Yet Another Vehicle Recommendation Requested

[ryansride2017]

My current vehicle, a 2006 Nissan Xterra with 200,000 miles, is routinely used in my daily occupation. Because of it's age/mileage, I'm looking into possible replacement vehicles. I need a vehicle under the following conditions:

1). Accumulating approximately 30K miles per year
2). Must have 4WD as my work routinely takes me off-road
3). Should have decent ground clearance
4). Easy to maintain as I do as much maintenance as I can
5). While not necessary, rear hatch that opens to provide
"umbrella" (I often work in rain).
6). I prefer body on frame design

While I am not a "fan boy" of any manufacturer, the vehicle needs to be able to put up with the amount of miles I put on a vehicle. Thanks.

 

[KingCake]

4runner.

Cab on frame rules out many newer SUVs of that size as they move to unibody.

 

[tomcat27]

4 Runner. Another Xterra.

 

[NO2]

If you can go unibody Subaru Outback premium w rubber mats is about $28K, $11K less than the 4Runner. It's easy on gas too, about 24 mpg in the real world and 31-32 on hwy.

Alternately an F150 2.7L XLT Supercrew 4WD shortbed would run about $38K with a cap (about the same as the 4Runner) , more like 18mpg, low 20s on hwy. Drop 2-3mpg with the cap. A flat cover is more aerodynamic and would not affect mileage much. There is a huge amount of space inside the cabin.

Both are much nicer vehicles than the 4Runner or Xterra, have high resale value, and can be loaded up to be luxury vehicles if you want, but I'd hate to have leather in your climate. If you are working a job sites or have large cargo requirements I'd go the F-150 route.

I would check insurance and taxes, your license and insurance fees are quite high.

 

[yvon_la]

Dodge pick up with a cummins.

 

[KingCake]

Originally Posted By: NO2
If you can go unibody Subaru Outback premium w rubber mats is about $28K, $11K less than the 4Runner. It's easy on gas too, about 24 mpg in the real world and 31-32 on hwy.

Alternately an F150 2.7L XLT Supercrew 4WD shortbed would run about $38K with a cap (about the same as the 4Runner) , more like 18mpg, low 20s on hwy. Drop 2-3mpg with the cap. A flat cover is more aerodynamic and would not affect mileage much. There is a huge amount of space inside the cabin.

Both are much nicer vehicles than the 4Runner or Xterra, have high resale value, and can be loaded up to be luxury vehicles if you want, but I'd hate to have leather in your climate. If you are working a job sites or have large cargo requirements I'd go the F-150 route.

I would check insurance and taxes, your license and insurance fees are quite high.


I like the f-150 idea.

 

[Nate1979]

Truck with cap. Just depends on how big of truck you need. Perhaps midsized like Chevy Colorado or GMC equivalent?

 

[KingCake]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Truck with cap. Just depends on how big of truck you need. Perhaps midsized like Chevy Colorado or GMC equivalent?


He'd be better off with a Kia.

 

[CKN]

Crown Vic. Just thought I would save somebody else from mentioning it.......

Not 4WD-but they are super cars here on BITOG.

 

[147_Grain]

Toyota 4 Runner.

 

[WankelRotorHead]

I work out in the field on undeveloped lots for a living too. My work vehicles have been some long in the tooth Ford pickups (both 2003, one Ranger and one F-150). We just picked up a bare bones 2015 Crew Cab F-150 XL 4x4 which for a work vehicle is perfect. The base 3.5 V6 (not the eco-boost) isn't going to win any drag races but for something that is going to get rental car treatment it is a better choice than the Eco-Boost engines IMHO.

 

[Gasbuggy]

You near Mt. Carmel? I would either drive your Xterra into the ground since the value has to be minimal at this point, or buy a new 2015 Xterra leftover. It is the exact same vehicle you're in now, you know you like it and it's reliable.

 

[ryansride2017]

Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
You near Mt. Carmel? I would either drive your Xterra into the ground since the value has to be minimal at this point, or buy a new 2015 Xterra leftover. It is the exact same vehicle you're in now, you know you like it and it's reliable.


Not far from there....In fact i drive through there quite often. If Nissan still made the Xterra, I'd just buy another. But finding a leftover/used is a bit challenging since they were never high volume movers to begin with...you don't find many in good condition. Many I find, since they are generally built for the offroad crowd, have been noticeably beaten. Plus, this time I would want a Pro-4X package which included locking rears.

I'm seriously considering the 4Runner or pickup option.

 

[Olas]

If what you have still does what you need it to do, keep it and save your money.

If you're so rich you don't need to save then D90 all day long.

 

[Kira]

What's "D90"?

 

[Andrew1972]

Low mile 2011 or earlier Ford Explorer. Chevy Tahoe, Jeep unlimited , Subaru Forester/Outback best fuel economy and dependent on off road conditions. The only acceptable awd for off road.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Purchasing a new Xterra might be difficult in 2016.

For body on frame the 4Runner is a good choice. I have an older 03 and it's been bullet proof.

 

[ram_man]

Keep Cherokee or the jeep renegade. The renegade at first is kinda odd looking but it grows on you and they get good fuel economy .

 

[Andrew1972]

What about a Jeep Patriot. They are a tad sub par but seem to well suited as work vehicle and off road. The price is decent.

 

[supton]

I dunno about the pickup option. I had a station wagon before, with the lift back; and have the truck with a standard cap now; and the car was vastly better for "shelter". Once you drop the tailgate the "shelter" is gone. Not that it was ever that big to begin with, as the glass is maybe 2' tall, while the lift hatch is several feet long.

You could remedy that with some sort of contraption on the door, or get a fancy cap of some sort that either has a lift hatch (replacing the tailgate)--but I don't think I've seen one like that. Regardless I don't think it'd be cheap.

And unless if you get a regular cab short bed I'd think turning radius / off road ability would be negatively impacted. May or may not be a problem. Pickups often have less weight in the rear, so you may need to use 4WD more often.

I know there are contractor caps with doors that lift out on the sides, but I'm not sure any of this really fits for you--if your Xterra is doing the job now, then I surmise you don't have that much stuff to take with you.

*

Any chance of just buying a second Xterra like yours and running two? Sounds like you're going to run most anything into the ground; and for the price you'd pay for buying something new you'd have lots of money to pay for a mechanic to fix a downed vehicle. Or with a spare you could just repair at your leisure.

Alternatively, maybe a lesser AWD vehicle, for when you know you're not going far off road. Use the Xterra for when you know it'll be a haul; but something with better mpg the rest of the time. Most of the cute utes would fit then.