1st Gen CRV, viable Cherokee replacement?

turboswede wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

turboswede wrote: 8 miles? I hate to say it, but a hybrid would make more sense for her needs. Get a used Insight, etc. and enjoy saving money since you won't take the depreciation hit from buying new. I also have to wonder why you're looking at SUV's given the miles she drives.

That ship sailed long ago. She likes sitting high, she likes not having to shift in winter, she likes the knowledge that she has a 4wd Jeep in winter for E36 M3ty weather, etc etc etc. A hybrid would probably take about 30 years to pay for itself with how few miles she drives. We usually put 5-8k miles on this thing a year. Gas mileage is really not a concern. Now, i've considered an Insight for myself, but even i don't really drive enough for it to make sense. It's rare that i break 15k miles.

Sigh, I feel your pain. Wife is similar, except she doesn't drive in the snow (I do), but doesn't like not being able to see over the dash (who does?) and her commute is about 40 miles a day. If I hadn't lost my job, we'd have probably replaced one of the cars with a Volt. Makes me wonder if one could take a DelSol and an Insight to make a nice 2-seat convertible cruiser that can get great mileage for commuters?

Don't get me wrong, i'm not mad about her driving a Cherokee or wanting a truck-ish SUV that gets E36 M3ty gas mileage. It doesn't get enough miles to matter, and it's great that she's happy about driving something that has enough utility that i can take it to the junkyard and stuff it full of a thousand pounds of crap when i need to. An Insight can't do that, so we'd have to have a truck or something like this in the end anyways.

I just wish i could talk her into driving a Cummins dually.

wife has a 99 crv 230000+ miles and still going strong. MPGs around 24-26. lots of space, no significant towing. plus it has a picnic table!!

In related news, this was offered to me for a good price. So much want. Unfortunately SWMBO won't drive it (5spd, and it's HUGE), and the only ways to fund it and fix/replace her Cherokee is to sell the 95 Miata. Blah.

^that is much cooler than this:

Neither are as cool as this:

Turbo B20, AWD 5-spd on 235/45/17 tires wrapped around 17x8 TL wheels. I don't even like Hondars and I approve of this! This used to belong to one of our techs. He drove it from Edinburg to Carmel 5 days a week and had ZERO issues for 2 years. He sold it to get a truck and regrets that every day.

I guess Cherokees are just worth more up there. Down here you'd be lucky to sell ANY xj for 4k.

Makes me wonder if one could take a DelSol and an Insight to make a nice 2-seat convertible cruiser that can get great mileage for commuters?

Well they get pretty great mileage to begin with , but if you are after an mpg swap there are easier options than the insight motor (which really cant handle ANY extra weight without boost), such as the factory civic VX motor or the 3-stg vtec d15b etc. But yeah, high-mpg Del Sol is a pretty great idea in my book.

We've had an '03 CRV since new, and it's been fantastic. I know it's the second gen, but I can't say enough good things about it. At 115k or so miles it's on it's second set of tires and brakes, and the only repair ever was a new AC compressor. The wife averages about 24 to 25mpg on her 12 mile commute, I usually get about 22 to 23 when I drive it.

My previous SUV was a '97 Grand Cherokee bought new by my dad, and I bought it from him at 60k miles. Well, there is no comparison in terms of reliability. The Jeep was mostly broken all the time. It ran great until about 70k miles then; 3 transmissions, 9 fuel pumps and 2 heads later, I moved it on to owner number 3.

The Honda though is easily the best car I've ever owned. It simply works. It's not entertaining really, but it hauls a ton of crap, always starts, and never breaks. My wife loves it. It's difficult to get her to consider a replacement, although she spent a week driving my mom's X3 and I've been informed that she may want one of those now!

solfly wrote: plus it has a picnic table!!

^+1

I think you should jump on that blue CR-V. Obviously not as capable off-road as a Jeep, but more capable than it should be. Plus, eventually you will put an F2T in it and I want to see that.

racerdave600 wrote: My previous SUV was a '97 Grand Cherokee bought new by my dad, and I bought it from him at 60k miles. Well, there is no comparison in terms of reliability. The Jeep was mostly broken all the time. It ran great until about 70k miles then; 3 transmissions, 9 fuel pumps and 2 heads later, I moved it on to owner number 3. "" />

You can't compare Grand's in the mix, he's talking regular Cherokee. I worked at a Jeep dealer for 8 years and in my immediate family we have had 8 Cherokee's (mixture of Grands and regulars) and the regular Cherokee's are SOOOO much of a better rig than a Grand. It doesn't make any sense as the platforms are so similar but I would heartily endorse a regular Cherokee, but actively steer people away from Grands.

The later non XJ based Grand wasn't too bad. MY mom has a late 02 with tow package that's been damn reliable besides some transfer case troubles and getting 16mpg due to towing gears.