The guys are right about the Toys and the Nissan 4x4's. Owned a couple myslef when I was younger. Only problem is that in cold weather (for those of you south the mason dixon line, that means anything below 10) the drive train never warms up due to the thin cases and they can take a beating if the oils dont flow well. Just something to be aware of, not afraid of. There was one trip where I couldn't get mine to go over 45 mph 'cause it was so cold - and I had to drive 400 miles like that.

Sorry to hear your a Ford hater, I'm a Ford fan, particularly the Ranger. They are great little trucks. Of your choices I would say get a Jeep. The I-6 is a great motor, not the most powerful but asolid motor either way. Dodge fan or not, stay away from the Ram unless you want to go in debt putting gas in it! I had an '02 Ram before I got my current F-150. I now have a bigger truck with a bigger motor and still get better gas mileage! Ram was an '02 1500 4x4 reg cab with the 4.7L V8(11 MPG), Ford is an '04 F-150 FX4 ext cab 5.4L V8(15-16MPG)

If you get a jeep, make sure it isn't lifted at all - they get top heavy and slide around more. Make sure it has good snow tires on it, and they do fine. Also make sure the heater & wipers work well... especially the heater. The older they are, the worse the heater sucked.

(I have a '80 cj-7, lifted, and it's the worst thing ever on snow... doesn't matter, though, it's a soft top, no heater, no wipers, and never going out in the cold!)

Tony

yeah man check the heater on the jeep/cherokee... they suck yay America if its fubared $350... still runs hot off the block heat

Do you need a truck? A suby is great in the snow still drives/has room like a car. Pack your junk in a wagon and still keep it dry.

I was concidering a suby or an older audi quattro. But yea I would really want to avoid driving fwd this year. Last year I drove my saturn sc1 and it was a pain in the ass.

Well Ive found a few trucks that I might want to check out this weekend if not early next week.

1995 Dodge Ram 1500- http://appleton.craigslist.org/cto/1469052459.html

1990 Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1490845996.html

1994 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1480442140.html

1994 Dodge Ram 1500- 1800- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1466680150.html

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Laramie SLT- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1495359292.html

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 1994- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1499498357.html

WRANGLER 6 Cylinder 4.0 L- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1498226779.html

1994 Jeep Cherokee- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1488420285.html

1990 Jeep Cherokee- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1486021682.html

'94 Jeep Laredo- http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1462188848.html


I found a ton more but thats what I expect to get. Any left over cash wil go into the truck.

THe last two look like the best of the bunch

that last ones nice. thats what my wife had the laredo cherokee, if the heat blows and the transfer case works thats a deal, someone offered me 3g for hers a year ago and it didnt look that nice cosmetically

subies are AWD usually. Here was an AWD outback for $2k. Its sold now, but you may be able to find somethign like that or a legacy for not too much. Huge cars and good on gas. Great in snow. My father in law had one until 200K that ran really well in hilly, icy NY winters. They had a cherokee I6 before that that also made it to 200K, tho the sub was in better shape by then. g/l

$1250 isnt bad at all if everything is mechanically sound. Id stick the extra into upgrades and winter tires.

The 90 cherokee has been for sale for a few months
the 94 is straight garbage (I live in WB and took a look at it)
and the 90 dodge at Richfield Car Company would require a very good going through. RCC has a piss poor reputation. FYI.

-JB

I just had an idea: Buy a Subaru Baja. You get 4wd and a bed like a truck (bed is smaller, but still functional) and it'll be cheaper to own than any of those other vehicles. Plus, Subies are endlessly reliable. My brother's '97 Legacy has over 280,000 miles on it and still runs like new and I just bought an '04 Legacy and it's an excellent vehicle.

The Cheros usually need a good heater core flush, and they'll come right back. I wouldn't sweat that one...

Here you go:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1500671717.html
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1490236244.html
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1477789466.html