Re: Time to buy a 4x4 beater ... first time buyer
ZJ Jeep Grand Cherokee : Had one, was great and reliable. Mine was a 4.0L and I had a 3.5 inch lift with 31" tires. Did good on the trails and in the winter. A little more rattles than I would've like but it's to be expected on older vehicles.
Nissan Pathfinder (First or second gen): I'm on my second one now and I love it a lot! Had a 2 inch lift one my first one and some 31" tires. Went more places than my ZJ and my buddy's 4" lift 32" tire XJ. My current one has 286,000kms and still solid and rattle free. Easy to work on and the replacement parts are not hard to come by. The downside is that there is almost no aftermarket support for these vehicles. I ordered lift springs in mid August and haven't got them yet. On the plus side, I'm running 31" tires on stock saggy suspension with no issues.
Jeep Cherokee XJ : Easy to work on, parts availability is great. Interior rattles a lot and Althought it's a classic look I find it outdated.
Toyota 4Runner
Awesome trucks but really over priced. Especially the rust free ones.
“I don’t understand bus lanes. Why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?” -Jeremy Clarkson