Winter Car? Or All in One SUV

[mossguy]

Ford Flex?

[RWebb]

posted on t hat a while back - nobody like it much...

yup - a ramp is in the future.
can't fold the seats that way on the current Pilot b/c of the plywood back there

[jyl]

I don't think you want a westy, doesn't carry 4x8 you want a regular syncro for $3k to $7k per some quick checking. Btw the syncro westy for $20k was a good deal regardless of needing $5k work.

hmm, maybe I can pic up some hot lesbians??



The only synchro Westie I've ever found for sale here was 20k and had 5k worth of problems.



nice thing re Subarus is that there are tons of them here -- more of them than Priuses...



anybody know if they have particle filters for the interior? and when they started putting those in?

[jyl]

Ford Flex looks like a hearse.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by jyl

Ford Flex looks like a hearse.

You say that like it's a bad thing!

[Soterik]

I've been kinda looking for roughly the same type of vehicle for quite a while, and adding the parameters of great fuel mileage.

I'm currently using a 99' Suburban diesel, pretty much bulletproof but still lousy mileage, and I also have a 92 Explorer that is on it's last legs. I bought the Explorer new in 92 with a tape measure as I knew I was going to be sleeping in the back. Note that the Ford Explorer may be something to consider as they are cheap and plentifull.

A friend of mine also has looked for similar cars, one of the ideas he had was a car that had a fold flat passenger seat so that you could use the whole length of the cabin. I think the Honda Element, or perhaps the Saturn Vue has this feature, and perhaps others.

You can always put a lift kit on these cars/suvs, or a taller tire wheel combo to gain ground clearance. I saw a pic of a slightly lifted Saturn Vue with taller tires, and it looked "right", and added the needed clearance.

My needs are more AWD from the skiing aspect as we tour the whole PNW for my kids ski races. We've considered trying to do a slightly lifted mini van such as the Sienna AWD. Perhaps this could be outfitted with skid plates for you?

cheers,
Eric

[kach22i]

Vehicross
http://vehicross.info/

http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/isuzu_vehicross_photo_video_13866.html


Isuzu VehiCROSS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_VehiCROSS

The Isuzu VehiCROSS was a halo car for the SUV-specialist company Isuzu. Produced from 1997 (Japanese market 1997-1999) through 2001 (US market 1999-2001), it shared much of its components with the Trooper, including both its 3.2 L and 3.5 L V6 engine that produces 215 bhp (160 kW) at 5400 rpm and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m) at 3000 rpm of torque.

........................The VehiCROSS was highly regarded for its cross-terrain performance.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

x2. Extended cab for more interior room, cab out back if you really want to sleep 'inside'.

There are so many used, nice 2000-2004 Tacoma Xcabs that you can put a nice cab on back for storage/sleeping on trips or everyday hualing. There are also excellent rack systems for the rear cab to take kayaks, extra storage, etc.

As well, the Tacoma will tow some of the neater, small off road trailers: http://www.roamingtimes.com/smalltraveltrailers/index.aspx

My son gets my 2001 Tacoma when he turns 16 and he's already planning his first cross country with the bed cab.

No brainer unless you don't like small trucks.

BTW, I love Land Rovers (I owned a '94 Defender 90) but be careful...they do the big parts well but the little stuff is awful.

[vash]

ok, like an fool i sold my truck. i did it just to see if it could sell, and yup, it did the very next day. what that did do to me and my life is that it turned my wife's subaru forester (yup we are both lesbians..that is me in the avatar) into my "truck". i have used it to haul lumber, and lots of hardware. amazing what you can get on the roof rack with proper tie downs. i got a few sheets of 4x8 plywood up there, driving slow.

i even used it to go hunting. i got onto a fireroad that made my hands sweaty. i creeped about, and didnt get stuck. i dont know if i would do that again. the day i kill a critter (long time coming) i will need a plan to get a dead animal into my wife's car. maybe tarps, maybe a thule roof basket, maybe a new trailer hitch with a small utility trailer. either way, the car gets 25mpg with the turbo goodness. i love the thing. but i miss a truck.

[RWebb]

re Lifted Van:
A friend has one of those Adventure Wagon things - I slept in it once and it was real nice as a camper. But it's a monster. Way too big for me -- he uses it for capturing snakes in the Idaho desert (he's a Snakeologist...).

I just think I'm gonna rule out anything made by a US company -- my experience with the Exploder was an attempt to "Buy 'Murican" but it taught me not to.

Ironically, if I do get a VW for the summer camper thing, I will have come full circle after 30 years. I used a VW pancqke motor bus almost all the way thru grad. school as a field vehicle - and I beat it unmercifully. I rebuilt and hotrodded the motor, put in a suped shock kit and all sorts of stuff.

I was admiring a nice looking Westie in a store parking lot this am. No sale sign on it and the guy gave me a look like "stay away from my machine" -- it looked just great... until he started it up. Then I heard that signature VW motor sound. The sound that says "I need 200 more hp -- PLEASE!"

[RWebb]

so who can compare a Sube Outback with a Forester for me??

[onewhippedpuppy]

You can get a Forester with the turbo 2.5, done deal. Outback is faux luxury, no thanks.

[jyl]

You'll have the only N2O Vanagon around.

Originally Posted by RWebb

Then I heard that signature VW motor sound. The sound that says "I need 200 more hp -- PLEASE!"

[vash]

OWP is correct. we found the outback too posh. the forester felt the same as the outback, but it was significantly less expensive.

you cant go wrong with that new forester. we have one generation older.

[ckissick]

A syncro vanagon was tailor-made for your needs. There is nothing else out there.

Right now on www.thesamba.com, page 2 of the vanagon classifieds, there is a 1986 syncro vanagon (not a camper, not a pop-top) with a Suby V6 engine with 2000 miles. I think those engines are over 200 HP. And it's located in Renton, WA. I'd drive up to take a look on Saturday. He wants $17,500, and it might be worth it.

[ckissick]

If you do get a nice syncro, you can always come down to Hollister CA next May 5 for Synro deMayo 2009. It's a blast. Lots of vans come down from Oregon and Washington.

[RWebb]

thx - I'll keep that in mind.

The Synchro has a horrendous reputation for breakdowns and maintenance...

I'm acquainted with a guy in town who has the full super-boogie wagon treatment on his tho. It looks mean.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by RWebb

thx - I'll keep that in mind.
The Synchro has a horrendous reputation for breakdowns and maintenance...

That reputation is not deserved. Keep in mind the newest ones are now 18 years old, so there will be maintenace issues. But they are easy to work on if you're a DIY'r. Otherwise, they are remarkably reliable if you treat them well.

My '83 has 194,000 miles on it and has been very reliable over the last three years. It is down right now with worn out hydraulic lifters, but I'm fixing them at a cost of about $100.

My syncro is just as reliable. The reputation that syncros have as unreliable is bogus, IMHO. Do a search and read up on them on thesamba.

[ckissick]

I have another idea. Buy a syncro with a bad engine for cheap. Send it to Stehpan's ******** in Sacramento - www.stephans********.com - for $10K they will install a 1.8T VW engine with upwards of 240 HP. Even 350 HP if you want. That should do the trick.