Vehicle for mountain life?

freewillie

freewillie

Member
Looking at purchasing my first vehicle...I was looking at mini trucks, specifically a nissan hardbody (d21). Thinking a mini truck because being able to just put a tailgate pad on and throw my bike in without dicking around with a rack is attractive. I am assuming that the bed is also big enough for a couple pairs of skis. I think the 4cyl for sure bc I also commute like 50 miles a day for school.

Anyone have any experience with the nissans? Also looking at late 90s early 2000s ford rangers and nissan frontiers. I am trying to pick something up for around $2500 bc I want to leave room for a set of tires.

Any input is appreciated
 
Nissans are pieces of shit. especially in those age ranges.

How do I know?

I'm still driving a 2000 nissan maxima.

Find a Toyota.
 
13717715:CaptainObvious. said:
Nissans are pieces of shit. especially in those age ranges.

How do I know?

I'm still driving a 2000 nissan maxima.

Find a Toyota.
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bunch of people in my fam have died in yotas, I would love to get a taco but me mum wont have it...
 
13717718:freewillie said:
bunch of people in my fam have died in yotas, I would love to get a taco but me mum wont have it...
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Then go subie. Or go Volvo. Or if you're lucky find a Jeep Cherokee when it had the straight six in it.

The years and price you're looking at are when those three companies (and toyota) were building tanks.

Don't, for the love of god, go nissan. Your $2500 will compound in six months.
 
In that price range just get a 200k mile Subaru Outback, Impreza outback, or forester. Change the timing belt, water pump, idler pulley, and your good to go.
 
13717723:CaptainObvious. said:
Then go subie. Or go Volvo. Or if you're lucky find a Jeep Cherokee when it had the straight six in it.

The years and price you're looking at are when those three companies (and toyota) were building tanks.

Don't, for the love of god, go nissan. Your $2500 will compound in six months.
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From the research I have done people say that those nissan hardbodys are invincible. I really want to be able to carry things separate from the cabin, which is why the mini truck is so attractive. I will look a little deeper into the subi market, I have done a bunch of research on the 2 series volvos, but the lack of awd/4wd is a bit of an issue for me. I will keep your warning in mind tho
 
13717732:MIHoodlum said:
In that price range just get a 200k mile Subaru Outback, Impreza outback, or forester. Change the timing belt, water pump, idler pulley, and your good to go.
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Then you can replace everything else as it all starts to fall apart!

Save up a couple thousand more OP and buy a decent vehicle or you all you will be doing is sticking money into parts. If you do find something in that price range, look over it like a hawk, bring it for a nice looooonnnngggg test drive and ask about any repaires done.
 
13717741:freewillie said:
From the research I have done people say that those nissan hardbodys are invincible. I really want to be able to carry things separate from the cabin, which is why the mini truck is so attractive. I will look a little deeper into the subi market, I have done a bunch of research on the 2 series volvos, but the lack of awd/4wd is a bit of an issue for me. I will keep your warning in mind tho
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Didn't know what you were talking about so I googled "Nissan Hardbody" . Images that came up look just like the 1995 Nissan pickup that I used to own. Mine was a 4 cylinder 2wd. Not invincible, mine was totaled in a low speed crash. The body and frame are actually really thin, basically no side impact protection. It ran great and got ok mileage but got quite squirly on snow and ice. Thing was also easy to steal too which happened to mine once. I guess there aren't that many Nissan/Datsun keys out there. One time my Dad borrowed his coworkers Nissan and went out to the lot and accidentally drove off in another coworkers Nissan.

I replaced that truck with a 4x4 Ranger that I still own. Way nicer truck but kinda sucks on gas. It has way better traction than the Nissan did but sucks compared to my Forester. I'd get snow tires for sure if I had to rely on the Ranger as a ski car.
 
13717745:OregonDead said:
Didn't know what you were talking about so I googled "Nissan Hardbody" . Images that came up look just like the 1995 Nissan pickup that I used to own. Mine was a 4 cylinder 2wd. Not invincible, mine was totaled in a low speed crash. The body and frame are actually really thin, basically no side impact protection. It ran great and got ok mileage but got quite squirly on snow and ice. Thing was also easy to steal too which happened to mine once. I guess there aren't that many Nissan/Datsun keys out there. One time my Dad borrowed his coworkers Nissan and went out to the lot and accidentally drove off in another coworkers Nissan.

