Help me find a car

[Bush]

Im looking for a small SUV, like a Ford escape or Jeep grand cherokee, but those two are out of the contest, they have too many problems. My budget is about $4000. It needs to be a V6, and if its off-road capable, thats a bonus. Thanks for the help guys!

[dragonhead]

vw R32 with gravel tires. offroad...sideways

[humakabula1]

Mitsu pajero..in forest green, so you can sneak up on your enemys and splatyer them!

[Black Six]

I recently got a Subaru Outback, and have been enjoying it. It might not be as offroad capable as a Jeep, but I think it could do pretty well. I only got it with the 4 cylinder Boxter, but there are 6 cylinder models available. Also the six-speed manual is great.

[bicostp]

Jeep Cherokee XJ with an AMC 4.0 I6. There are a ton of XJ offroad goodies out there, and the 4.0 is probably one of the most durable engines to come around since the Slant-6. A quick CraigsList for sale by owner search found a few clean ones for under 4 grand. (I searched Providence because I'm not sure where you are, but if they survived this well up here in the rusty northeast...)

I know you said no Grand Cherokee, but they're completely different vehicles, and the XJs must be loved by the offroad crowd for a reason.

Then there are other models to consider... Ford Bronco, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Plymouth Trailduster, Chevy Tahoe... (An oldschool early Bronco would be badass if you could find one for a decent price. ) Or you could screw with everybody and build an offroad Honda Odyssey.

[Bush]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Do you know if the XJ has any major issues? Grand cherokees explode easily and have a high transmission fail rate, so thats why its a no. I like them, is the xj similar? Edit: also, how well would a Ford Explorer Sport do offroad? My mom has an Explorer XLT, and its pretty tankish, so im wondering if a Sport would be better.

[Triton]

get a volvo 240 or 740 turbo and jack up the suspension on it and put bigger aggressive tires on it. indestructable and capable of a lot lol. or get an AMC eagle, audi quattro, or something interesting. is there a particular reason you need an offroad capable 4wd suv? other than you think they are cool lol

[Bush]

Well I like the size and interiors of SUV's, as well as being up high. I hate trucks, sedans are fine, sports cars are cool but too small. Despite my anti-redneck agenda, I went off road with my friend and now I'm in love. Mainly, I like small SUV's, and off-roading would be a nice capability to have. There are plenty of little hick towns south of me and a mountain near where I live, which is a stereotypical little place called Alabama. Please don't let me living here fool you, I'm from the Midwest, and I live in the city. I lack a southern accent, and additionally I'm also educated and literate. Jokes aside, I'm considering a Ford Explorer sport or that sexy Cherokee XJ mentioned earlier. However, I cant find an XJ down here that isn't younger than 89'. I'm looking for around a 1996-2003-ish era vehicle. Thanks again guys!

[Pkmnjunky7]

My father, girlfriend, grandmother, and aunt all drive Honda CRVs. They are all at moderately high mileage and still doing great. None of them have had problems with them and they are 4 wheel drive, so they do have some off road capability. I've heard that the models of CRVs between 1997 and 2001 are the best made and most dependable. It's really a great vehicle and should be within your budget! Hope this helps.

[Black Six]

My father, girlfriend, grandmother, and aunt all drive Honda CRVs. They are all at moderately high mileage and still doing great. None of them have had problems with them and they are 4 wheel drive, so they do have some off road capability. I've heard that the models of CRVs between 1997 and 2001 are the best made and most dependable. It's really a great vehicle and should be within your budget! Hope this helps.

My mom had a CRV for a while and it was a great little SUV. I'm pretty sure they're only available in an 4 cylinder though, no V6.

[Bush]

They only come in 4cyl 2.0 liter

[vskid]

Whats wrong with a 4 cyl? Many of the older toyota trucks have them and do fine. Low speed offroading usually doesnt require much power.
The Cherokee and Explorer are both good choices.
What kind of offroading do you plan on doing? I've never heard of an Explorer being described as tankish offroad. My friend has a 91 F-150 with just some taller tires and it does decent offroad. The last time we went out we went down a trail that we're pretty sure was an ATV trail. The sides got dented up squeezing past trees, and its comsidered a full size truck. So an XJ or Explorer should be plenty small enough if you don't go down ATV trails.
Just remember that it can be an expensive and time consuming hobby if you really get into it (which is why I got rid of my Comanche).

[humakabula1]

honda CRV is an excellent car, my family had one about 4-5 years ago, never had a fault.
Im not sure but i think the CRV sport is an AWD

[Bush]

Theyre priceym and not even 6 cyl. They have a 2.0 liter... Just way too small for me.

[bicostp]

Personally I wouldn't run a 2L in anything bigger than a first-gen NA Focus. 2.0 4-cylinders are even more useless in a truck. We used to have a Mitsubishi pickup (the one they rebranded as the Ram 50 back in the 80s), and it was a gutless wonder. There's a big difference between that and its eventual successor, a V6 Ranger. Driving my 2L I4 Saturn vs a 3L V6 Accord? Sure the Accord weighs almost twice as much but it just feels more responsive (and it gets about the same highway MPG; the only big mileage difference is on the 45 MPH main roads).

Never mind the fact that in normal driving situations you're going to have to rev the crap out of a tiny engine to get a truck moving.

TL;DR don't bother with those little Japanese hatchbacks with lift kits. If you want to go that route be awesome and drop a Focus wagon on top of a Ranger frame and drivetrain, and blow some minds.