$12,000 budget - Mid-Size SUV - Choices?

[Grasshopper27]

Ok, Thumper knows nothing whatsoever about trucks, and she is looking to replace her 1995 Honda Accord. She wants to get a SUV, something in the size range of a Ford Explorer (but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

She can qualify for a loan for $12,000, so that is what she is comfortable spending. I haven't shopped for smaller SUVs for a few years and I don't really know what is good for a used truck like this. She doesn't want a pickup truck and she doesn't want something small like a RAV4 or Escape.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

: ) Hopper

 

[Ryan]

Nissan Pathfinder!!!!!

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27
Ok, Thumper knows nothing whatsoever about trucks, and she is looking to replace her 1995 Honda Accord. She wants to get a SUV, something in the size range of a Ford Explorer (but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

She can qualify for a loan for $12,000, so that is what she is comfortable spending. I haven't shopped for smaller SUVs for a few years and I don't really know what is good for a used truck like this. She doesn't want a pickup truck and she doesn't want something small like a RAV4 or Escape.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

: ) Hopper

Are there any available in that price range? Most of the ones I know of are 20K +

 

[CrackRabbit]

i wouldnt call an Escape small... but on a 12k budget i dont think your going to find anything new...

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Hoober
Are there any available in that price range? Most of the ones I know of are 20K +

She's upgrading from a 1995 Honda Accord with over 100,000 miles. It doesn't have to be new.

I've seen 1998-1999 Explorers for about that price, I've also seen a few other smaller trucks like that (Jeep GC, Chevy Blaser, etc.)

: ) Hopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
i wouldnt call an Escape small... but on a 12k budget i dont think your going to find anything new...

No, I assume it will be at least 3 to 4 years old.

As for an Escape, I suppose it would work, she just wants something bigger. After she saw the damage to the car that hit my Suburban, she suddenly decided that her small car was no longer "safe enough".

She doesn't want a Suburban, but she wants something "bigger and tougher" (her words)

: ) Hopper

 

[Sluggo]

I like the Escape, you can also probably find a used Trailblazer in that range. Trailblazer = lots of power, and a nice ride.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
i wouldnt call an Escape small... but on a 12k budget i dont think your going to find anything new...

No, I assume it will be at least 3 to 4 years old.

As for an Escape, I suppose it would work, she just wants something bigger. After she saw the damage to the car that hit my Suburban, she suddenly decided that her small car was no longer "safe enough".

She doesn't want a Suburban, but she wants something "bigger and tougher" (her words)

: ) Hopper

Maybe look at an older XTerra? They start at the mid-twenties so you might find something used for around that.

 

[CrackRabbit]

my only advice is to stay away from anything GM, might want to check out edmunds.com they have reviews on new and used cars dating back to the mid eighties!

 

[RossMAN]

I like the Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute.

If you were here I could find you a BITCHIN' deal but alas you're not.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
my only advice is to stay away from anything GM, might want to check out edmunds.com they have reviews on new and used cars dating back to the mid eighties!

No GM, huh?

*cough*

You do know I drive a CHEVY Suburban, right?

Edmunds rocks, but I wanted personal opinions and ideas from the world auto experts at ATOT!

: ) Hopper

 

[gump47371]

My suggestion is to buy something a little older with lower miles on it for the same money as you could buy a newer vehicle with higher miles.

Example. Will say first thing this is not a plug, just using my place of employment as a reference.

I work at a small dealership where we specialize in lower mileage cars. We currently have a 92 bonneville with 28,000 miles on it for $6500. Some people look at that and think, "$6500 for a 11 year old car? That is nuts!", but they will think nothing of paying the same or more for a 98 with 80,000 miles on it. I tell people that argue with the quote above, "Age doesn't wear a car out, driving it does."

I know I didn't use SUVs in my example, but just trying to make a point. I also have a 97 Jimmy with 45,000 on it for around $10,000. That is the point I was trying to get at.

Good luck shopping.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
I like the Escape, you can also probably find a used Trailblazer in that range. Trailblazer = lots of power, and a nice ride.

