Best under $2,500 vehicle to get you up to the mountain?

TRPD

TRPD

New member
Hey guys finally looking for a first car and I'm wondering about a reliable vehicle for more or less under $2500 that doesn't get the gas millage of my neighbor's trophy wife's Hummer and get get me up the mountain. Could be pretty much anything... Except a PT Cruiser cause those look like sh*t. Your input is much appreciated!

Thanks
 
Youre on NS, youre going to hear things like: Subaru wagon with a rack, 4runner, Volvo XC70

But what your really want is an old beater truck so you can fuck around and drive up the ski hill, youll sure show those pussies.

but seriously old toyota pickup
 
topic:TheRealPuffDaddy said:
PT Cruiser

Thanks
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at that price I would stay away from any subarus. I'd look into an older toyota truck/4runner/crv if you want 4wd and some space. If your ok with fwd(better gas mileage) look into something such as a civic or camry.
 
13516457:special-J said:
Yeah good luck finding a solid toyota pickup for under $2500

..but if your budget increases, yes get one of those
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I never realized how much those went for always see people on here recommend them as if they where dirt cheap.
 
Got a 99 nissan pathfinder for ~$1,800 had about 200,000 meow im at $230,000. 4wd is pretty helpful once in a while.

If you buy an old car buy it from a woman cuz they generally dont push the car and keep it in good shape.
 
Prob wont get any decent 4wd for that.

Advice: setup email alerts for kijiji and refresh craigslist every 10 min. As bad as this sounds, some old person will pass away and their car has to be sold off. Buy a car driven by an old person. Most of the time they are the mintest rides that have been carefully driven and babied for most of its life.
 
Also, you don't need AWD or 4x4, just a good set of winter tires. You'll be able to get through almost anything.
 
13516547:Blue_Fish said:
Prob wont get any decent 4wd for that.

Advice: setup email alerts for kijiji and refresh craigslist every 10 min. As bad as this sounds, some old person will pass away and their car has to be sold off. Buy a car driven by an old person. Most of the time they are the mintest rides that have been carefully driven and babied for most of its life.
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you wont have to drive alone either! The ghost of that person will haunt the car so you always have someone to ride with you
 
13516558:saskskier said:
Also, you don't need AWD or 4x4, just a good set of winter tires. You'll be able to get through almost anything.
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I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend AWD or 4x4, Growing up my mom always had fwd cars even with the best snow tires it was never fun.

When i bought new tires for my truck i asked for good winter tires and the guy laughed at me, "you know she has 4x4" and its true, always felt safe even driving around on the slipperiest roads in whistler.
 
13516603:LUPTON said:
I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend AWD or 4x4, Growing up my mom always had fwd cars even with the best snow tires it was never fun.

When i bought new tires for my truck i asked for good winter tires and the guy laughed at me, "you know she has 4x4" and its true, always felt safe even driving around on the slipperiest roads in whistler.
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I grew up driving an 85' Civic in the country with roughly 5-10km of gravel roads (rarely pretty in winter). Maybe not the mountains, but we got a crap load of snow. All my other cars have either been fwd or rwd with the exception of my 4runner, but I was more comfortable driving all of them in winter than the 4runner. (Also grew up driving my dad's trucks, so it's not that I wasn't used to driving a truck in winter)

I'm not saying awd or 4x4 is a bad thing, and it's probably better if you live in the mountains, BUT if you aren't an idiot (i.e. - a half decent driver) and have winter tires you'll be just fine in almost any car in almost any conditions.
 
It depends on you honestly. How much do you plan on driving? Any car can get you up the mountain if you aren't a shit driver.

IF you're young and poor, gas mileage is everything honestly. If you're not driving very far ever I guess it doesn't matter that much but still should be considered.

When you get an idea of what you want check CL. You can do a lot with that much if you find a good deal.

I own two foresters right now but Ive driven some shit cars to the mountain.

If youre in ny buy my 02 forester
 
13516704:AlsoKnownAs said:
It depends on you honestly. How much do you plan on driving? Any car can get you up the mountain if you aren't a shit driver.

IF you're young and poor, gas mileage is everything honestly. If you're not driving very far ever I guess it doesn't matter that much but still should be considered.

When you get an idea of what you want check CL. You can do a lot with that much if you find a good deal.

I own two foresters right now but Ive driven some shit cars to the mountain.

If youre in ny buy my 02 forester
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If you drive it out to Colorado we have a deal!
 
My subie does well. The best car I've ever driven in the winter is my grandpas ford Aerostar. Awesome car. You can load people/skis up and it's just a cool car. Not very gas friendly tho
 
13516994:TheRealPuffDaddy said:
If you drive it out to Colorado we have a deal!
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Damn!

HAd it out there all last season lol. Had a job at vail line up and would have been leaving in a week or two but turned it down for an east coast gig because I love ice.

Getting a subie in CO for a good price might be tough. I was going to go out early september for some music but got really sick. Planned to list the car I had just bought for cheap for a couple k more in CO on craigs, and try and sell it and fly back. Probably would have gone too but I didn't make it out of NY that week
 
In ascending order of typical prices I'd probably say

Subaru Loyale wagon

Volvo 240 wagon

Loyale that isn't beat to shit

240 that isn't beat to shit

Ford Ranger with topper

2nd gen Legacy wagon

3rd gen Legacy wagon

Chevy Astro awd

Wagons are great because you can plaster the rear side windows with stickers of the super sick places you ski, your favorite beers (even if you don't drink), a pro legalization sticker or two (even if you don't smoke), and every fucking ski brand you can get your hands on. You can sleep in all of these, but even if you don't you still have to tell people you do because you must be the smelliest dirtiest ski bum in your school.
 
13517008:AlsoKnownAs said:
Damn!

HAd it out there all last season lol. Had a job at vail line up and would have been leaving in a week or two but turned it down for an east coast gig because I love ice.

Getting a subie in CO for a good price might be tough. I was going to go out early september for some music but got really sick. Planned to list the car I had just bought for cheap for a couple k more in CO on craigs, and try and sell it and fly back. Probably would have gone too but I didn't make it out of NY that week
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Damn dude bad timing! it's so hard to find a deal on a subie out here cause everybody wants em
 
13517031:TheRealPuffDaddy said:
Damn dude bad timing! it's so hard to find a deal on a subie out here cause everybody wants em
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Yeah I know. There are a TON of them in the northeast always up for sale. If you get something out there and pay $$ for it regardless, look into somewhere away from the snow like NM and try and get something without any rust.
 
I picked up a 93 Rodeo for 750 and its going into its second winter. Been a good lil truck, looks great, 4x4 and 5speed. Toyotas and Subies are great but you'll pay a premium. There are lots of other good vehicles you can get way cheaper than the more common ones. 90s cars are way easy to work on compared to stuff 2000 and newer. Also, you can never go wrong with any GM with the 3.4l or whatever V-6 from that era. I've had a few cars with that motor and they've all ran forever. I'm definitely partial to small SUVs or trucks, they really work so well for gear hauling and road trips.
 
PathFinder. My buddy has one and we've literally wrapped it doing 60km, pulled it out and kept driving. Reliable as fuck, so much fun to drive in snow and plenty of room for gear and sleeping. Not amazing on gas but if you're driving just try and get gas pitch.

His was a 2000 and I know people who have various gens and love them.
 
Old jeep Cherokee. Very good in the snow, cheap and easy to find on local craigslist, and they are very reliable. My buddy has one with 365,000 miles and it still has the original engine!
 
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