What vehicle?

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

It is getting close for my son to buy his first vehicle. He is 15 and saving money so he can possibly buy one in a year or so. I told him now is the time to start looking and researching. He would like one EMP proof. I would prefer one that is safe. He won't have a bunch of money, so that would need to be taken into consideration. I think getting one where he could learn how to keep up it's maintenance would be valuable to him in life. To understand him better, he is an outdoor guy. A sedan just won't happen. Not that he needs 4x4 (that is what he would like though) but he will be spending some time in the woods on roads not making roads.

Some of his considerations are...
Jeep CJ5 or 7
Jeep Cherokee, probably 1980's
Older PU truck
Suzuki Samuri

He doesn't need a lot of "power" as much as he needs reliability, easy to repair, easy to find parts, lower ongoing costs (gas/oil/insurance, etc). It could be used as a BOV to carry some extra gear if needed.

Any ideas from some gearheads would be appreciated...

[Jerry D Young]

Might check into used Subarus. My brother has had four and really abused them on the back trails in Nevada. They held up well. They're all-wheel-drive and can go just about anywhere there is at least a trail, as long as the snow isn't too deep and the trail doesn't have gullies in it.

Just my opinion.

[protus]

Some of his considerations are...
Jeep CJ5 or 7
Jeep Cherokee, probably 1980's
Older PU truck
Suzuki Samuri

i'll give ya my 2 cents on some of these since ive messed with them.

cj5,7
parts- not as common as one would think and they cost a good chunk of change. Down here you will pay twice as much for one than you would esle where. even when compared with the newer yj and xj's ( wranglers and the new wranglers)
Plus side is the inline 6 and it is strong and robust.
if ya got $$$ and want a "cool" truck for down here, then find a good cj7. but be ready to have a money pit on yer hands.

1980's cherokee-
I assume you mean a TJ body style? ( smaller boxy ones)
If not your talking a wagoneer.
The newer style tj's are good trucks. Pay load sucks. They wont do well with 10k in ammo and gear ( just saying lol . They'll have 2 motors a 4 banger and 6. The 6 is the standard jeep 251 in line 6 iirc on the cubes.again strong motor , but sucks gas ( more so on the wrangler). The mid 90's ones had some issues with crank sensors( least ones used by my off road club during that time) and some mild electronic issues. they do run well and i have seen more than a few go well over the 100k mark.
The older "wagonner" is a tough truck. But again, will suck gas most had a 360 iirc or a smaller kasier/amc v8. Issues with them seem to be the tranny/transfer case. The quadratrac was nothing but a big belt on a full time fwd system. lotta issues on that. You dont see many wagonners down here in good shape.

older p/u-
well to be honest this may be the cheaper and better bet. For even 3-4k$ a surplus chevy full size can be had. Possiblities on what you will find are endless. 4x4 will need to be checked,,really good. seems the older the truck the more somones romped on it down here.My nephew just got a mid 90's f150 4x4 for his birthday....only "problem" with it was the starter so it was "cheap" He hasnt drove it much, but he had to spend 1 full day cleaning mud out of the INSIDE of it. We'll see how the running gear holds up.....just look over the truck good . Older late 80's/early 90's yotas do well to ,so dont over look them.
Older dodges imho are better than fords.
Dont over look the ramchargers or older k5 blazers and even the older broncos( i just dont like the suspension get up on fords) not a leaf spring solid axle set up like the chevys/dodges.
that said my best old p/u was a 79' power wagon. Not one issue and built like a tank.

suki samari-
while i would like to have one as a toy. Thats it.
They are -
small
under powered
parts will be an issue
havent seen a "nice" one in years.
However-
the ones ive been around do extermly well off road if driven correctly.
gas mileage kinda blows. and they are small. Lets put it this way. If you were driving one our shoulders would almost touch. Its not bad but it aint a truck you pack you and 2 buddies and gear in ....



this is all my 2 cents from my experiances owning a good 3 out of your list and seeing the others used very hard off roading for several years.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Jerry, Had not thought of Subarus...Thanks

Protus, Thanks for the in-depth review. It's good to have some real life input from someone who has had them.

PSD

[road warrior762]

old 4 runner really any 4 runner good on gas you could get a 4 wheel drive and if you got an old carb one with a few parts in and ammo can it could be emt proof.
samaris are small but i dont think you son would have a problem i have a few buddies that have a few.one is a big mud tire one and they were towing it,something went wrong and it rolled.the bar held up and he walked out of it without a scratch.they dont have a high top speed so high way driving would not be ideal but you could do it.the guys at work put a bigger carb on them and get a whole lot more power.they also get all there parts from a junkyard and ebay i actually know of one for sale cheap.if you interested sent me an email

[RevDoc]

A teenage boy is gonna balk at any Subaru, they have the reputation of being a chick car, no matter what it's capable of.

I put nearly 1/4 million miles on a CJ-5. A major portion off-road. A CJ-7 is much safer because of the wheelbase.

