Decisions, decisions...

So, SWMBO and I are hopefully finally narrowing down our search for a new (to us- won't be anywhere near actually new on our budget...) DD for me.

Requirements for it:

• Drivable and reliable out of the gate (which rules out most of what I usually look at)
• 4WD or at least AWD because we need something more capable to get up the dirt road to where our cabin will be built
• Capable of carrying a modest bit of crap both to get things to the cabin & because it will be a backup for SWMBO when I need to do work on her Mariner, meaning it needs to be a SUV, larger crossover, or truck
• Corollary to the previous: If it's a truck, it needs to have a real back seat, not jump seats- so mostly double/quad cab 
• Automatic transmission (a bit of a PITA as several really nice, cheap ones I've found have been 5-speeds) because SWMBO won't learn to drive stick
• Under 200k miles (SWMBO's restriction)
• Looks modestly good- i.e. not beat up/multiple colored panels/really rusty (again, all SWMBO)
• Driver's seat can be adjusted to be comfortable for SWMBO (she's preeeeetty short) to drive comfortably & see well out the windows
• Under roughly $5k

So far it's been tough going- the closest we've come was a '99 CR-V, but ultimately we decided that it was just too close to a car and we were concerned about it making it up the road to our property carrying us and a load of stuff.

A trip out to a local smaller used car/BHPH dealership netted two new potential candidates that we'll likely be going out tomorrow for SWMBO to see and try driving:

2002 Infiniti QX4- https://www.tatescreekmotorsky.com/2002_Infiniti_QX4_Nicholasville_KY_16366633.veh (it's one of the most recent additions to their lot, so hasn't been photographed yet)- was initially quoted $3750 out the door; KBB for very good condition is $2750

Pros:

• Relatively low miles
• Clean and appears to be in good shape (no rust, body damage, etc.)
• Drives well
• AWD, but can be locked into 4WD
• SWMBO should have no trouble sitting comfortably in it
• Less expensive of the two

Cons:

• Has a CEL on- was told it was for an O2 sensor (obviously bringing my code reader to check myself)
• Don't really need or want so fancy of an interior, and has few broken interior pieces
• Rather wanted something with a bed

2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500- https://www.tatescreekmotorsky.com/2002_Chevrolet_Avalanche_Nicholasville_KY_14263340.veh- was quoted $4500 for it, didn't catch whether that was before tax, title, etc. or out the door; KBB for good condition is $4600.

Pros:

• Plenty of space inside
• Has a bed, though a short one
• Can likely tow pretty much anything I throw at it
• True 4WD, ground clearance to easily handle the cabin road

Cons:

• Higher mileage, almost at the SWMBO-imposed limit
• Has a few rusty spot (passenger front wheel well, running board under passenger rear door
• Remains to be seen whether SWMBO can comfortably drive it
• Will likely need new tires, which won't be cheap (~$7-800) on top of it being the more expensive
• Is definitely a boat size-wise

Honestly, I'm pretty solidly split between the two. To my surprise, in researching it the Ininiti has a towing capacity 1500lbs higher than SWMBO's Mariner does (QX4 is rated at 5000 lbs), and can actually tow the Rampage on a tow dolly without any issues. Of course, the Avalanche could tow the Infiniti on a car hauler even more easily. I love the idea of having the truck bed and the ability to haul almost anything around with the Avalanche, but it comes at the cost of it being huge and less efficient (though somewhat surprisingly not by much- the QX4 has a combined MPG of 15, the Avalanche is only 2MPG less at 13...).

Interestingly, despite being the more expensive of the two, the Avalance looks to be the better deal relative to the book price on the two of them (though I was talking to the owner regarding the Avalanche and the sales guy on the QX4, so the QX4 price I was quoted may not be the lowest they'll go). Left to my own devices, I'd likely go for the Avalanche- but I expect SWMBO is going to like the Infiniti far more and be pushing for it.

Any thoughts or experiences with the two SUVs that may help? Thanks!

mid 2000's subaru outback would be my choice.

I don’t think I could force myself to drive something as ugly as an Avalanche.  

If both will do the job The answer here is whatever she likes best.

MazdaFace said:

mid 2000's subaru outback would be my choice.

Unfortunately SWMBO wouldn't get anywhere near it since it's a wagon.

That QX4 is the same as the Pathfinder and dead nuts reliable other than the distributor. I bought one for the ex when we were married. She abuses the E36 M3 out of it and it just keeps chugging along. 

Jeep Cherokee. Buy the nicest one you can find.

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favorite this post 1999 Infiniti QX4 Mint Condition 130k Runs Awesome and Super Nice!!! - $3500 (Fort Wright) hide this posting

image 1 of 21

1999 Infiniti QX4

condition: excellent
cylinders: 6 cylinders
drive: 4wd
fuel: gas
odometer: 130380
paint color: silver
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission

Above is Lexington CL.  It's in Cincy.

GMT800 really is about the best SUV ever. Why go Avalanch when Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/YukonXL exist?

Those have front and rear heated seats. 

Most have disappeared from michigan due to a crushing recall.  The drivers side strut mount area that would rust through and allow the strut to smash in to the steering column.  If it survived the recall it was inspected and passed. 

My SIL had one, great truck, until it Nissan needed it back to crush.

I would own one.

