Perfect Tow Vehicle?

[4123]

This has most likely been asked before. What is the perfect tow vehicle for me to look for to purchase? I prefer all wheel drive, ability to tow 2000 lbs and get reasonable fuel mileage. It has to be a used vehicle probably under $4K. Is this possible? I have to get Olga a car because her trusty Subaru bit the dust and we are tired of driving around in our Nissan Xterra at 12 MPG towing the TD. There are so many different vehicles out there that I'm confused. Help please....

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Clearly another Subaru is needed

[Deryk the Pirate]

If you were east coast I know someone who is selling one for 6k with a new timingbelt and waterpump...

[3822sean]

Clearly another Subaru is needed

[glenpinpat]

probably too pricey but our suzuki grand vitara can tow 3000lbs is allwheel drive(also has true 4x4 capability) and gets us about 26 to 28 m/g towing our td

[Shadow Catcher]

We are on Subaru's # 11 and 12 having had nothing else since 1977. All but one went to the junk yard because of rust with still good power trains. #9 now owned by my son has more than 300.000 miles on it (they seem to have mostly licked the rust problem [Ohio uses LOTS of salt]).
Mine is a 01 3L H6 and I get 19 to 20 mpg towing Compass Rose 1600lb loaded 6' wide at 65mph.

[Hillmann]

I am going to have to agree with everyone else here and say that a subaru is hard to beet. Maybe we need another category added to the T&TTT main page to brag about how awesome subarus are.

[fornesto]

Take a look at Third Gen (1996-2002) 4Runners. They get about 20mpg, run forever, and can tow up to 5,000 lbs.

I just parked a '96 4Runner with 234K on the original engine and transmission and got 20 mpg through the last tank. The check engine light came on for the first time ever and I'm going to sell it cheap for someone else to fix. I would get another one in a heartbeat.

[mikeschn]

If you want to tow 2000#, I can't think of anything better than a Subaru. Either a Forrester or an Outback. You might have to allocate a little bit more money though...

Another vehicle that will tow it is the Chevy Equinox, but it bigger, hence the fuel economy is not as good.

If $4K is the max, you might look for an older Quattro.

Clearly your constraints are a challenge. You'll have to spend a lot of time on the various websites, to find what you want.

Mike...

P.S. You don't say where you live, but there are some options here: http://www.voaautosales.com/inventory.php

[SteveF]

Subaru or 6 cylinder Toyota RAV4...there are probably lots of little SUV's that also meet your requirements but those are two I've had good experiences with.

[robfisher]

#9 now owned by my son has more than 300.000 miles on it (they seem to have mostly licked the rust problem [Ohio uses LOTS of salt]).
.

Would that be considered a salt lick?

[ssrjim]

'74 Ford Pinto.