A Toyota is probably the best bet.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Well, he made a decision. He wanted a Jeep Comanche and he found one locally. 1990 4x2, 6cyl 4.0L Auto, Eliminator, short wheel base. It is in remarkably good condition. No noted rust, but I know they are notorious for rusting on floorboard, although it feels solid when I pound on it and nothing noted under the vehicle. Will pull up carpet and look this weekend. Shifts smooth and runs well. Needs some cosmetic work, but body in great shape. He drove it home and was all smiles. He bought it with his own money he had been saving. I'm proud of him, but....it means he's growing up. He's already figured out where he can put his shotgun....when he's 18 and can buy himself one.

[Bull]

I had an 86 Comanche once, which I think is the same basic model and it was pretty tough. I put it through a lot and never killed it. It should be a good first vehicle, plus if he decides he wants to beef it up or change things around a bit, he can do it pretty easily..

[45B]

I had a little Samurai for a while and really liked it alot. It only had the front bucket seats and the storage area in back, so only me and 1 passenger. That made it not a choice when picking up 2 kids from school, let alone 3 kids and the backpacks. Got rid of it when I had some kind of fuel delivery problem.
It would start and idle just fine, but if you gave it any gas or tried to drive it, it went dead. No one around here to work on them, so I sold it to a guy from the local Suzuki car club. He probably had it fixed in 10 minutes and drove it home.
I got it from relatives and put a whole new exhaust on it and some new tires and a battery. Then I drove it for a year or more. Never got it stuck, where I could not put it in 4 wheel and drive right out. Would not go very fast. Maximum of 60 on the highway and was revving pretty high to get there.

But, cheap on gas and only had a 10 gallon tank. A small tree stand and my hunting gear just fit in the back.

It had a fiberglass top on it after someone cut the vinyl roof open at the mall to steal the stereo. the top was two piece that allowed you to take off the t style tops in the front to get some fresh air and sunshine, and a hatchback in the rear, while still being a solid top to keep people out. I got it from J.C. Whitney and put it on in minutes.

Wish I had kept it and figured out what was wrong with it, but at the time, didn't have the money or time.

I think it was a fuel pump issue probably located in the fuel tank.

[antishot]

i have own a 94 Toyota PU and it was a great little truck. I never got it stuck went everywhere I wanted to go. the most work I had to do with it was head gaskets had to replace it once.

if you son wants a EMP proof rig you might want to think about the Suzuki Samuri and here why. Had a bunch of guys i know who got into these little soap box's big time. we used to take the motors out of them and install a VW diesel engine. the VW diesel were about 50hp with about 90ft toque. great little motor. the older ones were all mechanical fuel pump. about the MPG I think they were getting about 40-45. I could talk hours about VW but I wont just wanted to give that little info.

[boltgun308]

I like the 98 back manual P-pump Cummins diesels. The manual trans models have no electronics except for cluster, radio, etc. Nothing that would cause it not to drive.

[arcangel911]

Personally, I have been looking into a Baha bug or a sand rail with road (street legal) certification.

Of course, during a SHTF or TEOTKAKI incident, street legal may be thrown out the proverbial window.

[DIM TIM]

Well, I'm glad he got something that he likes there PS, but tell him to start saving back some of his cash here and there while he's driving it, because I have a friend that is a tranny mechanic, and according to him.....4x4 + transmission repairs = $$$$$$$$$$
It's the same with 2WD, but considerably less because the 4x4 is more complex. I'd love to have a 4x4, but I can JUST afford the 2WD, so it's what I drive. Got a pickup for the cargo capacity. Can't afford a BIG trailer, but even a small one will be enough with the cargo box to transport gear in a possible BugOut situation for us. Its not like I'll need the furnishings for a whole house. ;)

[Klayton]

Well, I'm glad he got something that he likes there PS, but tell him to start saving back some of his cash here and there while he's driving it, because I have a friend that is a tranny mechanic, and according to him.....4x4 + transmission repairs = $$$$$$$$$$
It's the same with 2WD, but considerably less because the 4x4 is more complex. I'd love to have a 4x4, but I can JUST afford the 2WD, so it's what I drive. Got a pickup for the cargo capacity. Can't afford a BIG trailer, but even a small one will be enough with the cargo box to transport gear in a possible BugOut situation for us. Its not like I'll need the furnishings for a whole house. ;)

Upgrade to an ARB Air Locker in your rear differential. http://www.arbusa.com/
Turns a 2WD into a NON-STOPABLE BEAST (almost).
Don't forget with that added lock to upgrade tires to the most aggressive you can insanely tolerate (Mrs hates the humm) and your gas budget can afford (yes aggressive tires TRASH your mpg)..
Hope this helps...

[antishot]

Personally, I have been looking into a Baha bug or a sand rail with road (street legal) certification.

Of course, during a SHTF or TEOTKAKI incident, street legal may be thrown out the proverbial window.

If you plan/get a baha bug look into upgrading the trany from a bug to a late bay window bus there trany's will bolt right up to the motor but will have to make some trany mounts. Bus tranys Will last just about forever. PM me sometime if you want I have been into VWs for years.