Only diesel you're going to find stateside that meets your price and preferred engine requirements is a mid-to-late 90's Suburban with the 6.5TD.  I'm a GM guy and love my current Duramax, but wouldn't inflict a 6.5 on a friend.

Toureg diesel is gonna be the most affordable full-time AWD diesel in the US.  Unless you can find someone who has spliced a Subaru diesel into a VW Vanagon Synchro.

If you can do without the diesel, +1 to the Subaru recommendations.  I'm not a fanboi by any means... they can be expensive to repair and they have their quirks, but their AWD just works.  Stay away from Foresters with turbo motors.  Not many were properly maintained, and if/when the turbo lets go, it shoots shrapnel into the motor.  Not pretty.  If you can find a 4th-gen Outback (2010+) with the 3.6L flat-6 in your price range, that's gonna be one of the most bulletproof engines you can get.  The 6 only came with a slushbox, but it's a reliable slushbox (the 5EAT transmission).  A more affordable combo is the 2010+ Outback 2.5i with 5-speed manual.  Only available with cloth interior and few options, but they're out there, and it's a pretty bulletproof combo that gets good gas mileage.  Anywhere from 25-30 mpg.  I would recommend avoiding the CVTs if you don't like the feel of slushboxes... the CVT is like driving an old Chrysler with a really badly slipping automatic transmission.

Overall, I am fond of the 4th-gen Outback for the highly functional AWD and the 9" of ground clearance.  Skidplates available from Primitive Racing if you're gonna be in rough country.  Suspension spacers can be had that add 1" of ground clearance.  Seatbelts for 5 and a huge trunk.  They aren't corner carvers by any stretch of the imagination, but they get from A to B with boring reliability, in all kinds of weather.

Quote from: DesmoDiva on September 17, 2013, 05:25:38 PM
Does it have to pull?

Are you selling the Dakota?

I thought the X-terra felt mushy.  Steering is soft, brakes felt like it was never going to stop, suspension was on the soft side.

Depends.  Thoughts were keep the Dakota for wood-hauling duty (read - abuse, 1000-1500lbs in the bed for firewood) and various non-so-nice truck duties like getting into really rough places or during extreme weather when nothing else will go).  The Z will likely go rather than the Dakota.  Pulling would be on the lighter side (think small trailer with motorcycles or camping gear etc) but mostly for a good winter vehicle that can carry more than just two people.

The Xterra is ok, but I really want something a bit more brutish.  I know they're reliable though.

JM

DD - Also, on the towing front, the heavy stuff to pull would still be handled with the Dakota or Dad's borrowed Surburban (87 model with 350 & tow package).

Duc_fan  - Those don't sound too bad.  My sister had a 2002 Outback that was nothing but a problem.  I also know she didn't keep up with required maintenance. 

I can do without diesel, it's mostly icing on the cake in my price range.

CVTs are a complete "no-no" for me.  I really prefer manuals, but will concede to a "good" auto.  I don't like the Forester. but would really consider the Scooby flat-6 for sure.  What year models are the 4th gen Outback?  If I went with a more car type vehicle, clearance is important.

JM

4th gen OBs are the 2010-current cars.

2010-2012 have soggy suspension.  Curable, but just know ahead of time.  Fixed in 2013 with stiffer springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars.

As with anything, Subarus require their recommended maintenance.  The normally aspirated engines aren't as picky as the turbos, but they still need some minimal level of attention.  Turbos do not suffer fools.  At all.  Overall, Subaru is probably mid-pack for handling neglect.  Honda and Toyota are gonna be the most forgiving, German and Italian cars the least forgiving.  The newer ones seem to have better quality components than the early 2000's and 90's cars.  Yeah, I wouldn't touch an older Scooby-doo with a ten-foot pole.  They're needy like an Audi, without the German car's quality interior or refinement.

The 2.5L flat-4 and 3.6L flat-6 in the 4th gen OB don't have many problems.  The 5EAT auto with the flat-6 is a decent auto.  Has a manual mode that works kinda okay (I hate latency... but no flappy-paddle auto is good enough for me in that regard).  The stickshift is a good transmission.  Yeah, the CVTs don't seem to have many reliability problems, they just suck to drive.  The flappy-paddle mode on the CVTs is pointless, with the singular exception of engine braking on hills.  The Subaru Outback forum is a good resource for reliability and troubleshooting info.

The pre-2010 flat-6 was a 3.0L motor, and my understanding is it requires premium gas and is not quite as bulletproof as the 3.6.  The 3.6 with the 5EAT has been used in the Tribeca since... well, for a while, and has proven reliable.  Since the OB weighs less than the Tribeca, it puts less strain on the motor and tranny.  Only notable thing I read is the 3.6 motors can use oil (just depends on the individual motor), so you gotta check it between change intervals.  My 2013 has nearly 11000 on it and doesn't use enough to be able to tell on the dipstick in 4k miles.  OCI is 7500 per the manual.

