If I need to buy a used 4x4 or AWD vehicle in the next 6 months, what should I get?

I'm considering buying a brand new vehicle, but that won't happen until sometime in 2023 at the soonest and my Subaru is broken beyond what I can fix so I need to buy something else. 

I'd prefer a real 4x4 but something like an Outback or XC70 could do most of what I would want to do.  I don't specifically need 4wd but I do need decent ground clearance and low range would be a plus. I don't think a 2wd open diff pickup would really work though.  

Any ideas of what to look for that could be found for under $7500?  

the best GMT800 tahoe or suburban you can find.

What do you need/want to do with this 4x4?

The nicest 4.0 WJ you can find?

Tk8398 said:

Any ideas of what to look for that could be found for under $7500?  

 

A whole lot of things.  Do you have any more specific requirements?

As far as what I would do with it, drive it to work until I got a better car to use for that, and use it for camping/driving on forest service roads and in the desert.  Nothing too extreme but I want to go places that would be difficult/impossible in a 2wd car.  

The only other big requirements would be room for a tall driver and reliable enough to not be dangerous to drive places with no cell phone service, but over 15 mpg highway and 300 miles of range would be nice, and sub 10 second 0-60.  

I have been using a borrowed 2nd gen Tacoma 2.7/5 speed and it does fine as far as any off pavement stuff I'd want to do but it's painfully slow, and even a rough one is $15k. 

In your combination of price and capability in this current market I think your shopping will be less about which specific model and more about what awd/4wd presents itself.  What shows up in the best condition of the price. 

Ole Chevy Trailblazer might fit.  I agree, Tahoe is a good choice. 

No one will discredit you for taking a Jeep into rough territory. A Grand Cherokee is a solid choice for that reason. 

Some recent GRM chatter on Grand Cherokee

Some of the best value out there are the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Escapes/Mazda Tributes/Mercury Mariners. They're not as good as the CRV or Rav4 at being a car. They're not big enough for most family's as a hauler. The V6's get E36 M3ty gas mileage. They can't tow a ton. So they don't really answer any questions very well. That said, because of all that, they are cheap. $2,500 will get you a very decent one. They'll all probably have a few niggling issues, but nothing that you can't live with...  The single exception would be the rear shock towers. They rust out, in catastrophic fashion. So if you go down that route, inspect that area ridiculously well. Not gonna tackle MOAB in stock form, but they'll be capable for forest service roads. 

Maybe a little more off road chops, the Mitsubishi Montero. John Welsh loves his - I'll defer to him to sell that one.

If they're not too big, check out some early Sequoia's. Toyota build quality, and incredible bargains IMHO. Actually this would be my first choice. 

Sequoia, Highlander, Pathfinder, Xterra, Cherokee, CRV, Rav4, Forester... really like John said, whatever is available in good condition/price.

I do like the Gen3 Montero but I was shy to mention because it will be slow, underpowered (but stoutly geared) while being thirsty. 

I have a super clean all original (even radio and wheels) 1997 XJ 4x4 Country I'm going to be listing soon. Never been lifted or abused. Original paint in good condition. It's lived in North Alabama since new (read ZERO rust) and has a clean carfax. It's been mostly professionally maintained and is at the shop now getting all new wheel bearings and U-joints. If this is something you'd be interested in to get you through to the new vehicle, shoot me a pm and I can send some pictures!

Edit: I'd be wayyy under your budget.

mtn said:

Some of the best value out there are the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Escapes/Mazda Tributes/Mercury Mariners. They're not as good as the CRV or Rav4 at being a car. They're not big enough for most family's as a hauler. The V6's get E36 M3ty gas mileage. They can't tow a ton. So they don't really answer any questions very well. That said, because of all that, they are cheap. $2,500 will get you a very decent one. They'll all probably have a few niggling issues, but nothing that you can't live with...  The single exception would be the rear shock towers. They rust out, in catastrophic fashion. So if you go down that route, inspect that area ridiculously well. Not gonna tackle MOAB in stock form, but they'll be capable for forest service roads. 

you have me considering these again

John Welsh said:

In your combination of price and capability in this current market I think your shopping will be less about which specific model and more about what awd/4wd presents itself.  What shows up in the best condition of the price. 

Yeah, that's the annoying part of the current situation.  It's not like I will get stuck not being able to get to work or something because I could pay cash anytime for a car that will do that well enough, but it seems like $7500 will get you a Toyota pickup with 250k and a salvage title at best as far as anything with any off pavement capability.  

