What type of SUV should my GF get with a budget of 15k

yodaman88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Location
Wilmington, North Carolina
Looking for a replacement SUV for my GF. She just totaled her 2006 Liberty and she loved it. I did not however because I didn't like all the little issues it had(mopar quality), and I was recommending a 4runner or highlander only because I know toyota and reliability go together. I don't know the newer SUV market as well, so looking for some recommendations. I also don't know what year ranges I should be looking at. I just literally got the phone call from her dad telling me it was my job to find her the car and he is going to pay for it. He told me the budget is 10-15k.
 
What's important to her? Fuel economy, reliability, off-road capability, style? Obviously none of those we're priorities with her previous ride... :lol:

Personally, I've been itching to buy a V10 TDI Touareg. Fuel economy is decent, but reliability probably not so great. Features, price, and power are way up there though.

We just sold my wife's 08 4runner with 120k miles a couple months ago for $17k, but there are a lot to be had for cheaper than that. I'd recommend the 4.0 v6 if you go that route, as it has plenty of power and ok fuel mileage. Other than batteries, it required nothing in the 4 years we owned it. Put anything other than a Toyota battery in it, and it will be fine.
 
LBarr2002 said:
Tahoe, yukon, suburban...
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Yep. I've always loved Toyotas and jeeps, but the 99+ GM selection is the best bang for the buck any day. For $15k you could find a mid to late 2000s Denali easily.
 
Who is going to be working on it? Is that a factor?
Also - does she want a big, "real" SUV or a more modern thing that is an SUV in name only?

I'm a Toyota fan too, but you'll be looking at an 8+ year old one w/ a lot of miles.

Personally we have loved our Nissan Pathfinder. For $15k you could probably get a '12 model, the last before they changed he body style over to the newer unibody that is more car-like.
 
My buddy has an 07 4runner with a little over 300k on it. It's probably the most reliable thing he's ever had. It needs a torque converter now because it shudders when it locks up sometimes, but it still works.
 
This is a biased post...and just because it’s been a topic I’ve been researching...but for $15k you can buy three 2010ish, 150k mile Ford Edges, that are probably a little roomier than the Liberty.
 
XJsavage said:
Yep. I've always loved Toyotas and jeeps, but the 99+ GM selection is the best bang for the buck any day. For $15k you could find a mid to late 2000s Denali easily.
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This ^^^^^
 
UTfball68 said:
This is a biased post...and just because it’s been a topic I’ve been researching...but for $15k you can buy three 2010ish, 150k mile Ford Edges, that are probably a little roomier than the Liberty.
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Fords suck, admit it.
 
UTfball68 said:
I buy and drive everything. I give credit where credit is due and don’t play the blind brand loyalty game.
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Lighten up Francis, just talking smack. In case you hadn't noticed.
I currently own the following.

2008 Chebby 3500 Dmax crew cab dually 4x4. Lmm engine, bone stock trailer pulling horse with 110,272.2 miles.
Original owner.
2000 Z71 excab sb with over 300k miles.
Original owner.

And my favorite by far is!

A 1998 Toyota Avalon wit over 2 hunna and fiddy thousand miles that i bought from @72Rockcruiser 's Dad!
Best damn thing i've ever bought.


And my rig is a yj with an LS-1 and tons if that matters to yer Royal Highness.

Paul...
 
Paul said:
Lighten up Francis, just talking smack. In case you hadn't noticed.
I currently own the following.
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No, I hadn’t noticed, and frankly didn’t matter. It’s the internet...I don’t take any of it seriously. Was merely making the statement that I don’t get caught up by the badge. They’ve all been co-collaborating with design and R&D since the beginning, and these days, they’re all designed to fail transportation.
 
I would vote for a 4th or 5th gen 4runner. I have owned many of them, and they are in my opinion the best built suv you can buy. (Other than a land cruiser)
 
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My wife drives a 2006 Lexus GX470 with the 4.7 V8. She has owned it for about 6 years and it has been really reliable and she loves driving it. So for 15k you should be able to get a lower milage one.
 
I’ll stand by my suburbans and say possibly the best suv ever made! 15k you could find a Yukon 5.3 for that and have money left over considering mileage on it but, I’d make damn sure dealer lets you take it for a weekend to test drive or tell them your gonna make a long day trip out of the test drive to make sure no hidden gremlins are going on.
I almost bought a 05 Yukon for 10k 3 years ago with 148k miles and one rust spot perfect interior and bells and whistles, I kept it for roughly 8 hours driving it which they agreed with me on and found after it got to running temp and 200 miles downcast the road, trans has a slight slip so I backed outcthe deal and bought my 99 2500 burb for a easy 1k... but there’s tons of newer nicer ones out there still low miles and worth every penny! My next ride will be a 01 burb with 8.1 bc I like working for gas!
You’ll never have to worry about gettin our in snow never worry about enough room either but not all people can drive a 16’ suv! Just my .02 I bought my woman a 08 liberty and returned it within 24 days bc of sunroof leaks Trans slippage and heater core bad it had 56k miles on it...
 
Not related but am I the only dude that thought......"call dad back. Your not married that's your job."

Unless your like engaged or seriously headed toward marriage and the vehicle becomes your problem.



But on a serious side.....staying closer to the Liberty size?......and I like different.
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Forester
VW Tiguan
Toyota RAV4
 
2010-11 Honda Element
12-15k Should get you a clean low mileage example loaded with AWD.
Since you mentioned reliability.
Size of driving and parking would be about the same vs throwing her into something much larger
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Not related but am I the only dude that thought......"call dad back. Your not married that's your job."

Unless your like engaged or seriously headed toward marriage and the vehicle becomes your problem.



But on a serious side.....staying closer to the Liberty size?......and I like different.
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Forester
VW Tiguan
Toyota RAV4
Click to expand...
I sure did!!!
 
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