New ( to me ) Rig Recommendations? [NC-Southeast]

[nm123]

Hello all! I'm in Boone, NC and I have some minor experience in over-landing and off-roading. I don't have any first-hand experience where I was driving, but I've been a passenger more times than I can count.

I've gone on Holden Beach, in Uwharrie in a stock '02 Xterra and a stock '14 Frontier, and some "this looks like it might go somewhere" trails in and around Charlotte in that same Xterra. That same friend got rid of his Xterra a few months ago and recently bought a '12 Touareg TDI. I seriously doubt he'll lift it, but he is getting a skid plate soon.

I'm looking into buying a new (used/new to me) vehicle that I can daily and also take off-road. I've recently moved from Charlotte to Boone, and from what I've seen it's definitely feasible to do a number of trails (within a 4 hour drive) in an AWD vehicle versus strictly 4x4. I want something fun to drive on pavement that I can take off-road some weekends. I'll almost definitely buy used, preferably 2015 or newer unless I find something slightly older that I like because I also want some "luxury" features like heated seats, leather seats, and a backup camera.

For perspective, I drive an '05 Civic coupe right now, and most of my driving is on 421, I-77, and I-40 -- visiting Charlotte and Wilmington; I hardly do any city driving. I have a 2020 4x4 8-foot bed Silverado I drive for work (construction), and as much as I love it it's definitely bigger than what I'd want as a personal vehicle. I visited dealerships over the weekend and out of 27 cars I test drove I've narrowed it down to an Xterra, RAV4, Ford Edge, Patriot, or a Crosstrek. I still have 9 other vehicles I want to try though, I just didn't have a chance. The last vehicles I want to try are a Forester, Outback, Cherokee, RX 350, GX 460, Audi A5, GMC Terrain, FJ, and VW Tiguan.

What are y'all's thoughts on the vehicles I listed? What do you drive? Do you think it's feasible to have a mostly stock SUV/Wagon that I can also do some light over-landing or off-roading with here in the southeast? Where have you gone, in the NC/TN/GA area? Thanks all!

 

[wigsajumper]

Out of those listed I would lean towards the GX460 (or a GX470 if you don't mind a older model), FJ. I don't have any experience with any of the others except for the Cherokees. Unless you are getting a really nice clean old XJ Cherokee I would stay away from the Newer Grand Cherokees. I finally got rid of the wife's WK. The 4.7 V8 in it was great but the rest of the vehicle had so many electrical gremlins I almost took it to salvage numerous times.

 

[smlobx]

Welcome neighbor. I’m just over the border in VA and have been to Boone and Blowing rock on several occasions.

I have 2 questions/comments before I can give you any advise…
1. Are you planning on going by yourself or will there be other people in your vehicle?
2. Don’t discount dependability of what ever vehicle you’re thinking about…I would personally stay away from anything VW and anything with a thirsty engine …

 

[nm123]

Out of those listed I would lean towards the GX460 (or a GX470 if you don't mind a older model), FJ. I don't have any experience with any of the others except for the Cherokees. Unless you are getting a really nice clean old XJ Cherokee I would stay away from the Newer Grand Cherokees. I finally got rid of the wife's WK. The 4.7 V8 in it was great but the rest of the vehicle had so many electrical gremlins I almost took it to salvage numerous times.

Hey! Thanks for the recommendation. If that’s the case I’ll probably just pass by the Cherokee all together — especially since I want something newer. I’m not much of a car person, but I can do basic maintenance without issues. Replacing fluids, brakes, etc.

 

[nm123]

Welcome neighbor. I’m just over the border in VA and have been to Boone and Blowing rock on several occasions.

I have 2 questions/comments before I can give you any advise…
1. Are you planning on going by yourself or will there be other people in your vehicle?
2. Don’t discount dependability of what ever vehicle you’re thinking about…I would personally stay away from anything VW and anything with a thirsty engine …

Howdy neighbor! Haha

1. I will likely be by myself in the vehicle, but I will go on these trails with a friend (who owns the ‘12 Touareg).
2. Can you clarify what you mean?

I haven’t driven anything besides my Honda for the past 10 years, and the Silverado for the past 3, so I don’t really know what’s better than what else.

 

[smlobx]

1. I will likely be by myself in the vehicle, but I will go on these trails with a friend (who owns the ‘12 Touareg).
2. Can you clarify what you mean?

