Small truck/SUV winter vehicle info?

Might end up getting a winter vehicle that I won’t have to worry about rusting out, meaning I just don’t have to care about the inevitability that it will rust and die. I’m not worried about cutting out the wheel sells and zipping fender flares on, or spraying rust encapsulators and what not to slow down rust.

Looking for it to possibly be manual trans for some entertainment.
4x4

Any recommendations on reliability of mid 90’s jeep wranglers 4 and 6 cylinder versions? Manual or automatic.

Small Toyota trucks(4 cylinder manual, or even automatic). 6 cylinders if they exist? I know nothing about these.

Nissan Exterras? Early 2000’s, I know these came in stick?

Jeep cherokees
grand cherokees

chevy blazers
S10’s
Dodge durangos

basically 4x4 trucks or SUVs.

il probably be spending 3k’ish

Lambo AWD

I have a ad on here for my Xterra (NOT Exterra lol)
5 speed 4x4. its currently my Daily and ive driven it all over super relible little truck and unstoppable with the new Nanking Mud-stars.

I don’t make 100k a year yet lol but http://youtu.be/ZOIf-yxaZCk

Lol I know nothing about them, but yeah what are they known for, reliability? I think they’re cool, and they have the garbage can wrap so they won’t rust as fast maybe?

Solid Trucks the 3.3 is a timing belt and ive seen them with over 300K miles. they are awesome. Lousy Fuel Eco (I see 18 hwy, 13 city) but just cant kill them. especially with the manual combo.
Mines LOADED with every option in 00 lol and i have the taller gears (4.6>4.9) (the 4.9 get even worse MPG and then the Superchaged ones (02-04 only manual in 02)have the 4.9 gearing and require 93oct they see 13mpg average lol)

If you can find a cheap Tacoma that gets my vote.

I don’t need it for work because I get a work vehicle so MPG don’t even matter to me. I’d kinda like something that maybe if one day I wanted to put beefier tires on and a small lift, that it can be done fairly inexpensively but probably won’t happen.

Obviously I’m biased. But Rangers are dirt cheap. I got my 01 with 32k on it for $7500 last year.

It already has 31" M/t tires lol not much more aggressive out there. with a 2" body lift you can run 33’s
get on any of the X boards. I already have the PML (poor mans lift) longer rear shackle and the torsion bars up)
But is still wanted it to be a decent daily so I kept the rear sways.running boards alot of guys pull them for more travel and better clearance offroad.
Ive only left the pavement once in my owner ship I have used it as a work truck and put husky liners in it. as i throw car parts in it regularly and have used it to tow. its got a class 3 hitch. and trailer brake.

My Cherokee with the 4.0 / 5spd has 290k on it. Its hard to find them from the factory (1 out of 100 was a manual). It drives nice,gets a good 18mpg. Any jeep with the 4.0 will be decent and from what I’ve read the 4cyl isn’t bad either.

Parts are cheap and plentiful,the aftermarket is huge for any jeep. A nice $3k wrangler is going to be a tough find,a decent cherokee for that much can be found easily.

I would say look at 97-01 honda CRV’s, not a ton of power but awd and can find em in manual fairly easily. They will be very reliable and somewhat cheap , figure >3500. Plus getting 24/25mpg is nice.

Xterras are sweet

https://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4674385373.html

this is my friends truck he just bought another car and he is very motivated to sell

I have an S10 with a 2.2 glorified go kart motor lol. Its great in the snow though. Winterforce tires and 200 lbs of weight in the back and its a snow beast. Ive only gotten stuck once and that was in deep snow.

Im with this guy. Awesome beater. My wife’s element just rolled 150k and I’ve done the brakes 2x and scheduled maintnence. That’s it.

I’ll be possibly selling my 06 Sierra 98k miles 5-speed 8ft bed 2wd 19mpgs mixed next week…price is 5k Obo though. Super clean not a spec of rust.