Yeah, I would have preferred a lot of other options than a Subaru wagon, but living in the middle of Egypt I needed something that just worked.  We get 8-12" of snow at a time... the Scooby handles 9" or so very well.  Got sick of the 2011 2.5i/CVT, traded it for the 2013 3.6R.  The 2011 wasn't unreliable, I just really hated the CVT... after 60k, I'd had enough of driving the rubber band.

Oh... if you shop for an Outback 3.6R, don't believe the EPA mileage.  It's listed as 18-25 mpg.  My wife and I average 25.6 in mixed driving... mostly country highway (70/30, hwy/city), but that includes 2000 feet of elevation change on the commute every day, and 5 miles of gravel at 35-40 mph.  We've gotten nearly 28 mpg on all-highway runs.  Check out Fuelly for real-world numbers.  The 2.5 and 3.6 aren't as far apart as the EPA suggests.

All good to know.  I haven't found a 3.6 Scoob for sale remotely locally though.  As for the MPG thing, I'm pretty open minded.  I do know I can get a V8 Cherokee with better MPG marks than a V6 Pathfinder. 

JM

FJ Cruiser.

The price hasn't come down to your range according to the "official" pricers of used vehicles, but ours is great.  It's a truck (body on frame), with a real transfer case (2wd, 4h, and 4l), with a locking rear differential.  It will tow over it's 5k rating and not return worse than 10mpg (19-20 when unladen driven like a moto on the highway, worst I've actually seen towing is 14).

We bought it to replace an F-250 crew cab Powerstroke... and while I've changed the trans fluid and filter at half the interval, I change oil and filter when the light comes on... for 75k hard miles. 

If it doesn't need to seat four all the time, I'd recommend it.  The back seat leaves something to be desired for long trips and ease of access (you can fit 5 friendly adults in it, but you can't fit a high tech rear-facing child seat in it).

For a slushbox, it doesn't entirely suck. 

It will take turns far faster than you should be taking them in an SUV.

It is 90% of a Jeep Wrangler off road (to a casual user), and 200% better on pavement.

Jeep Liberty diesel ?

You may laugh but the Ford Explorer Sport is pretty awesome.  We traded our limited in on this puppy and it's been a blast, downside is no manual but you do get paddle shift.

I'm tellin you, the ML Mercedes......I'm tellin you...

What are the group's thoughts on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee coming out shortly?

Quote from: Little Monkey Toes on September 19, 2013, 09:12:01 AM
Jeep Liberty diesel ?

Neat rig, but shopping for a used one is like finding hen's teeth.

Quote from: Lucumon on September 19, 2013, 10:06:32 AM
What are the group's thoughts on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee coming out shortly?

that in the end, it is still a Chrysler....

Quote from: Lucumon on September 19, 2013, 10:06:32 AM
What are the group's thoughts on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee coming out shortly?

Sorta ugly.  

Just read an article on it in the latest issue of Automobile, sounded like the V6 version was the one to have. Somewhat capable off-road despite being FWD based.

I have a new Wrangler and love it....but we're a quirky bunch.

Quote from: Little Monkey Toes on September 19, 2013, 09:12:01 AM
Jeep Liberty diesel ?

LIKE!  But hard to find.  Found one locally but it's gone now.  I was disappointed it sold before I got a chance.

Quote from: Mendo Dave on September 19, 2013, 09:18:51 AM
I'm tellin you, the ML Mercedes......I'm tellin you...

I'm REALLY fond of these.  I'm keeping and eye out for a higher mileage ML500, but either find really expensive ones or ones with a pile of miles.  

New Grand Cherokee in diesel would be awesome, BUT it will be way out of my price range.

I'd also drive a Wrangler, but C won't and is concerned about them safety-wise.  

Edited to add:

Manual is off the table, must be an auto, but the shiftable autos are still ok

No Wranglers of any kind.

JM

Quote from: the_Journeyman on September 19, 2013, 02:20:35 PM
LIKE!  But hard to find.  Found one locally but it's gone now.  I was disappointed it sold before I got a chance.

I'm REALLY fond of these.  I'm keeping and eye out for a higher mileage ML500, but either find really expensive ones or ones with a pile of miles.  

New Grand Cherokee in diesel would be awesome, BUT it will be way out of my price range.

I'd also drive a Wrangler, but C won't and is concerned about them safety-wise.  

Edited to add:

Manual is off the table, must be an auto, but the shiftable autos are still ok

No Wranglers of any kind.

JM

Do a search on EBay for the ML430 (V8) there's a couple on there for pretty cheap.