GAG car enthusiasts: any recommendations for (or against) a used SUV? Any specific models?

[WhiteSteve]

So, just in time for car prices to be sky high, I need a new car, lmao. I’m interested in what you all might have for input and experience. I guess I’m probably looking for mid-size SUV.

My “musts”:
-All Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive (snowy winters)

- Long engine life (I drive probably 30k-40k miles per year, and I want this thing to last)

-Low maintenance/durable…. can’t stand unexpected mechanic expenses. I don’t want something that’s in the shop more than once or twice a year, at worst.

-Big enough to carry hockey and fishing equipment in the back (~6 foot stick and ~7 foot rod) while still having the second row of seating up. I’m considering doing some Uber/Lyft driving and want to be able to do it while not having to unload my gear or pick it back up.

-Under $30k price tag. Really should be closer to $25k, since I’ll have taxes and fees, plus I pay for my insurance up front, so that’ll all be about $30k. I can go higher, but I don’t feeling like I’m getting a good value-to-how-much-I-give-a-shit ratio at that point😝

Not “musts”, but strong desire:
- Boxier body style. I really hate the look of the “aerodynamic” SUVs with all the curves. Like I hear very good things about the Toyota RAV-4, but I just don’t like the looks of it at all. I used to have a Honda CR-V, same deal, really didn’t care for the aesthetics. Chevy Tahoes, Toyota 4-Runners, Ford Explorers…those are more my style. Just have performance and reliability question marks on those, the aesthetics pass. But I don’t know if there are other models I don’t even know about that fit the bill, hence why I’m asking this question.

- Decent gas mileage. I know that kind of runs counter to what SUVs are, haha, but relatively speaking.


Questions/Other Random Stuff:
- Jeep Wranglers are possibly in play. I always wanted one but I don't know if they’re all that practical in a place where it’s cold half the year. But I do live in a beach town, so it’s kind of appropriate in the summer.

-Hybrid SUVs? Good/bad?

[DarkWinterNights]

I have a car and a truck but I’ve considered getting an suv (hybrid) to help with commuting.
If I was going to go out and buy one right now I would be looking at Toyota (RAV4) or Hyundai (New Tucsan or Santa Cruz). Both have decently priced vehicles, good warranties and reliable. They also have Hybrid models if mpg is a big concern.
Body on frame SUV’s seem to be more your speed but are going to cost a lot more- especially now and get less mpg. You really can’t go wrong with the 4Runner. It won’t be as refined, smooth and fancy as some others, but it will be reliable and capable. There is a high demand for them though.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, I’m really starting to think about spending a little more and getting a 4Runner. Hyundai is interesting. I always had them in my head as kind of a shitty car, haha, but I think I heard they’ve improved lately. I ended up with a Sante Fe as a rental for a weekend (actually slept in the back instead of spending money on a hotel lmao), and I think it was pretty solid. I don’t think I loved the body style, but this was like 2012, I have no idea how they look today. But the 4Runner is definitely calling to me. I’m still hoping my 90 year old father who can’t even drive anymore just gives me his 2013 Honda Pilot that still only has 95k miles on it, but he’s not offering. Still thinks he’s going to drive again one day🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ He hates the idea of me spending money too, I was so sure he’d offer it to me. I’d even buy it at KBB value, it’s worth like $15k, but that’s a better deal than I’ll find on the market right now. Christ, I’d buy him a second little beater that we can keep in the garage for him to pretend he’ll miraculously be able to drive one day😂

[exitseven]

I have had 2 chevy tahoes. I had over 200 K miles on both of them. They were very dependable and did not require a lot of maintenance. I think the biggest expense was a new A/C compressor. However my 1996 Tahoe's transmission started to slip so that is when I traded it in for a new one.
The have lots of room and the 5 liter engine really cranks. The interior is comfy and there is plenty of headroom. The gas mileage really was not bad for a V-8. I got about 18 MPG on the highway. To buy one brand new is an expensive proposition. I do not know much about the used car market.

