Looking for 'new to me' vehicle ideas.

[the_Journeyman]

So...  I've picked up a bus route.  One of the reasons was for some extra savings/retirement moneys, but the other was to add a second vehicle for use in the winter when there is slippery stuff on the ground.  Reason being, I love my truck, but two in the cab and it's full.  It's great as a 4x4 but not suitable to carrying but on other person.  It also gets worse gas mileage than most SUVs and trucks currently on the market.

What I'm looking for:

1.  4x4 or really good AWD
2.  Fun to drive
3.  Seats at least 4
4.  Diesel would be nice
5.  Sturdy/solid well into higher mileages.  I'm hard on equipment and expect a lot out of my 4x4/AWD
6.  Somewhere in the 8-12K range.  Understand higher mileage is not a concern IF it's a vehicle that will last a lot of miles and years.
7.  Not terribly concerned with MPG, BUT diesel would be nice for better MPG.  My truck gets around 14 MPG in mixed driving.
8.  Full-time 4x4 or AWD is preferred.
9.  I would prefer the availability of getting a manual transmission.  It's almost a requirement, but I understand there are some nice automatics available with 'manual mode.'

Keep in mind, I'm in the US and don't get a lot of the awesome SUVs like the Patrol (wanted one since I was in Australia) here.  Diesels are also hard to find and typically more expensive.

Suggestions? 

Vehicles I like?  Benz ML series, Land/Range Rovers, Benz G-class (yea, not gonna afford that), Landcruiser (or Lexus variant) etc.

[zooom]

look for a Subaru Legacy GT '08/09 or perhaps a Legacy 2.5GT '06-08 or perhaps a nice unmolested Saab 9-2X Aero which is a more plush version of the WRX

[DarkMonster620]

look for a Subaru Legacy GT '08/09 or perhaps a Legacy 2.5GT '06-08 or perhaps a nice unmolested Saab 9-2X Aero which is a more plush version of the WRX

+1 on these choices or a Nissan X-Terra . . . with the SC engine . . .

[the_Journeyman]

Which engine was the SC?  The 3.5L?

JM

[DarkMonster620]

 

Which engine was the SC?  The 3.5L?

JM

if not mistaken 3.3 V6 . . . anyways, here a little reading for you, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Xterra

[Raux]

audi or Volvo 

[DarkMonster620]

audi or Volvo  

why not a VW touareg diesel?

[Raux]

I have a BMW 328Xi an LOVE IT

I was thinking Audi Allroad

[DarkMonster620]

I have a BMW 328Xi an LOVE IT

I was thinking Audi Allroad

2.7l V6 turbo . .. what is what Homer says . . .

[the_Journeyman]

why not a VW touareg diesel?

Would love.  Out of my price range though.  They're crazy expensive, even with a lot of miles.

JM

[DarkMonster620]

Would love.  Out of my price range though.  They're crazy expensive, even with a lot of miles.

JM

[Grampa]

ural

[lethe]

ural

seating for 4 may be tough 

[DesmoDiva]

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.

[MendoDave]

I have the ML 320 and it works great for me. I saw one here in town a while ack for 12K that was diesel (ML350) that I drove. It was pretty sweet. The ML 320 has the auto/manual shifter on the center console. I drive it like it was a manual quite a bit minus the clutch work. I think the newer ones have the shifter up on the steering Column. Slush boxes these are not.

The one problem with the shifter on the console is the, forgetting you left the sunroof open and it rained all over your shifter with electronic stuff built into it and now its ruined problem. I think that's why they moved them to the steering column.

Anyway I tow stuff with it. It seats up to 7 with the jump seats in the back and gets decent mileage, for an SUV. The stock Bose Stereo bumps pretty good and the 320 engine is pretty easy to work on if you need to work on it. Bout the only thing I don't like is the valve cover gaskets leak. That can be dealt with easy enough for people that have some spare time. I'm not one of those people though.