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Car for long drives and gravel roads

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

AnonymousPerson

Okay, I am not a new driver per se, but I am an inexperienced one. And after years of bumming rides and using public transport, I am now in a rural area and need to get my first car. At my current job, I use a work truck for the daily commute, but I need one to run errands, go on trips, and just do anything not work related, and it will probably be a commuter in the future when I get my next job. I move a lot and I would like to go on camping trips, so this thing is going to be on the highway for decent stretches of time. It's an hour to the nearest metropolitan area, to give an idea. I don't need full off-roading capability, just something that can handle decently crappy gravel and dirt road to get to sites. Being a good car camper would be nice, but is not a requirement. It should be able to hold two checked bags, a carryon, and other odds and ends for when I move. Maybe a bike. That being said, I don't want a big behemoth. I'm the only one that is going to be in it most of the time. The locals say it doesn't snow too bad here (Oregon/Washington), but something good for at least a few inches would be best. Also, I grew up without snow really, if that is a factor.

I've ruled out Subaru, the reliability is too sketchy at my price point. I feel kind of like I am trying to find a Subaru that is not a Subaru, essentially. I am looking most at the RAV4, but I am not sure how well it does off pavement. Can mods to vehicles helps? I'm have no maintenance experience, but I am willing to learn to fuss around with it, it is my first car after all, and I don't have much to do on the weekends. I just don't want to put down the money and get trapped at home by a crap car.

Priorities: Reliability & durability / Warranty, maintenance cost / Fuel economy

Need minimum of 4 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 150000
Maximum age: 20 years

Maximum price: US $ 13000

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Response from Member4787

9:42 am September 4, 2019

look for a lexus rx300 or rx350 with a v6. at your price point you'll probably find a 2010 or so. these are very reliable vehicles. my 2003 has 220K miles and very minor issues that i couldnt do myself. it might be difficult to find this in a remote area.

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Lexus RX

Response from AnonymousPerson

12:01 am September 5, 2019

Yeah, there aren't many in my area, and none are right. More common brands would be better. What about a Ford Escape? Someone suggested it to me and I see a few for sale.

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Response from Sea-Dan

5:04 pm September 5, 2019

Actually almost any car, CUV, or SUV with 5" or more ground clearance can handle gravel roads as long as you don't have to navigate major ruts, potholes,. mud/clay/deep sand, nor snow over 2-3". Under those circumstances, no mods should be needed.

I live along the I-5 corridor in W WA where snow is real hit and miss. Some years none, occasionally enought to paralyse traffic (that's anything over 3" here!). When that happens lots of services and business shut down and people just stay home for a day or two till it melts. Lots of AWD rigs here, but definitely not required.

To directly answer your questions:

The RAV 4 is certainly competent for gravel roads & would likely prove quite reliable. IMO your best bet in your price range.

The Escape is a decent vehicle. CR rates the 2012, 2016, 2016, & 2018 as having good reliablity. They ding Escapes for fuel economy for the eco-boost engines, poor overlap crash tests, and somewhat cramped seating. We had a 2004 Mazda Tribute (Escape twin) for 3 years & 30K that was trouble free.

A Honda CRV, Kia Sportage Hyundai Tuscon would also fill the bill

As a 3 time Subaru owner (2004, 2010, & 2015) I wouldn't hesitate to get one of those either. A few Subies have oil consumption & wheel bearing issues, but many go 100K plus without significant problems and total breakdowns are rare. IF they were unreliable they would not be the number 1 car in WA nor have such a high resale value!

Ideally, if your budget permits, I'd try to get a 2015 or later model to get some of the improved safety features that benefit all drivers.

RX300 is certainly a great vehicle tending to be upscale compared to the above. But to get one in your price range will probably mean a model before modern safety nannies were part of the package.

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Response from AnonymousPerson

8:18 pm September 10, 2019

Sorry, a few more questions. I've been really stretching my budget, and it's making me nervous. I'm not sure how much I can talk down the dealers for the two RAV4s I'm looking at. What do you think of the Mitsubishi Outlander or Kia Sorento/Sportage? There isn't much data on the website? Also, Nissan Rogue.

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Response from LectroFuel

1:39 pm September 13, 2019

Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and Honda CR-V should be your best bets in order. The Mazda depreciates quicker (which is good in this instance), and it will likely be about as reliable as the Honda and Toyota while giving you the most for your money. For the RAV4 get a 2009 or newer, I suggest 2013 or newer for newer features. All the Mazda years are reliable. For the Honda, I think a 2012 or newer would be a good idea.

