Best cheap beater with 4wd/AWD?

Posted by uwu_hometownguy21@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Long story short, I move for work every few years and Im tired of dealing with moving 2 cars meow that Im married. Wife and I traded in both cars and switched to a one car household for the time being. Eventually gonna get my own once hunting season comes around hence the need for 4wd/AWD. I would be buying something that I would turn around and sell before moving without caring. Any and all recommendations will be considered. Reliability is the most important thing.

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Skyline99x@reddit

Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV.

The first gen RAV4 is near bulletproof. They're just considerably old at this point. But mighty fine cars. 2nd gen I believe had some oil issues but still solid cars.

I've only ever heard good things about the old CRVs and I continue to see them all the time.

Can't beat japanese reliability, especially from Toyota or Honda and parts are very cheap and readily available.

Pretty easy to work on too, if you're mechanically inclined.

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Kdoesntcare@reddit

A 1.8t B5 Audi A4, preferably a later year car as the older 1.8ts are tricky. Mine is lowered and on VW wheels

Old enough that there isn't as much stuff that can break and the 1.8t is easy to maintain and get over 300k miles out of. The v6 is pretty solid too but working on them is more difficult.

Full mechanical AWD instead of a reactive system which is only AWD when the wheels slip. Any VAG car that has a sideways engine is FWD until the wheels slip.

Not a sideways boxer engine, like in a Subaru, meaning repairs are cheaper and easier. I've had mechanics tell me that they prefer the reliability of VWs more than the reliability of Subarus just because of the sideways engine

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kaneuens@reddit

Honda CRV

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Netghod@reddit

Old Ford Ranger or Mazda B series pickup. Or most any of the smaller series of pickups - Chevy, GMC, etc. as long as you don’t mind turning a wrench on occasion.

You didn’t mention price so this is going to be one of the ‘cheaper’ ways to get AWD/4WD.

Subarus are likely going to be a pain with oil leaks and other issues unless you go low mileage but you’ll get a lot more truck for the money. Old Subaru Bajas for example are just priced way too high - even with 200k on them.

You might find some old Suzuki or similar - but those tend to be easy to work on.

But most any of these older options would work well for running into the woods and not worrying about paint or other problems.

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Obsession88@reddit

As you are in the PNW, throw a rock and buy the first Subaru Outback you hit.

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nopester24@reddit

oof this is asking for problems. if you really want an AWD beater, that means its probably high mileage and very used, so that AWD system is probably due for some work.

BUT (if you really wanna go thru with this) find yourself a Charger SXT / GT trims that came with AWD.

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uwu_hometownguy21@reddit (OP)

Anything 4wd you'd recommend instead? I included AWD for shits and gigs

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nopester24@reddit

you for a "just for gigs" get a 4wd capable truck. still probably gonna need some work but at least its more reliable and probably easier to work on if you know how to wrench. i'd recommend a chevy or ford shitbox

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288bpsmodem@reddit

Suzuki sx4

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nicholasktu@reddit

A Chevy GMT400 or GMT800. I prefer the 800 since it has an LS engine, otherwise they are both cheap, readily available and easy to work on.

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benicebuddy@reddit

Go to facebook marketplace and see what you can buy in your price range. The more expensive it is, the more reliable it will be. If your budget is 30k, no problem. If it is 10k, you're buying maintenance records and the correct mods. Since you're selling quickly, you're just looking for something that has a pretty tight spread of prices. For instance, pretty much every Tundra costs about the same. They are reliable and the most common mods are suspension and appearance...easy to correct if you don't like them. A 20k Tundra with 150k will be worth 20k when you sell it with 165k. However, you can spend 5k or 25k for an OBS F250/350 or a gmt 800. The motor could have been built twice or replaced once or filled with additives just long enough to stop knocking for the test drive. You want to buy something that doesn't have a lot of variables to consider for the seller.

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unpolire@reddit

A high-mileage Subaru.

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AYPEETWO@reddit

Any Subaru. Can find some for 5k

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k3y4n0w@reddit

4.6L f150 are capable hunting trucks. cheap af too.

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TheThinDewLine@reddit

4Runner or Landcruiser

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stu54@reddit

Maybe take a season off from hunting and get a FWD car if you want to save money.

You get what you pay for, and good cars with expensive features like AWD cost more than bad ones. There isn't a secret cheap great car with desirable features.

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Slow_Description_773@reddit

A 2000 something Subaru Forester. Oh wait you said you need reliability....

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Bulocoo@reddit

I bought a little Suzuki Grand Vitara for my kid. He hated it. I thought it was fun to drive. I used it for a woods/hunting vehicle.

It was a little maintenance heavy. IIRC some rear suspension part failed, maybe a sway bar, but it was an easy fix.

Crank position sensor which was buried in the engine somwwhere and cost a bit to fix.

Other than that nothing major.

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I don’t disagree with any of the true 4x4 suggestions, but classic 4x4s hold their value way more than old awd crossovers.

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Sideburn_Cookie_Man@reddit

Depends where you live.

Depends what your budget is.

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uwu_hometownguy21@reddit (OP)

Pacific northwest. Starting as low as possible and working my way up if I feel keen to it

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Sideburn_Cookie_Man@reddit

I'm biased... as I own one.

If you want a dirt cheap excellent vehicle that's easy to work on?

Check out the Isuzu Trooper. Ideally the V6 petrol model in manual.

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