Just my reasons from before - price, size, availability and comfort seem about right for me. 4-runners are pricey (1999 with 147k miles for ($5850) as are pathfinders (2000 with 200k miles, ($4000), and I've had a hard time finding a Subaru with decent miles that isn't an EJ25/headgasket concern.
Open to others for sure but it's hard to find a good combination, or I'm just missing an obvious option. Love the Cherokee classics but have yet to find any with decent mileage new enough to have airbags and stuff.
First or second gen (93 - 98, 99 - 04) Grand Cherokees are probably the most comparable to what you're looking at for Explorers. They're similar in size and capability, and at this point, cheap as dirt (same or less $$$ than the Explorers). And they're put together just as simply too, although they do ride a hair worse on the road due to the solid front axle (mostly the first gens, the second gens hide the solid axles a bit better in terms of ride quality).
hmm - I had in my head that there were transmission issues with those as well, but I guess I really didn't do the research to come up with that. Time to hit the books...
They have a reputation for transmission issues, but as long as they're cared for (change the fluid and adjust the bands every once in a while) and you upgrade the stock trans cooler (if it doesn't have a secondary one already, some do), they hold up pretty well. The rep comes mostly from people who don't take care of them, work them hard, and then complain when they wear out. The V8 trannies are stronger than the I6 ones too. I'm over 200k on mine (original trans, still very healthy) and it's been living with a cammed motor for 80k of that (with a shift kit added at that time, but not rebuilt).
mtn
MegaDork
1/22/16 1:52 p.m.
I'd skip the Exploder and go for something else. Also, don't hold out for something with a tow hitch. For most vehicles it is a very easy install.
Have you considered the gentleman's Pathfinder, the QX4?
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5414304174.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/5375480507.html