I haven’t driven anything besides my Honda for the past 10 years, and the Silverado for the past 3, so I don’t really know what’s better than what else.

If it's just you and you're not planning on doing any hardcore off-roading then my vote would be for a Subaru Outback or Forrester. They are very dependable and have a great AWD system. We have had several of them over the years. They are also pretty frugal as far as gas is concerned and that means being able to get further off the road before having to worry about running out of gas.

As far as my second statement goes what I'm referring to is that taking your vehicle off-road with a load of camping gear is putting a stress on it beyond what a normal vehicle can experience. Having a dependable platform that will not only get you out there BUT back is very important. That's why Toyota's are so loved...(I don't own one BTW). But Subaru's are also very dependable.

You asked what we drive and my two off-road/expedition vehicles are a F-350 diesel with a Hallmark Expedition camper and a Jeep Gladiator with an Alu-Cab canopy and RTT when I really want to get off the beaten track. We have been to Alaska and back (10 weeks) as well as exploring the deserts of Texas and Southern New Mexico(6 weeks) in the last 12 months. Later this fall we're going to explore some of the more remote places in Utah for a month or so.

 

[grubworm]

my step-daughter recently moved to denver and really loves getting out and exploring. she got rid of her 2014 jeep wrangler and bought a subaru forester and loves it. her and her boyfriend camp out of it and she says its way better suited for her than the jeep was. i rode in it and really liked it, so that might be a decent option.

i have a lifted tundra and have been out on trails that i thought were a bit rough and then i get to the end and see several awd cars parked and chilling out....those outbacks and foresters are VERY capable machines

 

[nm123]

If it's just you and you're not planning on doing any hardcore off-roading then my vote would be for a Subaru Outback or Forrester. They are very dependable and have a great AWD system. We have had several of them over the years. They are also pretty frugal as far as gas is concerned and that means being able to get further off the road before having to worry about running out of gas.

As far as my second statement goes what I'm referring to is that taking your vehicle off-road with a load of camping gear is putting a stress on it beyond what a normal vehicle can experience. Having a dependable platform that will not only get you out there BUT back is very important. That's why Toyota's are so loved...(I don't own one BTW). But Subaru's are also very dependable.

You asked what we drive and my two off-road/expedition vehicles are a F-350 diesel with a Hallmark Expedition camper and a Jeep Gladiator with an Alu-Cab canopy and RTT when I really want to get off the beaten track. We have been to Alaska and back (10 weeks) as well as exploring the deserts of Texas and Southern New Mexico(6 weeks) in the last 12 months. Later this fall we're going to explore some of the more remote places in Utah for a month or so.

Yeah, I don't expect to do any serious or hardcore off-roading. I would certainly love to build out a vehicle for that, but I don't have nearly enough money and frankly I don't know nearly enough about the working mechanisms of cars to feel comfortable doing the necessary types of modifications, haha. Maybe in a few more years after I make more money, and settle down. I just want to be able to do some extra exploring outside of the norm.

I see! I understand what you mean, and it makes sense. I'll keep that in mind as I continue my research.

Oooh, that sounds like a great set-up. And it sounds like y'all have had some awesome exploration experiences! I'm jealous. I visited Moab, UT back in 2018 and had a blast. I hope you and the fam have a great time!

 

[nm123]

my step-daughter recently moved to denver and really loves getting out and exploring. she got rid of her 2014 jeep wrangler and bought a subaru forester and loves it. her and her boyfriend camp out of it and she says its way better suited for her than the jeep was. i rode in it and really liked it, so that might be a decent option.

i have a lifted tundra and have been out on trails that i thought were a bit rough and then i get to the end and see several awd cars parked and chilling out....those outbacks and foresters are VERY capable machines

It sounds like Subaru's are a clear preference among the people on this feed. I'll definitely keep that in mind. I plan to go test drive a Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek this week (same day, easier side-by-side comparison) so we'll see how that goes. What model year Forester did she buy? From what I've seen trails out in the mid-west are more open and dry compared to what's around here, but it's good to know regardless.

That's actually pretty funny, haha. I guess it's all about how you drive and what you prepare.

 

[RemoteBound]

Yeah, I don't expect to do any serious or hardcore off-roading.

Subaru Outback!!!! Hands down.

