4runner, Montero, Explorer, Grand Cherokee or something else.

Proper care and feeding of any car is going to determine how long it lasts. I'm trolling Craigslist waiting to see if a good deal pops up on something, until then, I'll keep messing with the Xterra.

Im not sure why but from work i can agree that suburbans/trucks tend to kill a 4l60 about every 150k. Might last longer if you stay up on service, most of them we see want a flush/filter and the pans already full of metal. Would still be my choice for fullsizes. Otherwise im a fan of the 97-01 explorer if its been regularly serviced.

I have found a few Land Cruisers for the money you are looking at. FWIW

The 4L60 is marginal for long term use in Suburbans (extra weight I hear) Apparently this is a known issue and on the first rebuild can be upgraded for long term use.

Or just get a 2500 Sub with the 4L80.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Or just get a 2500 Sub with the 4L80.

good transmission and rough ride or bad transmission and good ride....

The ones with the 4L80 should have IFS, which rides much better.

Yeah but those extra rear springs are the issue. Those don't compress much. Loaded with a trailer they ride great, solo not so much

That's pretty good for a jeep Theres a guy on the 4runner forum

The Jeep had a Toyota transmission in it. The Jeeps that got the Chrysler transmissions were relative crap in the trans department.

One thing I've never understood is how the 4L60E gets a bad rap, but the 700R4 is widely considered bulletproof. I always thought they were essentially the same mechanically. Do the electric controls on the 4L60E somehow make it less reliable?

All the problem areas have been figured out for so long that most of them broke and were already fixed with updated stuff before most people in 2015 learned how crappy they used to be.

I am also at a loss as to why the Z71 package owners think it is worth $3000 more than another Tahoe of similar age and miles. We're dealing with 15 year old cars here with over 200k miles, people! I'll just buy a regular one with a G80 axle, refresh the suspension myself and get the skidplates out of a junkyard.

I've been trolling Craigslist looking for the right buy, it took me three years to find my WRX, this is going to be the same sort of search, I think.

Another X? Second gen's are coming down in price in my area pretty good to the point where you can pick up clean first gen's for well under 7k. You already know it so there wouldn't be too many surprises for you. I'm diggin my second gen that I picked up not that long ago.

It looks like somebody recognized the work I put into the $350 Xterra and is giving me a fair price for it. Aside from time, I'll make a little bit of cash. I also sold my Miata, at a bit of a loss due to the explosion of the original differential and parking lot door dent. That's freed up a bit of equity.

So, this search is officially entering serious mode.

I ended up with a Caprice station wagon when I was in a similar (minus any kind of trail use) search. Now, adding in off road capability, i've been eyeballing FZJ80 and FJ100 land cruisers....aside from marginal horsepower and terrible fuel consumption, they seem to be real winners and pretty reliable aside from a few well-documented issues.

My parents have a 2003 tahoe LT, 5.3 with 125k miles on it, and it has been a fantastic truck. Had it since new, and the only issues have been a spalled camshaft (admittedly, that's kind of major) and all the recalls early on. Otherwise, just basic maintenance. I don't know how much longer the trans will last, but at least right now it's still very solid.

Ugh, this gave me pause. I don't want something that old, though.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5377626093.html

I vote Toyota 4Runner. I've had my 1998 model for several years and it does everything well, and even now, with 190k on the clock, it never lets me down. I often pull a car trailer with it, so it's not babied.

A nice V8 4Runner just popped up in my price range, and it seems the end of the year has also shaken loose the affordable Tahoes.

Lady I work with is selling her very nice looking early 00s Tahoe. No clue on mileage or price but I can ask on Monday if you want. Located in south central PA.

Thanks for the offer on that, Furious_E. I worry of the rust issues, though.

I've reached the point where I'm about to make a spreadsheet to keep track of cargo area and other features.

How about Ford Expeditions from 2002 and beyond? Independent rear suspension may not be an issue on the beach.

Problem solved. The towing requirement was revised. The only catch is that the timing belt is overdue.

Now, on to join a 4Runner forum somewhere.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

Oh early 03 like mine with the grey trim!! Nice, v8 then?

Toyota120.com for lots of good tech, t4r.org for a ton of people.

Nice,identical to mine as well.I plastidipped the body cladding black and it looks MUCH better.Mine has running boards as well,helps keep the road snot off the sides a bit.

It should have a V8 logo in the grill so I'm guessing its a V6?

kevlarcorolla wrote: Nice,identical to mine as well.I plastidipped the body cladding black and it looks MUCH better.Mine has running boards as well,helps keep the road snot off the sides a bit. It should have a V8 logo in the grill so I'm guessing its a V6?

Ah that's true. I like my grey! And my running boards are long gone.... But I like no rock chips on the lower cladding! No TB on the v6 tho.

That is a representative picture, not the actual 4Runner, which I'm picking up tomorrow. It is a Silver/Grey 2003 V8 Sport, with nearly 300k on the clock. The plan is to get it inspected, get a plate, get it to my house and get the timing belt done before it travels too many more miles.

Look for a thread in the off-road section before too long.