Help Me Choose a New (Used) Car

[rockhound]

generation 1 dodge durango,

i own two now, and a 05 dodge ram ctd, but the durangos are nice

lots of storage, but not too big,

my 98 is on a huge lift with 34s running 4.56s and still gets 17 mpg hauling ass through the mountains, hand calculated. 5.2 liter, no issue hauling trailers

we paid off the 05 ram and were going to get my wife a new rig, but she drove my durango for a few days and loved it.

just picked her up a 2000 (literally old man driven) just over 80k miles on it, absolutely dent and scratch free, 4.7 liter v8 gets 18-20 hand calculated

they handle well and are better than any of my jeeps on the ice and snow, the extra weight really helps.

we got the 2000, for $7250 i would rive it across the country tomorrow.

you may have to do a little looking to find a really well cared for durango, but i love both of mine.

[Graves]

Get a Ridgeline...

[BigMat]

I'm sorry BigMat, but I'm extremely skeptical about your claims that a Honda Ridgeline is the equal to any truck that is 4WD with a center locking diff off road. I believe that you were able to go there with the Ridgeline, but it must have been a pretty manageable trail. No hate from Honda either from me.

Not any 4x4! don't get me wrong, but I have kept up quite nicely with a nearly factory Tacoma. Put a Ridgeline up against a nice(read old) FJ or tricked out Tacoma and my jig is up in terms of crawling, but on some fairly tricky trails and/or decent snow pack, I have been far from disappointed.
I'll put it this way. I have gotten stuck twice in it. Once with a Tacoma, which then got stuck right next to me, then about a year later with a chevy (not familiar with this trucks specs, I was doing a lot of digging), which also got stuck right next to me. I should add, I still run on street tires, neither of the other trucks did. I find the focus on the front wheel drive, A. really works with how I learned to drive off road and B. seems to help get it up and over.

[BigMat]

I stand by it! get a ridgeline!

[The Extractor]

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredv...lin/index.html

That is the only Ridgeline you would ever catch me driving.

[BigMat]

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredv...lin/index.html

That is the only Ridgeline you would ever catch me driving.

That is a fine looking truck!

[ShooterJM]

Any thoughts on an older land rover? I'm thinking a mid '90s discovery that I can pick up dirt cheap and just use as a snow car and for light towing.

[Elhuero]

Any thoughts on an older land rover? I'm thinking a mid '90s discovery that I can pick up dirt cheap and just use as a snow car and for light towing.

I hear parts and repairs are expensive on land rovers, but as far as snow and offroad goes they are awesome.

[Fentonite]

PM Sent

[Cman]

Just my .02 worth. I work on vehicles for a living. The Dodge/Ford/Chevy diesels are over all a low cost vehicle. Keep the fluids changed and they will last a long time. All of the trucks have light front suspension componets and will need to be replaced in the 100,000 mile to 150,000 range. The Blazer falls apart a lot. Tahoes and Yukons are a little better than Blazers. The Ford versions are better than the Chevys. The Dakota/Durango with the 5.2 we see have the lowest cost of repairs with reasonble gas milage and good power. The v6 version doesn't have enough power for CO. The Honda Rigdgeline has a timing belt engine which will need to have the timing belt replaced at 105k, with water pump $1,300 +.
They are a little under powered towing up hill in CO. YMMV
Hope this helps, good luck.
Cman