When did the TrailBlazer come out? I thought those came out last year. Nice trucks, I'd look at one seriously for her if I can find one in that price.

: ) Hopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Hoober
Maybe look at an older XTerra? They start at the mid-twenties so you might find something used for around that.

D'oh! Good idea, didn't even think of those...

Nice "cool" truck that she probably will see as "safe"

: ) Hopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I like the Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute.

If you were here I could find you a BITCHIN' deal but alas you're not.

What kind of deal? If the price is right, shipping is only about $400 anywhere in the country to Dallas.

: ) Hopper

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27
(but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

Explorers are no more dangerous in terms of rollovers than any other high center of gravity vehicle.

 

[vi edit]

I say look for a 99 or there about GMC Jimmy or Chevy Blazer. The 4.3L in there and the tranny it are damn near indestructable. They pull decent milage and have respectable acceleration. Cheap to repair and cheap to insure.

My family has owned 5 of them in the last 10 years and they have been pretty much problem free. Resale is junk on them but they are great bang for the buck vehicles.

 

[gump47371]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
my only advice is to stay away from anything GM, might want to check out edmunds.com they have reviews on new and used cars dating back to the mid eighties!

Yeah, great advice. Pay more money for a vehicle from a company that has been around for 10-12 years (mostly Asian companies that the reviewers love) versus a company that has been around for 80+ years.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: gump47371
My suggestion is to buy something a little older with lower miles on it for the same money as you could buy a newer vehicle with higher miles.

I work at a small dealership where we specialize in lower mileage cars. We currently have a 92 bonneville with 28,000 miles on it for $6500. Some people look at that and think, "$6500 for a 11 year old car? That is nuts!", but they will think nothing of paying the same or more for a 98 with 80,000 miles on it. I tell people that argue with the quote above, "Age doesn't wear a car out, driving it does."

I would agree, somewhat...

Both age and driving wear cars out. Different parts wear due to age, others due to driving.

I know I didn't use SUVs in my example, but just trying to make a point. I also have a 97 Jimmy with 45,000 on it for around $10,000. That is the point I was trying to get at.

I don't care for the older Jimmy, but the new TrailBlazers are nice. I think they are out of her price range however.

: ) Hopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27
(but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

Explorers are no more dangerous in terms of rollovers than any other high center of gravity vehicle.

I disagree. I used to own an Explorer, I wouldn't let her buy one for herself.

: ) Hopper

 

[Mill]

I bought my 03 Explorer Sport for 13k about 6 months ago. There is no rollover problems with them.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27
(but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

Explorers are no more dangerous in terms of rollovers than any other high center of gravity vehicle.

I disagree. I used to own an Explorer, I wouldn't let her buy one for herself.

: ) Hopper

I wouldn't ever buy an Explorer, either. So she doesn't want a pickup? Some of the older diesel model F250s could be had for around that and should outlast anything gas powered. I'm planning on riding my F250 until the body rusts away.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27
(but NOT an Explorer due to their rollover problems).

Explorers are no more dangerous in terms of rollovers than any other high center of gravity vehicle.

I disagree. I used to own an Explorer, I wouldn't let her buy one for herself.

: ) Hopper

Did you roll your Explorer? How else would you know?

My parents have owned a 95 since it was new. It has been an absolutely great vehicle. The last thing I saw on this subject was the Car and Driver test where they couldn't get the Explorer to rollover no matter how hard they tried.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Millennium
I bought my 03 Explorer Sport for 13k about 6 months ago. There is no rollover problems with them.

Is the Sport the 2 door model? If I recall, those use the older body style. Correct me if I'm wrong there.

The new 4 door 2002 (and newer) Explorers do not have the rollover problem, but they have not dropped in price yet enough to be in her price range.

: ) Hopper

 

[stingygrrl]

what about a jeep cherokee??? (my ride of choice)- you can't beat those inline 6 engines and if you get less than 150-200K miles out a jeep, somethings wrong. you can probably snag a nice 2000 model for about $12K (definately pay up for the 6 cyl engine).