I would say the Hyundai and Kia will likely be about as reliable as the Subaru. Pretty good, but the three I mentioned earlier may last longer. I would avoid the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport. Especially avoid the Nissan Rogue because those have failing transmission as do most Nissans. Ford Escape isn't a great car. The 2.5L engine was decent, but I would doubt the reliability on that car overall.

The Lexus RX is a good car, but I don't see why your first car should be an old luxury car. It is better to get a newer mainstream car like the RAV4.

If you post links to the RAV4 website listings we can judge if they are worthy of buying and how much you should pay.

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Toyota RAV4
Mazda CX-5
Honda CR-V

Response from AnonymousPerson

9:08 pm September 13, 2019

Here are the listings:

https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/rav4/2013/vin/2T3BFREV4DW074829/

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?sourceContext=untrackedExternal_false_0&newSearchFromOverviewPage=true&inventorySearchWidgetType=AUTO&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d306&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity2=&zip=97844&distance=100&searchChanged=true&modelChanged=false&filtersModified=true&sortType=PRICE&sortDirection=ASC#listing=245814504

I hadn't budgeted for the fees or taxes. Rookie mistake, I guess. I could tack on some more, but that would be getting really tight.

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Response from AnonymousPerson

3:50 pm September 14, 2019

Sorry to throw any previous help out the window, you guys have been great. But looking at things financially, I might be better off in a beater. Which drops my budget down to 4000, 5000 with another paycheck. At a bare minimum, I hope the thing can last the six months I'll be working here.

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Response from AnonymousPerson

10:44 pm September 14, 2019

Sorry, I'm so indecisive. Just a spot of trouble getting a loan. It's making me get a bit of cold feet about it.

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Response from AnonymousPerson

8:43 pm September 15, 2019

Sorry if I am posting a lot. But I did some more scrounging around and found two non-Toyotas:

https://www.speckbuickgmc.com/VehicleDetails/used-2011-Kia-Sportage-AWD_4dr_LX-Prosser-WA/3486415273

https://www.mccurleyintegrityhonda.net/used-inventory/detail/Used-2012-Honda-CR-V/1503/5J6RM4H71CL022994

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Response from AnonymousPerson

1:08 am September 16, 2019

It's me. Again. I looked at the approximate trade in values for the RAV4s and realized that I might be able to negotiate more off than I thought. How close to those do you think I can start without getting laughed off?

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Response from LectroFuel

3:06 am September 16, 2019

For the 2013 RAV4, I would start at $11,500 and go to $13,500. For the 2012 RAV4, there is no CarFax so you'll need to check that. I would start at $11,000 and go to $13,000. That CR-V seems very good and has a clean CarFax but there are no pics. It is a fully loaded EX-L. I would start that at $12,000 and go to $13,500.

The Kia is cheaper, but likely won't last as long. That 2.4L engine had a lot of problems and isn't the most efficient. I would get an older Toyota or Honda before that car if you were planning to have it last for as long as possible. If you need a car for 6 months or a year, a beater is by far the best option. In that case get an old Toyota.

https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/west-richland-2003-honda-pilot-exl/6967658120.html

https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/richland-2008-subaru-tribeca/6978909048.html

I looked on Craigslist and these were the only two decent ones I found. The Honda's transmission may go out soon and the Subaru might need head gaskets soon. Whatever you get, get it inspected by a mechanic. If the mechanic approves, it will probably last 6 months with little to no problems. Don't trust the dealer if they say their mechanic inspected it. I feel like the Subaru might be the better choice.

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Response from Member4787

8:13 pm September 16, 2019

go so low as to embarass yourself. then work up from there. research what a rav 4 (choose your year) would go for in your area. keep in mind the lower the mileage the higher the asking price. used vehicles have a whole lot of profit margin for a dealer to haggle with. what i usually do is have a definite price i want to pay. then i go to a dealer with the vehicle im looking for. then after all the sales talk and friendliness i tell the salesman "i am going to make a one time offer" if you take it fine if not i walk. stick to your statement. but honestly i dont spend much time after that. l figure if they accept my price fine. if not i walk. have another dealer to go to and do the same. maybe adjust upward a thousand. of course if you're not that kind of buyer then just go in and pay the price. gerald

ps this has worked for me aover three times

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Response from AnonymousPerson

8:48 pm September 30, 2019

Alright, one last post. I bought a car! It was a RAV4, just not one of the ones listed, but it was a 2011 with only 88K miles and the same sort of clean 1-owner Carfax. I overpayed a bit because they said it was no haggle and being dumb I didn't try. But it was much more within budget anyway. Thanks so much for the help guys!

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Response from Sea-Dan

10:19 am October 1, 2019

Congrats on you choice and decision. Some times it is just so hard to decide on such a major purchase knowing that there is no perfect one. I suspect your RAV4 will be rolling down the Richland roads for a long time.

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