If that's the market right now I can do that if I have to, but I feel like buying a vehicle with over 200k miles is a bit of a gamble when it's one I don't know much about.  Like I saw someone selling a ZR2 Blazer with a P0420 code and I looked up what new cats would cost and it was $1800.

My vote: RAV4.  The old one with the V6.  Those little buggers will scoot.

edit: or get the XJ posted above.  Not as fast as the RAV but as Matt's Off-road Recovery says "a stock XJ won't perform any better than anything else.  But add a 2" lift and some lunch-box lockers and now you've got something that can outperform almost EVERYTHING else."

And "perform" here means going places that would be impossible in a 4X2.

Go big or go home.  
 

In reply to Tk8398 :

Where are you located?

Locall I can find plenty of suitable vehicles under $7500.  Lots of Pathfinders and Xterras in that price range with ~150k ish on them.

That said, the good part about a 250k mile toyota is you wont feel too bad scratching it up a bit and it will somehow be worth more when it gets to 300k lol

In reply to A 401 CJ :

Just a note. No 4 cylinder rav4's. I had one. It was a dog and used more oil than all 4 of previous combined cars. 

mtn said:

Some of the best value out there are the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Escapes/Mazda Tributes/Mercury Mariners. ... That said, because of all that, they are cheap. $2,500 will get you a very decent one. 

not in today's market, at least not around here.  cheapest without a salvage title is $4000 and that's got >150k on the odo.  i long for the days of the $2500 Box Escape.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

mtn said:

Some of the best value out there are the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Escapes/Mazda Tributes/Mercury Mariners. ... That said, because of all that, they are cheap. $2,500 will get you a very decent one. 

not in today's market, at least not around here.  cheapest without a salvage title is $4000 and that's got >150k on the odo.  i long for the days of the $2500 Box Escape.

Some people tolerate mileage better than others.  Out of curiosity, I checked here.  First result for 'escape' is $2200, clean title, 179k miles.  v6 AWD.

I try to limit my searches to 4cyl though.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/906608230208823/

ProDarwin said:

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

mtn said:

Some of the best value out there are the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Escapes/Mazda Tributes/Mercury Mariners. ... That said, because of all that, they are cheap. $2,500 will get you a very decent one. 

not in today's market, at least not around here.  cheapest without a salvage title is $4000 and that's got >150k on the odo.  i long for the days of the $2500 Box Escape.

Some people tolerate mileage better than others.  Out of curiosity, I checked here.  First result for 'escape' is $2200, clean title, 179k miles.  v6 AWD.

I try to limit my searches to 4cyl though.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/906608230208823/

"Very decent" is probably not the right descriptor, but there are a bunch on my facebook marketplace that pop up. 

I wouldn't be searching them out, myself, but having owned one I'm always impressed by the capability that you can get for the low price. But keep in mind... They do everything worse than their competitors (except the Land Rover Freelander) - which is the reason they're as cheap as they are. 

Ultimately, I think John is right - be ready to buy whatever you come across, and don't search for something specific. 

What's the urgency?   Finish reading this thread?    I'm with you buddy.   

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-trans-america-trail-by-carsuv/155772/page1/

ProDarwin said:

In reply to Tk8398 :

Where are you located?

Locall I can find plenty of suitable vehicles under $7500.  Lots of Pathfinders and Xterras in that price range with ~150k ish on them.

I'm in California.  I have seen a few Xterras but they were $5k with 250k miles.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but the only one of those I have ever driven didn't have much higher mileage and needed a timing chain.  

How bad are older Kia Sorentos? One was in front of me on my way to work today and I seem to recall seeing those for cheap before.

Datsun310Guy said:

What's the urgency?   Finish reading this thread?    I'm with you buddy.   

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-trans-america-trail-by-carsuv/155772/page1/

Mainly just that the only functional car I have is a Boxster that isn't in great shape, and since I can afford to do something about it then there's no reason not to.  

Have you looked at Pathfinders? They're a legit SUV, and go for cheaper than Xterras or anything Toyota. They aren't as modifiable as the others, but they'll handle a dirt road just fine. $7500 should get you into a 2004+ one.

Pathfinder is a good suggestion, or the Infiniti one that nobody remembers the right name.  

Not sure that I'd want this, but this has got to be a unicorn. 

 https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/d/stanford-2005-kia-sorento/7363399846.html