Best small SUV for under $10k?

[Rick Lee]

I'm tiring of using the 993 for a daily driver and especially for hauling band gear. Mrs. Lee and I only have two door cars and are expecting plenty of visitors in the next year. So I'm looking for a cheapo, several years old, but comfortable and reliable small SUV, maybe a wagon and even would consider a minivan of at least four doors. I have just never paid attention to such things before, so I don't know what to look for other than scanning Craigslist and watching the cars around me in traffic. Cheaper is better.

[Jim Richards]

We had good luck with a Honda CR-V. Bought one new in 2000, gave it to our son in 2005 and he's still using it as his daily driver today. You should be able to find a mid-to-late 2000's model for under $10k. I take it the in-laws are coming to visit.

[Reg]

2nd the CRV. Ours has been pretty good, no frills and good on fuel.

[TimT]

Just bought a '08 CV-R for the s/o 33K on the clock..

$12k

It is optioned out.... Carcrap gave a good report...

Its a really nice ride

[lendaddy]

I've been surprised by the low prices I've seen on 4runners lately.

[Rick Lee]

I doubt the in-laws are coming, but my folks certainly are and probably some friends from Europe. I have been eying the CR-V, just never been around one up close.

[Brian 162]

My better half is on her second santa-fe. The first(2001) one went over 250 k's before she bought another one. The only major thing that failed was the a/c stopped working (pretty big leak).

[Nostril Cheese]

I bought my Trooper for $750. Just needed an alternator.

[RANDY P]

1st generation Pathfinder 4 door 4WD. If you can find one that hasn't been molested by a single mom with 8 kids they are killer rides.

We had 2 1st gen Pathfinders, one had 200k the other 140K never left us stranded.

I like the looks myself.

[RANDY P]

1995 Nissan Pathfinder sell or trade You'd have to thoroughly get this one detailed to get the PO fart smells out, window tint redone and fix that f'ed up step bar thing (or lose it) and fix the oil leaks but then it's all good.

something like this one......As long as it has runs good presently you are golden.

[Reg]

magnum = small SUV????

[Rick Lee]

I want something sort of recent, certainly less than 10 yrs. old. Those Magnums are as ugly as the Pontiac Aztec. Would not be caught dead in one.

[RANDY P]

PS we just sold the 87 that was mint, for $1400 the other day. Should've hit me eariler. Was a 3 door however.

rjp

[bfunke]

+1 Nostril. I bought a used trooper as a junker when kids where younger and I was a scoutmaster. It was a great hauler and super reliable and easy to work on.

When my daughter got her license, I got her a sportage. It was a fun driving car with lots of room but some of the engineering is goofy. Also parts very hard to find for Kia and local stealership went under. Got fed up driving an hour to be treated rudely at dealer in Columbia and then pay through the nose for parts so I sold it on CL.

[Rick Lee]

How are CR-Vs for reliability? It's not like I'd be super dependent on this, as I work from home and have other vehicles. In AZ the most important thing is a/c and tinted windows. But this would probably be parked outside, so I'd like a light color.

[Rick Lee]

I think the CR-Vs look kind of expensive for anything under 10 yrs. old. Isuzu Rodeos look to be a decent value.

[Reg]

no issues with ours after 120k miles, other than an AC relay.

[Reg]

$$$$ is for a reason I guess (unlike Dodge ...heck even the name tells you to move away!).

[VaSteve]

I'd buy a Grand Cherokee. .

[Nostril Cheese]

+1 on the Grand Cherokee with the 4.0L.

CRV, my sister had one. I was always working on it. It's basically a Civic adapted to an AWD platform.