looking for dependable beater/DD--need some advise/suggestions

[fst]

Gf’s looking for a dependable (doesn’t require timing belt replacement at 100k miles or tendency to just die over 100k miles) DD/beater that car to get around for school and work and not break down. The current budget’s capped at $3k. need some suggestions and ideas.
Must be FWD, AWD, or 4x4
preferably newer than 2000+
weighs above 3k pounds
auto

These are what I can think of:
L36/L67 w-body (can do the simple LIM gasket and coolant elbow)
Honda accord (4cyl or v6?)
Toyota camry


Ready and GO!

[BillBoost37]

VW.. passat quattro
Audi Quattro

[nos4blood70]

Get her a nice L36 powered w/h body. LIM gaskets, coolant elbows, shift kit, trans cooler = it'll go forever.

Just gotta watch out for the strut tower rust on the w bodies.

[Hardonyomom]

Jeep cherokee xj with the 4.0 6 cylinder engine. The engines last forever and they are fun to drive. I just sold mine because someone really wanted it.

Sorry didnt see it had to be fwd

[fst]

cherokees i have heard tend to have the diff failures/breaking? or is it only on certain models?

EDIT-nevermind, my buddy informed me it was the viscous coupling but on the older cherokees. the newer ones with the 2wd/4lo/4hi fixed that.

still though, she just got her license so i dunno if the cherokee would be too bulky for her to (parallel) park. keep them coming!

[markpa]

With all the smart folks on this forum I would go with a 3800 GP of some sort. Should be able to pick up a nice 02-04 in that price range.


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[Sven the Sexman]

cherokees i have heard tend to have the diff failures/breaking? or is it only on certain models?

EDIT-nevermind, my buddy informed me it was the viscous coupling but on the older cherokees. the newer ones with the 2wd/4lo/4hi fixed that.

still though, she just got her license so i dunno if the cherokee would be too bulky for her to (parallel) park. keep them coming!

Cherokee is shorter than a W-body thus easier to park. Avoid the later 4.0L as if it gets too warm, the head cracks in the middle. Also, the Jeep is faster than a turbo GP and GtP Comp G...true story.

[fst]

define later 4.0L's pwease.

[BillBoost37]

I'm still saying VW because Sven should have suggested it.

Here's said Jeep that outran the CompG in the pic and the turbo GP not pictured..

[Josiahsgtp]

Pick up a cheap civic, those things run forever!

[fst]

thread revival! found a 03 saturn ion sedan 2.2 ecotec with 142k miles for $1995. has the aisin 5-speed auto which i researched was better than the one with the VTi which had a tendancy to fail. since its an 03 did GM redesigned the 2.2 eco when it was launched back in 01 with better internals? going to go look at it with her this saturday and comb everything over and take a test drive.

the one research about the aisin AF33 is that there's this flare-shift which sounds almost like a downshift that we do with pcm tuning in our wbody. well find out this weekend if we look at it. anything else about the car/motor/trans i should look for aside from any signs of rust, worn struts, etc?