highcountry

Hello all, hoping to get some input and experiences on a decision I am trying to make. I live about 5 miles up a dirt road which is pretty good and heavily traveled (relatively), but gets really bad potholes and washboard for large parts of the year. My Dodge takes the abuse like a champ. However, my wife drives an old subaru that gets the snot beat out of it. The time has finally come to get rid of that and get her something new.

We are torn between a crossover type suvs which get decent mileage (20-25 mpg) and drive really nice on pavement and a truck based suv like an xterra or 4runner. I worry that the fancy interiors and car based chassis will take a beating like the subaru. I am leaning towards a truck based suv because it seems more suitable to daily use on a rough road, but you take a significant hit at the gas pump. We can both live with the less refined ride and handling.

I am just looking for a reality check. Am I off base thinking that a truck based suv will be enough more durable in the long run to justify the added fuel cost? Keep in mind that we are not talking four wheeling, and the subaru gets where it needs to go well enough (although the added capability of a truck would be nice), but the subaru chassis is a constant maintenance headache (bearings, bushings, and alignment mostly).

Thanks for any input!

Jason Foster

If cost isn't much of an issue, I think that Jeep is still offering a CRD liberty. That would be a good choice. They get about 30 mpg and are pretty rugged.

Jason Foster

However, if you want to make your wife really happy, get an ultra smooth Infiniti FX model.

chipmonk

if vehicle price is an issue, the jeep patriot can be had for less than 20k, gets around 30 mpg, and is pretty impressive.

GEJim

Check out the Hyundai Tucson. One of the best vehicles I've owned for cummuting. Good ride, low cost, 24 MPG, roomy, and a high safety rating.

PistolWhipt

I just picked up a new Toyota FJ Cruiser ..... and love it !!
The gas mileage isn't the greatest (18-20) but it WILL stand up to the roughness.

Good storage room, full time 4WD (in the 6 spd standard), rear locker (std feature), rubber floormat (carpet is an option ).

I highly recommend them.

PISTOL

12valve@heart

From what I've seen, it may not be style of vehicle so much as quality of vehicle that you need to look at. I have a friend who lives down a similar road although not as far. He's had several vehicles that started falling apart because of the pot holes and washboards but his last vehicle that held together was a Honda CRX and when he had an accident in that, he bought a Honda Accord because he feels that the Honda holds up to the rough roads better than most others.

YMMV

Redleg

Chaikwa and old dog can attest to my roads. 4 years with a camry and I was finally installing struts and bearings at about 192,000 miles. My neighbor has been driving a highlander on those roads for 2 years now without a single repair. Both get great mileage. I feel anymore, the parts are only upped in size for the proprtionate weight of the vehicle, not for any extra durability. I'm driving a grand cherokee on the same roads and with high, but fewer miles, it's already needing chassis parts. Don't get me started on the blazer with those roads. A buddy has also been haveing good luck with a pilot on bad roads. The road commissions here had the budgets cut to nothing the last couple of years.

bhuffstutter

Nissan xterra with the offroad package has a good ride on ruff roads with the bilstein shock and bigger tires. The gas milage is not that great but it has nice power to do what needs to be done and it is cheaper than the Toyota FJ.

Outrider

Why not a full size jeep?Big enough for the kids and dog, decent millage.

ofcmarc

I had a Saturn VUE that I really liked for what it was. (I also lived in the sticks when I had it) Decent power, good milage (30+ on th highway), AWD and zippy on the highways . Never had any suspention problems or other mechanical prob for that matter. Fit an finish wasn't high class but not poor either.

Mexstan

Nissan xterra or better still a Pathfinder.

Fronty Owner

X2.

I have an 06 X S package 2wd.
While its not setup for offroad, it will run dirt roads and county roads comfortably. My wife drives it to take the kids to school and purely city driving, stop and go, warms it before going outside when its cold, its getting 13 to 14 mpg with the 4.0L V6.
Driving highway, I have seen as high as 24 mpg. 22 to 23 is more typical.

highcountry

Thanks for all the input (and so many 1st gen owners too)!

Unfortunately there is no Honda dealer within an acceptable distance otherwise that would be a likely candidate. I have a 92 Accord parts runner that has 200,000 miles and just won't quit.

bhuffstutter, what mileage are you seeing from your xterra? Auto or manual? If the 4wd gets even close to what Frosty Owner reports that is not all that bad. I am sort of leaning that way. The subaru struggles to get 25mpg and struggles up the big passes with anything more than a driver in it.

Thanks again for the input!

Fronty Owner

Here is a chart of my fuel mileage and cost per mile.
I started logging at about 1000 miles. Just over 13500 miles now