New DD recommendations

That white Taco is sweet. Would love something like that.

I've also considered a Blazer ZR2 w/ 5 speed as I had a 2wd 5 speed back in the day and it was a super fun vehicle in the winter. That said, they're uncommon and even the cleanest ones have 150k-200k miles at this point and I just can't do that unless it's like $2k.
 
haha stop.. you are looking for a $20,000 daily driver, not a $1200 ZR2 from 1998 that has 276,000 miles. A guy i work with runs those old 4.3 engines past 300k regularly, he has an 80 mile commute.

Jeep wranglers... the older ones you have to climb in and out like a bath tub. you have to lift your feet over a wall to get out... Its rediculous. . the newer ones dont have that "bath tub" design. This is why we got one.
 
Get a VW GTI and a proper set of winter tires, Michelin X-Ice, and you will be fine. I grew up on the west side of the state with lake effect snow, we had RWD and radial tires were a luxury. You'll be just fine with FWD.
 
Rumblestrip said:
Get a VW GTI and a proper set of winter tires, Michelin X-Ice, and you will be fine. I grew up on the west side of the state with lake effect snow, we had RWD and radial tires were a luxury. You'll be just fine with FWD.
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Even though you'll have all the traction you'll need, ground clearance becomes an issue when the snow is wet/packed and a foot deep. Powder is not a problem.
 
I know I could make FWD work and have driven RWD vehicles in the winter plenty, but I'd rather just not have to worry about it at this point in my life.

As for the Blazer, I'd totally buy a super clean one with under 100k miles if it meant not having a car payment and I could get 4x4 and manual. Unfortunately none of these seem to exist even at a slight premium. I'm not concerned about engine mileage so much as everything else that wears on a vehicle with that much use (interior, suspension, etc.)

I'm really pretty flexible for what I want, main things are price should be fair for what it is, not boring, and I don't want to be working on it all the time.

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Birdie2000 said:
I know I could make FWD work and have driven RWD vehicles in the winter plenty, but I'd rather just not have to worry about it at this point in my life.

As for the Blazer, I'd totally buy a super clean one with under 100k miles if it meant not having a car payment and I could get 4x4 and manual. Unfortunately none of these seem to exist even at a slight premium.

I'm really pretty flexible for what I want, main things are price should be fair for what it is, not boring, and I don't want to be working on it all the time.

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Do all the research and let me know what you come up with. As I said next year I will need one. Right now I'm driving a 2016 4wd Jeep renegade with 1.4L turbo and six speed manual. Next year when I turn it in it will have less than 20K miles, and they told me the buyout will be $12,900. It has ground clearance and is fun to drive, decently quick and tunes are available, and they can even look cool with knobby tires, etc. Handles kind of like a go-cart and is very maneuverable on trails, ie tight turning radius. The only thing is, it's not really a truck, towing is not recommended with the turbo. It does not meet all the criterion I need, but may be an option for you unless they are just "too cute" for your tastes.
 
Subaru Forester or 3rd Gen 4runner would be top of my list. Both can be had with 3 pedals ('99 and earlier on the 4R), and you can still find 3rd gens with rear E-lockers. I love Minis, but I don't think they're going to last that long on these shit Mi roads. Jeeps are way, way overpriced. It's no secret that I love BMW, but I think BMW + AWD is sacrilegious.

Or you could wait about 6 months for GM implode......again. There are going to be a LOT of cheap used cars out there soon. The house of cards is falling a part.
 
Birdie2000 said:
As for the Blazer, I'd totally buy a super clean one with under 100k miles if it meant not having a car payment and I could get 4x4 and manual. Unfortunately none of these seem to exist even at a slight premium. I'm not concerned about engine mileage so much as everything else that wears on a vehicle with that much use (interior, suspension, etc.)
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Don't sit in a 4runner then, because you'll never look at a Blazer the same again.

DeFormula said:
Do all the research and let me know what you come up with. As I said next year I will need one. Right now I'm driving a 2016 4wd Jeep renegade with 1.4L turbo and six speed manual. Next year when I turn it in it will have less than 20K miles, and they told me the buyout will be $12,900. It has ground clearance and is fun to drive, decently quick and tunes are available, and they can even look cool with knobby tires, etc. Handles kind of like a go-cart and is very maneuverable on trails, ie tight turning radius. The only thing is, it's not really a truck, towing is not recommended with the turbo. It does not meet all the criterion I need, but may be an option for you unless they are just "too cute" for your tastes.
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It's a FIAT under all that plastic, however, and it will probably fall apart. $13k is probably more than the thing is worth.....before the lease is up. Chrysler has always made chintzy cars (IMO), but now they're extra chintzy. Lease, don't buy.
 
lucky7 said:
It's a FIAT under all that plastic, however, and it will probably fall apart. $13k is probably more than the thing is worth.....before the lease is up. Chrysler has always made chintzy cars (IMO), but now they're extra chintzy. Lease, don't buy.
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While I don't agree that all Chrysler's are chintzy, this one, yeah, kinda. That's another reason I'm leary of buying one. The Grand Cherokees I'd buy in a heartbeat (used, can't really afford new). I've driven many with way over 100k miles that are still rock solid.
 
