Roadtrip: Help and Recommendations Needed

I'm hoping some of you can be of assistance. I am relocating from Burlington, VT to Boulder, CO next spring. I'll be taking my race car with me, but aside from that it's a completely fresh start for me. Rather than rent a Uhaul truck and dolly (with a bill upwards of $4000) I decided it was probably more reasonable to just buy a used SUV capable of towing my rather light car comfortably for longer distances, get my use out of it, then sell it again after I move there for good.

Since I was already planning on flying to Denver for New Year and do some explorative research, I decided it would be more fun to purchase said vehicle in CO and roadtrip back. I've been canvassing Craigslist all over CO and a few examples have caught my eye, but I would appreciate some help. If anyone is in the area, knows of any reasonable vehicles for sale at a decent price, I'd love to hear from you.

Here is a list of my main requirements for the vehicle:

• Preferably American or Japanese

• Four-wheel drive

• V6 or V8

• Auto trans (never thought I'd be putting that as a requirement)

• Tow package already installed is an added bonus

• In good running mechanical condition. Some maintenance history would be nice. I'm trying to drive this across the country and back with few or no issues

• Aesthetics/exterior don't matter as much to me

• Reaonably comfortable interior, working heat, that kind of stuff

• Room for a few suitcases and tool boxes

• Budget is less than $3000

Year of the vehicle isn't terribly important, I'm more concerned with comfort and being mechanically sorted. I've considered Pathfinders, Grand Cherokees, Explorers, etc. but I'm open to suggestions, especially if you have (or know of) one for sale.

I also have some technical questions for any of you who may live in CO regarding vehicle registration. Will the state issue temporary tags/plates that I would be able to transport the vehicle back home with, or will I need to register it here and obtain plates ahead of time?

Thank you all for your help, I'm looking forward to your responses!

As a fellow vermonter, buying a colorado vehicle is a wise move in terms of rust.

Can you establish residency in CO before you make the purchase. Otherwise, registering in Vt will require the 6% tax at reg, then you'll likely get hit again when you register it in Colorado.

I noticed yesterday that the Infiniti Pathfinders (QX4?) are really pretty cheap and the interiors very nice. Was looking at mid 90's. Don't know anything about them, they just came up in a craigslist "Infiniti" search. Don't think they're less than $3000 though.

I'd look into Suburbans and cargo vans. Both can be had cheaply, both are rugged, durable and known to run for many hundreds of thousands of miles, and either will tow whatever vehicle you have easily.

Keep in mind that you'll pay a premium for 4x4 in Colorado. You may be better off buying a 4x4 in another state-- and then selling it in CO when you get there.

Good luck! Colorado is a beautiful place.

AMC Eagle, bonus points for a diesel one

Joe Gearin wrote: I'd look into Suburbans and cargo vans. Both can be had cheaply, both are rugged, durable and known to run for many hundreds of thousands of miles, and either will tow whatever vehicle you have easily. Keep in mind that you'll pay a premium for 4x4 in Colorado. You may be better off buying a 4x4 in another state-- and then selling it in CO when you get there. Good luck! Colorado is a beautiful place.

I second what this guy said, even if he did buy a minivan.

3/4 ton Burban.

Jealously is so ugly!

Buying a SUV like that in Colorado is going to cost you more, they are in high demand there. Example: My sister bought a 4Runner in Illinois and moved to Colorado, burned up 2 transmissions by towing improperly and ignoring warning lights, added 60,000 miles to it, and sold it after 5 years for $2000 more than she paid originally.

3x the budget and not the engine configuration requested. Yup sounds like the typical option C) that I'd provide. 6 spd manual, AWD, T5 Volvo V50

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-V50-T5-AWD-4dr-W-V50-T5-AWD-Sport-Wagon-17-Inch-Alloy-Wheels-Abs-6-Speed-/131354907535?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1e955cd38f&item=131354907535&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Thanks everyone for the input!

captdownshift wrote: 3x the budget and not the engine configuration requested. Yup sounds like the typical option C) that I'd provide. 6 spd manual, AWD, T5 Volvo V50 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-V50-T5-AWD-4dr-W-V50-T5-AWD-Sport-Wagon-17-Inch-Alloy-Wheels-Abs-6-Speed-/131354907535?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1e955cd38f&item=131354907535&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

You know, I was actually considering Volvo wagons before I decided to go with something American because of cheaper/easier to find parts in case something happens along the way.

