So I've only had my '01 LE 4x4 for a little over a year, and despite the troublesome MAF/assorted sensors, I really liked that car. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks ago I loaned it to an acquaintance who needed a truck (first and -sadly- last time somebody else drove my car). While cruising at night on a two lane road, they drove right over a huge rock sitting on the road
. Although the car looks perfect, under the engine the story was different and it is now a total loss. The rock triggered both front airbags, cracked the radiator, bent the subframe and LH strut and tore the front skidplate. The dealer quoted more than $10k for the repairs
Sorry, no pics yet, I'm going to try to get some when I stop at the dealer later.I still don't know what $$ the insurance co will want to cough up, but it's going to suck anyway. My car only had about 70k miles and apart from probably needing a new MAF was damn near perfect. I was the second owner but the first owner was reeeally anal about taking care of it for me
I've been searching and there are precious few '01-'04 4x4's in my neck of the woods, which are what I would like to replace mine with. There are more '05s and later but I'm really wary of those (coolant leaking into the transmission!!?? really!!??), I just don't think they are built to the same standards as the R50's. Anything later than '06 will go over my budget.
So... does anyone want to share any positive experience they've had with something similar to an R50 (midsize, good on-road, comfy for long trips, low range 4x4 that is acceptably capable for occasional off road, smooth powerful motor, well built, cheap... lol...)?? If I can't find an R50, I'm probably going to go to a Mitsu Montero (the Pajero kind, not the Montero Sport) but those motors suck (3.8l, all of 215hp, which rules out Jeeps too), and I think they're kind of pricey for what they are (which also rules out Toyotas for me)...
Thanks!