Fiesta ST, but I'm biased. It's arguably the best FWD car I've owned. The insurance is cheap, maintenance is cheap, and it gets 30mpg beating the piss out of it. Throw some Michelin X-Ices on 15" steelies for the winter and you are set. Mine had no trouble getting through my unplowed subdivision last winter. You should be able to find a '14 for under $15,000 with average miles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM1nkR8pkX4

EDIT: Never mind, looks like '14s are going for $17k to $18k now :eek:. When I was shopping them last year, the '14s were $12k to $15k. Might be because they are now discontinued for the US market. Some dealers have new '17s on the lot for $18k right now.
 
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Tin said:
Fiesta ST, but I'm biased. It's arguably the best FWD car I've owned. The insurance is cheap, maintenance is cheap, and it gets 30mpg beating the piss out of it. Throw some Michelin X-Ices on 15" steelies for the winter and you are set. Mine had no trouble getting through my unplowed subdivision last winter. You should be able to find a '14 for under $15,000 with average miles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM1nkR8pkX4

EDIT: Never mind, looks like '14s are going for $17k to $18k now :eek:. When I was shopping them last year, the '14s were $12k to $15k. Might be because they are now discontinued for the US market. Some dealers have new '17s on the lot for $18k right now.
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The STs look like a ton of fun, and arguably one of the best hot hatches ever. It kind of depends where he plans to go though. He may want more ground clearance up north. STs you have to stay on normal roads.
 
DeFormula said:
The STs look like a ton of fun, and arguably one of the best hot hatches ever. It kind of depends where he plans to go though. He may want more ground clearance up north. STs you have to stay on normal roads.
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True, but it is still good on dirt back roads. I've had mine through slop many times lol. Granted, it won't go on any of the primitive roads like we have in the UP, but most other cars can't either. It's fine in the dirt though.
 
A buddy of mine has a Fiesta ST and loves it as well. If they had an AWD variant I'd be all over it. I'll definitely consider it though.

Many of the roads up here are rather nice, just once you get off the main roads they can get steep and/or dirt and windy.

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Birdie2000 said:
A buddy of mine has a Fiesta ST and loves it as well. If they had an AWD variant I'd be all over it. I'll definitely consider it though.

Many of the roads up here are rather nice, just once you get off the main roads they can get steep and/or dirt and windy.

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You live in a great place to own one. Most of the roads down here are straight. This thing is at home in the curves. It's a street legal go kart in every sense of the word. Me and my girlfriend were in a UP a couple weeks ago and I missed not driving it. There's a stretch of road between Munising and Grand Marais that has 198 curves in 50 miles, I damn near shed a tear because we were in her Wrangler and not my ST.
 
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DetroitStyle said:
If you're considering any Toyota 4x4s, lemme know and I can answer most questions you may have.
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lucky7 said:
Don't sit in a 4runner then, because you'll never look at a Blazer the same again.
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Care to enlighten me? 3rd gen 4Runners are high on my list but have been uneasy paying the prices needed for a clean one especially without being able to see/drive one prior to heading across the country. Maybe they're worth it? Most seem to be fairly high mileage.
 
Tin said:
You live in a great place to own one. Most of the roads down here are straight. This thing is at home in the curves. It's a street legal go kart in every sense of the word. Me and my girlfriend were in a UP a couple weeks ago and I missed not driving it. There's a stretch of road between Munising and Grand Marais that has 198 curves in 50 miles, I damn near shed a tear because we were in her Wrangler and not my ST.
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Oh for sure. I'm extremely fortunate in that regard. We've driven the shit out of the gf's Cooper S up here and it's been great.
 
Birdie2000 said:
Care to enlighten me? 3rd gen 4Runners are high on my list but have been uneasy paying the prices needed for a clean one especially without being able to see/drive one prior to heading across the country. Maybe they're worth it? Most seem to be fairly high mileage.
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Gimme a minute to get settled in at work...


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Birdie2000 said:
Care to enlighten me? 3rd gen 4Runners are high on my list but have been uneasy paying the prices needed for a clean one especially without being able to see/drive one prior to heading across the country. Maybe they're worth it? Most seem to be fairly high mileage.
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1. Check the frame, as mentioned, but if you're buying out west or down south, it should be good. They were known to rot out, there was a recall where Toyota would replace the frame and typically a lot of things directly connected that may have rusted (brake lines, etc).
2. You want the 3.4 liter V-6. They have a timing belt. Recommended service interval is 90k, but almost everybody agrees that 150k is perfectly fine and many people push past 200k. I'd want one that has been changed at 150k though. It's a non-interference engine, so if it breaks, it's not a huge deal.
3. As mentioned, they are occasionally found with a manual trans which is cool. A few also came with an optional electric rear locker and that's a pretty nice feature.
4. Other than that, there isn't much to worry about. Look for rust at the bottom of the door seams and under the fender flares.
5. There's a ton of aftermarket mods available... solid axle swaps are popular out west, or you can go with a long travel front suspension but that will run you about $4000 (requires fiberglass front fenders, etc).

If I wasn't always hauling motorcycles, I'd be in a 3rd gen 4Runner right now. I just sold my double cab Tacoma (2WD) and I'm going to look at another one (4WD w/rear locker) tomorrow.
 
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