guess who ELSE needs another car....

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fishtailrook1 (?)
the king is dead...

my 4Runner is finally disintegrating under lighter use than what was put to it hauling Loggers around. two brand new tires glassed out due to an allready faulty new steering part :ouch:. over the last couple months, even the body is disintigrating. must be this extreme cold. throw in a brake line that blew for no reason...well, it's time

unfortunately, I'm limited to only two grand! that means yet another monster milage beater. and I have a specific need for a small class 4wd/AWD...fortunately, I can finally pick ninties vehicles

suggestions appreciated (USDM and imports sold here, please...but wishfull thinking vehicles allowed)
 
I think you won't go wrong with an old Jeep.

And it's a little far fetched, and probably not something you'd want but maybe a Subaru?
 
Sniffs
unfortunately, I'm limited to only two grand! that means yet another monster milage beater. and I have a specific need for a small class 4wd/AWD...fortunately, I can finally pick ninties vehicles
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Subaru Forester, totally love mine, should cover all your bases too. I would have thought you'd be able to get an early one in your price range as well 👍



*edit* - actually, looking at Autotrader in your area, you'd probably need $3k for a Forester.
 
Another Toyota?... 4Runner, this time mid-nineties? Or an early Tacoma?

Maybe even a RAV4? Must be able to get one of those for around $2k now.
 
Toyota trucks: indestructible drivetrain, trapped in a biodegradable body. I'd stay away from a $2k Toyota.

I know you have a strong preference for 4WD, but... have you considered a P71 and snowtires?

On the AWD/4WD front:

GMC Safari AWD - they made a bazillion of them for decades, they are dirt cheap, and most of the parts are as close as your nearest pick-n-pull. 3-row seating available. Here's one now.

Ford Exploder - same as above. And looky here...

Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee - they're all over the place, and they will go all over the place, too. One of each.

Another Blazer, maybe?
 
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↑ Gee, that's the cleanest used van I've ever seen.
 
Yeah, that Safari is probably just what he's looking for, especially considering that he transports people. Long wheelbase, too. There's probably another 100,000 miles left in that thing, with a little maintenance.
 
1988-1991 BMW 325iX. Right around 2K will get you a daily beater, and these things plow through snow and tow stuff pretty well. These things are ROCKETS in the snow with the AWD.
 
so far, so good.

some responses
I've had to bum a 97 Cherokee sport on occasion off my cousin when the 4r was down for repair. it had a complete tuneup, and other than some cooling problems (a bad radiator) and gifting her with money for a new battery (the batt was so old it wouldn't hold enough cranking amps in this icebox weather), we're talking a well kept granny. somehow or other, I've squeezed 22 out of a AMC scourced Iron Duke(?)4.0 straight six!
old cherokees have me impressed, however the last one I saw around here was a horribly beat up 92 Cherokee Laredo...and not a single one since.

I'd already considered a Suby. there's been a Forrester on my mind for at least a year. even found a black 99 sitting in one of our mini lots. I checked it out (and tried some inquiries about a big old Aerostar parked right next to it), but not only was the lot owner off watching his grandson in sprint cup races somewhere in the Carolinas, the damn thing was gone a couple days later! I've also considered one of the big legacys, but the nearest place that actually GETS them on a regular basis is a good 50-75 miles SOUTH of me.
I live in the middle of nowhere, and the picking are slim unless it's a big full size pickup with an 8 foot bed and a thirsty V8
Casey_2005: Philadelphia is a three/four hour drive east of me, Pittsburgh is a two/three hour drive WEST and I said TWO thousand, not Twenty

RAVs are very hard to get hold of...tho that is a possibility.

Duke: what's a "p71"...and snow tires don't help (that's what sat on the back of my S Blazer, and I still slid into a ditch!), especially when you have to muscle your way through 2 or 3 foot drifts on TOP of 6-8 inches of unplowed driveway...thus why I need the 4wd ride height . just not one of those 8 foot off the ground jacked up mothers. not only am I on the small side, so are half of my clients, and my mother is practically a little person (I'm a general taxi around here, so much I keep expecting to get busted for not having a license)

we spotted a nice looking Astro/Safari, but haven't had the chance to look at it yet. hopefully, it's high enough, has the AWD, and nobody protests at Cash.

