I am now looking for a solider daily driver below $10,000. After getting wacked so hard by this weather I have re-thought what I need and want out of a vehicle and for now I need something nice but usable.

I have made a small list, feel free to add to it, compare and contrast.

I am in need of something versitile, something that won't make me think twice about where I can and can't take it within reason. I want something to DD, something very reliable and low maintenance. I don't want to have to worry about engine or transmission problems, small stupid things and basic maintenance I can handle, other than that no thanks I have too much other crap going on.

If I go with something 4WD I will eventually give it a conservative lift with some decent tires and good looking stuff and other utility goodies for a nice looking rig. Something very capable and tough but I'm not going to be rock crawling with the thing...

I want something well built and something that I will want to go drive, not boring transportation. I am open to a nice car as well, thought of a manual IS300 but I bet it blows even with snow tires in anything other than a dusting.

Here are some of the ideas so far:

2001-2004 Nissan Pathfinder:



I love how it looks, I have driven one and it was nice and I just like the way an import feels over a domestic. The guages not being that dull crap green and so on.

I don't know much about it's reliability, edmunds said it was underpowered but this generation has a 240hp VQ35 so I wonder. I'd like to think it's good off-road but I honestly don't know and how well it does off-road is a big factor if I am going to buy 4WD I want a good one not some Lexus RX300 Car/SUV street tires thing.

I can get one with fairly low miles for the same price if not less than a 4Runner.

1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner:




I like them and HEAR they are good off-road and I know they are reliable but they are very expensive for the mileage in my budget. They look kind of bland too, the newer ones look better where as the new Pathfinders look like crap boats compared to the generation I am looking at.

1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee:



Bulletproof, great offroad, cheap... But hard to find a Nice one without a million miles on it.

1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee:




I have heard they are reliable, but I had a buddy with a 1999 Limited 4.7L and had transmission problems but maybe that's because it was a full time 4wd version? They come in a V8 which sounds SO much better than an I6 or any of the other ones here.

This is the list so far. What do you guys think?

 

pathfinder or 4runner IMO. but if it were me i'd get a honda fit lol...seriously

 

if i had to pick a DD, id get a fit too

 

Looks like you want an SUV from the picks above. My vote is the Pathfinder.

 

Pathfinder!

 

Pathfinder or Wrangler (if it was a choice). Wrangler can be fun to work on too...

 

XJ or WJ, owned both. I love jeeps.

 

Get the Grand Cherokee! Super comfy for DD duty!

 

4runner
Pathfinder, and anything jeep is a money pit and will need regular fixes

 

Do not get a Jeep.

I had a Jeep Cherokee (the boxy style) and the newer stylied ones issued to me at work for a couple of years and they were very unreliable.

Don't believe me?

Just check Consumer Reports.

May I suggest a Subaru Forester or maybe a Legacy?


Between the Pathfinder and 4Runner, I'd go Pathfinder since I think it looks nicer.

Maybe an XTerra?

 

I've seen multiple 300k 4runners. I've had to work on more jeeps than I car to remember. The 4runner parts can get expensive when parts are needed but it is much less frequent than a Jeep.

 

I have a 2001 Jeep grand cherokee limited that i use for DD, and i like it a lot. Its fully loaded with leather, sunroof, power everything, heated seats, memory, 10 disc cd changer, and etc. It also came with a tow package and i use it to tow the Evo haha. It did really well no problems. I would recommend the Jeep and you can find them for a good deal. I paid $6,000 with 100,000 miles for mine and it is in great shape. Good luck

 

I'd vote for the 4Runner. They fetch a higher price used because of how long they last.

 

Not on the list, but mentioned, an Xterra. I have had 2 and they have been great. The first I bought new in '04 and kept it about a year when I thought I would get my fill of speed by doing trackdays on my motorcycle. Then I bought an '02 about 3 years ago with 59K on it. It has over 100k now and it has been awesome. All I do is change the oil. I haven't even put tires on it! lol Sadly I actually have not serviced ANYTHING on it but the oil. It probably needs tires/brakes, and maybe some other things here and there, but it's been great.

 

Just get the 4runner and forget about it. Oil change and that's about it. It'll out last you. Try to get the 99-00 year model because they have electronic rear locking differential. i live in Ohio and it's a beast in the snowy weather. Sometime I even forgot to put it in 4wd and it's still ok.