In reply to buzzboy :

Honestly, I like the idea of a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban or their counterparts from other brands- but SWMBO doesn't like the idea of something that large and tends to discount them. The oddity is that with a truck she's more lenient in that respect- which means that the Avalanche gets a tentative pass due to having a truck bed.

And, sadly, while a true double/quad cab truck is something we'd both like (we loved the 4-door Silverado we rented over the holidays) around there most any examples that aren't north of 250k miles or complete POS's are 50% more than our budget at a minimum.

Sounds like you need to fly and drive down South for what you want. 

Stampie said:

Sounds like you need to fly and drive down South for what you want. 

I won't lie, that would be nice- but unfortunately we need something right away and even getting up to Cinci or Louisville is a considerable challenge with our respective schedules and the vehicles we have now. The Mariner is fine, but SWMBO needs it for her work so I can't take it that far away to look myself and I'm not comfortable taking the Rampage that far at the moment- and then there would be the issue of getting both vehicles back if I bought something a ways away.

I almost (almost....) wish I'd tried to get the Grand Cherokee's transmission issues resolved instead of selling it... it would likely have been done well before now and would have cost a whole lot less. :/

Ashyukun (Robert) said:

MazdaFace said:

mid 2000's subaru outback would be my choice.

Unfortunately SWMBO wouldn't get anywhere near it since it's a wagon.

That's a shame... because my suggestion would be a minivan. An AWD Astrovan sounds good for your needs, although may be tricky to find one that meets the mileage and price criteria.

buzzboy said:

GMT800 really is about the best SUV ever. Why go Avalanch when Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/YukonXL exist?

Not sure about the Tahoe or the Avalanche and Suburban but the Yukon’s have a deadly flaw: They’re extremely susceptible to gray Honda Accords.

GMT360's???? with Smarttrak

In reply to 759NRNG :

Those were definitely on the table, but unfortunately we just haven't found any that we (*cough*) liked. There was an Envoy XUV that had very high promise that we looked at right after New Years- but when we went by to look at and test drive it when they jump-started it (was bitter cold that week) the radio started smoking like it was on fire, so that one was dropped quickly (I had some concerns about it anyway, had a rebuilt title and worried it was a flood vehicle...). There's an Envoy XL nearby that I thought looked really good, but SWMBO though it being so long made it look ridiculous (yes... That's What She Said).

I vote ugly Avalanche. 

Buying a car from that dealership would terrify me. I have no experience with them in particular but those of their ilk. Badly maintained, patched together vehicles sold with a 30 feet or 30 second warranty.

I have a strong desire for that Infinity. Like very strong. 

Yeah, buying used from a dealership is awful. I just tried to buy a used Mazda 3. It was priced too high to begin with, but after all the fees and taxes, it was nearly 2 grand more than the asking price. And on top fo that you have no idea how the car was maintained. I am still searching, just not at dealers. 

I find it so hard to locate a good car in this price range that fits your criteria. I feel for ya. Best of luck!

I’d be leery of BHPH, too, since they are usually looking for payment buyers.  Let me know if you need me to put eyes on that QX4 in FT Wright.  Might be able to check it out around lunchtime on Saturday.  I’ve noticed they tend not to go for any more than an equivalent Pathfinder by the time they hit that age.

It’ll be pushing your limits a bit, but you might be able to find a 3.3 L V6 Highlander.  Mine was nice a reliable, just incredibly boring.  I’d avoid the earlier 3 liter models, between potential for sludge and weaker transmissions.

Have you kept an eye out for Nissan Frontiers?  I think they were the first in the US with a compact crew cab, so older ones may be in your price range.

We ended up getting the Infiniti. Honestly- and SWMBO told them as much after we finished signing everything- this was by far the best experience either of us had ever had in buying a car from a dealership.

We ended up paying $3000 for the car minus the fees to register and transfer it & taxes (will be about $250), so not entirely too much over the book value on it. We looked around at the cars in the lot that had potential (including test-driving a nice-looking but ultimately had-too-many-issues 2000 Explorer) and once we'd decided the QX4 was the right fit went in to talk with the owner/manager about the price for it (note- until the somewhat nozy detailer who I'd talked at length with the first time I was there got back from lunch, there was nobody with us walking around the lot- and when we went in and told the manager which ones we were interested in he handed us the keys to all of them to look in and start up). He pulled the info on the car up on his computer and said, "OK, let's see what the lowest price I can do on it is. We bought it 5 days ago at auction from *one of the big new car dealerships* who had taken it on a trade-in for $2000, and had about $300 in fees on the purchase. We need to make about $750 on the sale for it to be worthwhile, so I can do $3000 on it." SWMBO and I had talked already about what we thought we were willing to pay for it, and that was under our limit so we agreed and bought it. They're still waiting to get the title back from the State themselves since it was purchased so recently, but it should be in either tomorrow or next Friday and they'll get it submitted to transfer it into my name and let me know what I owe for the taxes & fees.

I'll be starting a thread on it eventually (need to do more important stuff tonight, like get the insurance on it and relax with SWMBO), but here's a few (crappy, hard to take good pictures at night...). So far we're really happy with it.

I am late to the party as usual when it comes to your threads but i was going to say that i think vq35 QX4s are sweet, so uh.. Congrats!!