Looking for a new car.

[Msteelio91]

$15-$20k range used, under 25k miles, small SUV, manual preferred but not required, 4wd/awd, cheap to fix & run, 2008-2013's:

-Ford Escape
-Jeep Liberty (5 speed available but rare)
-Toyota RAV 4
-Subaru Forester (87 octane is fine for non-turbos)
-Honda CRV

The replacing all 4 tires at once thing is an odd thing to get hung up on... If you're rotating your tires properly you should be doing this anyway.

 

[runnah]

$15-$20k range used, under 25k miles, small SUV, manual preferred but not required, 4wd/awd, cheap to fix & run, 2008-2013's: -Ford Escape -Jeep Liberty (5 speed available but rare) -Toyota RAV 4 -Subaru Forester (87 octane is fine for non-turbos) -Honda CRV The replacing all 4 tires at once thing is an odd thing to get hung up on... If you're rotating your tires properly you should be doing this anyway.

Rav 4 and forester are in my top 5. Rav 4 because it has on/off 4wd for the 362 days a year you don't need it.

The tire thing is weird. I did burn up a diff on my old subaru by getting a flat on my 17" rims and having to use the factory spare.

Replacing 4 at a time should be done when the tire get worn out but is you have mid range miles and on gets a flat you have to get all 4 new.

 

[bribrius]

$15-$20k range used, under 25k miles, small SUV, manual preferred but not required, 4wd/awd, cheap to fix & run, 2008-2013's: -Ford Escape -Jeep Liberty (5 speed available but rare) -Toyota RAV 4 -Subaru Forester (87 octane is fine for non-turbos) -Honda CRV The replacing all 4 tires at once thing is an odd thing to get hung up on... If you're rotating your tires properly you should be doing this anyway.

Rav 4 and forester are in my top 5. Rav 4 because it has on/off 4wd for the 362 days a year you don't need it.

The tire thing is weird. I did burn up a diff on my old subaru by getting a flat on my 17" rims and having to use the factory spare.

Replacing 4 at a time should be done when the tire get worn out but is you have mid range miles and on gets a flat you have to get all 4 new.

I think they still make jeep patriots too. simple, economical, cheap. know someone with one of them. They seem to like it run it hard and no problems yet in three years. still not a Honda or Toyota but...
in your range (below your range actually) and would work.

 

[Msteelio91]

$15-$20k range used, under 25k miles, small SUV, manual preferred but not required, 4wd/awd, cheap to fix & run, 2008-2013's: -Ford Escape -Jeep Liberty (5 speed available but rare) -Toyota RAV 4 -Subaru Forester (87 octane is fine for non-turbos) -Honda CRV The replacing all 4 tires at once thing is an odd thing to get hung up on... If you're rotating your tires properly you should be doing this anyway.

Rav 4 and forester are in my top 5. Rav 4 because it has on/off 4wd for the 362 days a year you don't need it.

The tire thing is weird. I did burn up a diff on my old subaru by getting a flat on my 17" rims and having to use the factory spare.

Replacing 4 at a time should be done when the tire get worn out but is you have mid range miles and on gets a flat you have to get all 4 new.

You should only use a full size spare with a full time awd or 4wd vehicle. And that spare should be in regular rotation with the rest of the tires to prevent exactly the problem you had. Sure a full size spare is a little more dough but it's 100% worth it if you get a flat. Otherwise you're dropping several hundred on diff clutches and labor if you don't do the work yourself.

Here's the rotation pattern...



Had an 09 forester and it wasn't bad at all. No issues to nearly 100k miles and it never felt out of place. Consistently got 26+ mpg. The manual versions are a tad tougher though, the auto trans in the subarus can be a little shoddy.

EDIT: Also, the forester has a KICK ASS sunroof option. Seriously. That **** is huge.

 

[Dinardy]

2003-2008 Toyota 4runners get my vote.

 

[Msteelio91]

Too big compared to the other stuff he's looking at and in my experience not economical nor are the all that reliable.

 

[Dinardy]

Too big compared to the other stuff he's looking at and in my experience not economical nor are the all that reliable.

What have you seen as far as reliability issues?!

I definitely agree the economy is sub-par.

I have the V6 1GR-FE. It has one of the better Toyota engines I have ever experienced first hand. I try to stay on top of my maintenance, though.

I also really like the Forester, if I didn't need the clearance of a larger SUV I would have one!

 

[Msteelio91]

Too big compared to the other stuff he's looking at and in my experience not economical nor are the all that reliable.

What have you seen as far as reliability issues?!