I replaced that truck with a 4x4 Ranger that I still own. Way nicer truck but kinda sucks on gas. It has way better traction than the Nissan did but sucks compared to my Forester. I'd get snow tires for sure if I had to rely on the Ranger as a ski car.
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Yeah defiantly looking into rangers too. The nissans I am looking at are 4x4. Your experience is quite worrying to me about the integrity of the frame/body.
 
Does it really fucking matter with a budget of $2500? Isn't your only criteria options are 1) does it have 4 wheels 2) does it start ?
 
13717754:McNoche said:
Does it really fucking matter with a budget of $2500? Isn't your only criteria options are 1) does it have 4 wheels 2) does it start ?
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I feel like thats a rule of thumb for a 500 dollar budget. I say 2500 bc I am expecting to have to pay about 600 all in for new tires and an other 500-1000 for misc repairs
 
I've been trying to decide between a Toyota Tacoma and the outback. Several pros and cons for both.
 
I just got an outback, and it's perfect for what you described. They're awesome cars, and can haul a lot. Hard to find one that cheap though.
 
13717755:freewillie said:
I feel like thats a rule of thumb for a 500 dollar budget. I say 2500 bc I am expecting to have to pay about 600 all in for new tires and an other 500-1000 for misc repairs
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.......I think you might need to rethink expectations. Anything under $1000 I would not expect to run. $1,000 - $2,000 would be "It starts, but before you drive it, there are some necessary repairs". $2,000 - $3,000 would be "Yeah it runs, but it's got boku miles on it so there's no guarantee you won't need to spend a grand in six months".

If you scrape up another 2k, and buy in the $5,000 range you can probably find a "Yeah, she runs great. Just got some repairs done and should go for a while before anything else is needed."
 
13717956:CaptainObvious. said:
.......I think you might need to rethink expectations. Anything under $1000 I would not expect to run. $1,000 - $2,000 would be "It starts, but before you drive it, there are some necessary repairs". $2,000 - $3,000 would be "Yeah it runs, but it's got boku miles on it so there's no guarantee you won't need to spend a grand in six months".

If you scrape up another 2k, and buy in the $5,000 range you can probably find a "Yeah, she runs great. Just got some repairs done and should go for a while before anything else is needed."
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didnt Garrett russell buy his subi for like 400? It shouldnt be that hard too find a fairly dec ride in the 2-3g range in my opinion...idk where you live but if I go to the portland craigslist and make my max price three grand, there are tons of what appear to be alright vehicles. That being said, most are 100,000+ miles, thats why I have been looking at the nissans, people say they have seen those trucks go beyond 600000 miles. Now that I have though about it tho, I dont really want to die so I think if I go the truck route I will go american.
 
13717947:JayRich said:
I just got an outback, and it's perfect for what you described. They're awesome cars, and can haul a lot. Hard to find one that cheap though.
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Yeah, both my parents actually own obs, my mother owned one first, and they liked it so much that they just got another one...tbh I was kinda thinking I could do something different to expand our vehicular horizons, but an older ob or ob sport looks like a good option.
 
13717956:CaptainObvious. said:
.......I think you might need to rethink expectations. Anything under $1000 I would not expect to run. $1,000 - $2,000 would be "It starts, but before you drive it, there are some necessary repairs". $2,000 - $3,000 would be "Yeah it runs, but it's got boku miles on it so there's no guarantee you won't need to spend a grand in six months".

