Shopping for a toad

[Selah]

What is the primary use of the vehicle? If it is for boonie bashing then there is not much better than the Wrangler that can be towed 4 down. However they are hard riding, noisy and not suited for day long highway trips. The Cherokee would be more comfortable but less capable in full off road conditions without modifications. The other end of the spectrum is what I have, a Honda CRV. Very comfortable, light weight, good for exploring National Forest roads and such. Not good for serious off roading.
Remember that what ever you get it will most likely be you primary or secondary daily car. Get something you will be happy driving daily.

[Oscar Mike]

Wish me luck, today I am going to cruise auto dealerships I am looking at a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport, a 2011 Jeep Compass 2WD, and whatever else is out there, I think I'll stop by the Honda dealer and look at a CRv. Shopping for a toad is a good problem to have... It would be more fun if money weren't one of my bottlenecks...

[KSCRUDE]

You can't hardly wear a wrangler out. They are very safe in a crash, but rather heavy. They have solid steel straight axles and a full frame. I have a 11 wrangler and we love it. Haul it around sometimes instead of the escape. They reportable have the highest resale of any vehicle on the road. I don't know as I will probably never sell ours. And they can't be beat for 4 down towing or 4 wheeling. And you can't take it with you. You never see a luggage rack on a hearst!

[Oscar Mike]

Originally Posted by KSCRUDE

And you can't take it with you. You never see a luggage rack on a hearst!

Like I told my sons, I hope I spend all of the money I made before I go...

[Oscar Mike]

Originally Posted by Selah

The other end of the spectrum is what I have, a Honda CRV. Very comfortable, light weight, good for exploring National Forest roads and such. Not good for serious off roading. Remember that what ever you get it will most likely be you primary or secondary daily car. Get something you will be happy driving daily.

Which CR-V do you have, the 2WD or AWD?

[Max Hubrich]

I ran across a guy back about 8 years ago towing a Honda car, automatic, 4 down, in a gas station when I stopped to fill up.

I said to him "is that a stick shift?" He said "no, it's an automatic". I said "I didn't know you could do that without hurting the transmission on a Honda?"

He said "I just start the engine and let it run in idle all day"-

True story-

[Triker56]

A Chevy HHR can be pulled 4 down with a automatic. Pull or put a switch on a 2 AMP fuse. And it is ready to go. A lot of used ones around at less then your $15,000 price. Good MPG and a lot of room for storage in back. 3,200 lb.

HHR's for sale near your location

[tompen]

John
Kind of a similar situation with us. We looked at a bunch of older really disappointing Motor Homes before we agreed on one. I had to pay a little more than I wanted to but now I am glad I did. Then we shopped for the TOAD. I wanted to spend as little as possible since we have good cars and probably wouldn't use it for anything else. I was concerned with the weight also. After the research we agreed on a Honda Fit. Up untill 2012 they can be flat towed with AT, and are light enough so I felt I didn't need brakes. We also wanted to get in under the $15K number. We found that they hold value real well. We bought a new 2012 sport model for under $20K. Used ones were $16-18K. My wife drives it all the time now. Saves miles on the Crosstour.
Tom

[Gadget63]

We recently bought our toad after searching and researching a few months. Bought a 2012 KIA Rio 5 door with auto tranny. It weighs in at just under 2600 pounds. Our ACME EZtow weighs 405 pounds. So far with the added 3000 pounds towing, our mpg on the MH is averaging around 7.2 mpg after 700 miles. I am not going to complain with that! The KIA has lots of room and I love the hatchback with all its storage space! As for the mpg with the KIA, after two tanks of gas and mostly rural driving with a lot of idling and stop and go traffic, we are averaging 34 mpg overall. I suspect we will get closer to 40 mpg on the open road.

[TerryO]

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich

I ran across a guy back about 8 years ago towing a Honda car, automatic, 4 down, in a gas station when I stopped to fill up.

I said to him "is that a stick shift?" He said "no, it's an automatic". I said "I didn't know you could do that without hurting the transmission on a Honda?"

He said "I just start the engine and let it run in idle all day"-

True story-

That works fine until... a radiator hose breaks, over heads the engine which then seizes and takes out the trannie anyway :-( Had a friend that had exactly that happen to him. Got to buy a new engine and transmission, nice!

[Oscar Mike]

I am no closer this afternoon, the "right" car just did not jump off the page for me today. I looked at Jeep Wrangler...again, I just cannot get past the $22,995.00 starting point for a Wrangler Sport...A/C, hardtop, and auto trans being the only options gets me to $26,200.00, which the dealer will take to $24,700.00.

I found a Honda CR-V and I was not overly impressed for the money, again the price point is around 22k and up.

I looked at several used cars, a few Jeeps, HHR, Mini Cooper, CR-V, and a few others that ranged from 10k to 18k...nothing impressed me with "buy me" today.

You cannot buy a new car in Clark County, Nevada (Las Vegas) on a Sunday, it is a county ordinance. You can gamble, drink, and raise the roof, but you cannot buy a new car on a Sunday. It makes it nice to cruise dealerships without having pesky sales people around. So we'll go shopping for toads again tomorrow.

We need a car by March 22, 2013 to fit into our travel plans for this year...the clock is running.

[mikeybobob]

don't forget 4X4 pickups...... just put transfer case in "N" and go
i tow a 2001 chevy 2500 HD weighs over 6000#

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by ARTWERKE

Wrangler's about the only vehicle I know you can drive for 5 yrs & sell for just about what you paid fir it.

Ever priced a used CR-V? Around here they're the same way, but you have a hard time even finding them on the used lots.

[Oscar Mike]

Originally Posted by mikeybobob

don't forget 4X4 pickups...... just put transfer case in "N" and go i tow a 2001 chevy 2500 HD weighs over 6000#

My max tow weight is 5,000#, I am trying to keep my tow weight under 4,000#. Jeeps, CR-V meet this criteria.