Who makes the best used SUV for under $10K? Range Rover? Land Cruiser? Other?
 

Who makes the best used SUV for under $10K?

I'd look at a 1990-1995 Toyota 4-Runner. Head gaskets on the V-6 engines are the big issues with these trucks, so make sure they have been done.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is also a credible alternative, especially if one gets the 4.0 liter Inline-6 and Selec-Trac full-time 4wd (the most reliable combination).

-Sam

New or pre owned? :)

Toyota Landcruiser would be a good bet if you can find a fairly new model.

Nissan Pathfinders if they have been maintained with low mileage, can be very reliable.

Big brute force, Chevy Tahoe/Suburban

Jeep Cherokee Laredo/Limited

Range Rover = Costly repairs and always breaking down.

Personally I like the look of the landcruisers the most.

Alon

Go with the Toyota. I wish I still had my 92 4-Runner.

I like the Honda CR-V. Honda is coming out with a bigger version later this year called the Honda Pilot. Ours has been as reliable as anything we have ever owned.

As the happy owner of an '87 Isuzu pickup with 160,000 miles, my vote for cheap used SUV goes to Isuzu Trooper. (Yeah! I know Consumer Reports calls it the 'SUV of Death!) A friend bought a used '87 Trooper and drove it for almost 100,000 miles. It finally died at about 170,000 after survivng 3 kids, numerous dogs and cats, trips to the dump, and several snowy, salty winters with less than minimal maintenance. He replaced it with a '96 Land Rover Discovery. Seems about every other month, it dumps some expensive part which is only availible from the Land Rover Dealer for a 'blackmail' price! (Around Christmas, the rear antilock wheel sensor - $525, this week the alternator - $610, OUCH!)

Happy Motoring,
Mark

Howdy Chicagoland,
The question is a little vague. Here are some things to consider. Are you going to need it to carry a lot of people?¿(5 or more) then you need one of the big boats. Are you going to need it for stuff and just a couple people?¿(midsize) Is it a daily driver for one or 2 people?¿(something small like Suzuki or Wrangler). Are you going to go off-road?¿ Tough, tight trails you would want something that is rugged enough to handle it or something that is easy and cheap to fix(again Wrangler or Suzuki). And then find it for less than $10,000. Sorry to muddy the waters :)

Here is more info. I am looking at a pre-owned SUV. My wife will be driving this SUV as a daily driver. 2-3 people.

Thanks,

One more important element. The vehicle must have a good crash rating!

i think the question as posed is enough to get proper answers. having picked up a 90's w124 i am into the whole economics of buying used. i mean, a new land cruiser is $50k! recent models would be out of your price range.

under $10k will get you an early 90's 4-runner. a land cruiser is probably a bit more although i would prefer that over the 4-runner. stay away from the rovers...

Howdy Chicagoland,
Now you will get several good recomendations that will give you a choice. I don't know about the crash test part on the Jeep Cherokee but it would be my choice. Find one with the 6 cylinder engine. Good luck in your hunt.

1985-1991 jeep grand wagoneer 4x4 360 with the select a trac :D :D :D man what a solid truck....i cryed when i sold my 87...woody (stickered)and all.
all she wanted was gas
:D :D :D

I've read quite a bit about the reliability of the 4.0 liter straight 6 in the Jeep Cherokees.

I also can highly recommend the Toyota 4-runner, but I caution that they don't depreciate very much, thus expensive.

The Nissan Pathfinders are wonderful SUV's. What's more is they are unibody, not body on frame, so they ride more carlike and creak-free. Nissan's also depreciate more than Toyota's so they are a better used car buy.

If it was my money and I needed 4WD, I'd buy a Subaru wagon instead. A Subaru Outback has more interior room than a Ford Explorer or a Toyota 4 Runner. SUV's are dinosaurs. They have no sport and little utility. They drive terrible on the highway. They get terrible gas mileage. They also have marginal crash ratings, by and large. I know they have larger mass, but they don't have great crash protection engineered in them. Did you see the crash tests of the Ford 150's? They safety cages completely collapsed in off-set crash testing. Very scary.

Did someone say crash test? See the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety site here:
Crash Test Results

They don't go back too far, so finding one of your $10,000 cars here will be difficult, but looking around enough will allow you to see a trend on who has been historically safer. Also, see who makes the most models across the board that are safe. Very interesting stuff. Example: The '96-'99 E-Class MB was not too good in the frontal off-set crash, but '00-present is a lot better.