[WhiteSteve]

Ah, a vote comes in for the Tahoe! I drove by a few today, really like the look of them, classic SUV styling. I had a Chevy before, a 2002 Blazer. It was my favorite car I’ve had, aesthetically. It was pretty good mechanically, although the radiator cracked on me while I was driving and filled the cabin with think smoke, that was pretty hairy, haha. I think I made it to 170k with it, but then I took my sales job and was driving all over the place, ending up in predicaments where I’d have to deliver or take out over 1,000 lbs of goods…. she was in tough shape at the end of that beating, haha. Maybe could’ve gotten it to 200k though, but I bought it when I was young and irresponsible and poor, lmao, oil changes were few and far between😂 Looks like decent used Tahoes are going for about $35k-40k on average, I could consider that. Thanks for the input👍

[exitseven]

I had a 1989 Chevy Blazer. It was really the perfect vehicle for me. Just th eright size, I go it with the 4 speed manual and 307 V8. It was very dependable although it went through a water pump every even numbered year. I had it for over 200K miles. It had a mechanical odometer that reset to zero after 100K. When I sold it the odometer said something like 15k miles. The guy asked me about it and I told him it was really 115K. It was really 215K. Two years later I saw it driving around town.

[Anonymous]

First and second generation Ford Escapes are amazing, though they're sadly getting older now. 😭 Love everything about my second gen and there are still tons of them on the road with them being between 10 and 14 years old, so they're obviously great, durable vehicles. Absolutely love mine and it's been everywhere with me. Hoping to get several more years out of it!

I'm not as fond of the third gens due to the fact that the interior feels much more cramped, though I don't know about the current fourth gens.

[WhiteSteve]

The first day I looked I saw a 2008 Escape with only 35k miles on it. It was white with a red & white reflector strip on the tailgate, looked like it might have been a supervisor vehicle for some local service, paramedics maybe, or some utility department. It was only $11k but it was probably a 7-8 hour drive away, like five or six states away. Seemed like a really good deal but it was a hybrid, so I was worried it might need a new battery, which I guess run you about $5,000. I emailed the place about it twice but got no response. A few days later I got an email from the internet site that linked me to it that said it was sold, but I never heard directly from the dealership. I would’ve made the drive for that price, even if it needed a battery.

[Opinion Owner]

That's too bad! Sounds like a great deal provided nothing was wrong with it. I believe that when things don't work out though, there's a reason for it, so maybe it's for the best!

[sunflower00]

I may be biased, but I’d say a Toyota RAV4. I know you aren’t a huge fan of the styling but I’d say it’s pretty boxy (the newer one anyway), Toyota is a really reliable brand and probably depending on where you live they have one of the best warranties. If you got a hybrid you can get a good battery warranty too.

[sunflower00]

The RAV4 Hybrid is pretty good in terms of mpg for an SUV aswell, that would save you a bit of money on fuel too.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, I was looking at them today as I was out and about. I’m not disgusted by them, but I just don’t love the aesthetics. I’m wondering if they’re big enough for what I need, too, as I look at them closer. Starting to think a 4Runner is what I need, just will cost me an extra $5k-$10k than I was hoping to spend. But it would probably last me long enough to justify the cost.

[WhiteSteve]

I don’t think they make a hybrid 4Runner, unfortunately. I want a closer look at the Highlander too. That might be bigger than the RAV-4, and I’m medium-sure I saw a hybrid model of those.

[sunflower00]

@WhiteSteve In the UK the Highlander is bigger than the RAV4 and does come as a hybrid, not sure how it is in America though! Unfortunately we don’t have the 4Runner in the UK so I don’t really know much about it! Good luck finding the right car :)

[Redstang88]

Jeeps are junk, stay away. The Explorers were iffy, the 4.0 engines they had in them could be problematic. Tahoes/Yukons are built on the truck chassis so tough but you’re gonna be living the added hassle/cost of driving something that big - forget anything near decent mileage.
CRVs and Rav 4s are great, yeah they’re pretty dull but gotta consider how much that really matters. Or get a 4 Runner, you simply can’t go wrong with Toyota

[WhiteSteve]

Great info, thanks man. Definitely have heard things about Jeeps. They’re pretty much part of the suburban uniform here lmao, so I’d feel like part of my soul was dying in getting one anyway. Wranglers always appealed to me for whatever reason, but they feel like more of a seasonal toy than a full-time car. And if they’re junky, fuck that noise. The car itself, the insurance, and the routine maintenance is costly enough without bringing it in for a blown cylinder that I have to shell out hundreds of dollars to fix AND have to awkwardly nod and pretend I understand I know what the hell a blown cylinder is with some mechanic lmfao. I don’t know if blown cylinders are even a thing, I think I might’ve had one of those once or heard it on tv or something…. I wish my high school had had auto shop🤦‍♂️😂

But yeah, looking more, a think a 4Runner might be it. I’ll have to spend a little more, but it is what it is. Haven’t had a Toyota before, but 200k+ miles life expectancy is speaking my language.

