Cache-Car 2002... or recommend me a small truck...

July 28, 2002

I have been shopping for a cache vehicle for several weeks now... Actually, I've been looking for a little SUV for a while now but being out the few times I have changed my criteria... My Stealth has no room for my bike and gear, can't handle dirt roads at all and gets really bad gas mileage... plus I'm paranoid about it getting broken into...

Looking for...

1) Small. My covanents require that vehicles be parked in my driveway, and I need to be able to get my car around it everyday. Plus I prefer smaller vehicles... hence no large Ford trucks...

2) Gas Mileage. I get 12mpg now... 25+ sounds good to me

3) Cheap

Right now I'm looking in the realm of...

Geo Sportage (downside: small motor, pluses: great gas mileage, built fairly well...)

Mitsubishi Montero (downside: not great mileage, pluses: more power, built like a small tank...)

Isuzu Trooper (downside: falls over at times, pluses: large interior, can haul lots of stuff...)

Opinions?

Oh yeah, if you happen to have any of these vehicles for sale near me, lemme know...

Contents Under Pressure...

July 29, 2002

I just bought a Jeep Liberty and I am more than impressed by it. I can cruise down the back roads smoothly. It rides very nice, in fact it rides smoother than my car. I had to use the 4WD this weekend on a cache. My MPG is just slightly over 18. The price I paid was around 21K, but you can get them for less if you dont get some of the options. The turning radius is very tight and I have no problem parking it.

Team BPACH..We dont know where we are going, but we know where we are.

Are there caches in Heaven? If not, I dont want to go.

July 29, 2002

I have been looking into one of these myself, great fuel economy, it comes in 2 sizes, 2 or 4 wheel drive, good dround clearance, moderately priced, check it out. My family drives mostly toyotas and the are really dependable transportation.

July 29, 2002

Although I am new to geocaching I am a veteran to the great outdoors. I am currently on my 3rd Subaru and have always found myself very well with them. I take them through pouring rain, foot and a half of snow, ice, creeks, mud, dirt... you name it. I have never gotten stuck once (knock on wood). My current Subaru is a '96 Legacy L, before that was a '91 Loyale, and before that an '83 GL. If you want a little more kick, go with the Outbacks, but in all honesty, the standard versions have always suited me fine.

July 29, 2002

Look at a KIA

9.2k · July 29, 2002

I have been caching in a sports car for two months now. Wimpy wimpy wimpy. Have been thinking of buying a cache car, but a little bit bigger than the original poster describes. It needs to be a four-door. Must handle rutted dirt and gravel roads in summer, mud in spring and snow in winter. Suggestions/testimonials for larger SUV's would be appreciated.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Daddy, are we there yet? No, .17 to go. Are we there yet? No, .16 to go....."

July 29, 2002

quote:
Isuzu Trooper (downside: falls over at times, pluses: large interior, can haul lots of stuff...)

I drive a '98 Trooper & love it! The rollover stuff was fixed by Isuzu in '97. I carry ALOT of gear when caching (wagon, stroller, diaper bag, caching backpack...) & have plenty of room to spare.

I hear lots of people like yellow jeeps too!

Fairy tales & happy trails help old women stay young.

July 29, 2002

quote:
Isuzu Trooper (downside: falls over at times, pluses: large interior, can haul lots of stuff...)

I drive a '98 Trooper & love it! The rollover stuff was fixed by Isuzu in '97. I carry ALOT of gear when caching (wagon, stroller, diaper bag, caching backpack...) & have plenty of room to spare.

I hear lots of people like yellow jeeps too!

Fairy tales & happy trails help old women stay young.

July 29, 2002

Have you considered the Honda CRV, you can, as the literature says put 2 mountain bikes in without taking them apart. They also have a movable rear seat and lots of storage cubbies.

Binrat

"Blood is thicker than water.......Unless the water is frozen!"

July 29, 2002

I like my Explorer SportTrac for caching. I got 4-doors for hauling people during the week, and a pickup bed for carrying my mountain bike/cacheing gear/fishing gear on the weekends. Plus it has the ground clearance and a true 4 wheel drive system. Check out www.mysporttrac.com.

