SUV/offroad recommendation

I'm hemming and hawing about one of those right now, unfortunately the interior I want is only in a 6 passenger configuration. How much room behind the 3rd row of seats?
Couple of suitcases. I did use my roof rack for the first time this past October because it was full! With that seat folded there is lots of room!
 
Remember this is a $3K-$4K budget guys so new SUV's aren't part of the picture:poke:

$3K-$4K buys you an early 2000's SUV in most markets. What SUV made between 2000-2010 has 7 passenger seating and a fuel efficient engine? That is the question. What's the answer? I don't have one but let's try and find it.

4 Runner
Pathfinder
Durango (V8 only and definitely not fuel efficient)
Explorer XL (same)
Tahoe/Suburban (Same)
Commander (Has a V6 option but not great mileage)
Infiniti QX56
Armada
Cadillac SRX
Aviator
Olds Bravada
Acura MDX with 3rd row
Buick Enclave

and the list goes on.
 
How about a '80's Wagoneer? But forget any kind of mileage.
'77 Town and Country wagon, for 9!!!! (again no mileage)....
I think you're in a tough spot unless you go with an AWD van!
 
What kind of off-roading are we talking? Will low range be needed? The Freestyle/Taurus X can be had cheap. available in awd, gets in the 20's for mpg and have 3 row seating.
 
That thing is about ten grand OVER priced..
An almost NO option car
and the only electric window,, doesn't work...
The front seat is split but covered to hide it..
Brakes don't work, suspension needs work.....
Major pass... !
Just tossin' out ideas.....lol
 
Wagons are great, I had 79 and and 86 Buick Estate wagons. The 79 was the best one, 9 passenger, limited slip rear end and a 403 V8. It was like a 4x4 in moderate snow, 6" to 8" deep. It was great on the highway and in the city. It would haul like a truck.
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But .. it loved fuel!!

The 86 was nearly identical, except the engine was much smaller, about a 350 I think. It's gas mileage was worse. The big bad, it had an early version of GM's antilock brakes and used an exotic master cylinder that as nearly $4K to replace. As soon as I discovered that, I unloaded the car, traded it in on new Taurus for my wife. Should have gone Mopar, the Taurus had 3.6 alum block engine and after only 30K or so miles seized up with crude. While all this BS was happening, the '79 kept right on soldering like a champ.

A good wagon is hard to beat.
 
we arent talking wheeling. But more like...dirt, gravel, forrest roads...maaayyybbeee sand every once in a thousand years lol. an older Landrover would be on my list too but is unsustainable due to the very crappy mileage
 
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When we were looking for the same thing that you are looking for we bought one of these. 2007 Chrysler Aspen 4 wheel drive 5.7 Hemi Tow package, well optioned 12-14 around town 18-20 on trips (San Diego and Las Vegas)
 
Ooops forgot Cargurus .com is a good site go to found both my 300 and Aspen there
 
Well... we got something mopar. It was a great deal. Mechanically well taken care of,interior...not so much, sodastains doghair, all kinds of stains from little kids lol. I've been already cleaning the thing like crazy! Seats 7...but... apperantly jeep does not know that most people have legs *eyeroll* wife happy, ill be okay with it too once i get used to it,I am more into tiny race cars so this is a dog to me butbat least I was able to dodge the ugly hondas and acuras she was looking at *puuuke*[ATand acurasACH=full]277630[/ATTACH]

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I was able to dodge the ugly hondas and acuras she was looking at *puuuke*

Any Honda or Acura would have been a better choice. I think your wife has better taste :poke: (sarcasm is had to get across in text sometimes so I hope you know I'm just messing with you. But I am a Honda guy)

My cousin had one of those. The only thing that I remember about it was that she always had a problem with mice getting in the HVAC system and dying. That and the gas mileage was why she got rid of it. How long until it's lifted with mud tires?
 
How long until it's lifted with mud tires?

Once some of the 180k mile quirks are sorted out.

Needs a new key with fob (dealer only) and the passenger seat weight sensor is being stupid and needs recalibrating and or replaced. I gotta replace shocks too probably. Previous owner said maybe new front rotors soon but upon my inspection i cant see why. Those seem to be the non-cosmetic must do things.

We gonna start out with a better stereo with bluetooth and such, thats what the wife wants and will be most practical for her. I'll be putting da Ibasket on the roof for additional storage when the 2 extra seats are deployed. I agree that the gas mileage is not exactly what I was looking for but... hey.. we paid 3200$ for it and I feel that was a good deal and I predict that our little scion will sell for about 3k too. Drives pretty good and had a ton of maintenance done already, oil was indeed just changed,had a new waterpump, battery, belt, plugs, diff fluids changed. The only thing i noticed driving behind it is, once or twice it Puffed a very faint oil smoke taking off from a stop....so i gotta monitor that. Engine runs smooth. Can look past the bloodstains in the trunk for that haha (assuming the guy was a hunter). You can tell that the thing was "well enjoyed". But also mechanically taken care of (owner was 2nd owner who bought it from a friend, both car guys)

Kids love it :) cause they can be separated haha. I don't know, time will tell but just having it a couple of days now really makes me see the practical side of it. I personally wanted a pre 2000 4runner but she really hated that look. Well... i was looking for easy maintenance and she was looking for "compfort". Ill be sending her to the dealer to get the electronic gremlins fixed lol
 
So far the Jeep works decent. But oh my the electric gremlins. Passenger seat pressure sensor needs calibrated. Cleaned the IAC, MAF and TB. Replaced the TPS. Went through all the connectors in the engine bay and used contact cleaner. Cleaned all the connections in the fuse boxes. We took the thing on a trail and randomly the check engine light came on (who knows why, i wasnt doing anything crazy) and i get a brief (transmission over temp) message when turning the key. Apperantly common jeep problem with a corroded connector at the starter throwing that... my fingers are 1/2" too short to reach that darn connector to take it off and clean it haha

But so far I am excited, Its a nice ride and oh behold on the 30mile trip to the forrest we got 21mpg!!! it told me 14mpg average on the trail. Hopefully the city driving mpg will improve too once I'm all done with the tuneups.

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