As some of you guys know, my RX-7 is up for sale as my family has gotten larger (with the introduction of 2 German Shepherd puppies + my 1 year old German shepherd) and it's time for an SUV. I am looking at mostly 1996-2001 models of GMC Jimmy/Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, and the Nissan Pathfinder.

What I've found so far is that the Nissan doesn't quite stack up to the other 3 and is known to have more major issues as well so I'm leaning more towards the domestics. I'm looking for input from owners of these vehicles within those years so I can have a better idea of what I'd want. Positive and Negatives about vehicles as well as "known issues". Your help is greatly appreciated.

P.S. I'll trade my FC if anyone is up for it =).

 

http://www.carsurvey.org/

I usually refer to this site, as it has many reviews from actual owners. I wouldn't take their words as stone, but it's generally gets good points across.

 

Jeeps for the win, here is how I get my family and large dogs around.



Also another option you should look into is a 99-04 grand cherokee, I have one of those as well and it has lots of room in the back for dogs and is absolutly awsome in snowy winter driving when equipped with the quadratrac II system. It is hard to beat the old straight 6 engine for reliability and these can be picked up for fairly cheap with lots of options.

 

Okay so I've been looking at Toyota 4runners as well and I've narrowed down to the Jimmy/Blazer or 4runner so if anyone has experience with either one, I'd like to hear about it.

 

get a 4runner

 

I have an '01 jimmy 4x4 in good shape, new tires, etc. that needs a trans. I'd trade it for any working rx-7 or sell it for what it's worth in scrap.

 

I also have a Jimmy. It's a 97, leaks fluids, needs some work. I doubt you want it. However it does have 326K on it and still starts and idles nice, so that says a lot for the engine durability. I have a friend out in Winnipeg that has had one for years and it's a great truck. Room for your dogs, decent power as long as you keep the tire size close to stock. Looks great with a mild lift.

 

chris if you need some parts for it send me a PM. I'm probably going to scrap mine just because I don't want to bother fixing it. I want a diesel 4x4.

 

Picked up an SUV and it was none of the above mention lol.

 

so what did you get?

 

2009 Tahoe PPV

 

a bit of an upgrade from what you were looking at. Cool truck, i've never been a gm guy, but i haven't been in their new vehicles. Now you'll have to keep your 7 since you'll need what it's like to drive close to the floor now

 

Still selling the 7. It's a nice truck but being a PPV, it's making me think about other options before the snow hits. I'm giving it a week of use before I decide otherwise.

 

4 Runners have TERRIBLE rust issue on the trunk. Water seeps through the window and rots it from the inside. Jimmy's and Blazers that I've dealt with have had really bad electrically probs. My bet, get a Jeep. Btw I got a 2004 Kia Sorento for sale 83000km. Pm me if your interested.

 

If I didn't drive a land rover, I'd drive a toyota. But it depends on what you are doing with it. If your booting around town, anything will work. If your thinking of hitting the trails, avoid anything American made. The new wranglers are well built but the engines are out of a minivan. I've dragged so many out of the bush with connecting rods sticking out the side of the block. The new engines are supposed to be good though, but I haven't heard anything yet.

 

I still have my two FC's but to fit my two children and 3 dogs, I have a 2011 Kia Rondo... 3 rows that fold if need be and tons of head room!!! Not to mention that a 2.4L I4 is much cheaper on gas than a V6......

 

For work, I needed something with a little bit more ***** than an I4 =/

 

04 Kia Sorento V6, 83k and rear seats fold down. Just sayin :P

 

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer LT 4200

 

Pretty much. I'm surprised the Pathfinders have a bad rep. With the X i'm on the Canadian Nissan Truck Club site and there's many Pathfinder owners, but the only real problem with them is that they're starting to rust, just cosmetic, but mechanically they're beasts. I can only say there's a strut tower recall on the 96-04 Pathy. I remember the Tacoma's had a huge recall on rusting frames on the 96-04. The only thing I can say bad on the Nissans would be the fuel economy. The 96-04 Pathys (R50) is a unibody, but after that, they fortunately went back to a full frame. A buddy from the club has one with a mild lift on it, looks so much more aggressive. If i needed a family mover, it would be one of those!



Than I've got my good friend Rod and his Solid Axle Swapped R50. The only time he workes on it is on his modifications, lol. Truck used to belong to his mother-in-law!





I was considered a Yota, but if it wasn't for their hefty price tag...

Myself, when I'm not riding low and fast, I'm high and mighty, heh.





With everything she's gone through, i've only had to replace the steering box because it was leaking and she needed a new exhaust. Killed a starter an an alternator from mud, but can't really blame the truck for that. The Xterra is known for cracking the exhaust manifolds, my passenger one is cracked, but it'll stay like that forever. Personally, it's an excuse for headers

 

I knew a guy with a loaded Jimmy/Blazer; in the shop regularly for a minimun $1000 repair.
I drive a Honda Pilot; only complaint is that it sucks gas...but I also have a rotary, so what else is knew.
I have heard praises (and never complaints) about the Pathfinder. I also like the Infiniti QX4.

Good Luck with the Tahoe.