New wheels

[Godsmack 361]

Okay guys as you know I am prolly picking up some new wheels here very soon.

I am thinking between 7500 and 11,000 down.

I don't want a vehicle over say 24,000 sticker price.

Wouldn't mind going used, I just want something rleiable and fun to drive.

As of right now its between a brand new dodge Nitro and a used '07 Ford Explorer.

I really want to stay in the SUV market cause the Formula I was looking at is just a tad more rust than I want, and for me its either big or fast.

Lemme hear some opinions at to what to test drive/buy.

J

[pimpedout97x 4]

my friend just picked up an 03 navi, loaded, for 26k, and its got like 25k miles. SO nice....

[Acidburn 10]

you could easily get a 4th gen F-body for that much

[Mark LaFountain 1,054]

you can pick up a used Escalade in that price range too....

[JimJ 11]

A Nitro isn't an SUV, it's an oversized minivan.

For that much, I'd look into a used LR Defender, but that's just me

[Godsmack 361]

If I got an F-body it would be a 3rd gen only.........its location, location location for vehicles I know.

J

[Godsmack 361]

And BTW what makes u say oversized Mini-Van?

I haven't seen one in person yet tho....

J

[Acidburn 10]

And BTW what makes u say oversized Mini-Van?

I haven't seen one in person yet tho....

J

because there's nothing sporty, or utilitarian, about them

[Godsmack 361]

HMMM guess I'll have to test drive one/see it in person...............

From what I have heard tho they do ride REALLY nice and have some good acceleration.

J

[///M5 2,833]

You will change your mind on the Nitro.

06 Trailblazer SS would be my pick. By the time you get back there should be one available for near 24k.

[Godsmack 361]

July?

And hmmmmm.

J

[helotaxi 46]

The Nitro is just a reskinned and slightly stretched Liberty. My Liberty was quite capable off road and would easily break the rear end loose. I still wouldn't call it "sporty" though.

If "sporty" and "utilitarian" were the requisites that SUVs had to fit into, I can really only think of 3 vehicles that completely fill that bill: SRT-10 Ram, Silverado SS and Ford Lightning. There in everything but the utility part would be the Jeep SRT-8. Everything else is going into the big minivan category.

I drove a Mazda CX-7 and was pretty impressed with its performance. Its a lot roomier on the inside than it looks from the outside, too. Even decent on gas. Price is right in your ballpark.

[Godsmack 361]

Right now what what recently happened with my ex, I'm prolly just gonna buy like a 97 pathfinder or something for like 3 grand.........cash situation got kinda fudgeed up for the moment.

J