New to me vehicle coming soon

[superdave1984]

OK, my Jeep will be gone this weekend. Sad to see it go, but it's just not practical with 4 kids. So here are my current options for something new.

Baseline : 1997 Jeep Cherokee
Manliness score=10/10 V-8 engine, stupid amount of horsepower, lifted, 4x4, big tires, you get the idea.
Practicality score=1/10 Pretty reliable, but as with any hot rod it needs tinkering a good bit, Gets 10-12 MPG
Quality score=5/10 Solid rig, but it needs a few little things done to it, needs regular tinkering
Price score=N/A since it's what's being sold

Average score= 5.33/10
Wildcard is it's just fun as hell, kids love it, wife hates it,



1. 2000 Lincoln LS8. 100,000 miles, excellent condition, $4000.
Manliness score= 8/10
Practicality score=5.5/10 (Gets ~23 MPG highway)
Quality score=8/10 Depends on who you ask, but it's in great shape
Price score=1/10 because it will take all my Jeep money plus some to buy

Average= 5.625/10
Wildcard is it's just about the sexiest car I've looked at. Flawless exterior, very very god interior. Gets wildly mixed reviews online. Loads of power, great handling.

2. 2001 Explorer Sport Trac. 140,000 miles, very good condition, $3800.
Manliness score=9/10
Practicality score=4/10 (gets 20 MPG highway)
Quality score=8/10
Price score=2 Still have to pony up some extra cash to buy, just not as much

Average= 5.75/10
Wildcard is I love the style and the bed is just right for whatever small hauling I will do plus it's big enough for all 4 kids. Reviews are pretty steady online.


3. 1997 Ford Taurus, 89,000 miles, excellent condition, $1700
Manliness score=3
Practicality score=8 (gets ~27 MPG)
Quality score=8. Well maintained car, low miles
Price score=9 Will have over 1000 left over

Average= 7/10
Wildcard is the beautiful green paint which my wife loves. Plenty of room for the kids, mixed reviews online, but very well maintained with documentation and it's flex fuel. Was a city administrator vehicle.

Just throwing this stuff out there for some honest opinions about these 3. I am sure some on here have owned at least one of these.

 

[martin]

for two adults and four kids you need something with more seats than the three vehicles you're looking at.

 

[OilPatch197]

Okay, you are asking US? Damn!

I agree with the last poster, you need a van, something with more room. Four kids(!) there are medical procedures to prevent this!! Hope you have a good job!!

I recommend a Dodge Caravan. Is the family planning on 'growing' in the future, definitely a van. In your case spacious interior and seating are priority, those kids not getting smaller!

 

[dangerranger83]

I say the sport track.

You can also easily drop an explorer 5.0 setup in them too.

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[97RangerXLT]

I agree with Martin on this one... A Ford Tortoise and Lincoln LS8 is going to be too small to fit everyone in comfortably at the least, and legally at the most (depending on whether or not the front is bucket or bench seating)

the Sport Trac will have the same limitations as the Tortoise, but will be a tad roomier.

I would hang on to the Jeep for now until something else comes up that will work better for you and your family. At the very least you will need another mid size or large SUV or take one for the team and hand in your man card and get a minivan. If that is the case we will mourn for you, but we will also understand.

AJ

 

[wildbill23c]

Is the jeep paid for? If yes, why sell it and get into something else with no seating room? Unless you buy a larger vehicle like a van, tahoe, suburban, etc. you'll end up with the same issues lack of seating room for the kids.

Love how everyone likes the Jeep Grand Cherokee then go buy one with the V8 then whine about the fuel economy LOL, the I6 did great on fuel economy the V8's were the extreme opposite, hit the accelerator and watch the gas gauge and speedometer have races.

 

[swynx]

Lifted ford aerostar

 

[adsm08]

The LS electrical system is a nightmare.

Also, you need something with 6 seats. That means van or large suv. Windstar, freestar, expdition, explorer. Something with a 3rd row is mandatory.

Postin' from teh Galaxy

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am going to bet the Heep is a 2dr and he wants something easier to strap a few little screamers in the back of and mama already has a landing craft to carry the whole crew at once.

I think even a Jeep owner could figure out the seating sitution otherwise

 

[EricNobody]

Depending on your area, you can get a decent Subaru for that cash, and you can lift scoobys. Lift a legacy gt wagon (non outback) 3".


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[Scy]

Buy the wife and kids bicycles and keep the jeep.

 

[wildbill23c]

I am going to bet the Heep is a 2dr and he wants something easier to strap a few little screamers in the back of and mama already has a landing craft to carry the whole crew at once.

I think even a Jeep owner could figure out the seating sitution otherwise

97 Jeep with a V8, nope its a 4 door unless its a 2 door and he added the V8, otherwise a stock jeep cherokee never had the V8, it was a grand cherokee thing, or a grand wagoneer thing LOL.

Just add jump seats in the back of the Jeep LOL.

With that fuel economy I'd be ditching the Jeep too though. My only advice would be a mini-van, the other SUV's with 3rd row seating would be a pain getting kids in and out of car seats, up until they are able to do things on their own it would be a major pain in say a Chevy Tahoe or similar. The mini-van would be much easier for access to the back seat area. Toyota Sienna Mini-Van, expensive but you can get them with AWD if you want and as far as I know they are the only current production mini-van available with AWD.

I really liked my Jeep Grand Cherokee, but I had the Straight 6, and didn't have kids, but had to take care of a couple kids occasionally and it was fine for that but anymore than 2-3 and it won't work so well especially if you have to use car seats there isn't enough room.

 

[adsm08]

I am going to bet the Heep is a 2dr and he wants something easier to strap a few little screamers in the back of and mama already has a landing craft to carry the whole crew at once.

I think even a Jeep owner could figure out the seating sitution otherwise

It ain't that bad with no rear doors.

I get away with it with the BII. I don't even have the double sliding front seat anymore.

 

[GentleRF]

Dave: you carefully didn't mention which year and model of Jeep you were unloading. If it's an old school FSJ, I would hang onto it like I'm doing with my 84 Grand Wagoneer. As far MPG's are concerned, affordable fuel injection has kits.

 

[superdave1984]

Dave: you carefully didn't mention which year and model of Jeep you were unloading. If it's an old school FSJ, I would hang onto it like I'm doing with my 84 Grand Wagoneer. As far MPG's are concerned, affordable fuel injection has kits.

My Jeep was a 97 Cherokee 4 door with a Chevy 350/700R4 in it. Got 12 MPG. Me and the kids fit in it just fine.

A little clarification. We already have a minivan. I just need a daily driver that is able to get me and the kids wherever we need to go. If the whole family is going we take the van.

Side note: The Sport Trac in question was a fail. Owner didn't have a clean or clear title which is why it was so cheap. Taurus sold before I could get there.
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