What's A Good Suv For Around 15K

[iseekool]

Hi SAU,

Need your opinions.

Shopping around for a small to medium SUV for the Mrs, she prefers to be higher up, and we also need space for future kids.

Our range is around 12 to 15k, but happy to stretch the budget if the vehicle is good.

I'll be doing all the general maintenance and upkeep, so highish (circa 200,000km) milage isn't really an issue, obviously the lower the milage the better.

What we are looking for:

- Little higher than a normal car's ride height.

- Preference to a diesel, but not overly fussed if the vehicle is right.

- Decent on fuel.

- Must be automatic.

- AWD, for boat ramps and regular snow trips.

- Safe

- Reliable

- Not older than early 2000s

- Must be capable of towing a small trailer/boat/jet ski.

- Easy to use around town ie. parking

I've been looking around and have come across two very polarising cars, that we seem to like - but not dead set on.

Mercedes ML270 5cyl diesel and Toyota Caldina ST-246.

Not in a major rush as she is still learning to drive. Planning to buy in roughly 12 to 14 months - this gives her time to learn and for us to save up and prices to come down.

Open to everyone's suggestions.

Cheers

[SMOKEYV35]

A mate of mine just bought a ml 270 CDI - he knows nothing about cars so I looked over it for him. It wasn't a bad machine, pulled ok, brakes were really strange - apparently vacc assisted, but feels like you're stepping on a sponge. I would just worry about cost of repairs, although strangely, from the research i did for him they say the diesel is far more reliable than the petrol.

I'd stick to Japanese at that price range though. Pajero, Prado....or is that too big?

[Adriano]

200kw rav 4

[10 4]

X5 diesel.

Also anything euro = ebay UK for parts..

[GTR-N1]

I drove the Mitsubishi Airtrek the other day.

It's not able to be complied - yet - but if they can sort out emissions...

You'll see plenty of these higher than normal, auto box wagon EVOs running around - AWD of course!

Tis the weapon you and your wife are after.

It was nimble with a great no-lag takeoff. It changed gears on cue. It's a great competitor to the STi Forester that you can't get here unless it's a personal import. Iron Chef has one of those F/S but I think it's a manual anyway.

An EVO auto wagon that's higher than usual? If its compliable by the time you want it, it ticks your boxes.

[gtr jet]

Would it also tick the price box?

[Seano350GT]

i was also thinking a rav 4, but i don't beleive there's a diesel option at least in the early models.

[Carbon 34]

Nissan xtrail cheaper to buy and more of 4x4

M series merc in that price parts insane cost

nissan murano first years - my mom has one and never misses a beat except o ring leak on oil cooler and she drives the hell out of it , very nice suv

Toyota but hard to find cheap

Stay away from jeeps and

Chrysler - junk

Bmw parts $$and not the best dependability

any ford- gm full size but parking will be impossible and suck fuel like a split open oil tanker

[eightsixboy]

The best advice I can give to anyone buying a car no matter what it is is to stay the fark away from euro trash. I see the problems they have everyday and I wouldn't wish a vw/audi or any german car on my worst enemy.

Stick with a Lexus or Toyota, cant go wrong.

[Seano350GT]

Yeah as Troy says don't even think about a Jeep my god they are buckets of shit

also another thing troy says i agree on is the X-trails but i can imagine something for around the sort of money your wanting to spend is going to be very early 2000 model and more than likely have 100,000+ km's. I've had a few come through work they do seem to be very good on fuel (diesel) and cheap to run/maintain.

Rav4 (if diesel compatible) or X-trail would be probably the best 2 cars in that price range your gonna get.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Seano350GT

[10 4]

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/bmw-x5-2003-14209336?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=0&eapi=2&__N=1246%201252%201247%201282%204294967079%204294966834%201216%20937&num=15&silo=Stock&Range=Price%3aMin%2c20000~1&sort=default

haters gonna hate

[Easto]

Mitsubishi Challenger PA

I recently bought one on LPG it is bloody awesome I got the LS model with 110000 kms on the clock(03 model). For lower models in earlier years you can get em for round 8k (approx 200,000 kms) it gets about 400km to the tank 60L and 50L of LPG gets around 320kms.

All power options and so cheap to buy only thing is the 3L petrol motor but it still tows the 31(with trailer 2 tonne) just a tad slow uphill

These are so good and so cheap and still have a good offroad capability.

If u get one there is still a rebate for the lpg kits, 1k i think all you need to get is a spare wheel carrier.

