks in two years! Oucheeeeee
Can you say lease return losses?
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-30-2005, 06:46 AM
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Student of the obvious
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 7,714
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What has AWD, a huge sunroof, leather, climate control, is a little less common, is rediculously reliable and can be bought for around $12K - if not less?
Isuzu Trooper Limited My Trooper has 87K miles on and has never broken. It still has the original brakes!
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Lee |
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11-30-2005, 07:50 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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Stay away from 2000-up Troopers! BAD MOTORS! Rodeos too, but mostly Troopers.
E |
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11-30-2005, 09:18 AM
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Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
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What about Bravadas? Looks like I can score an '02-'03 in the budget.
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Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
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11-30-2005, 09:59 AM
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Carrera
2003 996
04 Jeep
1987 BMW 325e M20 eta
Gone to California
Turbo
