Budget beater with a heater, small-midsized-SUV quirky-not-a-Cherokee Edition

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4623658666.html + http://www.funonwheels.net/hirisesubaru/pages/libertylift.htm ???

That's kinda fun... but i think i'd do a ghetto-lifted Sportage first.

pinchvalve wrote: Seriously though, AWD wagons.

YES!

Or how about not a wagon but still 4WD and has parts from ALL THE DOMESTICS!?

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4616814861.html

Seriously, 4.2L inline 6, 4WD, coupe body, etc. What's not to love?

Or there's something like this:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4678119575.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4674414841.html

Make Bobzilla proud:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4670961104.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4679019440.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4646869217.html

Yup!

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4681298714.html

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4681292048.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTPmrJcRL5A

Probably not adding any benefit to the thread, but here's some contrarian dribble:

What exactly is the problem with a set of snow tires on a rwd car?

Back on topic: buy this and start a side business rescuing people who are stuck in the snow.

Really want an SUV-ish thing. The only real exceptions would be the a Comanche or... an Eagle SX4, particularly.

In reply to Cactus:

because he's the type who doesn't want to follow the herd, so he'll ask the herd's advice after eliminating the herd's most common answers right off the bat.

The lack of domestics makes things much more difficult and possibly worse for him, so at least there's some potential entertainment to be found in the resulting rants. (See his archive of Cherokee, Escort and Miata rants. Or Bobzilla's casual mention of his Korean cars reliability and success on course...)

at least he isn't like some who try and do similar but only because they want to justify and argue about the choice they've already made.

Cactus wrote: Probably not adding any benefit to the thread, but here's some contrarian dribble: What exactly is the problem with a set of snow tires on a rwd car? Back on topic: buy this and start a side business rescuing people who are stuck in the snow.

There isn't, except that my RWD car happens to be a turbo Miata that's not the easiest thing to drive under the best of conditions, and getting it ready for snow duty involves new wheels, tires, raising the suspension a good amount (with the resulting alignment job necessary), and then i'm still left with having to borrow the Cherokee anyways if i need/want to haul parts. So really... more work, more hassle, and not a HUGE amount of money saved.

If i'm going to purchase another vehicle (which it looks like i will), it'll be something i want, not something i can "get away" with.

In reply to Swank Force One:

any particular reason why? You've already got the wifey's 'kee which will be yours once her new rig is purchased. This would just be just be a stop-gap until all that happens.

Most of the choices will allow the addition of a cheap utility trailer which would haul more parts, more easily than a SUV.

jus' sayin'

Hey, if it's just a stop-gap, might as well get something you want. Or buy my MR2 (which even comes with a trailer) and drift everywhere in the snow.(I will admit that Eagle looks way cooler than anything I drive)

turboswede wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: any particular reason why? You've already got the wifey's 'kee which will be yours once her new rig is purchased. This would just be just be a stop-gap until all that happens.

No real GOOD reasons other than that i like SUVs and that another Cherokee is probably the right answer, due to how much i LOVE LOVE LOVE her Cherokee. I like driving it, it's the right size, i like sitting high, it satisfies my inner redneck.

But in this case, i know i'll be disappointed if i get another Cherokee that isn't as nice as hers, and i'd be "forced" to at least copy the suspension i put on hers because i know how much better it makes it.

Basically, getting another Cherokee i'd be happy with would be more like $5k, well out of budget.

Shopping in the quirky $2k range makes sure i won't have to make any direct comparisons, and i'll just have fun with it.

Lifting a wagon doesn't appeal to me as much on a "primal" level, but again, i don't have a logical reason against it (not that lifting a wagon is logical in the first place). If i felt like engaging full-on troll mode, i'd probably get a Camry/Tercel AllTrac and lift it to the moon.

Just looking at stuff that would be mostly turn-key, or stupid cheap/easy to modify at this point.

That brown Montero? I wouldn't touch. Just drive.
Subie wagon? lots of work.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4662028810.html

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4662028810.html

That's just rude. I don't know if i like that or the brown Montero better.

Tommy doesn't have to reply to the thread now, either. His answer would be "A red box Trooper!"

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4674706511.html Way out there.. 2 stroke diesel.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4674706511.html Way out there.. 2 stroke diesel.

way out there is right! pretty cool though.

Just take $2000 with you in cash and buy PseudoSport's AMC Spirit Challenge car (or buy it on the way back). Done.

Swank Force One wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4662028810.html

That's just rude. I don't know if i like that or the brown Montero better. Tommy doesn't have to reply to the thread now, either. His answer would be "A red box Trooper!"

How about this.. Send me $4K. I'll buy them both and then provide you a detailed report after driving them for months.

Volvo 240 wagon, Dana 30 rear end swap, 5.38 ring and pinion upgrade, and yukon grizzly locker (seriously) and snow tires.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/86-trooper-ii-2-door/90996/page1/#post1615599

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4639769913.html

Swank Force One wrote:

turboswede wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: any particular reason why?

....reasons....blah, blah, blah...

Right. I think the answer you were searching for was, "just because I'm bored and I want to berkeley with the board today."

Which is as good a reason as any, really.

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4625432191.html

because the shell might be clean and you'll end swapping the motor into whatever pseudo SUV you end up purchasing

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4639769913.html

I know that thing runs and drives because i see it driving around our place at least a few times a week.

turboswede wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

turboswede wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: any particular reason why?

....reasons....blah, blah, blah...

Right. I think the answer you were searching for was, "just because I'm bored and I want to berkeley with the board today." Which is as good a reason as any, really.

LOL.

Maybe, but i figured some of you sickos had actually owned most of these.

I'll buy something on the list.

captdownshift wrote: http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4625432191.html because the shell might be clean and you'll end swapping the motor into whatever pseudo SUV you end up purchasing

That's more than i've ever paid for an MX6.

Trooper on GRM in WV...

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/4674706511.html Way out there.. 2 stroke diesel.

Would I be a bad person to make my wife ride back to NY in that? I'd love my own Detroit.