Well, it's about 5000' to 7500' on the lowest elevation pass to go to CA, but the choice goes up to about 9000'.
The problem with Excursions this side of the size is finding a Diesel one within my local CU's lending limits (ie, max 10 years old, max 100k miles). The age isn't a problem, but the 100k miles are.
ReverendDexter wrote: Diesel Excursion would be the best thing going.
AMEN, brother.
For those who recommended 4runners, is the 4L V6 enough for very occasional towing of say, a Miata on a trailer or do you really, really need the V8 for that?
Essentially the V6s are really easy to find around here, the V8s not so much, hence the question.
BoxheadTim wrote: For those who recommended 4runners, is the 4L V6 enough for very occasional towing of say, a Miata on a trailer or do you really, really need the V8 for that? Essentially the V6s are really easy to find around here, the V8s not so much, hence the question.
the later v6s i think had a bit more power and a 5 speed auto, 04 and earlier were only 240hp and 4 speed auto.
personally, i'd be wary of cheap v8 4runners, the timing belt interval is 60kmi or 6 years.
I towed my MGA on a trailer with the V6 and V8 4Runners, it was fine, better than my XJ. I worked @ a Toyota dealer from 2003-2005, so I got to play with them all. I think they are also pre-wired for a brake controller, as well.
The V8 was nice, but if your towing is occasional and less than 5000# and you have a slight bit more patience, the V6 is better overall, partially because the 4WD is not full time, so the real world gas mileage is much better.
And based on your original post, my first thought was 4Runner. As for the Land Cruiser, I don't recommend it. My Dad had a Lexus LX470, and I was really really not impressed, especially for the price. It handled much worse than my Land Rover DiscoII. Sure, the interior was nice, but that was about it. Don't spend the money needed for one.
BoxheadTim wrote: For those who recommended 4runners, is the 4L V6 enough for very occasional towing of say, a Miata on a trailer or do you really, really need the V8 for that? Essentially the V6s are really easy to find around here, the V8s not so much, hence the question.
Not a great measure, but our 4Runner, which we've only had for a couple months, seems to have about fifty horses over the 4.0 straight 6 WJ it replaced.
My WJ pulled a Jetta on a double-axle U-Haul flat car hauler across the (also flat) state without blinking, it pulled a Contour on a U-Haul dolly the other way across the state, also without blinking. It pulled some lighter trailers both around town and across long distances, and even moved an assembled jungle gym across town that was probably technically an oversized load. I feel pretty confident in the V6, but I don't live in a place with hills.
If it's very occasional, and if you don't need the higher capacity, I wouldn't go through the extra effort, expense, or gas for the bigger engine. Isn't the V8 equipped with a weight distributing hitch and rated for something like 7000 lbs? That's probably overkill, unless you have a really heavy trailer under your Miata.
BoxheadTim wrote:Ian F wrote: $25K SUV budget... that sent me off looking for Cayenne GTS's (6 spd manual fun!). Unfortunately, the cheapest I found was in the low 40's and haven't found a manual yet...I've seen Cayennes for less than 20k over in CA, but the running costs are not that great as I've been told by someone who owns a Cayenne Turbo. Plus the ones in the budget don't quite fit with my CU's lending criteria (usually too many miles).
Ian F wrote: I would agree on a Tahoe. Not really my cup of tea, but being realistic these days, you are darned near as likely to get a needy Japanese SUV as an American one... and the US model will be much cheaper to maintain, better mileage and more tolerant of abuse. Otherwise, 2nd or 3rd generation 4Runner.Cheaper maintenance is certainly a factor, but I have no problem paying for keeping up on the maintenance if I don't have to pay to get stuff fixed outside the regular mainteance schedule all the time. Kinda rules out Landrovers I guessalthough I really wouldn't mind a Disco.
I also like the thought of a disco and thought briefly about getting one, then I realized I had LOST MY MIND, and got back in my 91 Suburban. I would recommend a Suburban...just like I had in the past when you were looking for an suv.
Also, the 7.3 Excursion is a GREAT choice.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: A GMC Yukon Denali came with a Duramax back around '02 or so.
I did not know this...now I'm on the hunt!
Edit: I think you just crushed my dreams. A quick search on the usual sites only showed up conversions. Did this actually happen or was it a rumor that never materialized? Maybe 7.3 Excursion is the answer.
The early '90s 4runner mentioned above used the 3.0 V6, often referred to as the "three-point slow" for good reason (I have the same unit in my '91 4WD pickup). The later versions are a much better choice.
Don't overlook the later Isuzu Rodeos - They are ruggedly built, and my '99 Amigo V6 (later known as the Rodeo Sport) with a 2-inch lift was reliable as an anvil with good (but not outstanding) power. In 120,000 miles it needed plugs at 100K, timing belt around 75K, regular oil changes, and a recall reflash of the ABS program. Period, nothing else. Parts might be a problem these days. Figure 20 - 23 highway mpg without towing.
These days I drive a Liberty Sport, manual 6-speed, 2.5-inch lift, it's a nice vehicle, tows a light trailer well, but I think it would have a bit of trouble pulling 5K lbs. And with 95K on the clock, it's starting to have a few maintenance problems, mostly power steering pumps at this stage. I get 21 - 24 highway mpg without towing, about 18 - 19 overall (I do no city driving, but 30 % of my driving is on a steep, potholed dirt road in 2nd and 3rd gear, in 4WD in the winter).
Our 2007 V6 4Runner is the best vehicle I've towed with, and it is going up against a 3/4 ton 89 Chevy and V8 Tundra. I don't know how it would do in the mountains though, we live in the flat midwest.
In reply to Cotton:
If it was just for me, I'd be hunting for a Turbodiesel Suburban, but the idea is that we'll buy it as a winter commuter vehicle for me and if/when the wife's Cherokee gives up the ghost this vehicle is going to become her car.
And she isn't comfortable with something as big as a Suburban. For her the ideal size is somewhere around the XJ/4runner/WJ class.
You could get a 2 door tahoe with the 6.5 turbo diesel in the 90s, but they are fairly rare. This is an old post, but it was quick to find and an example of how they came http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=200740
couple of current ads http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/2701147537.html
http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/2684156256.html
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