Best small SUV for under $10k?

[Seahawk]

2002 Toyota 4Runner SR5 TRD Sport ***CLEAN TITLE***



Edit:

I have Onewhipped's old 2003 4Runner Sport, now with almost 200K on it. It is now my daily driver since we bought a new Highlander for my wife.
At ten years of age it is still solid, drives and runs superbly. MPG is at 19, not great but my commute is less than 20 miles a day.

I love driving it and will do so for many more years. The Gen 4 4Runners are great.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/

[Scott Douglas]

Might try looking for/at a Honda Element.

[red-beard]

Doesn't "Notfarnow" have a Samari? He might see it cheap....

[1990C4S]

Diesel Samari. I think...

[bivenator]

Notfornow's Samurai would be a smokin' deal.

[Aragorn]

Have had a few Jeep GC's over the years and for your needs would probably not recommend them. The first series had the alarm problem (3 a.m. wake up call anyone?) and the 99-05 is a little too much sway for most people on the interstate. Gas mileage is around 16 to 18 at best with the 4.0.

Exploders in you price range get bad gas mileage. The V-8 only gets 12.5 to 13 mpg at best. They do have good storage and towing ability though.

Look at Matt's choices or a 4 Runner. That seems to fit your bill for hauling people and equipment with decent gas mileage.

[Rick Lee]

Allthe 4runners in my price range seem to have very high miles. There's a nice Lexus in Scottsdale on eBay that has potential. But I bet it goes for pretty good $$. No sales tax on private party vehicle sales here, so I won't bother with stealers.

Lexus : RX Base Sport Utility 4-Door in Lexus | eBay Motors

[matt711]

Saab 9-3 Wagon... Fun to drive, sort of a classic and simple to work on plus good MPG.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I am open to wagons for sure, but sort of want the higher ground clearance of an SUV for occasional dirt roads.

what is the traction situation on those dirt roads?

if you're sure you only need 2wd or part-time AWD* then a Honda of some sort is nicest

if you need full time AWD then Sube & you get the best gnd. clearance in that segment also; but you will pay for more fuel & not get as nice an interior

if you need real 2wd then... something Jeepish or if the 4runners are still like they used to be, one of those

* they work by detecting wheel slip then powering the other set of wheels; problem is that the wheels are already slipping when the system powers them up - there are videos on youtube of a Sube going right up a ramp that the Honda/Toyota could not

even the switches on Hondas just feel better... I'd pay the price penalty for that and the high-reving motor if I did not need AWD

BTW - My driving impressions and search is on OT somewhere - it is also 2 yrs old

[RWebb]

oh yeh - go to Cons. Reports and check interior sizes - they uses boxes or frames to figure out how much real stuff you can put in the back - others (manf.s) will just add up every little cubbyhole, and you have some boxy amps, etc. to move (a van would be ideal... in some ways)

you need to generate a smaller subset of vehicles to look at...

[Rick Lee]

Honestly, I'll probably never go out on a dirt road and don't want the headache of AWD maint. It doesn't snow here at all. My mom has had very long and bad experience with SAABs. The '84 900 I had was ok and my sister got about 268k miles out of her turbo. As ugly as the Kias are, they may fit the bill. Not looking for a luxury ride, just something reliable, room and with ice cold a/c.

[UconnTim97]

I hate to suggest this, but what about a PT Cruiser? There is a guy that makes deliveries to my work in one. I am quite impressed with how much useable storage space there was back there.
I have no experience with them otherwise.

[scottmandue]

Dad has a CR-V and has had zero trouble.... but he is in his 80's and hardly thrashes on it

I have borrowed it a bunch of times and it is a nice ride... about as exciting as a bowl of oatmeal but my wife loves driving it.

Checked out a Santa Fe at the dealer, looked super nice, almost stopped the deal I was making on my (now) Elantra and flipped to that except that it was more $$, the four banger gets pretty good mileage.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by matt711

Saab 9-3 Wagon... Fun to drive, sort of a classic and simple to work on plus good MPG.

The new bodystyle 9-3 typically landed on the various "least reliable" car list. Lots of needless complication and not very well made. My sister in law had one that she bought against my recommendation, it was horrible. They were the epitome of GM ruining Saab.

[VincentVega]

Good luck RL. A buddy called today with basically the same question. Rav 4, 4 Runner, CRV and his wife likes the Honda Crosstour.

Subby turbo wagon would be on my list but if hauling gear is the key you need a van.

[Rick Lee]

I had a utility van in college for my band. It was so sinister. No windows other than windshield and front seats. I really learned how to drive with mirrors with that one. It had a reverse beacon too. So many amazing times were had with that van. But I was hauling the whole band's gear then. I'll just be hauling my own stuff now. And I can fit most of my gear in my wife's 328i, but don't like doing it that way.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by UconnTim97

I hate to suggest this, but what about a PT Cruiser? There is a guy that makes deliveries to my work in one. I am quite impressed with how much useable storage space there was back there.
I have no experience with them otherwise.

I had one for a rental car once. I think they're also a runner up for ugliest car in the world, right up there with the Pontiac Aztec and Dodge Magnum.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by UconnTim97

I hate to suggest this, but what about a PT Cruiser? There is a guy that makes deliveries to my work in one. I am quite impressed with how much useable storage space there was back there.
I have no experience with them otherwise.

I used to rent them when I traveled for business. Never again. In the rain they have terrible wheel spin when you do a right turn from a stop. Wheel spin so bad you think you're going to get nailed by the semi that you thought you had lots of distance from.

[Jim Richards]

Yikes

[UconnTim97]

Egads! Can I rescind my suggestion on the basis that I never drove one?