Can you buy a reliable 4x4 for $7k?
 

So after my Subaru adventure yesterday, my search for a city slicker friendly vehicle solution is narrowing in its focus. Having eliminated an Outback from the equation, I am looking at two scenarios...

A) Buy a newer Camry for $22k with low mileage that will take me to 300,000 km with reliable ease, and give me great mileage and comfort without the hassle of driving a big 4x4 in the city (lots of Camry's out there). Then in August buy a beater 4x4 for up to $7k and use until end of November when I would put it up for sale or if it seemed good, park it at a friend's farm until needed again.

or

B) Buy a newer Ridgeline with low mileage for $36k which will be an all in one solution and also take me to 300,000 km with relative, reliable ease.

I seek your anecdotal advice on two levels. First, can you buy a relatively reliable 4x4 for $7k? Second, which scenario would you go with?

Thanks in advance for all advice fellas.

PS: I know lots of you have North American trucks that have done 300,000 trouble free kms, but my last two Fords were jettisoned after many problems after only 60,000 kms. I ain't going down that road again.

Which Fords did you own? What engines did they have? The cheaper 4x4 trucks are likely going to be Fords as well.

LC

SN2, a very large part of low maintenance and long mileage vehicle of any make is the driver. A heavy foot and neglect of vehicle, cold weather starts without being plugged in reduce the long term service of a vehicle.

I have a 2006 Jeep liberty very good on gas, has 4 wheel drive, lots of room form 4 dogs, drives around with ease, bought it for 5000 3 years ago, with 130 000 on it now has 159000 still no fix me issues, yet, my truck sits and waits for summer camping

My 1996 ford 4x4 hasn't let me down yet

I think it's definitely possible if you have time to look and you have a trustworthy mechanic to check it over.
In 2014 I found a 2007 Trailblazer for exactly $7200 (so right in your ballpark). Had 100000km. Had it checked by my mechanic, who I've dealt with since the late 80's...would literally trust him with my vehicles life :)
It now has over 200000km, has seen lots of snow and backroads and the only thing out of the ordinary (brakes, oil, tire) the only thing I've replaces was the idler pulley and serpentine belt. It's going in next week for an oil change and I've finally decided to replace the spark plugs and all tranny/diff fluids.
The most reliable vehicle I've ever owned and then includes a couple of new Fords.
But you have to have time on your side so you don't pick the first thing that catches your eye and you purchase even though your mechanic says it might be better to pass.

7k would get a pretty decent jeep xj, not sure if hour 4x4 needs to be a truck or not

Depends on your version of reliable. If it’s only going to be driven a month or two out of the year then I don’t think any beater vehicle will be reliable. It’s funny how stuff breaks just sitting there. There’s always going to be those nickel and dime things that are ok as long as you can fix them yourself but if you need a shop to do them then you defeated your goal.

Just go buy a Tacoma or diesel Colorado and be done with it. Better on fuel, smaller size for city driving and they should survive your test drive :D

Odds are you will regret the options you are suggesting. As for your Ford any time I worked for a company with Ford work trucks it reminds me why I won’t own one

As for the 7k 4x4 it’s completely possible but if you are not mechanically inclined and have a shop don’t do it. I did the bush buggy route in the past but got sick of maintenance on 2 vehicles and decided it was not worth it for me

Within reason, I'd buy the vehicle you actually want. Don't know how much you drive, but assuming the average 30,000 km/year, if you're taking it out to 300,000 km, I'm assuming you're planning on owning this vehicle for quite sometime. After 10 years, a $5k, or even $10k, initial price difference is relatively minor.

But to answer your question, yes, you can buy a reliable 4x4 for $7.5k.

Auctions. Haven't bought a dealer vehicle in 25 years, if you're prepared to deal with minor issues.

Grizz

I bought an '04 Sierra with 280k last summer for $3,600.00 from a municipal equipment auction and it's been great.

