Most Affordable & Reliable Toad Vehicle

[propjet]

I am in the same boat, except I HAVE to have 5 seatbelts! I am absolutely mind blown that a 4 door Jeep circa 2007-2012 with 200,000 miles is still able to get $10-15K.... A 4 door jeep with 100,000 miles is pulling down $20 GRAND!!! WHO is paying these rates? You can buy a brand new 4 door jeep sport for $30k, why would you spend 20K on a 12 year old vehicle with over 100k miles?

Anyway.. I like the jeep for a toad, but I am not sure I can justify the prices they are demanding.

The key for my request is LOW MAINT! Is there a 5 seat toad out there that does not require unhooking batteries, pulling over and running the motor every hour, or vehicle mods?

Thanks

[HamboneTHW]

Originally Posted by propjet

I am in the same boat, except I HAVE to have 5 seatbelts! I am absolutely mind blown that a 4 door Jeep circa 2007-2012 with 200,000 miles is still able to get $10-15K.... A 4 door jeep with 100,000 miles is pulling down $20 GRAND!!! WHO is paying these rates? You can buy a brand new 4 door jeep sport for $30k, why would you spend 20K on a 12 year old vehicle with over 100k miles?



Anyway.. I like the jeep for a toad, but I am not sure I can justify the prices they are demanding.



The key for my request is LOW MAINT! Is there a 5 seat toad out there that does not require unhooking batteries, pulling over and running the motor every hour, or vehicle mods?



Thanks

Wranglers hold their value extremely well. You could look for a grand Cherokee. That would work well for what you’re looking for.

[BJohnsonsv]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Have you confirmed in the owner’s manual that your Fiesta is flat towable?
Automatic or manual transmission?

I bought a "19 Ford Fiesta (ST) - manual trans - specifically because they ARE flat towable. States it in the manual.

I assume "17 manual trans are the same (the vehicles didn't change much).

[avfordguy]

You can go to www.fleet.ford and get any model year towing guide. I tow a 2002 Ford escape 4cyl 5 speed towed it for 30k miles no issues ,it has 160k on the odo, ice cold air, p/w p/s promote locks, mine is a rare socal unit no rust looks like new. Barely weighs in at 3000 lbs

[RV2traveler]

Originally Posted by mailfored1

Watch a utube series that use a earlier model Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute. I don't know the details 2/4 wheel, Man./Auto, but they tow 4 down. Also, read that the 6 cy are the way to go. Anyone have experience with going with one of these? Shallow pockets work with this option and very low towing weight. I have seen them for as low as $1600, and if you go with the Mercury, the option get nice.

For automatic transmission 2wd I recall 2009 as being the first model year that could be flat towed. The 2009, 2010 & 2011 Ford Escape were advertised as being flat towable then that option was gone sometime in 2012. The TSB's related to this also refer to the 2012 model year though so maybe it was a mid year change.

There seemed to be many reports of transmission failures. Some folks burned up multiple transmissions. The primary causes were reported to be exceeding the 65mph limit or too much transmission fluid in the transmission. It would foam up and spew out resulting in a burned up transmission.

There was a new transmission dipstick kit as a fix for some units.

I've had a 2009 Escape 2wd automatic since early 2009 and have flat towed it about 8000 miles in the last two years. I also flat towed it back in 2009 before we knew about the problem. I think I was very lucky that it had the correct amount of transmission fluid in it from the very beginning. If you check it cold you'd think it was empty.

Transmission fluid should be checked when hot (185F to 200F in these models) and that is where it gets difficult or confusing. A short drive doesn't get it any where near hot enough. If you get it hot enough and check it the fluid level will still look very low but that is the current recommendation if flat towing.
TSB attached: Ford-TSB-11-07-15.pdf

[Kahoona]

We have towed a Honda Civic for many years without a problem. Way more reliable than the motorhome. Ours is a 1997 and still going strong. We may replace it with a small Jeep just to get off road ability. Don't know if the newer ones can go 4 down. Ours is an automatic and it needs to be in neutral with the key in first position.

[Bill 3rd]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Have you confirmed in the owner’s manual that your Fiesta is flat towable?
Automatic or manual transmission?

We have a 2017 Fiesta SE, it is flat towable in either automatic or manual. The towing setup is in the owners manual.

[whalepirot]

Originally Posted by propjet

I am in the same boat, except I HAVE to have 5 seatbelts! I am absolutely mind blown that a 4 door Jeep circa 2007-2012 with 200,000 miles is still able to get $10-15K.... A 4 door jeep with 100,000 miles is pulling down $20 GRAND!!! WHO is paying these rates? You can buy a brand new 4 door jeep sport for $30k

We bought an ex-rental fleet '19 Cherokee T-hawk for $23800- total; 22k miles; a year old. 2 years of Mopar warranty left and extended not too pricey from various online dealers.

Most dealers suck, including the largest one in Mo. and another in ID Falls.

I could sell it tonight and make a few thou, but we like it. Some older Cherokees are well under $10k, but I cannot attest to the ownerships costs.

[msaffa33]

We just bought a 2005 manual Scion XA as a Toad.. 2340 pounds. 81,000 miles

[larrys111]

We tow a Kia Soul stick shift and we love it. Great car and has a ton of room, much more than you would think from looking at it. There's a reason you see so many of these everywhere.

[szakaluk]

Toad - Get any Subaru Forester Manual Shift 2015 or older.

[jryan39]

I have a 40' ft Newmar Canyon Star and have a 2004 Pontiac GrnadAm GT. Gets great mileage and tow 4 down. Its light and has a complete Blue Ox system.

[robisinwa]

Mini Cooper... manual transmission and FWD is towable with 4 wheels down. <Doesn't> require the key in the ignition for the steering to be free, doesn't record miles while towed <doesn't>make us stop every so often to run the engine, and its light weight and yet roomy to carry a few things inside of it.

[mvglorioso59]

I have a 20 foot car hauler. Enclosed. I have four different cars that I like to take with me. It was about an $8000 investment. It weighs about 3400 pounds and the car is a total weight of about 4500 to 6000 max. It’s easy to back up and maneuver, and it protects the car. I recently purchased a collapsible Knagacruz golf cart that fits in the trailer with my Infiniti QX 70. I’m sold on the car hauler.