Your thoughts on Jeep & Nissan SUV's $16K & under.

drobs

My 1998 Monte Carlo has given up it's ghost. Need to get a new vehicle soon.

I've been looking for a Toyota Tacoma extended cab 4x4, 2001 or newer, 40k miles or under, with automatic, but can't find em for less than $21k. Doing the math that puts me right around a $500 car payment for 5 years. That's a almost a weeks pay after taxes., and I feel that is too much for me.

So I'm now thinking that I'd like to find something in the $14k to $16k range w/ 30k or under miles. I see Nissan 01 to 02 Xterra's, Jeep 01-02 Grand Cherokees, & Jeep 02-04 Libertys in that $16k or under range. I plan on getting an extended waranty.


I'm leaving out Ford Explorers & Chevy Blasers because I'm tired of both of them.

Of these 3 which would you pick? Any experiences or rumors you can tell me. Any other recommendations.

Regards,

Lowrider

I have a Jeep Cherokee (not Grand Cherokee) and it's the best rig I've ever owned. My step daughter and her family own two Grand Cherokees, both V-8 engines, one with over 150K on the clock. No serious problems with either. A friend with a Grand Cherokee had the front differential go belly-up at around 80,000 miles. May have been from off-road abuse. I'd buy another Jeep in a second.

Not sure about the Liberty. I have an attitude about them because they replaced the regular Cherokees. The un-grand Cherokee, in my opinion, is the best model Jeep ever built.

The 4.0L in-line six is an outstanding engine. I have 98,000 trouble-free miles on mine. Lots of power and resonably fuel-efficient. Mine still doesn't use a drop of oil between changes.

Lord Lowrider the Loquacious.

Member:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets

She was only a fisherman's daughter,
But when she saw my rod she reeled.

drobs

Being 6'4 the wrangler is a little too small for me.

Regards,

drobs

I would like the extra length for guns and crud.

Regards,

allen griggs

The XTerra is based on the Nissan pickup.
I have a '95 Nissan pickup and it is the most rugged and reliable vehicle I ever saw.
I just changed the oil a half hour ago. The truck has 205,000 miles on it. I have built two houses with this truck, hauling most of the material up the mountains in the little truck. I have the little 4 cylinder and it is amazing what it will do.
Get the Nissan.

gap1916

I have a Nissan 4 door 4X4 Frontier 1999 with 88K miles on it. If you get the Nissan you will not need the extended waranty. If I decide I want another truck I will look at Nissan or Toyota. My 2 cents. [8D]

Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O

Hunter375

Jeep cherokee with 4.0 is probably one of the most durable, reliable vehicles built. We see them all the time with WAYYYYY over 200K and really no problems, oil leaks aside. Had I been in the market for an SUV rather than a sedan, it would have been a cherokee. They are great hunting vehicles, as well and get OK gas mileage (~ 17 city, 23 hwy). Nissan makes a decent vehicle too, but the Jeeps are better. This, however, does not hold true for the problem-laiden grand cherokee (front and rear differentials shred, transfer cases grenade, motor mounts fall apart, the list goes on) The liberties haven't been around long enough for me to say one way or the other. They do (IMHO) have a rather uncomfortable seating position. The ones that have come in the shop approaching 100K do not seem to have any issues besides normal wear and tear, though. I would say with a budget of $16K, you should be able to get a nicely equipped '00-'02 cherokee without too many miles.

Liberal compassion inhibits progress.........think Republican and prosper!

96harley

My friend has had several Nissans and all have gone beyond 100,000 without fail and without any major problems. Were I to get a foreign car it would be a Nissan or Suzuki.

"Save the Whalers, they need jobs too."

Red223

Get the Jeep. Those 4.0 liter engines are one tough cookie with gobs of torque.

Blazers lose their retail value like Ford Focus's, I know. Got both.

ameriskin

i have a 1996 cherokee sport, in the last 4 years i've owned it, i put a new water pump, battery, and new tires. it's got 120,000 miles on it and runs really strong. when it dies, i'll either rebuild it or buy another one. a friend of mine has an x-tera she drove across the country a couple of times and hasn't had any problems with it either. i think they're both good choices, but i have to throw my vote for jeep.

cody

greeker375

I've been driving Jeep Cherokee's since the mid 80's...Loved them all. I'd usually drive them, daily and hard, for about 200,000 miles then get new ones.
In 2002 I bought a 2001 and 1999 Grand Cherokees, used. Both are just as good, if not better, than the others. I wouldn't think of changing to any other brands. I appraise homes in rural counties whose roads are construction pits. I hunt in Kansas, Col, Wy & WVa and drive my jeep from Md to get to those places...I ain't changing.
Just keep the oil and filters changed, check belts & hoses annually and it'll do fine.




"the difference between the almost right word and the right word is like the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt" - Mark Twain.

Hangfire

Just bought my Daughter a Grand Cherokee Overland this year for going away to college. It is one super vehicle.

Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob

drobs

Went out looking again today and stumbled on to a bunch of 04 Nissan Frontier 2wd extended cab trucks at a Nissan dealer. Mpg is 20/24, they are brand new for $13999. I'm very tempted. It's not a 4x4 but it's brand stinking new, affordable, decent gas mileage, and still a truck. I can't see it loosing much value once I drive it off the lot. Dealer also had a used Xterra 4x4 for $14k. I'm wondering why these used Xterra's are so cheap?

Regards,

buddyb

I have a 99 Nissan Frontier with 300,000 miles on it,no problems.

drobs

quote:Originally posted by buddyb
I have a 99 Nissan Frontier with 300,000 miles on it,no problems.




Wow that's alot of miles!

Regards,

bigdaddyjunior

Under 16k you can get a Lexus 450. The 96 model came with either a 300 straight six or the big eight cylinder. We have the six cylinder and get 20 mpg around town. It has higher clearance than any other vehicle except the Hummer and the three way transmission[sport driving,regular and off road nasty terrain] is rock solid. It has never needed anything but tires,oil and filters. You would really have to screw up big time to get one stuck. It carries 6-7 people in regal comfort or you can fold down the rear two sets of seats and haul crap. It has a six disc cd player,tapedeck,radio and about every adjustment you could want in a seat. Plus it will haul a large heavy trailer like there is nothing there at all. I love it and expect to have it until one of us dies.

Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems