My wife is hard on vehicles. What vehicle with some ground clearance?

I'm tired of fixing the bumper in the TSX (parking stops--happened twice now), and getting it aligned because she can't miss potholes. I am thinking about trading it in on something that is a little more robust--by which I mean that the bumper is out of the way of parking stops and snow drifts, and the tires have a little bit more rubber.

What I'd really like is the TSX with 3 more inches of clearance, but the RDX is still too expensive. MDX is too big (as is Pilot). What are the CRV's like? Highlanders (likely too big)? Help me out, this is a market I know very little about other than "Get a CX5", which is still too expensive.

Budget of $5k, must be somewhat nice inside, extremely reliable, and safe. Don't care much about performance or MPG. Would prefer something that is car-based.

CRV or Rav4. They sell a lot of them for a reason.

Here you go

Lift the TSX with some rally suspension

Slippery wrote: Here you go

Damn, they're that cheap? Unfortunately, I won't buy one with that many miles unless I trust the original owner (like you), and you're too damn far away.

The easiest cars to recommend to a non-enthusiast is the CRV or Rav4.
They are solid cars that everyone seems to like.

I will say, Mazda5 (mini-minivan) is not your answer here. To maximize the space, our Mazda5 has some surprisingly small ground clearance, even at factory ride height. In addition, it has some large rims leaving small sidewalls that get eaten by potholes.

The RDX and CRV share the same basic chassis (different drivetrains.)

Another thought, look at Infiniti QX4 (twin to Nissan Pathfinder). They often sell for less than the similar Pathfinder since no one sets out looking for an Infiniti.
Quickly found sample that will actually sell for less than the $2.950 they are asking.

A Miata with the FM lift kit, duh.

I'm going to suggest Outlander. My GF, who is VERY rough on her cars has one. She's had it over a year and half. She added a lot of scratches, but it's holding up really well and it's really nice to drive for a cute-ute (Lancer based)

No Mitsu's. Sorry.

Lexus RX's are nice and have depreciated nicely.

Edit: fixed my horrendous post from earlier

Jeep Cherokee for $2500 and throw a Quadratech catalog worth of offroad bumpers, armor, ect at it with the rest of the budget. I guarantee your/her car won't be the one to get scratched

Many, many s10 blazer beaters. Break one? Replace! I learned to give my ex E36 M3ty cars after the ruined the mini that cost me 20k. Her car after that was a 150$ prizm.

Slippery wrote: Here you go

Came here to post that.

I'm looking at that--it doesn't look to have much ground clearance. Anyone know the specs?

Honda CRV or Subaru Forester are both pretty decent options.

I don't know the specs. My boss had one and other than being a nail and screw magnet, it handled typical construction site conditions well enough. Rough grading, gravel or indifferent paving, holes, etc.

I vote Honda Crossour.

It's literally an Accord with a lift kit, and that's exactly what it drives like.

Also available in Acura flavor, if you the Honda flavor isn't ugly enough for you.

EDIT: Ignore all of this, Missed the $5k budget, fairly certain these aren't anywhere near that cheap yet.

mtn wrote: I'm tired of fixing the bumper in the TSX (parking stops--happened twice now), and getting it aligned because she can't miss potholes. I am thinking about trading it in on something that is a little more robust--by which I mean that the bumper is out of the way of parking stops and snow drifts, and the tires have a little bit more rubber. What I'd really like is the TSX with 3 more inches of clearance, but the RDX is still too expensive. MDX is too big (as is Pilot). What are the CRV's like? Highlanders (likely too big)? Help me out, this is a market I know very little about other than "Get a CX5", which is still too expensive. Budget of $5k, must be somewhat nice inside, extremely reliable, and safe. Don't care much about performance or MPG. Would prefer something that is car-based.

Simple: Stop fixing it. If it bothers her that the car looks like crap, then she can pay to have it fixed. After a few rounds of that and having to not buy that bobble due to the expense, maybe she'll figure it out. If it doesn't bother her, then let her destroy her car. Just because we GRM'ers are "fixers" by nature doesn't mean we HAVE to fix everything, because sometimes our ability to fix things is used as a crutch and that's not helping anyone.

Highlander isn't too big, if you go first gen, and they'll run forever (we have over 200K on our base 01 'lander and its just now showing a little age in wear items which are cheap/easy to replace) Just a jacked up Camry wagon. Rav4 is a scaled down 'lander and rides a little more rough (or "sporty") but really isn't much different in overall size if you park them next to each other. Don't forget the Lexus version, the RX, but they tend to hold their value a bit better, but are often better equipped.

Our money, not hers. So that won't fly.

A nice P71 with Grand Marquis or Town car seats swapped into it?

How about some spring spacers or v6 accord springs for some more ground clearance and a set of -1 wheels and tires, also likely Accord take offs. Maybe a backup camera mounted on the front bumper for the parking stops?

mtn wrote:

Slippery wrote: Here you go

Damn, they're that cheap? Unfortunately, I won't buy one with that many miles unless I trust the original owner (like you), and you're too damn far away.

Ohh come on ... its only 1300 miles on a nice reliable car. Look at what Tom and Tim are doing!

Nobody said Outback yet? Nice car. Good clearance. Cheaper than Yoters and Hondas.

another vote for XJ

Here ya go just for $1.5k more than budgeted but you probably can get it for less.

1963 Volvo Laplander.

https://amarillo.craigslist.org/cto/5833155831.html