Unfortunately there's no way I can establish residency ahead of time, I won't be moving until June. I may also have to consider renting a car to get me to another nearby state where I can buy a car and get temporary tags.

What are you driving daily now, what are you towing out there (is there a place to race it), and why not consider selling the race car in VT and buying another car in CO?

On the plus side of renting a U-haul, you'll need to carry the rest of your stuff anyways... why not just buy a lightweight trailer to handle the race car and haul it out?

Find someone you race with that has an extra place on their car trailer that's looking for an excuse to go race an event out west, pay for some of the gas on the tow out?

i'd go burb for the extra towing ability for a trip that long. yes, you might get a 5k rating on a smaller truck, but the long wheelbase is extra nice for stability, you'll get a small block chevy which has dirt cheap and easy to replace parts if you lose an alternator or something along the way, and you'll be able to bring extra stuff along with you that would otherwise be crammed into something smaller.

skierd wrote: What are you driving daily now, what are you towing out there (is there a place to race it), and why not consider selling the race car in VT and buying another car in CO? On the plus side of renting a U-haul, you'll need to carry the rest of your stuff anyways... why not just buy a lightweight trailer to handle the race car and haul it out? Find someone you race with that has an extra place on their car trailer that's looking for an excuse to go race an event out west, pay for some of the gas on the tow out?

Currently driving an '87 Escort GT through the winter. Race car is a 1990 Saab 900 with Holset turbo and one-off suspension. Honestly, I could sell it to make everything easier, but I haven't been able to get enough wheeltime in it yet. It's a hoot and I know I'd regret it if I got rid of it already.

And I won't be moving much stuff with me. Like I said, it's essentially a fresh start. Some clothes, my camera gear, a computer, tools, and the car. That's it. So buying an SUV for less than the price of renting a U-Haul, with the added option of being able to recoup the money by selling it once I get out there, makes much more sense.

Boston CL is always loaded with cheap Ford Explorers. A buddy of mine has picked up a half dozen or so over the last three years. One for himself, one for his oldest son, another one for his oldest son after the first one was totaled, one for his other son, one for his girlfriend, another one for his girlfriend after she gave the first one to her son.... All were less than $5K including couple of V8 Eddie Bauer editions.

there's always this T5 AWD manual V50 currently just under double the budget

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-V50-T5-2006-volvo-v-50-t-5-one-owner-awd-loaded-low-miles-6-spd-60-photos-no-reserve-/351228375657?forcerrptr=true&hash=item51c6d7b269&item=351228375657&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

This one is too close to me, I'm glad it's on auction otherwise I'd be up there Friday.

If you want a car GUARANTEED to sell in CO, buy one of these:

Vermont will get you rust. Colorado will get you premium price to buy in the SUV. I recommend you fly to Colorado but shortcut your return flight and pick up something from the southern midwest and finish your trip back in it.

To clarify, land in Tennessee (Nashville is good) and buy a 2004 Expedition for short money. Temporary registration will carry you home and then back across country to Colorado.

You'll avoid rust and high taxes. Bonus is the cool story you can tell people for years.

In your place, I might drive the Saab out there, loaded with stuff for the first trip, then take jet blue back. Then take the remainder with the escort. Buying a new england rig, when you'll have access to salt free western stuff seems like an unwise choice.

Interesting points. I've already purchased my ticket to Denver for New Year's. I'm keeping one credit card open in case I can't find the right vehicle and have to buy a last-minute plane ticket (either for the full trip or partway as KyAllroad suggested). Definitely have considered that recourse, and I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of the South on the trip. Guess we'll see what happens. Sachilles, I don't plan on keeping the Escort. Any money I can recoup by selling it in the spring will go toward funding the rest of the move.