Posted by Codi always been skeptical regarding domestics and their reliability

oh fer fucks sake

Cherokee 4.0L > passat 1.8t in terms of reliability, and i'm a vw guy.

Posted by Samurai oh fer fucks sake

Lol
Hey it was how's I was raised, I still love a lot of American built cars, just was raised to believe that if you want reliable go import.
But you guys now have me thinking the jeep would be the best all around

Posted by Codi Lol Hey it was how's I was raised, I still love a lot of American built cars, just was raised to believe that if you want reliable go import. But you guys now have me thinking the jeep would be the best all around

you're misguided, your parents abused you and u need to broaden your horizons.
I was raised in a FORD only household. And then mom, myself and my brother moved to General Motors.
this Subaru I just bought is my first import.

To be completely honest, a kid + cargo capacity = van. If you want something cool and fun, find a 5 speed supercharged Toyota Previa. Mid engine, rear wheel drive, and they don't really ever die.

First gen Dodge Caravans are cool, too. Find a turbo with a 5 speed, short wheel base, and AWD.

I never understood the minivan stigma. They're built for exactly what you are doing.

Posted by jeepdave I cannot recommend a Commander. Don't know enough about em and don't care for the drivetrain. But I use jeeps differently than most.

Commander is actually not bad...if I had to get a German-occupied era Jeep, that would be the one and plus, they had a diesel option

Posted by wannabeotaku First gen Dodge Caravans are cool, too. Find a turbo with a 5 speed, short wheel base, and AWD.

AWD Caravan parts were impossible to get 15 years ago. Since there are only 7 (now 6) in the world left that still move under their own power, I doubt this availability situation has improved.

Never really like minivan, I have a second gen caravan in my parents drive
But the work and money needed to get it running isn't worth it at all

Just had a 96? Older bodystyle awd grand voyager in the other week. Coolant and Trans fluid decided to mix inside the radiator.

Posted by wannabeotaku I never understood the minivan stigma. They're built for exactly what you are doing.

I slept in my Caravan for a week on Phish tour. Besides not impressing a single woman under the age of 40, they're not bad. I could also fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in my Caravan. Not my Won'tstart, though.

Posted by sleeperspirit Just had a 96? Older bodystyle awd grand voyager in the other week. Coolant and Trans fluid decided to mix inside the radiator.

a poor coolant is ATF.
lol

An early 90s 4 runner with a 4 cylinder would be a great choice in your price range. You could find a decent one for that kind of coin.

HAS to be a 22re 4 cylinder though, the 3.0L V6 is one hell of a turd burglar. The 4 cylinder will be reliable as the day is long.

Posted by cavemonkey HAS to be a 22re 4 cylinder though

It's like a diesel that has spark plugs for some reason!

Posted by Samurai a poor coolant is ATF. lol

Lol...I've seen a few people with Caravans hit something like a concrete curb block and it crushes the lower part of the radiator where the built in trans-cooler is and well, coolant mixes with ATF4

This one pushed all it's Trans fluid into the radiator.

thank you guys for all your help, I think I will be looking into the jeep.
with the reliability and what appears to still have a fairly large following in the off road industry I think parts will still be fairly decent in pricing
I am hoping I can find one out there that hasn't been too consumed by our Canadian winters and converted into more rust then car.

Posted by Codi thank you guys for all your help, I think I will be looking into the jeep. with the reliability and what appears to still have a fairly large following in the off road industry I think parts will still be fairly decent in pricing I am hoping I can find one out there that hasn't been too consumed by our Canadian winters and converted into more rust then car.

Check the southern states. Cheap and rust free. Good luck!

Posted by jeepdave Check the southern states. Cheap and rust free. Good luck!

...but the engines and transmissions are beat to fuck.

Posted by Samurai ...but the engines and transmissions are beat to fuck.

Not really. Depends on the owner. One bonus is those are tuff engines and drive trains. Also would rather swap a motor than battle rust.

I already doubt that I will find a granny driven, garage kept one. but who knows. I'm Canadian and not sure but I don't want to deal with any fees or taxes of bringing an American car up here.

edited so I don't create another post

this is sort of what I want, if it wasn't so far up north.

http://www.autotra...howCPO&orup=1_15_1