It has:

• "OK" clearance
• the best AWD system available which will do extremely well in snow, mud, and rain with the right tires (tires are critical)
• the AWD system will be utilized even when you're not off-roading, which is nice
• try to get a model with X-Mode
• reliable and dependable
• decent cargo space
• should come with roof racks

The only downside might be if you want to load it up with a few people and a bunch of gear... then it will drive very sluggish because you'll be over the payload. But it doesn't sound like you're going on any major overlanding expeditions so you should be fine.

 

[RemoteBound]

P. S. It sounds like you'll wanted the Limited trim level.

Check these out: Subaru Outback 2015-2018 - AutoTempest.com

 

[grubworm]

What model year Forester did she buy? From what I've seen trails out in the mid-west are more open and dry compared to what's around here, but it's good to know regardless.

That's actually pretty funny, haha. I guess it's all about how you drive and what you prepare.

she bought a 2021 model. the wife and i were camping out at ridgeway, co a couple months ago and she rented a forester and drove from denver to hang out with us and try out the car. she drove back to denver and bought one the next day and she's been driving a jeep for years, so it obviously really impressed her.

i liked the gas mileage. i know its like comparing apples to oranges, but my tundra gets 10 mpg and the forester gets double that or better. we did a 2 week trip out west and just to get from new orleans to el paso took me 3 tanks of fuel at over $200. the entire trip was over $1500 in fuel...that would have been about $600 in fuel for a car of that type. the wife also has a jeep and that thing is as bad as the tundra on fuel, so if you can get by with a smaller car like that, you already saved a lot on fuel alone. im sure insurance cost is better, too.

 

[nm123]

Subaru Outback!!!! Hands down.

It has:

• "OK" clearance
• the best AWD system available which will do extremely well in snow, mud, and rain with the right tires (tires are critical)
• the AWD system will be utilized even when you're not off-roading, which is nice
• try to get a model with X-Mode
• reliable and dependable
• decent cargo space
• should come with roof racks

The only downside might be if you want to load it up with a few people and a bunch of gear... then it will drive very sluggish because you'll be over the payload. But it doesn't sound like you're going on any major overlanding expeditions so you should be fine.

I ended up completing my test drives yesterday afternoon, including a 2021 of the Forester Limited, Outback Limited, Crosstrek Limited, and Crosstrek Sport. The Outback was my second favorite, and I thought the ride was a lot smoother than the Forester, but ultimately I ended up liking the Crosstrek better because it was a little bit smaller and peppier. It has X-Mode too, but it didn't include the build in cross-bars.

It kind of sucks because I'm trying to avoid taking out a large loan, but of course my favorite vehicle was the newest one. Haha

But, at least for the rest of the year, I'm going to hold off on purchasing anything. Like I said, I just don't want to take out a huge car loan right now... and my civic runs and drives just fine. I can manage it here even with the snow, but some off the beaten path routes are out of the question, so it is what it is. I'm going to be more frugal and put money aside so that I can hopefully get something by this time next year, latest. We'll see. I really appreciate your help though!

 

[nm123]

she bought a 2021 model. the wife and i were camping out at ridgeway, co a couple months ago and she rented a forester and drove from denver to hang out with us and try out the car. she drove back to denver and bought one the next day and she's been driving a jeep for years, so it obviously really impressed her.

i liked the gas mileage. i know its like comparing apples to oranges, but my tundra gets 10 mpg and the forester gets double that or better. we did a 2 week trip out west and just to get from new orleans to el paso took me 3 tanks of fuel at over $200. the entire trip was over $1500 in fuel...that would have been about $600 in fuel for a car of that type. the wife also has a jeep and that thing is as bad as the tundra on fuel, so if you can get by with a smaller car like that, you already saved a lot on fuel alone. im sure insurance cost is better, too.

That's so much fuel!! Holy crap. If I ultimately end up buying a truck instead of an SUV I'm undoubtedly getting a Tacoma. I don't want anything full sized, it's too big for my needs. But it's crazy how none of the mid-size trucks were comfortable to drive, and the Tacoma was the only one where I actually had enough leg room. I ended up deciding I liked the Crosstrek Sport the most, followed by an Xterra PRO-4X, and a RAV4.

