I live in the Greater Toronto Area, looking at buying my first SUV.
After monitoring used car listings extensively over the last 6 weeks
I've decided that an Explorer, with an outside chance of a Pathfinder,
is my best bet give my $10,000 CAD limit. 4Runners, Xterras and CR-Vs
depreciate too slowly, and with the exception of the 4Runner I'm not
expecting either of the later models to have the storage capacity I
require. 1994 4Runners are running for $10k, where I can find some
good Explorers as late as model year 2000 in that range.
I anticipate the Explorers to have less quality and higher maintenance
costs over the long term, but given their residual purchase value
(plus what I perceive to be biased knocks against the vehicles
quality) I think an Explorer is my best bet. Two close friends have
late 90s Explorers (one a 1997 XLT w/ 250,000km on it!) with the worse
repair being a water pump, a good sign to me. I'm aiming for a 4-door,
automatic, 4x4, XLS/XLT/Eddie Bauer.
My question is, I've narrowed my search range down to four years. I
know 1997 is a new model year (with the new V6 engine), so I figure a
1998 or 1999 is my best bet since the 'bugs' would be ironed out. Is
this a safe bet? What would people recommend based on their
experience? is there a 'lemon' model year?
After monitoring used car listings extensively over the last 6 weeks
I've decided that an Explorer, with an outside chance of a Pathfinder,
is my best bet give my $10,000 CAD limit. 4Runners, Xterras and CR-Vs
depreciate too slowly, and with the exception of the 4Runner I'm not
expecting either of the later models to have the storage capacity I
require. 1994 4Runners are running for $10k, where I can find some
good Explorers as late as model year 2000 in that range.
I anticipate the Explorers to have less quality and higher maintenance
costs over the long term, but given their residual purchase value
(plus what I perceive to be biased knocks against the vehicles
quality) I think an Explorer is my best bet. Two close friends have
late 90s Explorers (one a 1997 XLT w/ 250,000km on it!) with the worse
repair being a water pump, a good sign to me. I'm aiming for a 4-door,
automatic, 4x4, XLS/XLT/Eddie Bauer.
My question is, I've narrowed my search range down to four years. I
know 1997 is a new model year (with the new V6 engine), so I figure a
1998 or 1999 is my best bet since the 'bugs' would be ironed out. Is
this a safe bet? What would people recommend based on their
experience? is there a 'lemon' model year?