My last truck I bought in 2014. It was a 2001 Chevy Silverado with 126000kms - 4.8L 4x4 I paid $10,000 at the time. To date the only thing I have done was put a fuel pump into it last summer. I am now at a bit under 190,000kms.
I think if you are patient you could easily find a reliable truck for $7000. What you would want to look for is an Ford or Chevy from 2004-2006ish with about 160,000kms. The engine is important. Look for a 4.6L ford or 4.8L Chevy/GM. Most of the time the trucks with smaller motors go for less because the don't have "power" but they also tend to be owned by people who don't abuse them. To be honest, you could probably find a well loved truck with higher mileage for less money that wouldn't require a ton of maintenance. The key is what kind of use did the truck see: was it all highway miles, or was it around town? Highway miles are much easier on a truck in general.

I own a 2004 Nissan XTerra 4x4, non supercharged, 5MT. Bought for $5K cash with 183,000kms. Has been rock solid, and everything works. Nothing has failed in the time I've owned it, and I am pretty hard on it. I could tell the starter was going, so I just preemptively replaced with a rebuilt one for $50, and did the brakes $135. Other than that, I'm only into it the regular oil changes/maintenance costs. The first gens (2000-2004) are simple, honest, no frills, 4x4s, really overbuilt. If you find a good one, it should easily last well into the 300's. The nice thing is they are a compact SUV, similar in size to a Rav4, so driving and parking in the City is a breeze. Also super handy on those tight trails. The biggest thing is make sure the timing belt has been changed around 160kms. The only drawbacks, they are slow (non S/C), and you will really get to know your gas station attendant. I average 16L/100kms regardless of City/Highway/Hills/Wind. The S/C ones are even thirstier and drink premium gas. Not worth the extra 30 ponies if you ask me. Good luck!!!

A breakdown in 25 degrees with a moose in the back, or on a bush road at -30 with no cell coverage, carries a lot more consequence than a tow in the city. I’d highly suggest splitting it the other way if you want two vehicles.

IMO buy a Tacoma, Xterra or similar (must have real 4x4, not computer driven fancy named AWD). Two registrations, insurance bills, maintenance and winter tires for the car means you will never make up the difference in fuel economy. I looked into it for myself.

The Ridgeline is unibody junk, a soccer mom SUV with a bed instead of a back row of seats. You want to run it in the bush, it needs a frame.

I am living option A and couldn't be happier.


Took me a long time of searching but I got my dream truck for $6500.00. 04 F250 4x4, ext cab long box, V10 with a nice pulling rear gear ratio. Very little rust, loaded and mint interior. 230,000 km's. It's my hunting, fishing, camping, sledding truck and it sits in the driveway more than it gets used. Just the way I want it and I didn't spend 30G & have to make payments while it sits.

My daily driver is a 2010 Fusion with the 6 sp manual. Fun to drive, lots of interior and trunk room and gets 30 + mpg all day long on the highway. With gas prices under a buck a liter, 40 bucks almost fills it up and I can drive a long time in the city on that.

There's 403,000 on my 96 jeep cherokee.

Racked up 250 on my rav 4


Personally I would go toyota

I am currently doing the option A as well.

Have a 2007 VW Jetta City. Bought it from the dealership in 2011 used with 60000 kms on it. Currently has 290000 kms. Gets me 35 plus mpg all day everyday at 120 kms per hr on the hwy. Dealership changed the timing belt at 190000 kms at a cost of $1400 and then brakes and rotors as well in the last year.

Have a 2006 Ford F-250 Superduty supercab XLT 4x4 with the infamous 5.4l 3 valve engine. Bought it privately for $4500 with 217000 kms. Owned for 3 years and has 240000 kms on it. National debt keeping it in fuel but I only use it to tow the boat and fifth wheel or hauling the quad hunting and ice fishing.

This setup works for me but once I retire the car or the Ford dies I will replace both vehicles with a new(er) 3/4 ton as I am retired now and do not have the 100 km daily commute anymore.

Last July I bought a 1999 F250 Lariat Super Cab. Its the perfect beater for me and a daily driver. I have put 6000km on it and besides the oil change it cost me a 100.00 for a minor repair. Insurance is 600.00 a year. The heater in this thing is insane, as is the AC in the summer. Paid 1500.00 for it.

It has a lot of rust but is mechanically sound. Breaks are good tires were decent, will replace next fall. The cab is tight. Has started through this cold snap without being plugged in (semi synthetic oil). No oil leaks anywhere on this. The previous owner had the heater core changed.

