What car has post-apocalyptic vibes + can roadtrip + isn't too spendy?
October 8, 2017 3:16 PM Subscribe
I love the Mercedes G Class and Land Rover Defender 90 (as well as the vibe of pretty much all vintage Land Rovers, generally). I need something reliable / comfy enough to hold up for weekend road trip adventures (so can't go too crazy long ago vintage). I've got approx $25K USD to spend. What make/model/year would you recommend?
I know the Bedouins prefer Toyota Land Cruisers and it's a bit of a joke in our house (my husband is Egyptian.) I assume this is because it is a reliable vehicle to be rocking in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, google it. This is A Thing.
posted by jbenben at 3:48 PM on October 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by jbenben at 3:48 PM on October 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Chevy Equinox actually isn't a bad little SUV. Nice comfortable ride and good road manners. I think it would make for good road trip.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:49 PM on October 8, 2017
posted by Thorzdad at 3:49 PM on October 8, 2017
Volkswagen Vanagon camper with the Syncro (4x4) option
posted by bricoleur at 3:56 PM on October 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bricoleur at 3:56 PM on October 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I need something reliable / comfy enough
Neither of the options listed are what anyone would call 'comfy' if you mean ride quality for a road trip. A Land Cruiser is better, but looks a lot more modern.
If you want something vintage/post-apocalyptic then the G-Wagen and the Land Rover are the best fits, unless you want an older school Jeep or Toyota FJ40. None of the above are comfortable, practical cars, though. No matter how awesome. So if you aren't actually going to buy one of those, then you're into the Land Cruiser, basically.
Anything else is just another SUV, basically. Except the Jeep Wrangler which is, as noted, a horrendous vehicle and is terrible on fuel.
posted by Brockles at 4:22 PM on October 8, 2017
Neither of the options listed are what anyone would call 'comfy' if you mean ride quality for a road trip. A Land Cruiser is better, but looks a lot more modern.
If you want something vintage/post-apocalyptic then the G-Wagen and the Land Rover are the best fits, unless you want an older school Jeep or Toyota FJ40. None of the above are comfortable, practical cars, though. No matter how awesome. So if you aren't actually going to buy one of those, then you're into the Land Cruiser, basically.
Anything else is just another SUV, basically. Except the Jeep Wrangler which is, as noted, a horrendous vehicle and is terrible on fuel.
posted by Brockles at 4:22 PM on October 8, 2017
Lots of people do serious road trips in a Prius. Roomier inside than you think, and you can run stuff off the storage battery - charge a laptop and phone, and you can leave it 'running' all night and use the AC or heat. The engine will come on if needed, run briefly, shut off. Not at all sexy, so maybe a RAV4 Hybrid, which I presume has the same features, and all wheel drive is an option. Or if style is primary, a Toyota Land Cruiser should be in the running.
I did a couple cross country trips in a used Honda odyssey minivan, sadly totaled by a family member or I'd be driving it still. Solar panel on top for charging stuff, and I made a tent extension to go over the liftback, which was great for ventilation and a bit of extra space.
posted by theora55 at 5:09 PM on October 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I did a couple cross country trips in a used Honda odyssey minivan, sadly totaled by a family member or I'd be driving it still. Solar panel on top for charging stuff, and I made a tent extension to go over the liftback, which was great for ventilation and a bit of extra space.
posted by theora55 at 5:09 PM on October 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I would suggest getting a used vehicle of somewhat boxy shape, like a Ford Explorer or Chevy Suburban, and accessorizing it. Light bar, racks for stuff, etc. (This assumes you're not contemplating any serious off-roading.)
posted by SemiSalt at 5:47 PM on October 8, 2017
posted by SemiSalt at 5:47 PM on October 8, 2017
Honda Element. Have that Land Rover vibe but is a Honda. Hard to find for sale, though, as owners like to keep them.
posted by jillithd at 5:49 PM on October 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 5:49 PM on October 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I got excited about some of the vehicles people were describing, but they're mostly waaaaaay out of the 25k price-range OP mentioned (and I can relate to). What are some good cheap vehicles that meet the requirements?
posted by nixxon at 6:27 PM on October 8, 2017
posted by nixxon at 6:27 PM on October 8, 2017
Hilux.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:44 PM on October 8, 2017
posted by oceanjesse at 7:44 PM on October 8, 2017
Difficult to answer the question without knowing whether you're sleeping in the vehicle, camping next to it, or staying in a room someplace. And how many are you? 1, 2, 3, 4?
posted by at at 8:24 PM on October 8, 2017
posted by at at 8:24 PM on October 8, 2017
An electric Landrover Defender - and maybe you could tow around the solar panels you need to re-charge it. May be a little too literally apocalypse-ready - but you did ask.
posted by rongorongo at 12:37 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by rongorongo at 12:37 AM on October 9, 2017
Fully charged review the above - (really it is a damn shame that you can't buy one - somebody should start a business making contemporary versions).
