datsunlover Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Ok.. New plan.... I'm starting the search/price shopping NOW so I'm prepared in the spring (hopefully) to go and harass some car salesmen. I'm hoping to pull about $4-5K out of my 1 ton GMC in the spring (private sale) and hopefully will have another $3-4K to play with. (I found a bare bones 350 for the RX7, so I'm gona throw it together, and try to off it in the spring as well) I will be getting a line of credit too, but I don't want to touch it unless a REALLY good deal comes along as it will be used to finish my house renos. (yes, so I can sell it too!) So basicaly, I have 3 things I'm looking for within this price range; -I need something I can USE. IE; something I can throw wood/bulky objects in (Like.. car parts and power tools) and/or tow a utility trailer. -I need something that gets better milage than my current truck...(454, 4x4, 1 ton.. that shouldn't be a problem!) and hopefully rides nicer. -I would like something 4x4 or awd. This is my daily driver, all season vehicle and it snows here. A lot. SO... I have a few ideas I've been checking out already; Subaru; Outback or Forester wagon Dodge; 1st gen Durango 4x4 (I know.. hard on fuel, but not as bad as my current GM) Volvo; 850 awd ? I'm wondering what you folks think. Anyone that owns one, has driven one, or has info. on other options? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typhoone Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 you could always try out a Ford F150. Decent gas mileage, pleny of space inside the truck, and we have hauled PLENTY of stuff in ours and it still rides nice. just an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I'm not a Ford fan, but I bought my wife an 89 Ford Ranger XLT with the 2.9l V6 because it was cheap. Runs great and I only paid $400 for it from a guy I work with. We've had it over a year now and I had to have the front pump seal replaced on the tranny. Aside from that little incident this truck has run great and hauled everything I can think of. It gets good gas mileage, especially if you keep your foot out of the pedal and it's comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 19, 2007 Author Share Posted January 19, 2007 Well, I'm also thinking about getting away from a 'truck' so to speak.. I'm definatly not into a 'small' truck at this point. I've had 2 nissan p/u's and been in friends rangers/s10's and frankly, If I am driving a truck, I want it to be a 'real' one. My current GMC is really over-kill, (just TOO big really..and WOW does it suck back the gas in 4x4!!) but at least I have some room inside. I have looked at a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 (1997 ext cab 5 gear) but I've heard there can be some pricy front end issues with them.. As for a Ford, well.. personally, I mainly don't like the looks of them (the ones in my price range anyway..) although I DO have a friend that works at the local dealership so parts/maintinence would be fairly cheep.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240zV8 Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 truck: 94' or newer dodge ram with the cummins diesel, 22+mpg on a 3/4 ton truck, great looks, can tow anything u want.... Toyota tacoma extended cab 4x4 SUV: toyota 4runner those are just what i'd want in the price range, I'd take the ram for sure, thats what i'm currently looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleaf Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I'd say go with the subaru wagon. I love those things. Good mileage, great ride, awsome mountain/snow cars. Not to mention a ton of space. Not sure about the new ones but my old one I could put full 4x8 sheets in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(goldfish) Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I'd say go with the subaru wagon. I love those things. Good mileage, great ride, awsome mountain/snow cars. Not to mention a ton of space. Not sure about the new ones but my old one I could put full 4x8 sheets in. WOW, not my '97, that's for sure. The tow load is a little low on the subes. with the 2.2l I think I'm rated at 2k lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 20, 2007 Author Share Posted January 20, 2007 Well from what I've heard, anything after 97 has the 2.5 motor now... Apparently, EVERY subaru uses the same basic engine/driveline no mater what model car. Although, there arn't too many 97+ in my price range.. I do like the Ram's with the cummins enigne.. my buddys parents have a 2003 1 ton dually with the turbo diesel and a 5 gear. Amazing pull for a big truck, and good milage too!! (they tow a HUGE camper trailer down to florida every winter) Personaly I like the earlier body style Rams though, (95-99?) which is good cause that's all that's in my financial reach anyway! I don't think I could buy a Toyota again.. I had an 86 4runner and I hated it. My boss bought a 93 p/u for our work truck, and its a piece of dog turd.. and his wifes 93 4runner isn't much better. Doesn't have enough power to get out of it's own way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I worked on Dodges for 3+ years so here's my take... Well I if I was going to buy a Durango I would get one with a 4.7L engine. That 4.7L V8 combined with a 45RFE tranny are a great combo and have had hardley any issues. If you go with an older body style Ram 94-02(I beleive that was the span for the last body sytle...) there are quite a few things to look for. They like to go through font end pieces like no tommorow! Ball joints, tie rod ends, u-joints, and the gear boxes like to leak from the bottom seal which usually means new gear box if you want it to stop leaking. Then you have the engine 5.2 and 5.9.....the heads crack between the valves on the older/higher milage ones, lower intake gaskets blow out and you start to burn massive amounts of oil and the engine pings, the timing cover and water pumps like to leak too. Then you get the crappy trannies that like to burn up. Basically what I'm trying to tell you is unless you find one that has had the majority of this work done, I would stay away from the older Rams. The new Hemi/NAG trannys are great and there haven't really been any big issues with either of them. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Yah, that sounds like what I've heard about the Rams.. I'm gona have a look at a few Durangos, but all I seam to find (I'm in Canada remember..) are 5.9l and 4.9l motors in the Durangos.. 304 and 360ci right? Also, I forgot to mention another one for the 'maybe' list, a 94+ GMC Yukon/Chev Taho. I say 94 because IIRC that was the changover year to the new interior and better FI/Vortech motors.. unless I'm mistaken? Thanks thus far for all the responces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 The only motors I know of that were offered in a Durango in the old body style is the 3.9L V6(pretty rare), 4.7L V8 overhead cams (best choice)5.2L, and 5.9L. The 5.9L can pull better than the 4.7 but it has a lot more problems than the 4.7(which are pretty much problem free). Gas milage is pretty much the same for all of them at around 13-14 city and high teens to very low twenties highway. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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