[andreasderjuengere]

SUV's (and also fuck-up trucks) are a visual obstruction in traffic.
The sooner they disappear, the better life (on the street/s) will be.
You need a lorry or a bus? - Well: then get one; not one of these compromises.

[WhiteSteve]

Haha, yeah, I get that. I can’t beat ‘em, so I have to join ‘em. Unfortunately, my main hobbies involve a lot of gear that requires a lot of space…not so much to need a full truck or anything, but a larger personal-use automobile. You should see me trying to fit this stuff into my little sport-sedan🤦‍♂️😂

[andreasderjuengere]

I see :)
Perhaps a ''station wagon'' style could do it.
They ride a lot less bumpy than these ''trucks''
I once had a few like that and it took the family of four on a 3 weeks camping vacation without problems.

[ShadezMcgee]

Was gonna say your best bet would be a Toyota. Lines up with most of what you are looking for. I think older Rav4 models aren't as boxy.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, starting to think I should just pay a little more for a 4Runner. It’s not that much more than what I was hoping to spend, really.

[ShadezMcgee]

Could possibly haggle the price down a bit, but yeah. Gave my answer based on my sister's old ride. She had an old forerunner that a family friend let her buy. Thing was around since she was a kid. By the time she was done I think it had over 300k miles

[slatyb]

What make? It's hard to go wrong with a Honda or Toyota.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, Honda and Toyota are my two leading makes. I had a Honda, it was a CR-V, I didn’t love the looks, but I had very few complaints about it. Haven’t had a Toyota yet, but I never hear much bad about them. I had Ford in my head as one of the better ones for some reason, not sure where I came up with that, but some are saying they aren’t all that.

[slatyb]

I leased a 2020 CR-V and we love it.

[douride2]

For what you want & what your willing to pay I doubt very much there is anything out there that fits the bill.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, I’m looking more and thinking I might need to put another $10k or so into this. I only buy cars like once a decade, so I’m always shocked at the price increases when it comes time😂 I think the last time I did this was in 2013, and I was like “I’m NOT spending over $10-15k!!!”…. ended up paying like $22k🤦‍♂️😂 Same deal here, I’m afraid lmao.

[douride2]

Yes I am in the same boat as you. My truck is a 2014 & I'm looking to buy a new vehicle. The price of new is simply ridicules.

[EnglishEuropean]

I'm not really into SUVs but I wouldn't buy American junk. Something like a Honda or Toyota, should be fine.

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, Honda and Toyota are my two leading makes. I had a Honda, it was a CR-V, I didn’t love the looks, but I had very few complaints about it. Haven’t had a Toyota yet, but I never hear much bad about them. I had Ford in my head as one of the better ones for some reason, not sure where I came up with that, but some are saying they aren’t all that.

[Dnice1]

I'd say RAV4s are a good choice either that or the Subaru Forester.

[WhiteSteve]

I hear they’re both really solid cars, I just don’t love the aesthetics😖 I’d consider them, but I’d feel like I was “settling” in the looks department.

[Dnice1]

They look as good as they drive trust me 😊

[driven159]

no used car is worth the money they are asking

[WhiteSteve]

Absolutely brutal. Almost wondering if it’s just better value to get a new car. I sore I’d never do that because of the depreciation, but if I’m getting gouged for thousands more on a used car, what’s the difference? In which case, I think I’d just order something from the factory and save a few bucks, I have another car I can use for a couple months while I wait.

[driven159]

yes, new one is better at least you don't have to worry about fixing it if it breaks down and you get better financing too

[Anonymous]

Any SUBARU! ('nuf said)

[Opinion Owner]

NO NOs: Any British-made car or poorly-built Jeeps

[WhiteSteve]

I hear good things about Subarus! Do they make something bigger than the Forester? My gf’s mom has one, and that wouldn’t quite be big enough for my needs.

[WhiteSteve]

And yeah, the Brits have a tough automotive track record lmao. I’ve heard Jeeps are suspect too, was just seeing if others here confirm that.

[Opinion Owner]

If you need/want a big Subaru, their Ascent has three rows. And, it's pretty posh inside.