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Car Suggestions, Anyone?

picky
3,044 views
Now's the time to put your 2 cents in. We have to replace the late great Dodge Durango--thank you, Kurt for photographing it last August with the kayaks atop, because that's all that's left, memories--. :wub: We need another hunk of wheels!

Requirements: (I already know I'm unreasonable but miracles can happen):

- must be able to support 2 kayaks on the roof rack

- must have 2" hitch for the bikes, or be hitch-able

- must have better gas mileage than the Durango's 13 city mpg (see, JohnR, I DO read your environmental posts!)

- must be used since I'm figuring we have in the neighborhood of $7,000 to work with, and I don't want to throw in that much more $$ extra (Durango was a '98 with 125K miles on it, bless her heart :razz: )

I was all gung-ho on what my son affectionately calls a "girl's" SUV, the Ford Escape, but jdarg said the kids would never fit in the back seat, especially 6'2" #1 son. Plus she said the bikes and kayaks would tip the thing over. :lol:

I can't stand the idea of a minivan or station wagon (been there and done that), but since beggars can't be choosers, I'm never going to say never. I welcome any and all input because I'm going cross-eyed over at the Auto Trader & Edmunds website!!!

Replies

67
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#52
Those Outbacks are sporty. I like them too. Almost bought one. I wonder about the clearance on the beach when the ruts get deep from all of the Suburbans, Escalades, and Tahoes. I remember Subaru boasting higher ground clearance than the Ford Explorer a few years ago.

Hey Mer, what about the four door Toyota Tacoma, and throw a camper shell on the back? It has great ground clearance, is rugged, yet women look hot in them, room for kids in the back seat, and plenty of room for gear in the back and kayaks on top.

lindatat avatar
quirty
#53
Here's my vote for a "truck" vs. an SUV, a vintage Int'l Scout.
In case you need an off-road 4wd. :wub:

LOL - my parents had one of these when I was in high school - it was white and orange and had the worst shocks ever. My friends loved it when I flew over the railroad crossings in it - they'd hit the ceiling every time.
pickyAuthor
#54
I love lust after and adore all your suggestions...but...Y'all have deeper pockets than me. :( We're dealing with a paltry little mean teeny-weeney insurance settlement! :bang:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#55
I love lust after and adore all your suggestions...but...Y'all have deeper pockets than me. :( We're dealing with a paltry little mean teeny-weeney insurance settlement! :bang:
You should have said so. This Toyota Echo is the car for you. They even make a two door sport model.


No longer made in the US, but you can find used ones for under $10,000. They are not powerful, but they are sporty and have plenty of head room, even for tall people like me. Very light on gas consumption, too. I kind of like them.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#56

"In a few words: A clean, green diesel in a compact, good-looking package means an SUV without the stigma."

"As close to an actual production model seen at the auto show, Volkswagen?s Concept Tiguan, which VW bills as a ?small Touareg? is the manufacturer?s entry into the crossover market and is set to come to market at the end of 2007. The Tiguan is powered by a new BLUETEC ?Clean TDI? turbo diesel developed with partners Mercedes-Benz and Audi."

Here is another cool one, but currently, it is only a concept for VW.
audie avatar
fartblossom
#57
LOL - my parents had one of these when I was in high school - it was white and orange and had the worst shocks ever. My friends loved it when I flew over the railroad crossings in it - they'd hit the ceiling every time.

oh my god - we had one exactly like this when i was a kid. every weekend we went mud bogging and 4 wheeling in it before they put this huge lake in around where mom and pop live. we would sit in the very back and these little bench like things where you could store stuff, and the lid wouldn't latch, so every time we went airborne, when we hit the ground again it would pinch your legs. :blink: wait a minute, why did we keep sitting there when there was a perfectly good back seat ???
iwishiwasthere avatar
Beach Fanatic
#58
What did you get? I went looking over the weekend with 6'1" Merman and 6'2" son and we all agreed that the "girl's" Explorer, aka Escape, would be just perfect for me. The clincher was that the boys in the family didn't bump their heads in front seat or back. And I was assured that the a pair of bikes and a pair of kayaks wouldn't tip it over (so don't worry, jdarg ;-) ). Now all we need do is find an agreeable color. That might be the hard part.


