Good AWD/4wd winter/lab beater

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Munich77

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My wife and I just adopted a 19 month old black lab. He is an adorable pup but I cringe at the thought of having to transport him in our sedans. Fortunately a park and vet are within walking distance. Since both my wife and I have sedans (awd) which have low clearance, I was thinking of getting a beater SUV type car. I am thinking of something around $5000-7000 that would be dependable and reliable. I am thinking perhaps a Jeep Cherokee (I used to have a Wrangler), a Nissan Pathfinder, a Nissan Xtera, Subaru Forrester, or Chevy Trailbazer might fit the bill. What other cars would you all suggest? I all I am looking for is basic transportation - something that will go from place A to B, 4 wd to get through the snow with a durable lab-proof (woof) interior :).
 
You can probably get a mid - late 90's Toyota 4Runner for between $5000 and $7000. They are good reliable vehicles.
 
I'd personally go with a TJ wrangler, they are indestructible. You can probably get a rubicon in that price range with reasonable miles and a lot of life left on the drivetrain.
 
Munich77 said:
My wife and I just adopted a 19 month old black lab. He is an adorable pup but I cringe at the thought of having to transport him in our sedans. Fortunately a park and vet are within walking distance. Since both my wife and I have sedans (awd) which have low clearance, I was thinking of getting a beater SUV type car. I am thinking of something around $5000-7000 that would be dependable and reliable. I am thinking perhaps a Jeep Cherokee (I used to have a Wrangler), a Nissan Pathfinder, a Nissan Xtera, Subaru Forrester, or Chevy Trailbazer might fit the bill. What other cars would you all suggest? I all I am looking for is basic transportation - something that will go from place A to B, 4 wd to get through the snow with a durable lab-proof (woof) interior :).
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been exactly here.

i used a '87 short wheel base montero for this exact purpose. go to/on the beach with the dog, go in the woods, drive through any snow/rain conditions, get groceries, etc. nothing stopped that truck in terms of going places. at 170k the head cracked and i called it quits vs. rebuilding it.

IMO a 4.0 regular (not grand) cherokee will be your best bet. lots of room, indestructable drivetrain and cheap parts. IMO there is nothing better in my eyes. yes, toyotas are awesome, but they command a premium that doesn't need to be paid when looking in the beater realm. and...to be honest, they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to staving off rust. i live near the ocean but also have real winters - any toyota in your price range will probably have rust issues now or soon.

wranglers are ok for this purpose but you can't haul stuff in them like you can in a cherokee. and you'll pay a premium for a wrangler compared to a better equipped and just as reliable cherokee.
 
Personally I'd go with a Trailblazer.... they're virtually indestructible when it comes to the drivetrain especially.
 
I am leaning towards the Jeep Cherokee. I had a YJ Body style Wrangler and loved the car. The Jeep engine is bullet proof.
 
Munich77 said:
I am leaning towards the Jeep Cherokee. I had a YJ Body style Wrangler and loved the car. The Jeep engine is bullet proof.
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the entire drivetrain is bullet proof. even their 4-speed autos are pure beef (aisin).
 
JonMiles said:
... You can probably get a rubicon in that price range with reasonable miles and a lot of life left on the drivetrain.
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Um, I think not. And why on earth would he want to pay for the Rubicon package when all he needs is something to run his dog around in? He didn't say he needed it to get him to the end of the Earth.

It kills me how people buy the Rubicon and take the mud terrain tires off, put on street tires, and drive around town. They are one of the most capable vehicles available off the showroom floor. Buy it to use it the way Jeep designed it to be used.


I'd go with the Cherokee. I've been wanting an '02 Cherokee for years. That inline 6 is indestructable!


Colin
 
If you want cheap and fairly reliable, Isuzu is another idea. Its a forgotten brand and you can find some low mile ones in nice shape for dirt cheap.
 
As an owner of little else but Jeeps the last 33yrs, I will also suggest the Cherokee. Stick with a 1996 to 2001 (newer style) with the 4.0L inline 6, AW4 auto tranny and a select-trac tcase (both full & part time 4wd) and you can run it will into the upper 200k miles range if it was adequately maintained prior to your purchase. I gave my last Cherokee to my nephew when he was in need of new wheels and to this day still wish it was in the stable with my current 3 Grand Cherokees. If you want to step up to the Grand Cherokee, I suggest looking at the 1999 to 2004 models but resist getting the 4.0L as it comes with a tranny that is real picky about maintenace. Go with the 4.7L if you can find one in your price range.
 
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