help choosing a 2nd car/suv

[miltoda]

I need some help choosing a second vehicle. This vehicle will mainly be used for camping/outdoor activities. I use my g35 sedan as a DD. I need to be able to do minimal off-roading and be able to haul a canoe/kayak around. I've been looking at the following:

Subaru Forester (previous gen)
Ford Escape 4WD V6
Jeep Liberty (maybe the CRD from 05-06) 4x4
Jeep Wrangler V6 4x4
Chevy Trailblazer
F150 4x4
Nissan Frontier 4x4 (current gen)
Nissan Xterra (current gen)
Nissan Titan

Some of the bigger trucks in my price range will have high miles. I'd like not to spend a lot of money on what will most likely be a toy, but I don't want to get stuck in a money pit either. If I could find a used wrangler in good condition for like $5000-6000 that would be great. Realistically, I'll probably be spending 10-12K and exclude some of the larger vehicles on the list. Any input? Anyone been through the same decision process?

[Wannabe6MT]

We had an 03 Chevy Trailblazer and my aunt has an 07 Trailblazer and we both love/loved ours.

I actually want another one. Very nice and comfortable to drive, had less rattles than the G, and has an award winning 280hp Inline 6 Engine..

Right now you can get them for pretty good prices with not a ton of miles. Go take a look, they are nice little SUVs that can tow 6000lbs if need be.

Jeep Libertys are problematic, i'd avoid.

Titans are nice, but good look getting one for 12k, same with the Frontiers.

Subaru Forester is a car. They can call it an SUV all they want, but at the end of the day, it is a car, with a car frame, and car body. They arent that great off road either. The turbo ones are quick though.

[miltoda]

Thanks for the input.. anyone know things good or bad about the escape?

@Wannabe: Did you have any problems towing with the TrailBlazer? I had a friend that towed something with it once, and her auto trans always had problems afterward. SHe got rid of it and got a honda accord

[Wannabe6MT]

We towed a 20ft boat with ours and it had no issues.


I have seen pictures of people towing cars on car trailers before behind the 6 cylinder versions and had no issues at all either.

I belonged to this site when i had mine: www.trailvoy.com

Its an enthusiast forum and those people know these trucks like the back of their hands. They are really pretty solid. i cant think of any real major issues off the top of my head at all. Just regular maintenance and take care of it and you can run well over 200k (and theres people with over 200k as well)


My neighbor has a 2001 Ford Escape, and it has been nothing but problems. I wouldn't personally recommend one. I'd get an Explorer before that.

[SHOKASE]

How about 03-04 pathfinder? I have an 03 and the only thing that it needed in 2 years of ownership is the mid pipe that burned out. I like driving it because for a 5300lbs suv it surely feels more like driving a regular car. They go for around 10-11k right now with around 65,000miles. Don't ask me about towing

[Garnet Canuck]

A QX4 perhaps? I had one and loved it. Never had a single thing go wrong with it in the time that I owned it.

[miltoda]

All good suggestions! I've been looking on craiglist and autotrader for Trailblazers sine Wannabe suggested it. Seems like for around 10-11K you can get a 2WD one, but the mileage is high (90-100k). I'm not to sure about getting a used car with that many miles (My G35 had 22K when I got it). The search continues.

[Wannabe6MT]

Thats what they are going for in FL? **** up here you can get a 4X4 LT with around 30-50k for 10-15k depending on year. The 08s are under $20k now as well.. (and trust me, i'v been looking at them haha)

Have you thought about a Saab 9-7x? I dont know about 10-11k, but tey can certainly be had in the teens.


The pathfinders are also a good truck. keep and eye out for one of them.