Used medium car or suv

[paulsharvey]

Me and my wife have started looking for something to replace her 08 impala. We are looking in the $12-16k. It turns out we forgot a credit card payment in March and our credit dropped 150 points... so now we are much more limited then we expected. Bank can't finance older than 2009. Prefer low miles like 60k, but maybe go 100-110; want to be able to get 5 years from it at 20,000/year or so

Needs: pretty basic; ok 22+ mpg,
Wants: RWD, 3rd row, tow package good for around 4000 lbs

Considering:
dodge charger
Jeep grand cherokee
Jeep patriot
Nissian pathfinder
Chevy Impala
Dodge Durango (price...)


Any thoughts, problems, ect

 

[4570Man]

What are you towing? I can say from experience a trailer that weighs 4,000 pounds tows way better than a bumper pull camper.

 

[paulsharvey]

Would be landscape trailer and odd car dolley, no 16 ft equipment trailers or campers

 

[MossRoad]

Any Impala built since about 2000 only has about a 1000# towing capacity.

 

[prichard]

Our 4 runner handled the landscape trailer fine. IIRC it was rated to 5500 even with the v6. But never got over 21mpg.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Check Carvana out of Atlanta. They probably deliver free to FL. Plug in your price range and see what pops up.
www.carvana.com

 

[not2old]

I don't know what the newer ones are like but I was very impressed with my daughter's 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado with 4.0 6 cylinder motor. She recently had a new radiator installed at 240,000 kilometers. This is the very first repair to this vehicle other than tires, brakes and a battery.

 

[paulsharvey]

Any Impala built since about 2000 only has about a 1000# towing capacity.

I have a Toyota highland that can trailer, but not very well, so that why I list it as a 'want'.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a Toyota highland that can trailer, but not very well, so that why I list it as a 'want'.

If you want an Impala, I'd go with a 2011, 2012, or 2013. They are well within that price range. All of them in those years only came with one engine option, a 300hp aluminum v6 dual overhead cam gasoline direct inject engine with 6sp automatic transmission. We have a 2013. It is ridiculously overpowered for a "rental car", yet it frequently gets 31mpg on the highway at 70mph. People laugh when you say Impala and power in the same sentence.... go test drive one at a used car lot. Its faster than a 67 shelby mustang gt500. No foolin. It has tons of room for 4 people, 5 if one's a kid (6 if you get a police car with a front bench seat). The trunk is huge as well. There is the base model, the LT model and the LTZ model. Ours has 58,000 on it. The only problem we had was the sensor that determines the amount of alcohol in the gas (its a flex fuel capable car) went bad under warranty. It told us it had water in the fuel, but it was just a faulty sensor. They also continued that model for fleets (rental cars and cop cars) into 2014. The next generation of Impalas in 2014(except the fleet model) are much nicer in fit and finish, but they might not be in your price range for another couple years.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Congrats on your 08 impala lasting this long. I got rid of mine in 13, it was not a reliable car.

 

[paulsharvey]

I test drove an 2011 Dodge Durango 3.6L V6. Had around 78,000 miles, and although the it's more than I want to spend, at $17,500, I think it's doable. Wife is going to test drive it Saturday, and we will see. I think it's perhaps the most versatile choice for us.

 

[aczlan]

Look a the Lambda platform (GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Buick Enclave) for a Durango sized SUV (3 rows of seats) or a Theta platform, (Pontiac Torrent, Saturn Vue, Suzuki XL7, GMC Terrain, Cadillac SRX) for a smaller one (some don't have a 3rd row)).

On the import side, you might look at the Hyundai Veracruz(3rd row), Santa Fe (no 3rd row) or the Volvo XC90 (3rd row).

Aaron Z

 

[prichard]

My wife has had a Durango for about a year now and is very happy with it. Her only complaint is she didn't get the Hemi. Not that the car lacks power but she misses her Hemi. In fact I'm out of town this week and she's been driving my 1500 with Hemi and is threatening to not give it back.

 

[paulsharvey]

We bought the Durango. It was a bit more than we wanted to spend, but wife loves it. It was $17,500 for 2012 Durango with 78,000 miles. Factory tow package, fairly basic but nice interior. 3.6L V6

 

[prichard]

Congrats on the new car. Like I said my wife is very happy with hers.