But, at least for the rest of the year, I'm going to hold off on purchasing anything. Like I said to RemoteBound, I just don't want to take out a huge car loan right now... and my civic runs and drives just fine. I can manage it here even with the snow, but some off the beaten path routes are out of the question, so it is what it is. I'm going to be more frugal and put money aside so that I can hopefully get something by this time next year, latest. We'll see. I really appreciate your help though!

 

[Wellspring]

Greetings from Burnsville, just south of you in Boone. Buy what you can afford and go from there. Boone has harsh winters (as do we), so my vote would be for a reliable AWD like a Subaru (we have a Crosstrek with a 5 speed Manual and it drives great in the mountains all year), or a 4WD midsized truck that hasn't been beaten to death. I pesonally drive a 2020 Toytota Tacoma TRD OFF Road, as that has been a vehicle I have wanted for over 10 years. I used to work the Overland Expo Show East for many years in Asheville, and I saw some very well configured overland Tacomas come through, and knew that some day I would own one, and build it for our overland needs (wife and I). Good luck on your hunt for that special vehicle.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Of those in your list I would vote for a Subaru Forester first. Excellent AWD, very "grippy" and excellent lines of sight. Great visibility. Good amount of cargo space. 8.9 inches ground clearance in 2013 model.

An 05 to 12 Toyota Rav 4 is also a good choice, very reliable - more so than the new ones!

I've always likes the Xterra although I've never owned one. The FJ seems cool but may be kind of a gas pig for its size. Never owned one.

The GMC Terrain: my girl has one of these - a first generation in Denali trim. I have found it to be a very nice vehicle, high safety marks, excellent on-road AWD, very "grippy". I liken it s shape to what a 1994 S10 Blazer or Jimmy might look like today (those had between 8 and 10 inches clearance stock). Not a hell of a lot of clearance on the 1st gen Terrain though... only 6.9 inches for the 2010 - 2017 Terrain. The 4 cylinder engine is hit or miss. The 6 cylinder engine is excellent but the 6 with AWD doesnt get you much better fuel mileage than a modern full size 8 cylinder Silverado/ Sierra. Truth be told that's mainly because the modern 8 cyl Silverado/Sierra uses AFM/DFM which drops 4 cylinders when on the highway and not under load, but still...

I personally would stay away from Lexus, mainly because it's a Toyota that costs more for parts and repair, so I'd just go Toyota at that point.

To me, the modern Jeep Cherokee is maybe a little ridiculous compared to the original XJ. I have a 99 grand Cherokee that I like a lot, though, but I'd stay away from Jeep's "fancier" offerings. As mentioned earlier, thier electric is kinda iffy. If they need 12 inches of electrical wire, they like to stretch 11 inches. Over the years, it makes for a lot of ground wire repairs at the rubber boot between the door and the frame.

Just one man's experience

 

[nm123]

Of those in your list I would vote for a Subaru Forester first. Excellent AWD, very "grippy" and excellent lines of sight. Great visibility. Good amount of cargo space. 8.9 inches ground clearance in 2013 model.

An 05 to 12 Toyota Rav 4 is also a good choice, very reliable - more so than the new ones!

I've always likes the Xterra although I've never owned one. The FJ seems cool but may be kind of a gas pig for its size. Never owned one.

The GMC Terrain: my girl has one of these - a first generation in Denali trim. I have found it to be a very nice vehicle, high safety marks, excellent on-road AWD, very "grippy". I liken it s shape to what a 1994 S10 Blazer or Jimmy might look like today (those had between 8 and 10 inches clearance stock). Not a hell of a lot of clearance on the 1st gen Terrain though... only 6.9 inches for the 2010 - 2017 Terrain. The 4 cylinder engine is hit or miss. The 6 cylinder engine is excellent but the 6 with AWD doesnt get you much better fuel mileage than a modern full size 8 cylinder Silverado/ Sierra. Truth be told that's mainly because the modern 8 cyl Silverado/Sierra uses AFM/DFM which drops 4 cylinders when on the highway and not under load, but still...

I personally would stay away from Lexus, mainly because it's a Toyota that costs more for parts and repair, so I'd just go Toyota at that point.

To me, the modern Jeep Cherokee is maybe a little ridiculous compared to the original XJ. I have a 99 grand Cherokee that I like a lot, though, but I'd stay away from Jeep's "fancier" offerings. As mentioned earlier, thier electric is kinda iffy. If they need 12 inches of electrical wire, they like to stretch 11 inches. Over the years, it makes for a lot of ground wire repairs at the rubber boot between the door and the frame.