If you scrape up another 2k, and buy in the $5,000 range you can probably find a "Yeah, she runs great. Just got some repairs done and should go for a while before anything else is needed."
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13717960:freewillie said:
didnt Garrett russell buy his subi for like 400? It shouldnt be that hard too find a fairly dec ride in the 2-3g range in my opinion...idk where you live but if I go to the portland craigslist and make my max price three grand, there are tons of what appear to be alright vehicles. That being said, most are 100,000+ miles, thats why I have been looking at the nissans, people say they have seen those trucks go beyond 600000 miles. Now that I have though about it tho, I dont really want to die so I think if I go the truck route I will go american.
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Really, I guess I expect repairs at that price, I guess my top end would be around 4 or 5 thousand, I just feel like cars even in that price range are going to need repairs and I really wouldnt want to spend any more at that point
 
13717963:freewillie said:
Yeah, both my parents actually own obs, my mother owned one first, and they liked it so much that they just got another one...tbh I was kinda thinking I could do something different to expand our vehicular horizons, but an older ob or ob sport looks like a good option.
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Oh damn, I see why you want a different car then. Haha my next suggestion would be an old taco, but then I read the comments above.
 
Get a Mini truck they are super cool.

1969Minipickup_01_700.jpg
 
ultimate ski trip vehicle...

[img=]http://www.actionmobil.com/images/galleries/4achser/desert-challenger/01.jpg[/img]
 
Any subie wagon is great for mountain life (except for a crosstrek, no trunk space). the AWD is amazing, they handle really well, are reliable, and you can easily live out of something like an outback or forester for a while, and maybe an impreza wagon if its a shorter trip. They're seriously underrated for what they can do.
 
13717715:CaptainObvious. said:
Nissans are pieces of shit.

Find a Toyota.
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okay you want to take this guys advice but not because of his reasoning. Nissans are actually not pieces of shit, at all. d21s are reliable if it's not molested, have enough power to have fun, and are cheap as fucking shit to work on because its the same engine as a 240sx lol

they typically have way less rust than any toyota you'll ever find from the same year, and a decent running one is actually in your price range.
 
13718198:supermagician__ said:
okay you want to take this guys advice but not because of his reasoning. Nissans are actually not pieces of shit, at all. d21s are reliable if it's not molested, have enough power to have fun, and are cheap as fucking shit to work on because its the same engine as a 240sx lol

they typically have way less rust than any toyota you'll ever find from the same year, and a decent running one is actually in your price range.
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wait, so are you saying that you think the d21 is a good idea or not? As I said above, Toyota is out of the question bc I dont want to be disowned...
 
13718204:freewillie said:
wait, so are you saying that you think the d21 is a good idea or not? As I said above, Toyota is out of the question bc I dont want to be disowned...
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yeah, I'm saying for your price range its probably your best bet. and they're fun to drive, just find a 5 speed and your set!
 
13718204:freewillie said:
wait, so are you saying that you think the d21 is a good idea or not? As I said above, Toyota is out of the question bc I dont want to be disowned...
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Wait. The most solid, reliable truck/suv option (Taco or 4runner) is out because some family members died in that particular brand of vehicle? Was it Toyota's fault? I'm not trying to be insensitive and I don't know the circumstances, but it seems weird.
 
13718308:saskskier said:
Wait. The most solid, reliable truck/suv option (Taco or 4runner) is out because some family members died in that particular brand of vehicle? Was it Toyota's fault? I'm not trying to be insensitive and I don't know the circumstances, but it seems weird.
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Seriously, those vehicles can go for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I'm another person in the Taco/4runner/Older Tundra camp.
 
13718308:saskskier said:
Wait. The most solid, reliable truck/suv option (Taco or 4runner) is out because some family members died in that particular brand of vehicle? Was it Toyota's fault? I'm not trying to be insensitive and I don't know the circumstances, but it seems weird.
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13718336:.MASSHOLE. said:
Seriously, those vehicles can go for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I'm another person in the Taco/4runner/Older Tundra camp.
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I dont really know but thats pretty much the deal. My mom wouldnt let me, and her family would all lose their shit probably. Ik a taco is prolly safer than a d21, but me mums a little strange so I just gotta go with it in hopes of ever getting a vehicle ever
 
13718336:.MASSHOLE. said:
Seriously, those vehicles can go for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I'm another person in the Taco/4runner/Older Tundra camp.
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let me guess, 4runner
 
