I am thinking about getting a comact SUV. I need something with 4wd or AWD and need something pretty reliable. What could I get for around 7000 bucks? My mom has a chevy tracker and its crap! I def don't want another one of those.
i know you asked about SUVs and im not gonna talk about SUVs but if you dont really care about the SUV image I would suggest checking out a used subaru. Any mid to late nineties model will provide reliable AWD transportation with the same utility as most compact SUVs. The 2.2 horizontally opposed 4 in some of the lesser models gets good gas mileage as well and is pretty much bulletproof
Supercharged 95 BMW 540i M-Sport
Yeah if its compact SUV youre looking for a wagon might do the trick.
You can probably find a 98 subaru outback AWD for just about 7 grand. Good luck.
2000 2200 Cavalier: 9/14/2000--10/23/2006
2007 G85 SS S/C: 10/23/2006--Present
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I would say a Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute, Saturn Vue, Subaru Outback.
Ford Escape handling is really good. It feels like the wheels are at its corners. Great feeling and riding. Room is aplenty too. Also it mostly it's a Mazda design, so you don't have to worry to much on Ford quality.
Saturn Vue not as good handling as the Escape. But it carries a wide track and long wheelbase. You can't beat those plastic door panels. The power is sufficiant in FWD but it will do in AWD version. Good gas mileage in 4cyl.
Subaru Outback: A car with a lifted kit. These things haul (turbo form). Subaru is strong and sturdy, with a good reputation in rally. I would go with this, as the gas tank is not the size of a tanker.
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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
I would stay away from an escape. Nothing wrong with it really i just HATE HATE HATE the seats in them. The most uncomfortable thing that i've ever sat in.
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/slydog98/SLYDOGSIG2.jpg">
Dating is the same as prostitution except you don't always get what you pay for
Escape/Tribute, hands down. Get one with the Duratec 3.0 24V in it, 200 horse. You can also get AWD, but if you wrench on your own cars and plan on holding onto it for a while, I'd stay with FWD, less mechanicals to go wrong.
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Tom
1999 Cavalier Z/24 ATX
1995 Taurus SHO MTX
1999 Chrysler 300M w/PHP
Ive never seen an Escape for under 10, let alone for 7 unless it would have like 150000 miles on it. Maybe you should look into either a Wrangler or maybe a mid 90's Explorer or Mountanieer
are you serious? They have horrible resale in our area...there going for like 5-8000
Get a Blazer
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/scotfire/images.jpg">.
Roscoe wrote:are you serious? They have horrible resale in our area...there going for like 5-8000
It was one of the cars i was considering b4 i decied on the TC, they are really expensive around here, about as much as an Explorer
Avoid 90-02 Explorer!
I don't think that needs explaining.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
wrangler or cherokee with a 4.0 I6. they will never die
or subaru
before you get anything you should ask yourself what you really need the vehicle for. Why do you need AWD of 4WD? If its becuase you want to do any sort of decent off roading you pretty much dont want to be considering a compact car based SUV. You might want to consider a Jeep or small truck based SUV. If you want AWD or 4WD just for snow or bad weather then I still wouldnt consider a car based suv...but thats just me.
Supercharged 95 BMW 540i M-Sport
I'd go for a used Subaru too, but good luck finding one that cheap. They ride like a car & function like an SUV, plus require less gas. They're also super reliable from everything i've heard, that's why i want one for my next vehicle. Sorry to hear your mom had Tracker problems! My sister-in-law's '93 didn't have any major problems up until she ran it into a pole recently. I'd stay away from an Escape, they are very unsafe according to crash tests.