Just one man's experience

I hear you, haha. I loved the Subaru's I drove, honestly. I tried 2018, 2020, and 2021 models. Their ground clearance is 8.7", so not much has changed there thankfully.

The RAV4 was nice too, but the one I drove didn't have all of the features I wanted. It seems like the older models for a lot of the vehicles I looked at were the best years, but they all have so many miles on them that it wouldn't benefit me much. I do a lot of highway miles every year. And I'm not much of a "car guy" so I can't do much outside of changing fluids and brakes.

My friend had an Xterra and it was great to be a passenger; when I tried driving one I had a lot of flashbacks from our adventures in it. Drive wasn't too bad either. When I drove the FJ it was too bulky for what I really wanted. I'm going to include screenshots of the Excel sheet I made for the vehicles I drove.

I tried a 2018 Denali trim Terrain! The sales person wouldn't let me take it for a long test drives, I only got 4 immediate rights; I couldn't really get a good feel for it. :( That's kind of crazy though!

Lexus was fun to drive for the simplicity of comfort, but it definitely didn't fit the needs I wanted out of it. Was cool to try though.

And yeah, I wasn't too impressed with any of the Jeep's I drove to be honest.

I realized after driving everything that I wanted something more sporty with some off-road features. I knew I wanted to be able to enjoy it on pavement more than off-road capability, but I tried not to make that the guiding feature. In the end though, I ultimately liked the Subaru the most because of interior comfort and drive on pavement. But I know, from friends who own Subaru's, that they're reliable on and off-road. Especially since most of the trails I intend to do aren't going to be treacherous.

 

[JKel]

Honestly, it sounds like the Crosstrek will be a great vehicle for you. It's a little small on space, but if you don't mind getting a roof top box it should do the trick. You've probably been in Boone long enough to know about the winters, and it's no coincidence that so many people up there drive Subarus. Take it on a few trips and see how it does, maybe budget for a good set of AT tires if the factory shoes don't get the job done.

We just bought a Subaru Ascent for my wife, and i'm really impressed with it. It drives well on the road and is really quiet. The 2.4 is great, I blink and i'm going 60 mph. We get about 24-25 mpg on the highway, but the Ascent is a big fella.

I drive a Jeep as my vehicle, and there is simply no comparison.

 

[nm123]

Honestly, it sounds like the Crosstrek will be a great vehicle for you. It's a little small on space, but if you don't mind getting a roof top box it should do the trick. You've probably been in Boone long enough to know about the winters, and it's no coincidence that so many people up there drive Subarus. Take it on a few trips and see how it does, maybe budget for a good set of AT tires if the factory shoes don't get the job done.

We just bought a Subaru Ascent for my wife, and i'm really impressed with it. It drives well on the road and is really quiet. The 2.4 is great, I blink and i'm going 60 mph. We get about 24-25 mpg on the highway, but the Ascent is a big fella.

I drive a Jeep as my vehicle, and there is simply no comparison.

Yeah, I don't mind having something on the smaller side anyways honestly. I've only had a coupe for the last 8 years, and I drive a single cab truck for work so I'm very used to making the best use of the space I have, haha. Last winter wasn't terrible, but I was driving the truck everyday because I didn't have my Civic up here yet (I was in the middle of the move from Charlotte, over several months). But I've driven in snow with it before, so I doubt it'll be much different. I absolutely love AT tires on the Silverado though, although it's curb weight is almost 1500 lbs heavier than the Crosstrek.

I heard good things about the Ascent, too! One of the guys on my job site got one for his wife; he said they've loved it so far. That's honestly why I'm more interested in getting the 2021 over any of the older generations, because I can get the 2.5L instead of the 2.0L -- it really made a difference when I drove it (I tried a 2018 and 2021). It'll be great to be able to not lose out on the gas mileage I'm used to, too. Plus I'll have more off-road capabilities than I do now.

I decided to hold off until next year, though. When they release the 2022 model the 2021 model will probably drop by at least $5k or so, and by then I'll have more saved up. I'm not planning to go spend my whole savings on it, but I did the math and I think I can save at least another $10k by this time next year.