Go with an FJ60 or 62. You'll get 250k from the engine, although the 62 might be better (fuel injected/auto trans). It will most likely appreciate in value and start right up after sitting awhile. Over at TLC in Van Nuys they ship a bunch of restored Cruisers to the So. Cal locals who have places in Montana (but they run 40-60k restored). Go to www.ih8mud.com and check the classifieds or www.cruizers.com there should be something for sale close to you. Good luck.

How about a mid-late '90's Pathfinder?

Dude...where is your sense of adventure? :) I think the Exploder & Tahoe are piles. Look at used Cherokee. Over on the DiscoWeb site this '95 RR is going for $5K with tons ($16K worth) of recent upgrades and fixes.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1202838977.jpg

I have a 1999 Isuzu Trooper with 140K miles on it. It has been very solid. I would highly recommend it.

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Dude - here's your classic Montana 4X4!

It's on ebay.

I have a 96 Cherokee ( non gran or grand ) with the 4.0 six cyl. Its got close to 140k miles on it and other then the odd fuel pump it still runs great and has never left me stranded. I see nicer lower miles ones around for 4 to 6 k bucks.

+1, I loved my Trooper, and miss it, but it just wasn't big enough to tow what I need towed:(

+2 185k on our 1999. Zero problems and was a great kid hauler until I bought Whipped Puppies 4Runner last year:cool:

Motion - it seems to me reading your thread that you've pretty much decided on the Explorer! But you're not getting too many reassurances to buy this vechicle, so I will help you out:D

Buy the Explorer - I have no idea how good they are, but I do know that if your heart is set on one thing, then it's better to go for it, even if you have to learn by your mistakes lol


Matt

Wow, I never thought I would hear someone recommend a Trooper.....I guess they must have improved them considerably from the late 80's. While in the Army Reserves in the late 80's we were issued several brand new ones for a couple weeks while in Honduras and at the end of the two weeks, several of them were trashed. They were rattle traps after two weeks of dirt roads and mild off-road use.

To be honest the right year Explorer that's been gone over for the (few) common problems will be hard to beat for utility, comfort and amentities.

In 2002 they went over to 4 wheel independent suspension but, IMO, the ride is not that much better.

Completely different program, Tim. I did all the due diligence in terms of reliance, performance, etc. It was the best value in my mind in 1999/20. It is as ugly as a mud fence, but it can climb them, too.:cool:

BTW, best sun roof ever IMHO.

I believe you....10 yrs is a long time, but those early ones were pretty light duty.... I guess I never gave them any more thought.

We were rough on them for the two weeks we had them, but I was truly shocked at how flimsy they were.

One night we went into a small town for some beers and on the way back, a Honduran officer who had gone with us, asked to drive back to camp. Why we agreed I will never know, but we came around a bend on a gravel road and right in the middle of the road was a cow laying down. The officer swerved and we hit the thing sideways and dented every panel on the right side. :eek:

When we got out to check on the carnage, the cow was gone. The officer in charge of our little group surely caught some hell when he turned them in 2 weeks later.;):D

Sorry to hear about the LandCruiser being crossed off the list. That's too bad. I really enjoy mine, and at 240K miles, its just getting broken in. 2F's and 3FE's will go forever.

The Grand Cherokee is not really an SUV, more of the SAV. They have had problems, especially the earlier models.

And yes, the Regular Cherokee is Old school. And they brought the look back in both the extended 4 door Wrangler and the Commander. I personally like it.

It is a smaller SUV. The 4 door is big enough for most things. It is tough enough to last. And is it comfortable enough. Gas Mileage isn't fantastic, but it's not too bad either. The Straight 6 has been around a long time and works great.

I picked up a 99 explorer Eddie Bauer a couple years ago. It's in great shape, loaded with heated leather seats, etc.. It had 93K when I bought it almost two years ago. Paid $7300 at a dealer.

Someone on here had an early '90s Land Cruiser for sale, I think it had about 175k on it for $5k-ish. I'd take that over a 100k Explorer any day, 175k is just getting broken in. I think it sold rather quickly.

My Trooper was a '98. Had the bigger engine with the 100K timing belt, but was pre-TOD... and it had a black vinyl spare cover instead of the body color clamshell. It will go down as one of the best vehicles I ever owned. I bought it with around 30K and sold it with 85K. Before I sold it I took it in to have the brakes checked. The guy at the shop thought I was testing him as the original front pads and rotors were very close to factory specs for new. We were both a little baffled by this. Only complaint was that the A/C was marginal for Phoenix.

I had a 96 Explorer a few years ago that I had bought new. It was the lowly 6 cyl. I put 100k on it with almost no problems but did no serious 4*4 duty other than going skiing. I never should have sold it. My ex just bought a 95 or 96 4Runner that is in great shape. That thing feels like new with over 100,000 on it. Not sure of the actual mileage. She paid $6,500 or so. I'm a big fan of Toyotas. My 18 YO daughter is driving my Dad's old 98 Camry with 130k on the clock and no record of any issues other than regular maintenance. Almost forgot. Don't know if anyone has mentioned Suburban, Tahoe type vehicles. They are cheap now. We had a 99 Suburban that was pretty bullet proof and will haul anything, also should have kept that rig.