We have talked about this vehicle as well. What are the ratings for dependability? My '99 Nissan van has 187,000 miles and we are going to have to do something....maybe a Pathfinder. The Xterra does not drive as well. Since this vehicle has been so reliable, I am having trouble looking at other makes. Need something for hauling stuff to and from school for another 2 years and big enough for luggage and dog crates.
RiverOtter avatar
got any pics?
#59
Those Outbacks are sporty. I like them too. Almost bought one. I wonder about the clearance on the beach when the ruts get deep from all of the Suburbans, Escalades, and Tahoes. I remember Subaru boasting higher ground clearance than the Ford Explorer a few years ago.

Hey Mer, what about the four door Toyota Tacoma, and throw a camper shell on the back? It has great ground clearance, is rugged, yet women look hot in them, room for kids in the back seat, and plenty of room for gear in the back and kayaks on top.



when I was doing the deal on my 4Runner there was one of these in the showroom. If it had been white or silver I be driving in right now. The one in the showroom was salsa red. Looked cool but I just couldn't take the hazing :biggrin:

BTW: The Tacoma has the best resale of any P/U

Edited

RiverOtter avatar
got any pics?
#60

Almost bought one of these, took the fam on a test ride and they vetoed it. :bang: one otter couldn't see out of the back and GB thought the it was too much of a 2 door :bang: :bang: :bang: ................ bunch of freakin killjoys :bang: :bang: :bang:
RiverOtter avatar
got any pics?
#61
Here's my vote for a "truck" vs. an SUV, a vintage Int'l Scout.
In case you need an off-road 4wd. :wub:



My dad had one of these when I was little. My brothers rolled it on farm one day. everybody got out, rolled it back on to its wheels and off they went :lol:
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#62
Land Rover LR3 or Toyota Land Cruiser.
you just bridged unreliable with reliable
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#63
The perfect beachmobile! Toyota FJ45 with a full safari rack!
very hard to come by w/o mucho body rot. a clean version w/ a chevy 350 is 15-20k
RiverOtter avatar
got any pics?
#64
you just bridged unreliable with reliable


:funn:
KISH7374 avatar
Beach Fanatic
#65
when I was doing the deal on my 4Runner there was one of these in the showroom. If it had been white or silver I be driving in right now. The one in the showroom was salsa red. Looked cool but I just couldn't take the hazing :biggrin:

BTW: The Tacoma has the best resale of any P/U
I hava a 2005 Toyota Tundra 4 wheel off road and my son has the Tacoma. We both are crazy about them and they are very dependable. When the lease is up on my wife's Jeep, I am geting her the 4-Runner.
Bdarg avatar
Beach Fanatic
#66
very hard to come by w/o mucho body rot. a clean version w/ a chevy 350 is 15-20k

A perfect one sitting for sale across from Silver Sands right now. Not sure of the price, but they are generally cheaper than a Landrover Defender.:funn:
lindatat avatar
quirty
#67
oh my god - we had one exactly like this when i was a kid. every weekend we went mud bogging and 4 wheeling in it before they put this huge lake in around where mom and pop live. we would sit in the very back and these little bench like things where you could store stuff, and the lid wouldn't latch, so every time we went airborne, when we hit the ground again it would pinch your legs. :blink: wait a minute, why did we keep sitting there when there was a perfectly good back seat ???

Too funny Audie - I thought my parent's Scout was one of a kind - sounds like the shocks on yours were just as good!
beachmouse avatar
Beach Fanatic
#68
So we took the new family truckster over to Pine Log State Forest today, and I can report back that an Outback is perfectly happy going down soft sand single track logging roads.

Whee!

(And we hit Nick's for chow on the way. I got a yummy steamed crawfish tray for lunch.)

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