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Car Totaled; Recommend an SUV for <$5000

R

rsd

Platinum Member
Hi,

My wife unfortunately totaled her jetta in a fender bender. We're literally about to close on a house this month so we don't want to invest too much in a replacement. We'd like to keep the budget <=$5000.

I'm leaning towards some sort of SUV since we live in Massachusetts that will be good in the snow/rain as well as provide a little more capacity. Ideally I'd like to get something with ~100k miles within our budget. Also would like it to be reliable/solid as we'd like to be able to have it last another 2-3 years at least. Gas mileage is a plus but not critical (I commute 20-30 miles a day).

Any suggestions? I was thinking potentially a late 90's/early 2000's Jeep Cherokee or maybe Explorer?

Thanks
 
I would skip the Jeep and Exp.

Look for car SUVs like the CRV, Kia/Hyundai, Ford Escape, Chevy Equinox, etc... Also don't forget Subura (but make sure it is not from one of the years they had issues)
 
As much as I like Fords, I'd probably skip an Escape in your price range. New ones are nice but there were some problems with the older ones. My brother and his wife had one for < 40k and had tons of trouble with it.

CRV's and Rav 4's should be a good bet. 2 door Explorer Sport might be had with around 120k or so. Also if you can find a 4Runner around your budget they made some pretty reliable vehicles around the early 2000's and I think late 90's.
 
jlee said:
I was going to suggest 4Runner, but it may be really tough to find one in your price range.

Edit:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/2520619325.html High miles, but I bought my '98 Tacoma with 171k. Not sure if the 4Runners have the same frame rust issues as the Tacomas, though.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/2508953231.html <- 4cyl 5sp. He doesn't know the truck, though...that generation 4Runner didn't come with a 22RE. 😛
Click to expand...

Thanks, I saw that first one myself this morning. I'd prefer not to go that high on the mileage (ideally 125k or less) but I'm not sure how realistic that is in my price point.

I forgot to mention I would want an Automatic as well.

Thanks for the suggestions, if anyone else has any more thoughts or experiences with some of these suggested vehicles I would love to hear it!
 
The 5VZFE / 3.4l Toyota V6 is a tank. I wouldn't be too concerned about high mileage on one, though I'm not familiar with the auto transmissions (I had a 5sp).
 
05 129k Equinox for $5500
http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2522552413.html

03 108k Escape for $4500
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/2519614775.html

98 89k CRV for $4000 (says needs repairs so could be good or bad)
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/2523904931.html

99 118k CRV for $6000 (higher than you ant but maybe talk down and also better condition?)
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/2508126601.html

04 116k Santa Fe for $6000 (Again higher but newwer model and good condition)
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/2517520623.html

and so on...

So seems you have a lot of options just need to make sure to get one that has been taken care of or is cheap enough to bring up to good condition.
 
Marlin1975 said:
05 129k Equinox for $5500
http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2522552413.html

03 108k Escape for $4500
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/2519614775.html

98 89k CRV for $4000 (says needs repairs so could be good or bad)
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/2523904931.html

99 118k CRV for $6000 (higher than you ant but maybe talk down and also better condition?)
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/2508126601.html

04 116k Santa Fe for $6000 (Again higher but newwer model and good condition)
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/2517520623.html

and so on...

So seems you have a lot of options just need to make sure to get one that has been taken care of or is cheap enough to bring up to good condition.
Click to expand...

Thanks again Marlin, definitely some interesting options. Will have to look into it more.
 
Also besides craigslist, any other places recommended for potentially purchasing from? Ebay? What have been people's experiences with that?
 
Must have been some fender bender to total the car.

I've always been partial to the Forester. Wife hates the looks though, even now that it's more SUV like.
 
I do love our Sante Fe. The wife drives a 2001 2wd GL and it has been very reliable. Does well in the snow with BF Goodrich Long Trail T/A's on it. 100k miles on it and we would take it to Florida and back. 25 mpg combined.
 
Looks like her brother will sell her the car he loaned to her (1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Automatic 4wd v8 118k miles) for insurance cost ($3500). He's taken good care of it and it only has a couple of minor issues. Any thoughts? I know it'll be more of a gas guzzler compared to a Jetta and it takes premium, but otherwise solid vehicle?
 
A 98 Cherokee should be pretty reliable. I assume it has the 5.2L 318 in it. That engine, nor the 4.0L I6 take premium. They are however both total pigs and I could not justify driving a vehicle like that with the way gas prices are. If it really is in good shape it should be a good vehicle.

If it is a 5.9 Limited it is a great and fairly rare truck, but that engine apparently was designed to run on premium fuel to maximize performance.
 
Last edited:
I'll have to check tonight what model exactly, but her brother did say it takes premium. Fortunately I commute like 10 miles a day total to/from work so I figure I can justify driving this for now.
 
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