posted by rongorongo at 12:47 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by rongorongo at 12:47 AM on October 9, 2017
As mentioned up thread, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is also Land Rover-esque, but you do need to go back to 2007/2008 high mileage models in order to get in the price range for OP. But those tend to be tricked out with a lot of fun accessories, too.
posted by jillithd at 6:50 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by jillithd at 6:50 AM on October 9, 2017
A neighbor just bought a Mitsubishi Delica. I don't know much about it other than it looks amazing.
posted by sewellcm at 7:55 AM on October 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by sewellcm at 7:55 AM on October 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Get a used Jeep Wrangler JKU. (That's the 4-door version.) I disagree that this isn't a comfortable road trip car -- the JK seats are the only seats that don't hurt my butt after a few hours. And you can go ANYWHERE, especially if you can swing a Rubicon package.
Not sure if you can find them for $25K yet, but I bet you can, at least w/ the standard package.
posted by nosila at 9:16 AM on October 9, 2017
Not sure if you can find them for $25K yet, but I bet you can, at least w/ the standard package.
posted by nosila at 9:16 AM on October 9, 2017
A friend rented a Prius once for a roadtrip in the rockies. It was severely limited to paved roads and it had problems with extreme grades (although that was a very early generation).
I've heard lots of great things about Delica's, but I've no first hand experience.
Exempting the "post-apocalyptic badassery," Subaru Outbacks have a very well deserved reputation (I have a 2008). At first I was a little leary of offroading/rough roads, but damn does it do well.
posted by porpoise at 10:04 AM on October 9, 2017
I've heard lots of great things about Delica's, but I've no first hand experience.
Exempting the "post-apocalyptic badassery," Subaru Outbacks have a very well deserved reputation (I have a 2008). At first I was a little leary of offroading/rough roads, but damn does it do well.
posted by porpoise at 10:04 AM on October 9, 2017
AMC Eagle. 4 wheel drive. alarming amounts of power. buy 2 and use one for spare parts.
posted by evilmonk at 11:28 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by evilmonk at 11:28 AM on October 9, 2017
The Mitsubishi Pajero was very much in the same class as the Defender, but for whatever reason Mitsu isn't selling it in the US anymore. Last year was 2006, according to the Wikipedia entry. I've used them in the Caribbean and they're positive beasts.
The Toyota 4Runner (aka the Land Cruiser Prado, aka the Hilux Surf) is readily available and a very dependable car. An in-law had one for years and loved it to pieces.
The Jeep Wranglers are total shitshows on the highway and in the slightest amount of cold. We despise them as cars for fieldwork.
Be aware that all of these vehicles are really thirsty, like pickup thirsty.
I'm in a Forester as a result. Fantastic road car, not to terrible on the gas. But quite a bit smaller than anything in your list.
posted by bonehead at 11:31 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Toyota 4Runner (aka the Land Cruiser Prado, aka the Hilux Surf) is readily available and a very dependable car. An in-law had one for years and loved it to pieces.
The Jeep Wranglers are total shitshows on the highway and in the slightest amount of cold. We despise them as cars for fieldwork.
Be aware that all of these vehicles are really thirsty, like pickup thirsty.
I'm in a Forester as a result. Fantastic road car, not to terrible on the gas. But quite a bit smaller than anything in your list.
posted by bonehead at 11:31 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe a Nissan Frontier? They are pretty much the cheapest pickup truck you can buy new or used, and are now more reliable than their Chevy and Toyota competitors (which have had some teething issues). Perhaps the "PRO-4X" package would give you the styling you're looking for?
posted by Seeking Direction at 12:17 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by Seeking Direction at 12:17 PM on October 9, 2017
Unimog 404.1.
Use the rest of your budget to decorate it Tank Girl style.
posted by sourcequench at 2:26 PM on October 9, 2017
Use the rest of your budget to decorate it Tank Girl style.
posted by sourcequench at 2:26 PM on October 9, 2017
I don't know whether this is in your wheelhouse or not... the Volkswagen 181 or 183 has classic adventure-vehicle looks and will turn heads. The 181 in will be easier to find (nearly all of the 183 were sold to military, while the 181 was marketed as a passenger vehicle in many countries and marketed as The Thing in the US) but is not a particularly great offroading vehicle, especially by current expectations.
posted by ardgedee at 4:26 AM on October 10, 2017
posted by ardgedee at 4:26 AM on October 10, 2017
It's tough to tick all your boxes. Post-apocalyptic vibes usually means you're talking about something utilitarian, which isn't going to have a lot in the way of fittings for a comfortable road trip. The best balance along those lines is probably a Land Cruiser of your preferred vintage (or a late 90s, early 2000s 4Runner, which were branded as Land Cruisers elsewhere).
posted by craven_morhead at 8:16 AM on October 10, 2017
posted by craven_morhead at 8:16 AM on October 10, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
Wranglers don't depreciate much, so I'd probably go new.
I'll just say that they're pretty terrible as a road trip car, but I can't think of anything else that answers your question...
posted by Huck500 at 3:38 PM on October 8, 2017