I hesitate to actually recommended one, but my wife isn't that much taller and very happy with the seating position in her P38 Range Rover. That one has very reasonable trunk space as well, which comes in handy when having to lug around a massage table.
Mind you, she's also married to someone who has backup vehicles for his backup vehicles.
In reply to Stefan :
Oh, I give her a massive amount of grief about the minivan/wagon thing whenever I can- I delight in pointing out that her Mariner is a) a taller wagon or b) a minivan with doors that hinge instead of slide. I'm not personally that big of a fan of minivans, but I AM generally in the nature of recognizing when something is good at/designed for a task, and hauling crap (specifically kids) is what minivans excel at.
So, for the time being, the decision is that I replace the engine on the Mariner as quickly as I can so it's usable again- and once the current crunch with her show is done and the cabin is finished and (hopefully) actually bringing in money or at least not costing us as much we'll look at trading it in on something newer and more reliable for her.
Keep the suggestions coming if anyone has more, they're definitely helpful!
I did an engine on an 08 3.0 escape last year. I got a used one with ~60 something k for $500 and the engine just BARELY came out the top (DIY-friendlier than the bottom). If you like the Mariner that much, i think it's a good option to fix yours and keep going.
Side note: Do you know how to do a leakdown test? Do you know it's not just a cylinder head problem?
I'm surprised by the Rav4 suggestions. My sister-in-law has a 2000? and that thing is tiny. To get enough trunk space to haul much of anything, you have to fold the rear seats down. I do like it though. The interior has held up really well, and while slow, the car feels light and responsive.
If hauling folding chairs is the main use for the cargo space, you really can't beat a minivan. For my wedding, we loaded a minivan completely full of chairs. It barely made it over the driveway entrance without scraping, but it could hold more chairs than any of the pickups.
In reply to Vigo :
It's good to know that you can pull it out the top. I assume you separated the engine & trans and just pulled the engine? Did you have to pull the rad as well or could it stay in? and what all did you have to pull off of the top of the engine (I'm assuming the upper intake would be smart, but didn't know if it was tight enough that anything else needed to go)?
She really likes the Mariner, but at the same time is a fair bit rattled by all of this and if we could get a decent amount for it as-is would likely be all too comfortable getting something newer (yes, likely another of the same platform, but newer). If we can get some more time out of it I think we'll both be happy, and as long as we come out ahead overall financially with me fixing it (which I can't see any way we wouldn't- my guess is we could only sell it for ~$1k max in the condition it's in while running well it should command more than twice that, so if I can replace the engine for ~$800 it will be worth it).
I have a leakdown tester, and could do a leakdown test- the shop only tested compression. If this were the first and only issue with the engine, I'd be far more inclined to try and more seriously figure out if it's just something with the head and potentially just replace it. But it has had a moderate oil leak on the front (read passenger side, around the belts) for at least 4 years, so to me it's just smarter to replace the whole engine (were time less of a problem I'd be pulling and rebuilding the one in it). Starting with just the head was an option I presented to her, but noted that it was quite possible after pulling the head and having the machine shop tank and test it that we'd find that it was perfectly fine- which would still mean pulling and swapping the engine as well as the lost time & added cost from pulling the head and waiting for the shop to evaluate it. It would likely be a bit different of a story if it were the front cylinder bank that I can easily get to- but with it being the back ones simply getting to them is a pain.
This will be the first OHC engine that I've had to really work on (I lucked out that the DMC's engine really didn't require much of anything beyond resolving fueling it), so I am a bit wary that it's going to be more work than I expect...
In reply to bigeyedfish :
They're actually small (kid-sized) plastic chairs and not folding ones. The Mariner can carry about 12 without putting the seats down (8 in the very back and 4 on their sides in the back seat).
Ashyukun (Robert) said:In reply to eastsideTim :
We'll see what she says when we discuss it tonight... it's not impossible that she could be amenable to the lower-powered engines now as she now very infrequently has to make longer drives out of town and is now mostly just driving around in town, so less hill-climbing and driving at speed. Honestly if I had my way and money wasn't an object we'd be getting her a plug-in hybrid/pure electric since she rarely needs much driving range.
Mitsubishi Outlander plug in hybrid?
My mom is 5'1" (that might be overly generous), and they've had good luck with Forresters. Our '06 Rav4 also would work well for a shorter driver.
My Mom was 4'-11" tall before getting old & shrinking (not sure how much she has shrunk in her old age) and her last 3 vehicles have been CRV's. Once she got over her Toyota love affair she has not complained about them and bought the 2nd & 3rd ones without any outside influence.
Give her a butter knife and tell her to carve a turkey.
Minivan is the answer, she is compromising on everything else because of her ego.
I assume you separated the engine & trans and just pulled the engine? Did you have to pull the rad as well or could it stay in? and what all did you have to pull off of the top of the engine (I'm assuming the upper intake would be smart, but didn't know if it was tight enough that anything else needed to go)?
Yeah, left trans in place. I'm pretty sure i pulled the exhaust manifolds off, maybe the crank pulley. On top of the usual everything else on the belt drive and the upper intake, heh.
Well, if you're interested in doing the leakdown test it'll tell you where the compression is going. I can't say it'll help in the end but if it turns out to be something stupid like a valve stuck open and got bent because you have a cylinder running lean/hot (seen that happen) it may end up in a cheaper fix.
In reply to Vigo :
I'll be checking out the old engine after I pull it so I can figure out what I can do with it (i.e., what I can sell it for).
Good to know I can just pull the engine and not have to do the trans too. Were you able to leave the radiator in place (and obviously protect it), or did it have to come out for clearance as well? I think these have a trans cooler, so am hoping to not have to pull the radiator if I don't have to.
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