Wanted Kids first vehicle (RX300, 4Runner etc...)

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So that unsettling time is fast approaching where I need to get my daughter her first car. Not excited about the idea, but time to get serious about looking. Would like to find something by the end of January.

Looking to spend around $5k - $7k. Most all driving will be local... in Atlanta traffic, so really want an SUV of some sort for the added heft. (I don't need the lecture about high center of gravity etc... I know about it... and still want some weight and metal between my daughter and whatever she ends up hitting someday :D )

Been doing some research and the Lexus RX300 and 3rd Gen 4Runners are coming up winners so far, but willing to look at whatever you might have. Must be somewhat modern according to my wife so 60's and 62's are out as much as I think that would be perfect for her.

Since I'm in Atlanta. Probably not interested in something that will require a grand to ship. Relatively close would be great, but would spend a day driving there and back for a good deal.

Let me know what you have.
 
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Volvo wagon suits your needs- there should be a bunch of clean ones down there- and she'll be able to afford to fill it up-
 
I just went thru this and am only offering advice. In your price range you should find something pretty decent, we ended up with a 2004 Grand Cherokee with 65k miles, perfect shape for $6500. There were alot of Xterras out there also, I was looking for a 4 Runner but they seemed to be very high for their condition so we opened up the search. Good luck....
 
ACURA MDX....find one with a rebuilt transmission(Acura did them for free)

Honda Pilot

Honda CRV

Subaru Forester

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota 4Runner(had one...great truck)

Toyota Tundra
 
just about to start the same search ( for some reason she thought she was going to drive my 40 ). I was looking for a 4runner - ran into the same issue , lots of them out there , too high. I'm gonna check out the Jeeps , maybe a Escape ( kinda small )
 
Also may want to check out the IIHS youtube channel so you don't get anything that may crumple easily. R50 pathfinders are always good 1996-2004, with 2001.5 (iirc) and up having the stronger 3.5 v6. I have a 98 and aside from routine maintenance, it has given me no issues the 1.5 years i've had it.
 
I looked for prolly 3 months and ended up buying from a coworker but we looked at a lot of junk before then. Once you get around $5k+ it gets alittle easier, the Jeep Liberty's are cheap but have some motor issues, I did a ton of reading, the Xterras always seem to be highly rated.
 
I have a kickin vw rabbit GTI for sale....was my first car. Parts are cheap and gets good mileage.
 
Get her a substantial car, such as a Mercedes, Volvo or Lexus. Stability control would be nice, but probably out of your price range. It'd be a lot more fun and affordable to drive, way safe, plus be less susceptable to rollover than an SUV.:flipoff2:
 
Lexus LS400 would be nice...you can get a 99 for around 5k
 
Thanks for all of the ideas guys! Did some searching locally for some of your suggestions. Xterra seems like a good bet, and I'll take a look at the early Pathfinders too. I had one for 5 yrs in the 90's that was flawless.

Don't think the TDI is going to quite fit the bill... I do like those cars though.
 
the early Xterras had issues with the tranny line rotting inside the radiator making the strawberry milkshake, so watch for that. I looked at two that needed radiators but most older trucks need replacements anyways. other than that they seemed pretty good trucks, the daughter really wanted one until she drove the Grand Cherokee which rides like a caddy. Ours is the 4.0 with auto tranny and two wheel drive, gets about 19mpg and feels very solid.
 
fsusteve said:
the early Xterras had issues with the tranny line rotting inside the radiator making the strawberry milkshake, so watch for that. I looked at two that needed radiators but most older trucks need replacements anyways. other than that they seemed pretty good trucks, the daughter really wanted one until she drove the Grand Cherokee which rides like a caddy. Ours is the 4.0 with auto tranny and two wheel drive, gets about 19mpg and feels very solid.
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The jeep thing scares me... but that's just personal experience from the early 90's. Had a Cherokee and it was a nightmare for the 4 yrs I owned it... loved it when it worked which unfortunately wasn't often enough. Tough to get over that, and I know I should because I do hear they've gotten much better. I'll at the very least go out and drive one.
 
I had concerns also about a jeep product but I know the PO very well and he never had any issues and really was up on his maintenance. The only thing i've replaced/fixed were all three sets of struts, hood/rear window/tailgate, less than $100. The 4.0 is pretty proven, it's no Toyota but it's a good solid truck for my daughter plus it hauls her kayak and beach chairs perfectly.
 
SR.GRINGO said:
ACURA MDX....find one with a rebuilt transmission(Acura did them for free)

Honda Pilot

Honda CRV

Subaru Forester

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota 4Runner(had one...great truck)

Toyota Tundra
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It is very difficult to find a good used Subaru Forester. The current owners will not trade the darn things in until they are extremely high mileage.. Subaru owners are a loyal bunch.:)
.....1978HJ45
 
From my two cents as I get what you are dealing with in Alpharetta/Atlanta.