I definitely agree the economy is sub-par.

I have the V6 1GR-FE. It has one of the better Toyota engines I have ever experienced first hand. I try to stay on top of my maintenance, though.

I also really like the Forester, if I didn't need the clearance of a larger SUV I would have one!

Little stuff, interior lights/other small electrical problems as well as small mechanical parts like door handles. For the most part they're pretty solid mechanically though. They're just a bit tank-like compared to the smaller SUV's he seems to be interested in.

The v6 they stuck in there is a great motor for sure.

 

[Dinardy]

Too big compared to the other stuff he's looking at and in my experience not economical nor are the all that reliable.

What have you seen as far as reliability issues?!

I definitely agree the economy is sub-par.

I have the V6 1GR-FE. It has one of the better Toyota engines I have ever experienced first hand. I try to stay on top of my maintenance, though.

I also really like the Forester, if I didn't need the clearance of a larger SUV I would have one!

Little stuff, interior lights/other small electrical problems as well as small mechanical parts like door handles. For the most part they're pretty solid mechanically though. They're just a bit tank-like compared to the smaller SUV's he seems to be interested in.

The v6 they stuck in there is a great motor for sure.

Ahh yeah. Interior is not the greatest... Both of our newer Toyotas lack in that department.

 

[runnah]

Looking at a Rav 4 this weekend.

Both my folks have a toyota (rav4 and tacoma) and I was shocked at how bland and cheap the interiors looked. I mean the tacoma is almost a $30k truck and it looked awful.

 

[Msteelio91]

Yep... Sadly that's the case with most subarus, toyotas, hondas etc. Ford has actually stepped up their game quite a bit in the late models. The interiors in my dad's 2011 f-150 and my 2012 fusion are quite nice, comparable to my CTS even. You're not going to see BMW/Audi/Merc quality interiors in mid range cars, but I do wish they would stop using plastic that feels cheaper than the $10 keyboard I'm typing on.

 

[runnah]

Yep... Sadly that's the case with most subarus, toyotas, hondas etc. Ford has actually stepped up their game quite a bit in the late models. The interiors in my dad's 2011 f-150 and my 2012 fusion are quite nice, comparable to my CTS even. You're not going to see BMW/Audi/Merc quality interiors in mid range cars, but I do wish they would stop using plastic that feels cheaper than the $10 keyboard I'm typing on.

I don't mind plastic as long as it's durable. My dream car you could use a garden hose to clean the interior.

 

[Steemax]

How about a VW Tiguan? Easily find one in your price range CPO, also has 4-motion. Don't let VW reliability scare you away either, they have come a long way and their 5cyl motors are serious work horses and had made it in the top list of least serviced engines.

You would also get VW's 3 year no cost mainatnence, free oil changes, tire rotation, brake fluid flush for the first 3 years.

 

[runnah]

How about a VW Tiguan? Easily find one in your price range CPO, also has 4-motion. Don't let VW reliability scare you away either, they have come a long way and their 5cyl motors are serious work horses and had made it in the top list of least serviced engines.

You would also get VW's 3 year no cost mainatnence, free oil changes, tire rotation, brake fluid flush for the first 3 years.

View attachment 75847

I have considered a Jetta Sportwagon TDI for the mileage. But I haven't heard great things about the Tiguan.

 

[chanda95]

The smallest vehicle I own is a Toyota FJ Cruiser..which I LOVE. My husband is tall and my kid will be too and there is ample room for us, plus an amazing amount of room in the back to haul whatever you need...but we aren't your typical family. We do a lot of off roading so it's pretty cut to the chase inside. Not much in the way of fancy stuff but I love that it has no carpet and is a get in and go type of a rig. Can pretty much handle most weather situations with ease. It has terrible gas mileage and suicide doors though. The only drawbacks I have found so far. They aren't going to be making it anymore sadly, which sucks because I wanted another one.

I do have a friend who has a Honda CRV and he has done everything under the sun with that thing and it has held up incredibly well. He is extremely hard on his vehicles and it just keeps on a ticking. I contemplated a Honda before purchasing the Toyota. The Honda just didn't have the off road capabilities the Cruiser did but the interior space is nice and I like that it has the full 4 doors. He has never complained about gas mileage on it either.

My mother-in-law has Tahoe. It's a nice enough vehicle. A little fancy for my taste but a ton of room and she seems really happy with it's performance so far. She has to drive 2 miles on a dirt road in various weather conditions just to get to the highway and it does fine. As far as a family sized vehicle that's got it on the inside for sure. She purchased it used and I believe it was right around the $20,000 mark.