I had to bum a 95 exploder for a while. someone screwed up the 4wd system, the thing ate brakes and tires, and it's a FORD...they like me, but I can't even change a friggin light bulb in em. 15 MPG doesn't help, either. my clients are actually worried about gas milage.

thanks to this lemon of a 92 blazer I have sitting here, I'm not going after another one.
(everybody wants me to drop a new engine in the thing...and none of the local junkyards has anything older than MABEY 2000)

I'm waiting on an interest call on a 113k 99 Sportage. the only thing that cvoncerns me is reports of "half an hour warm up before it will shift out of second"...either they're not checking the fluid, the OD(overdrive) sensor is gone, or the tranny's in serious need of a filter change.
 
Sniffs
what's a "p71"
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ford_pi.jpg


Police Crown Vic. Come on, if even a limey knows what one is... :lol:
 
Sniffs
I've squeezed 22 out of a AMC scourced Iron Duke(?)4.0 straight six
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22 is quite possible with the 4.0, and it is AMC but not an "Iron Duke" engine. Course when Chrysler took over in the early 90's, they were able to pump out more power than AMC did!
 
I think there are some good options out, there so you're going to want to shop around...

- Jeep Cherokee (Sport)
- Chevrolet K5 --> Blazer Tahoe/Yukon GT --> C/K 1500
- Ford Bronco --> F-150

An early-mid '90s pickup from any of the Big Three will not only be absurdly tough as you request, but the fuel economy isn't as bad as it could be, and certainly they are big enough to fit your needs. I'm obviously impartial to the C/K 1500 trucks, but the Fords of the same era weren't all that bad either.
 
Home: I've never heard the designation for the Crown vic Police Interceptor package before, despite the guy around here that has one...besides, I'd rather have a 9C1 90-95 Caprice interceptor. sweet way to go out, Caprice.

if anybody's looking for a crown vic interceptor, there's one available around here for sale!

Yss: no, not a full size SUV. I'm 5 foot 8, my clients are low five feet, and my mother is 4 foot eleven, just over the maximum height for little people. if I want a full sizer, I'd get a x cab shortbed, and not mess with the heavier SUV.

oh, and a "bronco" is circa 77-96 when based on the F and using the Bronco label
 
9C1s have been out of production for quite some time at this point, so they are all in private hands, and command a premium because the consensus is they are a better car. P71s are still in production and public use and are practically approaching the availability of dead leaves in the autumn at this point.

DEFINITELY take a look at that Astro I linked - call 'em about it. It looks very clean for the price and it should suit the bill for access and ability.
 
You won't hear anyone here suggest it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you ran across one in your searches. Early 2000 Kia Sportage 4WDs will run in your price range. Avoid them at all costs. I had one. About every 40,000 miles the engine fan has this fun way of falling apart while the engine is running, sending fan bits flying around the engine compartment and, on a good day, through the radiator.

Just giving a tip from experience. Desperate times can cause you to grab a bad vehicle sometimes.
 
Sniffs
Casey_2005: Philadelphia is a three/four hour drive east of me, Pittsburgh is a two/three hour drive WEST and I said TWO thousand, not Twenty
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What are you saying here? The vehicle I posted was neither $20,000 nor $20. Are you not open to the idea of buying a vehicle under your $2000 limit, and putting the remaining amount into possibly tires, a good tune up, and other repairs? The more expensive vehicle doesn't always mean a better one.
 
Duke: i was trying not to go outside the state :P lemmie have another look.
oh, I know a few cops...I might be able to fenagle a 9C1...they've only just switched to first gen Impalas around here

FK: doesn't matter anyhow. it was snatched out from under us. somebody got a bargain

casey: $400? uh oh, I smell something...that's TOO low. and, like I said, I'm about 200 miles from Philly

Toronado: fraid you'll have to state the years on THAT platform. they've been keeping hush-hush on the names untill recently, and I still think Gran Turismo inspired the automakers to let out with US platform names.

Edit: duke, went over every one of your suggestions. the Astro we passed is at least 10 years newer, and a couple hundred bucks cheaper. that a bad sign?
 
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It usually pays to travel a little to get into a better market for cars. For example, I drove across the state to pick up my MR-S because prices where 10% lower there and far more selection. Driving a couple hundred miles might be worth it, as it sounds that you have virtually no selection there.

The P71 is a capable car in rough conditions, from what all I have read. Snow tires all around, instead of just on the back, also make a huge difference in going into a ditch. They have substantial ride height (cops need to get to random places, jump curbs, etc), a solid frame, and a decent engine. I believe ND4SPD owns one and could fill you on the details, and he lives in Canada so I am sure he is familiar with the snow prowess of one.
 
A GMT400 Tahoe would be a '94-'99 model, but I'd be more apt to swing for its Blazer cousin. Thats just me...
 