My other vehicle is a 2014 dodge journey that sits in the drive way and hardly gets used.

BW

Hands down best purchase is to buy a used 4Runner, Xterra (2000-2004), Frontier (2000-2004)

I wouldn't let two experiences force you into spending $36,000.00. Spending $7k on a 4x4 leaves you with a lot of extra cash in the event that something serious goes wrong, which isn't necessarily an inevitability.

We bought my wife a winter beater of a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder for $2900 about 4 years ago. It was a high miler at 280000km. The idea was to get through the winter and look at a newer vehicle the following summer. Well move ahead to summer and that vehicle proved to be a great runner and cheap to own. Insurance was only $38/month and it never caused issues so we kept going with it. Just 2 months ago we finally sold it to my sons buddy with 370000km and still running like a top.

You can totally get good deals on cheap, reliable 4x4's. You just need to dig around until the right one comes along.

Got my FJ Cruiser for $11k and though it was more than I wanted to spend (my budget was similar to yours) it has done everything I want and could need it to do and more.

This is the biggie. Often people wait til their current ride is dead...or about to die. They end up buying the first thing that comes along and seems to fit their needs...too often ignoring signs that should be giving them pause.
Since 1972 when I purchased my first vehicle I've bought two that were new...one a (I'm ashamed to say this) a 1974 Ford Maverick that was burning a quart of oil every gas fillup at 40000mi.
But it was a step above the Pinto :sHa_sarcasticlol:
I've never regretted any of the used vehicles I've purchased. I've always followed the excellent advice I got over thirty years ago.
-Start looking at least a month before you intend on buying...that way you have time to pass up on ones you don't get a real clean report on.
-Don't narrow your search down to only one model. Last vehicle I wanted was an Escape. Found one the year I wanted but it just didn't drive right, so I testdrove the Trailblazer (wasn't on my list)...no rust, engine as smooth as a sewing machine and after a thorough looksee by my mechanic the only thing he could find was one of the 12 speakers was blown.

For reliable 4x4 I choose Toyota every time. I'm driving a 96 4runner I bought for 6k with 260,000 on it. I am currently at 410,000 km with no major breakdowns at all.

for every positive post here on used, guarantee you there are the opposites to match lol. problem is you never know what your getting unless buying from family or acquaintances.

im going to go against the grain, If you buy vehicles and drive til they drop, that Honda is a solid deal with only 20k on it. Honda or Toyota cant go wrong. I have over 400k on my ridgeline, half mileage in places I shouldn't or back roads and have NOT put a penny in it except my own servicing. dealer has never touched it and I bet I get another couple hundred or more. will drive till it dies. best winter vehicle I have ever driven bar none, decent mileage and not small inside. luv the box with trunk for additional space, its huge. I can fit 2 mountain bikes in back seat. when this truck dies I will be buying another one. not great for towing bigger things whatsoever. something to be said for peace of mind and knowing exactly what you have when buying new. at that price you are already getting a discount from a 2019 new model. if I flipped vehicles I would be buying used as others have mentioned, me I don't want the headache, been there done that with all the kids vehicles :sHa_sarcasticlol:

does the 4x4 have to be a truck ?? a beater 4x4 suv for winter and hunting can be had for under $2k, i went a brought a 96 ford explorer looks ugly but sounds and runs good brought it for $1000 and put 50000 km on i the alternater crap out and i got my new car so i sold it the scrap yard for $250

I bought a used 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 with 60K kms for 7K from the original owner who was moving out of country.

Drove it for 8 years with only regular servicing needed. Sold it with 235K km for almost half of what I paid. It went everywhere I needed to go off road and ice fishing. Hooked it up to a loaded small utility trailer once and did good but used more gas.

Gotta say I disagree...or is it just happenstance that none of these people are AO members and telling their horror stories here?
Yup...lots of terrible used car stories in the past...but if you are careful, have a mechanic you can truly trust (that can be a problem) with how good cars have been built in the last 15 years a used car is pretty safe bet nowadays.
As I mentioned the Trailblazer I bought in 2014 (other than normal stuff like oil changes and such) has cost me a serpentine belt and idler pulley. The $400+ a month I've save on payments/leasing has paid for a lot of good meals, a couple of nice vacations and too many bottle of scotch.

Yup.