Screw diesel! LPG/dual fuel all the way

[AngryRB]

BMW X5, look like very good value, theres a big power V8 version which apparently goes very well for such a heavy beast.

[iseekool]

Thanks for the advice guys. I can see the value of a Pajero/Prado (especially the Pajero - lots of kit for a great price with lots of change left over) - however she still thinks they maybe a bit too big and a guzzler - considering the vehicle will be in the urban area for most of the time.

I also rather like the xtrail diesel on it's capabilities, value and size - as much as I'm a nissan fan, looks wise - it doesn't do it for us - however that will be on the list to consider as it seems to meets all our requirements.

Yeh - Will be staying away from American cars though eg. Jeep etc.

The euro makes definitely gets her excited though, in terms of looks and obviously the badge (Though I prefer Jap for reliability/cost of parts). How are the X5 diesels for reliability and self service?

Will have to read more into the Mitsu Airtrek. RAV4 seems pretty good too.

[Seano350GT]

Do not get a Pajero if you plan on towing anything reasonably heavy - they do not have a full body chassis like most cars. The towbar is actually connected to the body by about 35 bolts. Jump under one and check it out, you will find yourself bending the body of the car after x amount of towing km's. Not very good for the car. But for a vehicle that is in the same market i would strongly recommend going for a 120 series Prado. Turbo diesel. only problem is your not going to find one for 15k unless it's the early 03 models with 200+ km's.

[God_speed]

09 X Trail ST Diesel Auto, bit leggy for its age, 100,000km, $18,450. 2 litre, 320Nm, slow (12.5sec 0-100) but averages 8.1L/100.

Has Bluetooth / MP3, stability control, 8 airbags, cruise, and more of a proper 4WD than the RAV or CR-V (can lock in 4WD mode with the X-Trail)

http://www.carsales....ock&sort=~Price

I think you'll find the X5s in this price range, while a nice unit to drive, are going to feel a bit long in the tooth and the bills will start adding up. They're also quite heavy at about 2 ton and that means brakes will need doing more often etc. Apparently they also had a few turbocharger issues.

Based on SUVs in this size category, for the 2009 model years, CR-V, RAV4, Sportage, Mazda CX-7, BMW X3, and X-Trail had fewest owners reporting faults, in that order. At the opposite end, models with the greatest number of owners reporting faults were LR Defender, Renault Koleos, Grand Vitara, Audi Q5, Captiva 5, Ford Escape and LR Freelander. Forester and Outlander were in the middle.

[SMOKEYV35]

E53 x5's have their issues.

Cooling system mostly, but same problems that plaque the e39 5series as a rule.

The V8s are howlers but they will do around 20L/100km round town and on top of the cooling woes get issues with oil leaks in cam covers and valleys, plus timing chain issues.

Steer clear of the straight 6 - although a good motor, underpowered for a car of this size and will net you similar economy to the v8 anyway. If my e39 530i msport felt slow, I imagine the same engine in a car this size would be dismal.

The diesels are the pick, and do about 9l/100km, but as with any diesel, any repairs when they do have to happen will not be cheap. Add a euro price tag and it can be rather daunting.

Still, a 4.8is is on my bucket list. Nearly bought one before this car, went as far as getting an LPG kit quoted up ($5k for vapour injection and hidden tank)

G

Edited February 16, 2013 by SMOKEYV35

[God_speed]

either 4.6is or later facelifted 4.8is would be fantastic, sound awesome with an eisenmann exhaust or similar

Smokey, the E39 530i sport would still be a great ride; shorter diff ratio would have made it a bit perkier than the std 530, no sports car, but great all round package. I have considered a 540i M sport many times but they are hard to find with low miles.

[SMOKEYV35]

Yeah - my plan was to buy a black 4.8is, big exhaust and number plates 'PANZER'.....

The 4.6 is actually a stroked 540i motor hand built by Alpina, it is supposed to be as quick as the 4.8 with a much better sound track, but the parts are very expensive and applicable to that model only so you're guaranteeing yourself a bad time if things go wrong.

Don't get me wrong, the 530 Msport was great, but as a daily driver, reliability issues were starting to concern me. Sold up and bought Jap again. Have yet to be let down by a jap car.

Back OT!

[10 4]

Parts for my euros are only more expensive than skyline cause so many people crash skylines... eBay UK/US ftw, srsly.

Edited February 17, 2013 by 10 4