Snow season is almost hear and I don't have anything to take up to the mountains! My F150 really sucks in the snow. I'm looking something with good gas mileage, and reliable and something thats not going to cost me over $5000.

Here's what I'm looking at, I'd like some input and personal experences with them.

- Jeep Grand Cherokee: 4.0L Strait Six

- Toyota 4Runner: 22RE, I have heard bad things about the toyota V6s.

- Ford Explorer

I'm leaning more twords the 4Runner, but they have been very difficult to find (espically with the 22RE).

 

Among those choices, I'd definitely go with the Explorer in that price range. Those Grand Cherokees have not been very reliable, and you are right about the V-6 Toyotas. But the Toyota 4, bulletproof reliable, is not going to do very well at altitude and climbing. The Explorer is between them in reliability, you can get parts anywhere (and cheaply), anyone can work on it, and with the right tires, it'll get you, your passengers and gear there and back safely.

 

I would probably go for the explorer to. I love toyotas for there reliabilty but I dont know if the 22re motor will have that much power for that big suv. I would take a toyota for a test drive to see if it has enough power. If you think it has enough power I would get the toyota. I had a celica with a 22re motor in it. That thing was great easy to work on, great on gas, very reliable, and had decent power for the car.

 

I would be willing to bet that you can find a really nice Explorer for little money.

 

You can get yourself a nice Explorer, keep in mind that the weak link in first generation Explorers is the tranny...

A friend has a Cherokee and confort wise I would give it two thumbs down...

 

Oh, I forgot to mention I own a 91' Explorer 4x4, and even with tranny problems I pulled my brother's 96' Chevy Blazer home after his fuel pump went out without any problems!

Make an offer and I might sell it (its not that I don't want it, its just that I have 3 other cars)

Oh and I will change the tranny if you want to buy it...

 

I agree there. My parents '00 Cherokee sport rode like a lumber wagon, had wonderful poor headlights, and was virtually impossible to get into the rear seat. Toss in the thin doors, the 4.0L that sounded like a Cessna taking off every time you touched the gas, and the absolutely terrible performance in the rain and snow, cramped and uncomfortable front seating, and you now have my personal vote for the most lousy SUV in the world.

The Grand Cherokee is an okay vehicle, but IMO, any other Cherokee is a flaming heap.

 

my sister's cherokee has been the most reliable vehicle either of us has owned. it now has 266K on the clock and it has left her standing once, alternator dead at 192K...had a clutch done at about 200K. comfort wise its not the greatest, but dead reliable...

 

The only reason I am not a fan of the Explorers is the engine choice. I have had bad luck with the 4L V6 in the past (head gasket problems), and I really dont' want a 302, I have my truck to eat gas. Also, the tranny issue hasn't been a huge turn on.

Could you elaberate on the reliablity issues of the Grand Cherokee?

I agree with the power of the 22RE, I've had it in a truck before and although they do run forever, I'm not sure how they'd do behind a slightly bigger SUV with 4wd.

 

I don't like to knock a particular manufacturer by name, but you might want to get the brand new Consumer Report's Annual Buyers Guide and look in the automotive section. There are charts and tables in there for reliability for each model vehicle going back for several years - I think at least 5 or maybe 7 years. I don't have it in front of me right now, but recall looking at the Grand Cherokee data last night. Black circles (meaning the worst reliability) everywhere - in almost every category. I mean a sea of black. Not good.

 

I know this vehicle isn't really on your list, but check out a gently used 2000-2002 4Runner Limited. The 3.4 L v6 is a good engine (keep the timing belts changed at proper intervals) and some of them even came equipped with an electric locking rear diff.

I think the early v6's had head gasket problems if I remember correctly.

 

I had a 94 Toyota with the 3.0 V6. It had a water pump go bad at 154,000 and Toyota volunteered to replace the head gaskets under recall. At 189,000 miles, I sold it when I bought my new F-150 and it used 1 quart of oil between changes and still had the oringinal plugs. The only timing belt it got was at the 154,000 mari because the water pump had let antifreeze get on it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I was on my way to buy a new Tundra when I stopped at the Ford dealer to comparison shop and it was no contest (price was the same but Ford has a much nicer truck).

 

My Brother and a good friend both have '94 explorers, brother has 138,000 on is and no Tranny problems and it is a 4x4. Friend's is 2x4 sport with 5 spd. has over 230,000 on his and only replaced a water pump on his.

 

The Explorers are reliable SUV's but most are not maintained properly, causing it to seem like an unreliable truck...just find one that was well taken care of and you will be fine...

 

I have actually heard folks say “it is a 4x4 truck it needs no maintenance they are built different then cars” go figure