13718198:supermagician__ said:
okay you want to take this guys advice but not because of his reasoning. Nissans are actually not pieces of shit, at all. d21s are reliable if it's not molested, have enough power to have fun, and are cheap as fucking shit to work on because its the same engine as a 240sx lol

they typically have way less rust than any toyota you'll ever find from the same year, and a decent running one is actually in your price range.
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Nissans are pieces of shit. Statistically the most catalytic converter issues by about 50%. And replacing a cat is minimum $750. Not to mention the remainder of their emmisions issues. They're notorious for blowing O2 sensors and also notorious for throwing knock sensor codes even when nothing is wrong. Their radiators are also almost guaranteed to blow right at 100k miles.

they also have huge fuel pump issues. Granted, maybe they've fixed shit. But you have no idea how much research I've done surrounding late nineties/early 00s nissans and yes...they are definitively pieces of shit.
 
13718415:CaptainObvious. said:
Nissans are pieces of shit. Statistically the most catalytic converter issues by about 50%. And replacing a cat is minimum $750. Not to mention the remainder of their emmisions issues. They're notorious for blowing O2 sensors and also notorious for throwing knock sensor codes even when nothing is wrong. Their radiators are also almost guaranteed to blow right at 100k miles.

they also have huge fuel pump issues. Granted, maybe they've fixed shit. But you have no idea how much research I've done surrounding late nineties/early 00s nissans and yes...they are definitively pieces of shit.
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We have different meanings in reliability. Changing a fuel pump isn't that big of a deal on any small pickup truck. I wasn't talking late 90-early 2000's either, so i'm not even fully sure why you're telling me that they're pieces of shit.

I know piles of people who have had these trucks and absolutely love them, and ratbag the absolute piss out of them and they won't die. Who gives a fuck if you're throwing codes in a little pickup from the 80's anyways, the amount of abuse these things can take is just dumb
 
The nissans are fine if its desiel. The td27 are pretty solid. They are everywhere in my country. Just got to keep up with servicing every thing every 5000kms and they go forever. Me brother has one for a hack. Turboed it and wound the desiel up. Goes like a champ. In my experience everything breaks sooner or later. Just learn to fix things your self and you will be all right. And in the end of the day the best things about cheap cars is not giving a fuck and thrashing them and having heaps of fun.
 
13718374:McNoche said:
let me guess, 4runner
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sheesh man. did some dude with a 4runner steal yo girl?

Anywho, I have an 03 outback and she does everything i ever needed, even tells 12 im a boring pussy who doesn't need to be pulled over.

One issue: Ladies. I can't keep em away when they see me rollin in my rusty white, no tint, japanese station wagon. Its been really hard to get anything done lately. As soon as they find out I drive an Outback the panties drop, dude, I'm tellin you. My advice: socks and sandles sometimes helps to fend them off (doesn't always work).
 
13717713:westcoastkush said:
[img=]https://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/12/23/10/32/1990_ford_aerostar_3_dr_xl_passenger_van_extended-pic-20258-1600x1200.jpeg[/img]
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Came here to post this. Any AWD van for that matter.
 
i got a black 98 ranger and it is the illest thing ever. great mileage, can take it through just about anything, fun as fuck to drive and drift on snow, cheap to repair (parts everywhere), and it looks like its ready to romp all day every day. you could spend the extra money on a tacoma, but rangers are just fine imo.
 
13719095:mcnamarskiez said:
i got a black 98 ranger and it is the illest thing ever. great mileage, can take it through just about anything, fun as fuck to drive and drift on snow, cheap to repair (parts everywhere), and it looks like its ready to romp all day every day. you could spend the extra money on a tacoma, but rangers are just fine imo.
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4cyl or 6?
 
I have a 2010 Audi A4 Avant and a 1997 Lexus LX450 (Toyota Landcruiser)

My A4 is my daily driver and I drive it to school and ski with it. The Lexus is a beast and is at 280K miles (purchased at 60K). Really cheap to maintain. I use it as a beach car and I drive it during blizzards.

The A4 has a 2L turbocharged straight 4cyl and the Lexus has a 4.5L straight 6. An outback would probably be cheaper and more practical though...
 
find an old 4runner or tacoma with a 22re 4cyl engine, will run forever and you can find one with lowish miles for around $2500. i drive a 3.4l tacoma sr5 with 200k and you wouldn't guess its over 50k on the clock
 
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