Sniffs
Edit: duke, went over every one of your suggestions. the Astro we passed is at least 10 years newer, and a couple hundred bucks cheaper. that a bad sign?
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I suspect it's probably a RWD model, not the AWD model. The RWD version is more common, but the AWD versions are not rare (at least among tghe GMC Safari version; not sure about the Chevy Astro version).
 
Toronado: I kinda thought so. I was starting to wonder about the generations when i ran into the catalogs of LMC Truck. the 88/89 are included in the 73 body parts listings, and that got me wondering. that is the kind I'd like to go after, but they don't make a stepside in a x cab, unfortunately. I need the extended. you can't stuff 3-5 guys on a single bench seat.

Az:yes, I've noticed, now, that all the bargains seem to be hovering out around the PA/Ohio border (i found some doozies out in Washington, PA). however, I don't know if the 4runner would MAKE it that far without a catastrophic breakdown. the thing has literally about had it.

Yss: technically, I allready HAVE a Tahoe. the 92 blazer in my Icon (i can't get a good pic that I want)has the Tahoe package on it. the window sticker was still in the glovbox when I bought it...2k for a 22.5k as new. it has a gorgeous interior, but is so beat on the outside, I'm just giving up. anybody want it?

Duke: I swear I saw the red logo for the AWD on it. most of the newer ones were automatic AWD in passenger config, if I remember right. I'm gonna try and have a look this afternoon.

a couple more notes
I've found a "bargin bin" lot full of 15 year olds...almost solid s Blazers,s Jimmys and S10's. I'll see if we can give that one a once over. got a card allready from them.

I'm trying not to go much over a 5.0 l engine. not only can I not handle a V8 without shredding tires, I tend to get the EPA window sticker right on the nose, IE if it says 12 city, that's exactly what I get.
 
Sniffs
Yss: technically, I allready HAVE a Tahoe. the 92 blazer in my Icon (i can't get a good pic that I want)has the Tahoe package on it. the window sticker was still in the glovbox when I bought it...2k for a 22.5k as new. it has a gorgeous interior, but is so beat on the outside, I'm just giving up. anybody want it?
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I say strip and scrap. You'll probably get a handsome amount for the steel in the chassis and engine alone. The rest can be sold on E-Bay as used.

and, yes, most mills don't care about rust.
 
Sniffs
Toronado: I kinda thought so. I was starting to wonder about the generations when i ran into the catalogs of LMC Truck. the 88/89 are included in the 73 body parts listings, and that got me wondering.
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They have the 88/89 in there because GM continued to build the 81-87 style HD truck while they introduced the newer LD version. Then in '90 they introduced the new HD version.

Jim Prower
I say strip and scrap. You'll probably get a handsome amount for the steel in the chassis and engine alone. The rest can be sold on E-Bay as used.
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Don't know about handsome amount. I know over the summer, the place here was offering a couple hundred bucks per vehicle and now they're only offering about $70 per vehicle, though if you find a place that goes by weight you might get more.
 
unfortunately, buickgnx is right. scrappers are as glutted as a family after thanksgiving atm. it was on the national news at one point that so much scrap had been sold for pure cash that the entirety of East Tennessee has been cleaned out. one person went on to state that a lot of valuable rare car parts have gone for more money than selling them to restorers would.
I am going to go ahead and scrap a 91 acclaim I was running 5 or 6 years ago (the sills rotted away)

I recieved a call back from the person who had the Sportage. he seems to have located another small SUV...I'll check in on that as well.

I'll keep people posted on what happens with the two.
 
update: the 4Runner is in the shop atm for another brake line problem. seems the line rubbed against the rear axle, and holed itself. an improv bolt in the y junction of the lines to the back prevented any more fluid loss.

the guy who called (and I now think is a salesman for the tiny Chevy dealership in that town) said four words that put me off the replacement immediatly "Possible blown head gasket". he'll keep a further eye out.

didn't get to check on the Astro. a combination of three side trips and getting a "run home" request while doing some minor "school bus" duty (for mileage), and having to deposit the 4Runner for repairs cut the night short.
 
Sniffs
so far, so good.

some responses
I've had to bum a 97 Cherokee sport on occasion off my cousin when the 4r was down for repair. it had a complete tuneup, and other than some cooling problems (a bad radiator) and gifting her with money for a new battery (the batt was so old it wouldn't hold enough cranking amps in this icebox weather), we're talking a well kept granny. somehow or other, I've squeezed 22 out of a AMC scourced Iron Duke(?)4.0 straight six!
old cherokees have me impressed, however the last one I saw around here was a horribly beat up 92 Cherokee Laredo...and not a single one since.
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Our Cherokee manages about 16 highway. :scared:
 

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