*sigh* Orange...no really

She hates wagons and it's not an SUV, but it doesn't cost to look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Impala-1968-Chevrolet-Chevy-Impala-Station-Wagon_W0QQitemZ300268237162QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300268237162&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

What's the book on these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Avalanche-4x4-Z71-Chevrolet-Avalanche-4x4-Z71_W0QQitemZ140276954654QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140276954654&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/International-Harvester-1-ton-61-International-Harvester-Crew-Cab-4WD-1-ton-Deisel_W0QQitemZ250313851472QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250313851472&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Escape-XLT-4X4-2006-Ford-Escape-V6-4WD-CDchangr-AllPwr-Cruise-44Kmiles_W0QQitemZ380075577235QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item380075577235&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Colorado-2008-Chevrolet-Colorado-Lt-Stock-P7075_W0QQitemZ350115690787QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350115690787&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

JThw8 wrote:

mw wrote: Nissan Murano's came in Orange

and rarely sell around 13k with less than 60k miles. Kinda not built for towing either. But they've been looked at, just missing too many targets.

...AND look like an angry iron on the steam setting.

And isn't it the GRM tow rig of choice to boot?

buddy had an xterra he used to tow his campers/snowmobiles/quads with. he was pretty happy with it. interior wasn't anything to write home about but it's definitely worth exploring more.

I had an '02 Xterra (green, not orange) and it is a decent on-road vehicle with excellent off-road capabilities in stock form. "02 is still the first gen version. Despite GRM experience to the contrary with the later trucks, in my experience Nissan quality ain't what it used to be, sadly, and I would proceed with caution.

The first gen trucks were notorious for cracked exhaust manifolds and minor electrical issues. Mine suffered from lousy paint as well. MPG was mediocre, but good for what it was. My five speed with manual hubs delivered about 14 in town, and perhaps 18 on the highway.

If you do go with one, I have a full set of the factory service manuals (five? six? volumes) available.

I've found the perfect orange car http://www.minimarcos.org.uk/altpics/outspan/p1.jpeg

That looks like a ball gag for King Kong

wreckerboy wrote: Despite GRM experience to the contrary with the later trucks, in my experience Nissan quality ain't what it used to be, sadly, and I would proceed with caution.

You do realize he was seriously looking at a Land Rover right? Somehow I think quality isn't the first thing on his mind, and even the worst Xterra would be better than an average Discovery.

Can't speak about all the others but I owned a Colorado (Orange) BMW2002 back in the day & while it wasn't a chick magnet it was certainly a ticket magnet. Orange definitely got me noticed by the boys in blue

Didn't the VUE come in orange?

is the X-terra full frame?

The Xterra is definitely a frontrunner. Despite the Discos (Sonic has been a bad influence) reliability is a factor but since she puts about 3000 a year on a car nothing will get used very hard.

Its possible I will keep the big ugly truck, I'd just rather not have the insurance bill if not needed.

Many of these sugestions, if it were me, would be just fine :) But the wife tolerates all of my automotive insanity so if she has a requirement I try to stick to it as long as its affordable and not a complete piece of garbage.

Discoveries are highly unreliable and chug fuel like they're in a competition.

Actually they are reliable, in that they'll always get you where you're going, but will shed parts and fluids on the way so you can find your way back again. All the while entertaining you with a pretty warning light show on the dash. My Discos did about 17-19mpg combined, which is better than a lot of SUVs. That being said the price of parts alone is why I no longer own any Rover products despite the fact that I work on them for a living.

neon4891 wrote: is the X-terra full frame?

Yup, the X Terra is still body on frame construction.

in that case...

Hmm, British electrical engineering and off-road capability in one package. What part of "walking back from the woods" do you think applies?

I still don't understand how the original Land Rover overcame the curse of English electronics. Then again, early Volvos are all Lucas as well, and those things used to be the yardstick for reliable.

The whole I did not marry a car girl has had me chuckling. You need to train her. My wife knew nothing about cars when we got married now she is wanting me to get a C5-Z06. With a little attention life can be good :)

dean1484 wrote: The whole I did not marry a car girl has had me chuckling. You need to train her. My wife knew nothing about cars when we got married now she is wanting me to get a C5-Z06. With a little attention life can be good :)

It's gotten better, trust me. She has her myers manx buggy now and she is driving a mustang. She refuses to look at "cute utes" and wants a functional vehicle if she is driving an SUV again.

That's about as much involvement as I need from her, I don't hold to the ideal of having a car girlfriend being so great. Car time is my alone time.

JThw8, I miss your cool avie. Where did it go?

Autotrader has an advanced search option that allows you to search by color, when I put any distance from you, color orange, and suv, it found 600 listings. (Some that popped up are red and not orange, but it does narrow down the field a bit)

AutoXchick wrote: Autotrader has an advanced search option that allows you to search by color, when I put any distance from you, color orange, and suv, it found 600 listings. (Some that popped up are red and not orange, but it does narrow down the field a bit)

Yep, we've been playing with it. Thanks though :)

I figured you already knew that. Based on my initial perusal, it looks like the Vue, Exterra and Escape/Tribute are all in your price range and color scheme.

AutoXchick wrote: I figured you already knew that. Based on my initial perusal, it looks like the Vue, Exterra and Escape/Tribute are all in your price range and color scheme.

Yeah, and only one of them is worth considering. The Vue and Escape are just wannabe's ;) She's got a few things she wants to go look at, at this point Im just the negotiator.

Oddly I've owned three orange cars.