YOU'RE A @!#$ IDIOT MAN DO NOT SELL YOUR CAR BECAUSE YOU WILL DEFINITELY LOSE ALOT MORE THAN 750 DOLLARS IN TRYING TO SELL YOUR CAR AND GET A WORSE OFF CAR THAT WILL PROBABLY HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL NEED TO PAY MORE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. YOU HAVE A VERY NEW CAR THAT HAS NO PROBLEMS AND HAS BEEN BABIED BY YOU, AND NOW YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT TO BUY SOME USED POS? U'RE A @!#$ IDIOT MAN, GROW THE @!#$ UP, YOU'RE IN COLLEGE? @!#$ YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A LEARNING 15 YEAR OLD DRIVER.
YOUR DAD WILL PROBABLY DISOWN YOU IF YOU SELL YOUR CAVY. YOU THINK HE WAS MAD ABOUT THE TICKET? HA!
WAKE UP MAN.
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
^^ My dad and I are considering selling it together. I am going to need something to get me through next winter up in boston and I don't think a cavalier with the razzi kit will cut it. I would be much less a target to cops with a used car and thats all I really need now. I want more passanger space and at least stock power locks and windows. Since I travel to and from pgh and boston with lots of school supplies, I need a bigger car. We would save money if I got something cheaper. Then, what we sell the cavalier for could be put towards the crazy ticket and my insurance rates that will prob go through the roof. The final decision won't be made until we find out about the ticket though.
then take off the wheels and kit, and sell it. there's the money for the ticket. you're going to lose man, im tellin u.
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
dude, what year tracker!?
the older ones...yes they were dogs and what didn't help were they were mated to a cruddy 3-speed auto.
but in your price range i'd seriously look into a Suzuki Grand Vitara V-6. they are bullet-proof, have a V-6, is a consumer digest best buy, and have REAL 4WD. and since most people think just because it shares it's platform with the tracker they are crap too....when they are not......they sell for fairly cheap.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
stargrrrl wrote: Sorry to hear your mom had Tracker problems! My sister-in-law's '93 didn't have any major problems up until she ran it into a pole recently. I'd stay away from an Escape, they are very unsafe according to crash tests.
Escapes are unsafe, coming from someone that advocates Trackers.
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Tom
1999 Cavalier Z/24 ATX
1995 Taurus SHO MTX
1999 Chrysler 300M w/PHP
Brown eye wrote:wrangler or cherokee with a 4.0 I6. they will never die
They never will. My girlfriend has a '92 Cherokee with 170,000 miles on it and still runs strong. My buddies have an '88 and '91 with over 200,000 and those beasts just keep on ticking. The motor itself it very easy work on also if you need to do any basic maintenance on it.
The gas consumption on them will kick you though, but other than that they are really reliable vehicles.
Have a good one,
Justin
TrueBlue wrote:stargrrrl wrote: Sorry to hear your mom had Tracker problems! My sister-in-law's '93 didn't have any major problems up until she ran it into a pole recently. I'd stay away from an Escape, they are very unsafe according to crash tests.
Escapes are unsafe, coming from someone that advocates Trackers.
Yeah, Escapes aren't safe. At least not the ones in that price range. In fact i searched AutoTrader.com and only saw one as cheap as $13,000, so that's out of the question anyway
The 2005 ones have been improved due to such unsafe rating in the past.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0406/14/a05-182743.htm
Quote:
In 2001, when the institute last tested the Escape, crash tests indicated the driver would suffer a serious head injury. The Escape earned the second-lowest rating of marginal.
The new tests showed damage to the lower body and serious neck injuries would likely occur if the Escape was in a similar real-world crash.
“The Escape still lags behind many other small SUVs that earn good ratings” in the institute’s frontal crash test, Lund said.
I didn't say that i'd buy a Tracker either, i personally feel like they're going to tip over. However, my sister-in-law loved hers to death & didn't have any major problems in the 12 years she had it. She hit a pole after hitting a patch of ice at about 45mph or so & she wasn't hurt at all, so i'd say that it didn't do too bad in this crash.
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7
^^get one of those
I ain't callin u a gold digga,but you ain't messin wit a broke cracka
Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Santa Fe, good reviews on them.
typhoon
but i dont know about reliability
couldnt be too bad