I've known a few people with the first gen xterra's and as they've gotten up in mileage have required a good bit of "maintenance" to keep on the road. None of them are the original owners though so I can't say anything about the maintenance they received for the first part of their life. A lady in my office has just replaced the power steering pump, rear main seal, alternator, etc on hers and she is only at 120k miles the shop is telling her it needs a rearend as well. She paid $4500 for it about 18 months ago and i bet she is at 50% or more of that in repairs and maintenance, hers is only 2wd too. As a 4runner driver and someone who owned a 1990 pathfinder that seems like a good bit of work at a relatively low mileage.

I put my wife in an RX300 in 2004 as soon as we found one that fit our budget that vehicle made it to 190k with us only having to replace 1 coil pack. It was in numerous fender benders and ultimately was totalled in a head-on collision with a saturn vue SUV which my wife and 2-year old son walked away from with ZERO injuries. Needless to say it got replaced with an RX330 that has made it to 165k miles with nothing more than tires, oil changes and brakes. Other than a timing belt replacement at 100k and an alternator that went out kinda randomly. The alternator was under $200 at auto zone and took a couple hours to change in the garage.

I have had 3, 3rd gen 4runners, 1997, 1996, 2001, the 1997 I drove from 100k miles to 175k miles with zero issues, the 1996 I bought with 200k miles, according to the maintenance records it had a flex plate replaced at some point. The 2001 I bought with a bad transmission (no overdrive but shifted through all the other gears fine) it was fine until a salesman at a ford dealership decided to have the ford techs try to powerflush the transmission at 185k miles. I spent $750 for a junkyard 80k mile unit and it has almost 220k on it now with no other repairs, just maintenance.

If you decide what you actually want let me know, you are local and my dad (retired now) was in the used car business for 25 years and still has access to many of the local auctions and wholesale avenues but those guys generally want to know specifics and exactly what you'll take before they shell out their money for something you may not buy.
 
Thanks for the info... I can get pretty specific. I know what I want, just not finding it right now.

Here's ideal... RX300. $5k - $7k. 150k miles or less. White, Silver or Grey (don't think they come in grey, but Kristen wants me to ask :grinpimp:) Mechanically sound... records would be great but I know that's tough in that market. Willingness to get it checked out. (I had one lined up that was a friend of mines and she just got smacked by a pickup. Totaled the car. Both she and her 4YO twin boys were unscathed)

Other options in order... 3rd gen 4Runner, Highlander, Pathfinder possibly. Would really like to stay in the Yota/Lexus family if possible, but not a deal breaker.

PM me your info if you think you can help out.

Thanks!

justinh said:
From my two cents as I get what you are dealing with in Alpharetta/Atlanta.

I've known a few people with the first gen xterra's and as they've gotten up in mileage have required a good bit of "maintenance" to keep on the road. None of them are the original owners though so I can't say anything about the maintenance they received for the first part of their life. A lady in my office has just replaced the power steering pump, rear main seal, alternator, etc on hers and she is only at 120k miles the shop is telling her it needs a rearend as well. She paid $4500 for it about 18 months ago and i bet she is at 50% or more of that in repairs and maintenance, hers is only 2wd too. As a 4runner driver and someone who owned a 1990 pathfinder that seems like a good bit of work at a relatively low mileage.

I put my wife in an RX300 in 2004 as soon as we found one that fit our budget that vehicle made it to 190k with us only having to replace 1 coil pack. It was in numerous fender benders and ultimately was totalled in a head-on collision with a saturn vue SUV which my wife and 2-year old son walked away from with ZERO injuries. Needless to say it got replaced with an RX330 that has made it to 165k miles with nothing more than tires, oil changes and brakes. Other than a timing belt replacement at 100k and an alternator that went out kinda randomly. The alternator was under $200 at auto zone and took a couple hours to change in the garage.

I have had 3, 3rd gen 4runners, 1997, 1996, 2001, the 1997 I drove from 100k miles to 175k miles with zero issues, the 1996 I bought with 200k miles, according to the maintenance records it had a flex plate replaced at some point. The 2001 I bought with a bad transmission (no overdrive but shifted through all the other gears fine) it was fine until a salesman at a ford dealership decided to have the ford techs try to powerflush the transmission at 185k miles. I spent $750 for a junkyard 80k mile unit and it has almost 220k on it now with no other repairs, just maintenance.

If you decide what you actually want let me know, you are local and my dad (retired now) was in the used car business for 25 years and still has access to many of the local auctions and wholesale avenues but those guys generally want to know specifics and exactly what you'll take before they shell out their money for something you may not buy.
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Find a Corolla on craigslist for $1000. Minimal liability insurance. Whatever you get is gonna get wrecked anyway, so think of it as a disposable car.

Did it twice with my kids, no regrets.
 
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