Want something different- http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/4648932061.html
Want something different- http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/4648932061.html
My only experience with a early Sportage involved it falling to pieces while still relatively new (less than 5 years). Granted it wasn't extremely well kept, but it still had failures that I wouldn't think should happen on a car of it's age like a cracked exhaust manifold and the need for a new transmission. This would have been a 97? I believe.
On the other hand I think the Sportage might be the most F2T friendly of your options so you should probably buy one.
Why didn't the Forester make this list? While it might not be a real wheeling rig, it can handle anything you're going to find on your way to work and much more.
Get a 2000 "S" model with the All-Weather package and you get a rear LSD, 4 wheel disks, heated seats, etc. The bonus if you get a 5 speed model is that you can get a dual-range transmission from overseas, get a suspension lift, get a 1" body lift and put an aftermarket clutch-type LSD in the front and suddenly you're really almost a real wheeling rig. As long as you keep 3 tires on the ground, there aren't many places you're not going to be able to go.
(edit: I just did a fast search and realized Foresters are easily five times more expensive in your area then they are in my area.)
In reply to Brett_Murphy:
Yeah they're salty round these here parts and I don't find them interesting enough to travel for. 
Did you buy a montero yet?
I vote Montero.
OR sell your body and get the Detroit powered truck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-rSGRU9bzw
E: Be a MANLY MAN, and drop a 6V into a truck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FZN_9Le7oQ
And then do this ALL THE TIME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvzEqmNpo3E
Unicorns, but did you know they made AWD 4 cylinder Tributes with a manual?
While not 4wd, I've always had a soft spot for the Blazer Xtreme. The 4.3 is super reliable, can be had in a 5spd and decently quick for what it is. An AWD swap from a Bravada would be the catsass.
Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Did you buy a montero yet?
No, but i think 1G Montero/Raider or Trooper is the answer here. There's enough of them out there i think i should be able to pick one up in a couple weeks when i put together the rest of the "Swank's Beater Fund."
I loved the crap out of my friend's raider back in high school. Sketchy highway manners, boxy, minimalist... Pure heaven.
Isn't an oil change in later Monteros a pita due to having to remove rusty skid plate hardware?
Storz wrote: While not 4wd, I've always had a soft spot for the Blazer Xtreme. The 4.3 is super reliable, can be had in a 5spd and decently quick for what it is. An AWD swap from a Bravada would be the catsass.
In a similar vein, I've always loved these as well (ZR-2). I've always heard they were a nightmare to own, and there was never any aftermarket for them either. But they did look pretty cool:
mattmacklind wrote:Storz wrote: While not 4wd, I've always had a soft spot for the Blazer Xtreme. The 4.3 is super reliable, can be had in a 5spd and decently quick for what it is. An AWD swap from a Bravada would be the catsass.In a similar vein, I've always loved these as well (ZR-2). I've always heard they were a nightmare to own, and there was never any aftermarket for them either. But they did look pretty cool:
Sadly I dont have any pics of it, but I had a 2000 ZR2 S-10 back in college, 5spd manual. Awesome truck, horrible on gas but got me through a lot of Michigan winters and back roads with ease. Looked just like the one below
Can i bug you guys to rank things again?
1st gen Trooper
2nd gen Trooper
1st gen Montero
2nd gen Montero
3rd gen Montero
1st gen Rodeo
2nd gen Rodeo
It seems like these are the trucks i can find in nice shape in the $2k range. My personal preference would be 1st gen Trooper or Montero, but they're scarce locally. Lots of 2nd gen Monteros and 2nd gen Troopers in beautiful shape for $2k or less. Which is the one to get?
buy the best example of any of those..
1 gens will be more rusted.
Does that mean that none of them are truly terrible?
Swank Force One wrote: Does that mean that none of them are truly terrible?
define terrible.
Like... any of them unlikely to do 15-20k without puking to the point that they're not worth repairing?
I've heard that the later V6 Monteros can be REALLY difficult to do certain engine repair jobs on, but otherwise I'm just as curious as you are.
SlickDizzy wrote: I've heard that the later V6 Monteros can be REALLY difficult to do certain engine repair jobs on, but otherwise I'm just as curious as you are.
I know the fuel tank area likes to rust and it's not fun to deal with, but there's no way i'd purchase a rusty late Montero.
Swank Force One wrote: Can i bug you guys to rank things again? 1st gen Trooper 2nd gen Trooper 1st gen Montero 2nd gen Montero 3rd gen Montero 1st gen Rodeo 2nd gen Rodeo It seems like these are the trucks i can find in nice shape in the $2k range. My personal preference would be 1st gen Trooper or Montero, but they're scarce locally. Lots of 2nd gen Monteros and 2nd gen Troopers in beautiful shape for $2k or less. Which is the one to get?
Given your price cap, now it is just down to the variation of the specific samples you find.
I could write that newer is better but newer and beat to death is not better than older and well preserved/maintained.
I could say that less miles is better but low miles and neglected is not better than high miles and well preserved/maintained.
Well sure... but there's enough examples of all of those i can afford to narrow it down a bit. There's TONS of 2nd gen Troopers in my area. TONS of 2nd and 3rd gen Monteros.
Really, there's many of all of those except the 1st gen Trooper/Montero.
Here's the 4 i'm currently crushing on:
1) 2nd gen Rodeo. 4x4 5spd, looks nice. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4665895463.html
2) 1st gen Rodeo. 4x4 5spd, looks decent. Probably slightly overpriced. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ctd/4704029028.html
3) 2nd gen Montero. High miles, looks really well cared for. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4711597760.html
4) 2nd gen Trooper. Looks incredibly nice for the money. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4696094238.html
I did not realize you were looking at Montero Sports.
Yes, Mitsu likes to re-use names but the real Montero (not Sport) is a much bigger and stouter vehicle.
I know less of the Sports but they were not as loved as the full Montero.
Others:
Passport: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4713794047.html
I would consider looking at this one to learn what goes bad with the frame?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4678365752.html
Do you mean literally bigger? Or just... "built bigger?"
There was a guy at my old apartment complex that had a Sport and a "normal." Both were physically the same size.
That $1900 Passport looks impossibly good. 
Did some more digging. Seems the Montero Sport of that era was also built on the Pajero Chassis, so it's got the good stuff. Most of what i can find is that the body itself is about 10" shorter, so there's not as much interior room. I'm cool with this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Challenger
For the US, the original Montero is internationally also known as the Pajero.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Pajero
For the US, the Montero Sport is internationally also known as Challenger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Challenger
You'll need to log in to post.
