Older Mini-SUV owners opinions wanted

[Peter Crowl]

Hello,
I'm researching small SUV's as a replacement for my wife's car. We'll
be looking at 98 through 2002 model years. RAV4, CRV, Forester, Grand
Vitara. It will be an automatic transmission model.

When I do a search for reliability, what turns up are threads dealing
with new cars in their respective years. I'd like to hear from people
who've had theirs for some time.

How do they hold up? Can a well maintained vehicle make 130,000 (or
more) miles without a major re-build? Do the bodies retain integrity
or become leaky squeaky boxes?

Basically, after 3 or 4 years--do you still like it and how is it
holding up?

Thanks for any input

Peter

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
It depends how previous owner treat the car. My '98 CRV logged 160K Km
so far. New set of tires, regular oil change, one cabin air filter,
couple air filters, one rad flush and tranny oil flush/fill, one set of
platinum plugs. That's it. Still runs like new, no squeak, rattle.
Now it is about time for new timing belt. My two kids' 2000 Subaru.
Nothing yet. They just run great. Use Amsoil reuseable filters, regular
oil change is all it needed. I put in a set of platinum NGK plugs when
the cars were new.
Tony

 

[MajorDomo]

Any brand sold today can easily go to 130,000, or more,
without a major re-build, when properly maintained. I would
suggest you drive and price all those available in your area,
that suit you needs and budget, then decide which is best for
you. All manufactures make some that are not up to their build
standards so you will hear complaints about them all. The
experience of others with their NEW vehicles would have very
little to do with the condition of the USED vehicles available to
you in any event.

 

[Larry]

3 out of 4 isn't bad......The Suzuki I'd be hesitant to look at, but the
others are all great vehicles in their own right....The Forrester is the
most car-like of the group. I'd say it comes more to finding the right car
at the right price in making your selection.

 

[D H]

Hello,
I'm researching small SUV's as a replacement for my wife's car. We'll
be looking at 98 through 2002 model years. RAV4, CRV, Forester, Grand
Vitara. It will be an automatic transmission model.

When I do a search for reliability, what turns up are threads dealing
with new cars in their respective years. I'd like to hear from people
who've had theirs for some time.

How do they hold up? Can a well maintained vehicle make 130,000 (or
more) miles without a major re-build? Do the bodies retain integrity
or become leaky squeaky boxes?

Basically, after 3 or 4 years--do you still like it and how is it
holding up?

The others here have given some good advice. Our two 99 Foresters have
74 and 83K miles on them. Both run well, burn no oil between changes, are
tight and sound structurally, look good in terms of paint, etc, and still
ride about like new. My wife's does have a noisier engine than mine (the
piston slap/belt tensioner that some here write about), but hers also seems
peppier than mine (only means the tranny/engine communication setup is
slightly different, IMO, and possibly due to the "fuzzy logic" these cars
use in this area). We've had minor issues, but probably will buy Foresters
again. Very much like the AWD system, lower profile of the vehicles, and the
great handling. Great cars if they fit your needs.
--
D N
I E T S
Off to R the M __, D H

Reply to group. (Detestible spammers!)

 

[Rich Lockyer]

How do they hold up? Can a well maintained vehicle make 130,000 (or
more) miles without a major re-build? Do the bodies retain integrity
or become leaky squeaky boxes?

Rattles are highly dependent on the model, as well as how it is cared
for.

130k? That's barely broken in for a properly maintained
Toyota/Nissan/Honda.



--- Rich
http://richlockyer.tripod.com/

 

[Mike Deskevich]

Hello,
I'm researching small SUV's as a replacement for my wife's car. We'll
be looking at 98 through 2002 model years. RAV4, CRV, Forester, Grand
Vitara. It will be an automatic transmission model.

When I do a search for reliability, what turns up are threads dealing
with new cars in their respective years. I'd like to hear from people
who've had theirs for some time.

How do they hold up? Can a well maintained vehicle make 130,000 (or
more) miles without a major re-build? Do the bodies retain integrity
or become leaky squeaky boxes?

Basically, after 3 or 4 years--do you still like it and how is it
holding up?

Thanks for any input

Peter

if the car is well maintained 130k miles isn't an issue. my '89
toyota 4runner has 228K very hard abused miles and runs absolutely
great, i've never had any problems with it. i haven't owned/driven
any of the models you are looking at, but i have dealt with other
models from the same companies. i'd order the companies by quality
from best to worst like this:

toyota
honda
subaru
suzuki

of course others may disagree, this is just from my experiences.

mike

 

[Peter Crowl]

Thanks for all the replies! I gather from them that a nice example that's
done some miles is not to be overlooked. I guess my bad experiences with an
86 4Runner Turbo (back when new) and more recently a 96 GM Minivan have
clouded my vision :~)

Peter