Can I buy a reliable, used SUV for around $10,000?
July 26, 2016 6:22 PM   Subscribe

I would like to get a vehicle with high clearance and AWD. I will mainly use it for some around the town errands and weekend trips to get to out of the way trail heads. I have a sedan that I use for commuting. My friend just bought a brand new CRV for about $28,000. I am reluctant to spend so much money for a vehicle that I anticipate to use only sparingly. I am hoping to spend around $10,000 or so, but can spend a few thousands more if needed. So I am looking for advice on which make and model to look for.

I have looked on Truecar.com to get a sense of what's available. It seems around the $10,000 range, there is a smattering of 2004-2006 domestic cars with odometers >100,000 miles. I don't have much knowledge about cars and have really no idea which model is considered reliable at that vintage (if any). So please educate me on whether this idea is feasible: can I get a reliable car that I can use for rough roads for around $10,000? If so which models and years should I look for?

I live in Portland OR if that matters.

Thanks
posted by Pantalaimon to Travel & Transportation (19 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
Yes, absolutely without question you can do this, in Portland even. I sold my 2006 Subaru Outback with 105k miles for 8k with very little trouble in PDX last year.
Subaru - Outback or Forrester
Toyota RAV-4
Honda CR-V

Get it independently inspected, private party may be cheapest. Although, for 10k, depending on frequency you may be best off renting a car for your needs when they happen vs sinking that kind of cash in to one - but you do what works for ya.
posted by iamabot at 6:53 PM on July 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Hyundai Santa Fes are also an option and will be cheaper than a Subaru.
posted by fshgrl at 7:06 PM on July 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've been doing similar research, and keep getting pointed towards 4Runners, Xterras, and older Jeep Cherokees.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:11 PM on July 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you're just looking for a weekend play vehicle, you can probably spend less than that since it doesn't have to replace your daily driver in reliability or creature comforts. Or get a pre-2006 Forester, a solid tuneup, and a really good set of all-terrain tires.
posted by a halcyon day at 7:27 PM on July 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


I've been doing similar research, and keep getting pointed towards 4Runners, Xterras, and older Jeep Cherokees.

That's the list I would suggest, with the addition of Subarus if you can find one at a reasonable price -- they often go for crazy high prices used, but there must be deals sometimes. For occasional use you don't care about fuel economy, you just want a reliable and solid truck.

If you are ok with a pickup instead of an SUV, you could add Toyota and Nissan pickups to your list, but they are also hard to find good deals on, and unless you need a truck I'd stick with an SUV for versatility.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:30 PM on July 26, 2016


I had a AWD Hyundai Santa Fe for 10 years, and it never gave me any trouble. It was a very reliable, comfortable vehicle -- much more reliable than our Hondas. It was great on rutted country roads and good on snowy roads as well.
posted by Ostara at 7:34 PM on July 26, 2016


If you just need a little extra ground clearance and some extra traction when accelerating, a car-based SUV or mini-ute like a RAV-4 or CR-V will be just fine with AWD. If you might be doing a bit more off-road, you'll want a real 4x4 with a transfer case instead of AWD. You'll give up some road manners and fuel efficiency but you won't get stuck unless you really push your luck. The 4Runner is kind of big but they're pretty reliable and very rugged. The previous generation Xterra is kind of 'meh' as a vehicle and the engine isn't as reliable as the VQ engine in the newer ones (but they're still pretty solid). It was really designed for people with your lifestyle.

I sold Nissans for a living and remember a guy driving one and dropping it off for service, took his mountain bike off of the rack, took off his shirt, put on his helmet and backpack and rode off. He rode back in the next day, reversed the process and drove home. That guy was exactly who Nissan built that car for. The newer gen ones are bigger and drive much nicer on the road and are probably more capable off-road too but I don't know that you'll find many in your price range.

With Jeeps you want the 2.5L straight six. Stuff can break on it but it will always run.

100,000 miles isn't nearly as big of a deal as it used to be. I have a 2010 Toyota that doesn't call for any real maintenance other than oil changes and tire rotations (don't they rotate when you drive it? heh) until 90,000 miles. You can totally get something solid in your price range. You probably don't need a real 4x4 and you'll get more bang for your buck with some kind of Subaru or a CR-V or other car-base small SUV. It's a hotly contested segment and has been for a while so it's kind of hard to go wrong there.
posted by VTX at 7:48 PM on July 26, 2016


With Jeeps you want the 2.5L straight six. Stuff can break on it but it will always run.