July 29, 2002

I use a 1989 Suburban 1/2 ton 4X4. You can pack a lot of stuff in one of these. Last weekend we went camping, loaded every thing inside including a kayak. Didn't have to tie anything down, just throw it the back. I think it gets about 12 mpg.

Alan

July 29, 2002

I use a 1989 Suburban 1/2 ton 4X4. You can pack a lot of stuff in one of these. Last weekend we went camping, loaded every thing inside including a kayak. Didn't have to tie anything down, just throw it the back. I think it gets about 12 mpg.

Alan

July 29, 2002

'97 PAthfinder. Decent mileage, room for four (five if they are really friendly). Quite a bit of room and with the optional box on top more room than you can shake a stick at! Also, you can use the hitch to add a bike rack or stick them on the roof...

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

July 29, 2002

'97 PAthfinder. Decent mileage, room for four (five if they are really friendly). Quite a bit of room and with the optional box on top more room than you can shake a stick at! Also, you can use the hitch to add a bike rack or stick them on the roof...

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

July 29, 2002

consumer reports rated it one of their top 10. AWD great car..nuff said!

July 29, 2002

I keep thinking a Rally Car would make the best caching car.

The WRX has a turbocharged flat-four engine with 227 horsepower and four wheel drive. They also make it in a wagon.

Car and Driver Top 10

July 30, 2002

Xcelent cache hunting mobile

sorry its alittle big

1.4k · July 30, 2002

UPSIDE: Cheap. Small. Tough. Easy to work on. Easy to drive. Very simple. 2WD. All-steel body. Doors lock.

Downside: Right hand drive (but it is cool). Sometimes parts are hard to get. ALL parts are available bu mail order. My max MPG is 20.99.

Mike.

Mike. KD9KC.

El Paso, Texas.

Seventeen minutes after her FIRST call for help, police officers arrived to find Ronyale White dead.

Prohibiting self defense is the ultimate crime. Police carry guns to protect themselves. What protects YOU ???

July 30, 2002

An old Justy. Small. 45-48 mpg. perfect caching car. Not 4X4. Not necessary. My Justy is usually the ONLY car at high Sierra camp grounds. The SUV crowd hates it. The Jeepers cringe. They say it makes them look bad that I am able to drive nearly any place they are! My response? It's not the car - its the driver!

Seriously, the older Subaru Justy's are an awesome little car!

July 30, 2002

AND - I picked up my Justy in Colorado for $50. I put a new motor in it for $550. And have travelled between there and California 5 times since and logged 30,000+ miles on dirt roads. A full set of new tires for the vehicle mounted and balanced is $150 or $180 with the mud and snows.!

July 30, 2002

Shopped all the small SUV's and found the Scubbie the best bang for the buck. Looked at Saturn, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki. Subaru wins, IMHO. AWD, ABS, LOW center of gravity with good clearance because of the boxer engine, great air conditioner and heater and gives me about 25 MPG. I thought they were expensive but when my neighbor traded in his 12 year old Subaru for a new Forester, I got to looking a little closer. Got a better price than an equal Honda CR-V.

Steve Bukosky N9BGH

Waukesha Wisconsin

July 30, 2002

check this out and pettition GM to go into mass production, it has a built in removable GPS... which would be great for those, "on the road" caches.

http://www.gmcanada.com/english/gminnovation/conceptcars/concept-borrego.html

3.4k · August 1, 2002

Geo Tracker 4WD. Short wheel base, lightweight but lots of power in tight spots. High and low transfer case. Turns on a dime.

I have one, 137,000 miles on her and still going strong.

This car has been in some amazing places! (Up the back-side of the Panamint Range into the high reaches of Death Valley, Calif).

She hasn't failed me yet. I took out the back seat for more room for camping and photo gear and ammo boxes full of goodies. :-)

August 3, 2002

If you are just looking to get down dirt roads get a CRV, or RAV. Most SUV drink to much gas.

