CFD27
New Member
- Joined
- January 20, 2014
- Messages
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Subaru Outback
Great forum! Looking to see if anyone can offer some comments on a possible purchase of a used 4th gen. Currently driving a 2003 Subaru Outback that we are looking to replace. Overall we need more space for summer vacation travel and I need more tow capacity. Down the road, we might look at a boat, so I'm looking for at least 4-5K lbs of tow capacity. Vehicle is also my DD for about 16 mile round trip. Overall, we only put about 8-9,000 miles on this vehicle.
I started out looking at used 5th gens (2011-2012) and also other mid-size SUV/CUVs such as the Pilot, Durango, 4Runner, etc. Used prices though are generally running in the say mid $20K range. With the deals out there on new, at say $30+K, it seems like I'd might as well as go new.
So I'm trying to see if there are any low cost options south of $20K. I'd probably drive this 80-100K miles over 10-11 years. The 4th gen Explorer seems to fit this option. It looks like I could pick up a 4th gen with less than 60K miles for under $20k, maybe even well under. One key question that comes up is V6 vs. V8. With the tow package, the V6 would work with I think a 5400 lb rating. On paper, the V8 has more HP, 6 vs. 5 spd trans and seem to have little MPG penalty over the 6. Downside of the V8 is they seems quite a bit more rare and I seem to detect that they have more problems than the V6. Also more costly since they seem to come more with the higher end trims (Eddie Bauer, etc.). A friend of mine had a 4.L V8 (2V I think) in a 2002 F150. He had a number of engine problems - I think multiple problems with the plug coils and something else as well. Not sure if the updated 4.6L 3V is any different/better.
V6 seems to be a little light on HP by today's V6 standards, but I'm typically not in a hurry and coming from the Subaru 4 cyl, my expectations are not that high.
What is the conventional wisdom out there? V6 the more reliable engine - would get the job done? There seems to be a lot more out there and the prices would be less. But I could hold out for the V8 and see where that price point puts me.
Also, any general idea on what MPG to expect from both engines in mixed driving? That is something I'll have to figure in with these older SUVs as they don't get quite as good as the newer SUV/CUVs. I was looking for 18-19 MPG overall, but that may be optimistic for an older Explorer.
I started out looking at used 5th gens (2011-2012) and also other mid-size SUV/CUVs such as the Pilot, Durango, 4Runner, etc. Used prices though are generally running in the say mid $20K range. With the deals out there on new, at say $30+K, it seems like I'd might as well as go new.
So I'm trying to see if there are any low cost options south of $20K. I'd probably drive this 80-100K miles over 10-11 years. The 4th gen Explorer seems to fit this option. It looks like I could pick up a 4th gen with less than 60K miles for under $20k, maybe even well under. One key question that comes up is V6 vs. V8. With the tow package, the V6 would work with I think a 5400 lb rating. On paper, the V8 has more HP, 6 vs. 5 spd trans and seem to have little MPG penalty over the 6. Downside of the V8 is they seems quite a bit more rare and I seem to detect that they have more problems than the V6. Also more costly since they seem to come more with the higher end trims (Eddie Bauer, etc.). A friend of mine had a 4.L V8 (2V I think) in a 2002 F150. He had a number of engine problems - I think multiple problems with the plug coils and something else as well. Not sure if the updated 4.6L 3V is any different/better.
V6 seems to be a little light on HP by today's V6 standards, but I'm typically not in a hurry and coming from the Subaru 4 cyl, my expectations are not that high.
What is the conventional wisdom out there? V6 the more reliable engine - would get the job done? There seems to be a lot more out there and the prices would be less. But I could hold out for the V8 and see where that price point puts me.
Also, any general idea on what MPG to expect from both engines in mixed driving? That is something I'll have to figure in with these older SUVs as they don't get quite as good as the newer SUV/CUVs. I was looking for 18-19 MPG overall, but that may be optimistic for an older Explorer.