The Jeep inline six cylinder was a 4.0 liter engine and is what I assume you were referring to. The 2.5 in the Wrangler was a four cylinder and was never all that great of an engine -- way less power, but only slightly better fuel economy.

But trivia aside, I agree with everything VTX says.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:02 PM on July 26, 2016


I just inherited my father's 2002 Toyota 4Runner (3.4L 4WD SR5 Sport) with about 155k on the clock. I also inherited 12 years of service records (he bought it used), which consist of periodic oil and tire changes but no repairs. My new-to-me 4Runner is worth $6-8k, depending on the market.
posted by workerant at 8:05 PM on July 26, 2016


We bought the same as workerant's dad 6 years ago - 2002 4runner. Back then it was 10k. We're not at 150k miles yet, though. It's been awesome, super reliable and no (big) repairs!
posted by The Toad at 8:19 PM on July 26, 2016


At that mileage, you'll want to see records regarding the timing belt. A flawless vehicle that has never had any maintenance or repair issues, but has 150K on it, could be way past the service interval for a timing belt.
posted by yesster at 8:29 PM on July 26, 2016


I would suggest considering some small or mid sized pickups. An F-150 or a Chevy Silverado will do the trick and be at a price lower than a sedan.
posted by AugustWest at 8:54 PM on July 26, 2016


I was just at a Honda dealership an hour ago looking at a CR-V in good shape with 80k miles for $10,000.

I don't know anything about cars really (haven't owned one in a decade, I like my bike just fine) but the advice friends and family have given me is basically go Honda/Toyota and 100k miles is nothing if it was maintained regularly. I'm not trying to do any serious off roading, but I have definitely seen 4Runners/Tacomas/Cr-V/etc. for around $10k/100k. More like $7-8k if you go private party. And this in SF so I imagine this is a more expensive market.
posted by bradbane at 9:07 PM on July 26, 2016


Save your $10,000 for some nice vacations and just use your regular sedan for those weekend trips. You really can go to just about to any logging road trailhead with a two-wheel drive regular car. Try it. You might be surprised, even if you have to occasionally get out and kick a football sized boulder off the road.
posted by JackFlash at 9:53 PM on July 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


If it is any reference I bought my used 2005 CRV in 2012 with under 100K miles for about $9K.
I live in WI haven't done anything but replace the original battery (this year) and brake pads....I love my CRV, I am a single woman who likes to shop at flea markets etc....I enjoy the room.
I hope you find what you are looking for, it took me a year to find it...actually the used car dealer called me because I think he grew tired of me trying cars all the time lol. He said "I think I have what you are looking for"....don't be afraid to wait for something that is worth it, good luck.
posted by irish01 at 4:31 AM on July 27, 2016


At that mileage, you'll want to see records regarding the timing belt. A flawless vehicle that has never had any maintenance or repair issues, but has 150K on it, could be way past the service interval for a timing belt.

Just to add on to this...A lot of these vehicles will have timing chains and not belts. Chains are far more preferable to belts.

If, however, the vehicle does have a timing belt and you decide to have it replaced, it's usually a good idea to replace the water pump at the same time, since it's usually run off the timing belt and has to be accessed to change the belt.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:15 AM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


With Jeeps you want the 2.5L straight six. Stuff can break on it but it will always run.


Another vote that in a Cherokee (XJ) what you really want is the 4.0L H.O., preferably with a SelecTrac transfer case (shift on the fly AWD, 4WD hi, 4WD low and RWD).
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:14 AM on July 27, 2016


If you look at Subaru Foresters in early 2000s model years (at least up to 2006, maybe later), make sure the head gaskets have been replaced or you will be replacing them near ~100,000 miles. The part is faulty.

I just got burned on this with a 2006 Forester and come to find out it's practically a universal problem in these model years (at least if enthusiast forums are anything to go by).
posted by rawralphadawg at 6:48 AM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Jeep inline six cylinder was a 4.0 liter engine and is what I assume you were referring to.

Yep, that's my mistake. Too long in the car business and now too long out of it and some of the facts have gotten a bit jumbled.

Some people buy a cheap, older pick-up truck as a spare vehicle for this kind of thing. You could cut your budget in half and still probably find something that will work. Especially in a smaller "light-duty" pick-up like a Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier (which shares a lot of parts with the Xterra), or Toyota Tacoma. You could get a topper for the bed if you need covered storage back there. Just be forewarned that you'll be "the friend with a truck" and will get asked to help people move...everything and anything. You might be fine with that or you might refuse to help but be totally okay lending out the truck as long as you don't have to help with the heavy lifting.
posted by VTX at 7:56 AM on July 28, 2016


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