I think either a Nissan Exterra or Jeep Liberty would be good of geocaching on mild off-road trails.

One thing to consider when going to less traveled non-maitianined roads is how to get out if you have a problem.

If you want to get to the really farout:

Jeep, no substitute. Sorry for the size.

August 3, 2002

It can't go everywhere, but just like the Justy guy said, I've had it places that made people shake their heads. The driver makes a big difference and that front wheel drive can pull you through a lot of places that a rear-wheel drive can't. When I was building my house, I called it my pickup-car. The guys at the lumber yard were amazed at what would fit into/on it. I've taken four people with full backpacks in it. I've also driven 650 miles to the Bowron Lakes in British Columbia with two 16' canoes on top. They hold up real well too. My 1986 pickup/car survived 40k miles from a 16-year-old son and was still going strong at 208k miles when I replaced it with a new 1995.

August 3, 2002

quote:
Postal Jeep....

UPSIDE: Cheap. Small. Tough. Easy to work on. Easy to drive. Very simple. 2WD. All-steel body. Doors lock.

Downside: Right hand drive (but it is cool). Sometimes parts are hard to get. ALL parts are available bu mail order. My max MPG is 20.99.

Right hand drive is a downside? Having your passenger read a newspaper and then watch people do a double take as you drive down the road is worth it!!! 15T

Think Globally, Act Locally

August 4, 2002

I got a 93 Asuna Sunrunner. It's the tracker now, but she got all the guts I need to get me where I need to be, 4 wheel drive for when the road disappears, good center of gravity and a surprising amount of back space if you flip the back seats down.

I got the rag top so some of the time I go topless. And she's good on gas too! Now, I spent 3 years in the middle east learing how to drive in some of the worst terrain imaginable, so I am pretty proficient with a 4x4, if you are new to it, then something more beefy like a jeep might be easier for you to get in and out of. She's got more room to her as well as HP and space. Also, any jeep more than 5 years old should be able to be had for a fairly reasonable price.

Just my 2 cents

Dirtrunner.

August 4, 2002

I love my jeep but wouldn't recommend if you are wanting decent gas milage, I usally get about 13mpg. A stock jeep like mine will get better than that but nowhere close to 25 mpg like you wanting. The Jeep Liberty would probably do better.

I think trellan's justy sounds like the winner for you.

1.4k · August 5, 2002

quote:
Right hand drive is a downside? Having your passenger read a newspaper and then watch people do a double take as you drive down the road is worth it!!! 15T

You should see the looks my 170 pound Great Dane gets when he sits on the L/S seat while we are moving. The police stopped me one day, wanted to know who was driving. It IS a real blast!!!

Mike. KD9KC.

El Paso, Texas.

Seventeen minutes after her FIRST call for help, police officers arrived to find Ronyale White dead.

Prohibiting self defense is the ultimate crime. Police carry guns to protect themselves. What protects YOU ???

2.5k · June 12, 2003

June 12, 2003

Nice UNIMOG cachew nut!

I prefer the early to mid 90's Suzuki Samurai, before they changed the body style to the newer rounder look. Parts are cheap, they are rock solid, easy to work on, can drive on and over everything and are fairly fuel efficent.

I also like the fact that if I drive it over something and the undercarriage gets scraped or torn up or the trees scrape along the side I don't feel to bad. The Samurais' also have a soft top so you can cache with no top.

Don't Drink And Park: Accidents Cause People.

2.5k · June 12, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by Micqns':
Nice UNIMOG cachew nut!

Wish it were mine Here's a nice pinz for when 4 wheels are not enough:

2.5k · June 12, 2003

or this one even...

5.3k · June 12, 2003

The ultimate cachemobile:

The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle (Stripes, 1981)

"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand."

20.7k · June 12, 2003

As much as I love my Grand Cherokee, the gas mileage is bad. I would recommend a regular cherokee with a few miles on it. The mileage is better, you can find them cheap, they are pretty reliable and parts are plentiful.

I will admit that I drove a hand-me-down escort wagon for a few years in college. I put that car through hell and it kept puttering along.

