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r/Cartalk•
BaddMeest

Help me navigate the used 4x4 market

Hello Cartalk,

I'm not sure if this is the correct area to post a broad question like this, but it's a start.

As the title suggests, I am in the market potentially for a used 4x4 vehicle with a manual transmission. Currently considering selling my daily driver, eliminating a car payment and picking up a used 4x4 truck or SUV for ~$5000 or less.

I am located in MN which is why 4x4 is desirable, and I have only owned manual transmission vehicles so it's a personal preference. This will be a daily driver, I commute ~40 miles per day all highway for work.

My big question are, what are some options I should be strongly considering? I've been a car guy all my life, but haven't gathered much knowledge regarding trucks or SUVs. I am looking at smaller trucks mostly as I don't have a lot of need for a full size truck, but we do not have a truck in the household so the utility would be nice. I would need seating for more than 2.

Options considered this far:

-2004-2007 Jeep Liberty -Older Dodge Dakota -Ford Ranger -Toyota Tacoma (only available in my price range with high miles) -Chevy Colorado (far and few between) -Older chevy Silverado (with the 350) -90's F150

Are there any good options I have ignored here? Are there any money put vehicles I should steer clear of?

Thank you for any and all inputs!

Posted Jul 24, 2018, 2:23 PM UTC

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E580BAEDA44A•

Ranger.

Hoe Twins or Suburban

4.3/5.7 Vortec

4.6/5.4 if maintained

Subaru's with caution.

Most Nissan's have a catastrophic coolant crossover flaw, so look into that.

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BaddMeestOP•

A good list to work off of, thank you!

Any input on the engines available in the Rangers? I mentioned it in here earlier but I have heard from a coworker that the 4.0 is one to steer clear of.

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E580BAEDA44A•

The 3.0 and the 4.0 were good engines. One used more gas but had less power, if I remember correctly. But they were both generally considered good engines.

Hopefully someone more intimate with Ford Ranger 3.0L vs. 4.0L can chime in

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ka36•

You should decide if you want a truck or SUV. In my opinion SUVs handle snow a little better, but they generally have shorter wheelbases, which can make them less predictable. There's also the practicality to consider. For trucks, I like the 90s K1500s, and the Rangers are good, but the Colorados have always been a mess as far as reliability goes. For SUVs, I've always liked the Nissan Pathfinder (as long as it hasn't been eaten by rust yet). I generally make it a point to stay away from Chrysler products, so I have to advise against the Liberty and Dakota.

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BaddMeestOP•

Thank you for the input. I have heard good things about 90s F150s. However I was told by a DIY mechanic friend of mine that the 4.0 in the Ranger is not a good engine (he had seen some first hand die at 200k or less miles).

Interesting to see two recommendations against jeeps/dodge. I have no first hand experience with dodge or the V8s in the Dakotas I'm seeing. But I did own a TJ wrangler with the 4.0 inline 6 that ran very well, and I have heard lots of good things about that power plant specifically, although not so much for efficiency.

You are right, though. If I am going to take the plunge, I'll need to decide SUV or truck first. I'm really just looking for feedback on reliability and ease of maintenance up front.

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ka36•

Be aware that the 4.0 I6 sold by chrysler is not their own engine. It was initially designed by AMC, and aside from its dismal fuel economy, it's a great engine. Other engines from Chrysler don't share the design, though honestly, the engines usually aren't the problem in chrysler vehicles. For older ones, it's usually the transmissions, and for newer ones, it's usually electrical.

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BaddMeestOP•

Good information, yes I had done some basic research and found the same info about the 4.0 High Output. I'll plan to cross the Dakota off of my short list. They interested me because of the available crew cab and 4x4 well in my price range.

Are manual transmissions prone to as many issues in the options I've considered? I would only be buying a standard trans, I imagine they would be a little less prone to issues?

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ka36•

Yes, manual transmissions are always more reliable, and that goes for Chrysler as well. Still more trouble prone than others, but I honestly didn't consider that fact when I advised you to stay away.

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stuffeh•

Stay away from old Jeep and possibly old Dodge. Ford isn't too bad, but I'd prefer something made from GM (like the Silverado and Colorado). Toyotas are usually a safe bet, but like you saw, their prices only get into your budget range at high milage, but that's for a reason. I'd suggest getting a 9-12k, but cars in those price ranges typically have less issues upfront. A 3-5k car usually isn't far away from being dead, especially if it is going to be your daily driver and putting in 40 miles a day.

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BaddMeestOP•

Thank you for the input. At 9-12k I may as well keep my current car, which is worth ~14k. The point in the change is really to erase the monthly car payment by getting something I can buy outright. I simply am looking at these vehicle types since I could use some of the features offered by these vehicles.

As far as jeeps go, I didn't know there was such a lean against them. I had a 2000 TJ with the 4.0 inline 6 before (I believe the liberty may run the same engine) and I know that engine has a pretty solid track record. It's the V8s in the dakotas that I have never really heard much about. I'll continue to search around though!

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