FUN tow vehicle for under $10K?

I've got a 2003 Dakota 4x4 quad-cab. I'm also a managing contractor (I keep my hands clean 99 percent of the time). I'm tired of the Dakota because it's got lousy handling, it's big (I live in a dense urban area), get's crappy gas milleage (11 town, 13 fwy) and I'm on pins and needles waiting for it to blow up another transmission (I've heard that they go every 80k or so. I already replaced it once).

I don't really need the truck, since I have a fleet of them at work and can always borrow one. But I do need decent carrying capacity and the ability to tow about 3000lbs. gross - up to 7000 feet at times. I'd really like to have a vehicle that I actually enjoy driving. A Forester XT would be neat, but it's rare to find one in my price bracket, and Their tow rating isn't high enough. The Germans make some nice wagons, but repair costs are bothersome (I don't want to work on this one). Other than being the vehicle of choice for lesbians, Legacy wagons might be worth consideration. I like some of the car-based SUVs, but they pretty well all have 4-bangers, except for the RAV-4 V6 which is out of my price bracket. Any other ideas?

Hyundai Sante Fe. We have a 2005 that has been vitually trouble free for 170K gets 22-23 mpg. 3.5 V6. I'm not sure on the tow rating, but I pulled a Mercury Zephyr from North Carolina to Pennsylvania with no problem, even in the foothills of NC. It's small enough to be ok in the city, but has a fair amount of space inside.

Caprice or Roadmaster with some Impala SS suspension bits?

I was told the other day the RAT Mobiles will hold 2 ceiling fans and 3 toilets and still have room for a large driver...

Kia Soul. but don't know if there tow rated.

P71

/thread

Ford Expedition

MadScientistMatt wrote: Caprice or Roadmaster with some Impala SS suspension bits?

I came in here to make almost this identical recommendation. Only difference is that I'd suffix it with "wagon".

ReverendDexter wrote:

MadScientistMatt wrote: Caprice or Roadmaster with some Impala SS suspension bits?

I came in here to make almost this identical recommendation. Only difference is that I'd suffix it with "wagon".

Too big. Remember, I need something for the mean urban streets.

Don49 wrote: Hyundai Sante Fe. We have a 2005 that has been vitually trouble free for 170K gets 22-23 mpg. 3.5 V6. I'm not sure on the tow rating, but I pulled a Mercury Zephyr from North Carolina to Pennsylvania with no problem, even in the foothills of NC. It's small enough to be ok in the city, but has a fair amount of space inside.

I would be scared to tow with one of those. A guy I know has been thru 5 transmissions in 100k.

I would be surprised if you could find something that was smaller then a Caprice or Roadmaster which worked.

What about a 1st-gen Bronco?

I don't see anywhere that you mention what kind of towing you're doing, if it's just around town, the short wheelbase will be an asset.

Along the same lines would be Wranglers/CJs.

ReverendDexter wrote: Along the same lines would be Wranglers/CJs.

Towing with a 95 inch wheelbase would scare me, although plenty people do it. I would say Cherokee.

GTwannaB wrote: Towing with a 95 inch wheelbase would scare me, although plenty people do it. I would say Cherokee.

Other than Cherokees are in no way fun to drive, at least not the 4x4s. Wife had one, my mom had one, an ex-gf had one, buddy had one (funnily enough, his was the only non-4.0L). They all sucked. Maybe the 2WDs are alright, but none of those were.

Now, don't get me wrong, they're VERY functional, especially if you live somewhere where off-roading is at all commonplace. They will do damn near anything you ask of them. But as a fun to drive car? Not on tarmac.

F-150 Lightning? What do those go for these days, anyway?

Back to boring-ish but cheap, reliable, easy to fix, better gas mileage, good towing, maneuverable in urban life: Ford Ranger 4.0L Extended Cab Auto Trans: 16-18MPG, 5-6000lb towing, no wider than any sub-compact, no longer than a Camry (ok with the extended cab you're around 2 ft longer), did I mention cheap and easy to fix?

TRD Supercharged T100.

/thread.

Thanks for the feedback. I need 4-seats, so a F-150 won't do, and the Ranger's too close to what I already have. I just got an e-mail offering a 4-cylinder Subaru Legacy GT. Bitchin car, but no want to pull trailer.

Volvos and Saabs.

http://autos.aol.com/car-finder/style-coupe+.sedan/3000-lb-towing-capacity/

The 9-3 looks really nice.

Of course, you won't be buying a new vehicle with a $10k budget. You'd want to check the specific model you're getting.

Better link showing used cars as well.

http://autos.aol.com/car-finder/year-1999-2013/style-coupe+.sedan/option-performance/3000-lb-towing-capacity/

AOL says the 2004 Pontiac GTO can tow 3527lbs.

That sounds off.

According to Edmunds.com, a 2005 Legacy is rated to tow 2,700lbs. I see you say you only need to tow up to 7,000 ft (or just over 1 mile) and then only need a 3500lb capability. This is a unique towing need. Is it unique enough that 2,700 capability could do the job?

As another reference, a 2005 Volvo turbo and non-turbo wagon is rated to tow 3,300lbs.

The AOL link is a cool tool.
It also says a Dodge Magnum wagon w/Hemi will tow 3,800lbs.
http://autos.aol.com/car-finder/year-1999-2005/style-coupe+.sedan+.wagon/3000-lb-towing-capacity/2/

Also interesting is the Saab 9-5 at 3,500lbs considering that these get decent mpg

jrw1621 wrote: According to Edmunds.com, a 2005 Legacy is rated to tow 2,700lbs. I see you say you only need to tow up to 7,000 ft (or just over 1 mile) and then only need a 3500lb capability. This is a unique towing need. Is it unique enough that 2,700 capability could do the job? As another reference, a 2005 Volvo turbo and non-turbo wagon is rated to tow 3,300lbs.

I thought the 7000ft number was odd too. I assumed it meant altitude.

Ah, living in a place that has no altitude change, I had not considered the 7,000 ft as vertical; I figured linear.

kreb wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote:

MadScientistMatt wrote: Caprice or Roadmaster with some Impala SS suspension bits?

I came in here to make almost this identical recommendation. Only difference is that I'd suffix it with "wagon".

Too big. Remember, I need something for the mean urban streets.

Huh? Cops and taxi drivers seemed to make them work for years...

3000# isn't too hard... 7000#, on the other hand...