From: evans@c4west.eds.com (Bill Evans)
Subject: Re: Opinions: 4runner, Explorer and Pathfinder
Organization: EDS C4 West
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 00:30:25 GMT

tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:

>duncan@informix.com (Duncan Moore) writes:
>> 
>> I am still waiting to hear from all of you who have 
>> recently purchased loaded 4runners, Explorers or
>> Pathfinders.  What-a-ya think?

>Don't forget Jeep (Grand) Cherokees, and Isuzu Troopers or Rodeos.
>Consumer Reports tested a bunch of these, and rated the Grand Cherokee
>highest, with the Ford Explorer second.  They didn't test the new
>Isuzu Trooper.  Several off-road magazines did test the new Trooper,
>and put it a hair ahead of the Grand Cherokee.  But who knows how much
>Isuzu bribed them?

Hold On!  Sounds like this discussion needs a champion for the Olds Bravada.
I have a '92 and love it.  (ok, it is on the SBlazer/Gimmy chassis, but
the similarity stops there - sort of).  It is full-time all wheel drive and
can walk up slick, icy stuff all day long.  I just spent a week near Bend
Oregon, 10 to 15 degrees, snow/ice/sleet, and had no problems.  It is as 
upscale as the Grand Chereokee and Explorer with all the options, and 
less $ for comparable equipment.  No airbag, but has 4-wheel ABS, 170HP or
200HP V-6, 6000lb towing package.  (The 170HP model gets 23MPG on the road
and 20MPG in traffic).  I hope GM does a good job on the '94 or '95 redesign,
and keeps the all wheel drive.
 
# Bill Evans -- evans@c4west.eds.com -or- evans@ug.eds.com
# Bothell, WA
  

>I've looked at these vehicles and here's what I think.  The Jeep Grand
>Cherokee is the best because of airbag, 4-wheel ABS, relatively low
>weight, aerodynamics, and off-road performance.  The only negatives
>I noticed were location of the gas tank behind the rear wheels (where
>the spare tire should be) and lack of manual transmission.

>If you need more storage space, or want manual transmission, the Ford
>Explorer is a good alternative.  Negatives are that it sways too much,
>and has too long a wheelbase for off-road driving.  Also, you have to
>back up to get out of 4WD.

>If you want reliability, or not-that-bad fuel economy combined with
>a mere 119 horsepower, the Toyota 4Runner 4-cylinder isn't as bad as
>Consumer Reports says it is.  The more powerful V6 models have worse
>gas mileage, combined with less horsepower, than any Cherokee.

>If you want a luxury car feel, the Isuzu is a possibility.  However,
>fuel economy is horrendous, and shift-on-the-fly isn't available!!
>The Isuzu Rodeo is less expensive, maybe the best bargain in SUVs.

>The Pathfinder needs updating, in my opinion, so even though Consumer
>Reports puts it in 3rd place, I would stay away.  Sorry, I didn't look
>at the Chevy S10 Blazer, since Consumer Reports ripped it.

>As a rafter who often needs to carry lots of people and gear, I have
>many friends who own all these vehicles.  I can't say that anybody is
>totally happy with any of them.  Everybody complains about lousy gas
>mileage, and always gets me to do long shuttle in my Subaru 4WD wagon.
>The guy who seems happiest own an old Cherokee.  Believe it or not,
>he has had no major problems in 170k miles.

>Overall, it's too bad these vehicles are such pigs.  There seems to
>be room in the market for something in between wimpy AWD cars and the
>SUV class.  Too bad they don't make something like the Subaru wagon
>with 4WD and low-range any more.

--
# Bill Evans -- evans@c4west.eds.com -or- evans@ug.eds.com              
# Bothell, WA 
#