I can't believe anyone admits to driving a Subaru Rusty.

June 12, 2003

I love my 2002 Nissan Xterra, but great gas mileage it does NOT have! That being said...before you buy anything, check with your insurance agent for coverage prices...all of these vehicles mentioned vary dramatically...example...the Toyota RAV 4 is great...gets great reviews etc....except for one thing....it doesn't have a rear bumper...so rear enders are very expensive...thus higher rates in most places...Consumer Reports points this out in their reviews..too...if mileage isn't a BIG issue...the Xterra is perfect! IMHO...

Never say Never...Never say Always!

June 12, 2003

Have to agree with Spongebob. I just recently traded my Mitsubishi 3000GT for a Explorer SpotTrac 4x4. I needed something to get me off road... and to haul around all of my toys!

or you could go with a Ferret...

ScubaDewd

June 12, 2003

Do I detect a definite Japanese bias in most of these posts? Except for the Ford Escort, the Jeeps, and the Chevy Subdivision, there seems to be a conspiracy here. Best cachecruisers I ever saw were a Pontiac Grand Am, (High ground clearance, 25 mpg) and an absolulely incredible 1980 Ford Bronco, owned by my friend BCRockcrawler. It gets about 8 mpg, though. Drive Local, Cache Global.

How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

June 12, 2003

Sorry..double post.

1.6k · June 12, 2003

Get a 4 door Suzuki Sidekick, Sport model if possible, 97-98 preferred

These are small, great on gas (25+), very reliable, inexpensive, and have a real 4wd system with a 4-lo transfer case

Check out edmunds.com for DRIVER'S reviews etc...

canadazuuk

June 13, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by Binrat:
Have you considered the Honda CRV, you can, as the literature says put 2 mountain bikes in without taking them apart. They also have a movable rear seat and lots of storage cubbies.

I have to agree, I love my 02 CR-V Click here or here for pictures. I get 22 mpg min. with a lead foot, the turning radius is very small, much better accelleration than a RAV 4 (more horse power and torque too). And the best resale value in it's class.

_________________________________________________________

If trees could scream, would we still cut them down?

Well, maybe if they screamed all the time, for no reason.

Click here for my Geocaching pictures and Here (newest)

June 13, 2003

I have a 1993 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. The only things I have done so far is replace the shackels with longer and stronger Warrior solid shackels and put on some better tires. I have been all over the place with it and in some areas that I wasn't too sure I'd be able to get through. Jeeps are good solid vehicles and they can't be beat for 4WD and all the goodies that you can buy for doing all kinds of modifications to them. They are easy to work on and parts are fairly cheap. The mileage isn't great, I have a 4.0 liter straight-six and an automatic transmission, but I average about 16-18 MPG if I'm not doing a lot of 4-low running. One with a manual-trans 4 cylinder engine would get better milage, but I like having the additional power of the 6 cylinder engine. The only drawback that I have noticed is the comfort, especially on long drives. It doesn't ride as nice as a car and is a lot noisier since I have a soft top, but I expected that when I bought it. If you want additional storage there are a lot of different racks that will bolt on to the back or over the whole top. My next major projects are a winch and a lift kit with bigger tires, after that, some ARB or OX lockers for the front & rear differentials. If you are going somewhere that requires 4WD, I'd recommend a Jeep. Either a Wrangler or a CJ if you want something small or a Wagoneer/Cherokee/Liberty if you want something bigger.

"The best way to accelerate a Macintosh is at 9.8m/sec/sec."

-Marcus Dolengo

38.2k · June 13, 2003

I recently bought a CR-V. Nice, smaller SUV. I'm a bit disappointed in the gas mileage (25 mpg) and range (barely 300 miles on a tank), but I've driven Civics for years and am used to getting close to 40 mpg and over 400 miles out of a tank.

Lot of nice features, well built and some pretty good power for a 4 cylinder. And we got it for $18,000. It was a 5 speed and the dealer was having a hard time getting rid of it.

I actually wanted a 5 speed, but acted like I was doing him a favor.

"Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois"

2.1k · June 13, 2003

If you want value and you want a vehicle that wild the best resale value around, then get a Jeep Wrangler. I have a 2000 Jeep Wrangler and get around 20 mpg. You can buy a bike rack for the spare tire in the back or get a hitch and a hitch mount rack. Plus you can go topless when you want. Doorless when you want. My in laws are nearly 60 and bought one this past fall to pull behind their RV. They love it. Wasn't sure of how they were going to react when I bought mine, because they didn't like my wifes Chevy Tracker that she had bought in '99. But they liked mine. I think it's because her father knows Jeeps dependability and ruggedness. plus when you drive around and see other Jeepers, you have to wave to them, it's the law.

It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.

Brian Wood

Woodsters Outdoors

http://www.woodsters.com

June 13, 2003

I'll put in my vote for a Honda CRV. We're on our 2nd one. The first one had over 90K miles and was never in the shop except for scheduled maintance (tune ups - brakes etc). In fact I've also had 3 Accords and the biggest problem I had out of any of them was a broke AC vent on the dash. Even though I've never driven one, I do like the Subarus - just the closest dealer is an hour away and I can't get myself to buy a car that far away. Our second child is due anyday so it looks like I'll be trading my Mazda pickup for the more urban geocaching vechile otherwise known as the ........minivan

20.7k · June 13, 2003

Do I understand you correctly that you only squeezed 90k out of a CRV? My oldsmobeast was running strong at 200k when I handed it down and bought the wj. If this is the case, I would stay waaaaay away from the honda.

20.7k · June 13, 2003

AR, I assume you bought that new vehicle about ten months ago. What did you choose?

2.1k · June 13, 2003

Looked at the Honda CRV's back in 1998. They weren't right for us at the time, too small and then the quality didn't seem very good for the price they wanted. We looked at the Passports instead, but never could get a price we were happy with. So we went down the road and looked at the Isuzu Rodeos. Ended up buying one of those, fully loaded, for less than 22k out the door with tax tag and title. They wanted about 5k more for the Passport. We went back to the Honda dealership and raised the hood on one of the Passports and it said Isuzu Motors on it. My wife at the tiem was insisting on the Honda instead, because of the name. Once that she saw they were made by the same people and the difference in price, she abruptly changed her mind. It's funny how many other "car makers" don't really make the cars. Like Mazda's trucks are ford rangers. Isuzu's trucks are chevy s-10's and etc...

Brian Wood

Woodsters Outdoors

http://www.woodsters.com

38.2k · June 13, 2003

quote:
Do I understand you correctly that you only squeezed 90k out of a CRV? My oldsmobeast was running strong at 200k when I handed it down and bought the wj. If this is the case, I would stay waaaaay away from the honda.

He didn't say the thing died after 90K. I got 130k out of my first Honda (a 79 Accord). I rarely changed oil (15-20,000 miles between oil changes) and did no other maintenance other than brakes, exhaust and a water pump (which I replaced myself). Paid 7 grand for it and sold it 6 years later for 1 grand.

My next new car was a 87 Civic. I was a bit better with oil changes, but still would go 10k or more without changing oil. Had to replace the exhaust, clutch and brakes. That's it! Traded it in in 95 with 170K+ miles and it was still running well (It might even still be out there).

Then I got another Civic. This one was much worse. I actually had to replace the timing belt along with the exhaust and brakes. It's sitting in the driveway with a "for sale" on it. 163,000 miles, on it and it's only been in the shop for new brakes and exhaust (and some body work after an accident). Still has the original clutch. This thing's just a teenager. It's still running like new and probably could go well over 300K. Regular oil changes certainly help.

The day I find a car that is more economical and reliable than a Honda, I'll buy it, but that ain't happened yet. And the best part, they're made in the USA. Not in Canada and Mexico like Chevy's and other so-called American cars.

"Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois"

2.1k · June 13, 2003

The Honda sedans are great cars.

Brian Wood

Woodsters Outdoors

http://www.woodsters.com

Cache-Car 2002... or recommend me a small truck...

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