Best climbing vehicle...

Honda Element... Lots of room for gear and I sleep in it all the time, all the seats fold down to make a bed, have spent weeks living out of it...

I got this working bus from my rafting boss for free then chopped out all the seats and added a full bed, pull out couch, wood burning stove, and a kitchen plus some. ! just burned the stove in -25 degree weather and the inside temp stayed at about 55 degrees, not to bad, I now live in this during the summer and it is great for climbing buddies to stay in.

holy crap! that bus is the coolest thing ive ever seen!

That is indeed a sweet rig. The bear on the roof is spectacular and the wood stove- what a bonus!
I actually just purchased a fine auto. I looked into the trucks and vans and finally, nearly out of desperation, bought a $600 Ford Escort wagon. It's fucking ugly and rides low, librarian car or substitute nurse car or something.
The redeeming factor is the wagon part, 35+mpg and a factory installed roof rack. If it makes it all winter I'll be happy. Then I'll burn it on the side of the road or launch it off a cliff. Hell I may even fix it too.
Drive safe amigos!

Cameron Walker wrote:I've been thinking: toyota tercel, honda civic 4 door, ford escort wagon, molester van and the like. I'm privy to a tercel because I've previously owned one, but it was kinda cramped, but it was only a 2 door. oh yea, keep it under 2k... Thanks for any input.

I'm sellign my molester van, could make it $2K. Contact me offline if interested in details.

Many of these responses are not realistic for your budget or what you're looking for. I wouldn't purchase a Toyota, I would even more so shy away from a 4x4 Toyota. Toyota was as good as it got in the 80s and 90s, I'm not knocking the quality but you're paying a lot of additional funds and you're not maxing out your value there. Toyota quality has also gone WAY down in the past 10 years so Iwouldn't support the newer stuff anyway. I can spend a month telling you all about this but at one time I was obsessed with Land Cruisers, I owned 11 at one time from the FJ40 to the 100 series. Toyota peaked with the 1997 FZJ80, the last of their solid axles, the 1993-1997 FZJ80 Is one of the greatest SUVs and 4x4s ever made but at 12-13mpg you just don't need it.

I would for sure look into the Subaru if you need the AWD, I would try to focus on finding a 1996 (maybe it was 1997) Outback, first year of the Outback last year you could get the 2.2 instead of the 2.5, an Outback would be a really good value with the 2.2.

My personal choice for dependability and I can't believe nobody has said this. The Volvo 240, those red block motors are truly the best gas motor ever manufactured, the 22r and re were great motors but nothing like the 230 Volvo red blocks. Of them all they're the easiest to work on, lowest cost, most reliable, parts are easy to find and they are BULLETPROOF! Look up the world record on a gas motor, it's Volvo with 2,450,000 miles without a rebuild!

I currently have a 240 Wagon, it will swallow all the gear I can toss at it, gets 23mpg and they are VERY VERY well built, perfect for any dirtbag climber. Oh and of course you can also sleep in them.

The 300D and a very other diesels such as the already mentioned Sprinter would be great choices but not very practical.

Hello, I will give you my 2 cents ion this. I am a certified Master mechanic and own my own garage and here are my recommendations.
Best all around truck: 2wd Toyota P-up
Best Van- Dodge caravan
Best car: Toyota carolla wagon or camry wagon
Explanation. The 4 cylinder toyota p-up is the balls.22r is a great motor but they dont make it anymore.They still make motor's just as good though if not better. @wd because better gas mileage. It is very seldom you need 4wd. Mostly that is a vanity thing.
Dodge Caravan because its a great affordable mid sized van with a great mitsubishi power plant. I recommend the 3.3l engine. Very comfortable for long drives. Great sleeping area.
Toyota wagon because they are solid and sleep comfortable. Last a long time and great mileage with the 4 cylinder.
I do not like Suburus myself and dont recommend those gas hogs.Who needs 4wd all the time? People who dont know how to drive in snow!!!
TRhe older ones had head gasket problems and are just pieces of shit.
American cars are junk as well. Also they are gas guzzlers.I myself use the caravan and love it.It has been a great van. Its a 2001.
All in all I say stick with what you need. If you want a lot of room I would get a full size dodge van with a 318. I dont care for american cars. I have been fixing cars for about 15 years and will say american cars and trucks suck. They break too much. Have a great day.

I also agree with the Volvo 240. The older volvos are great. The newr ones suck and are too expensive. I will say that the volvos have electrical problems though. And they are old. But the 240 is a great motor, and its easy to work on. Heavy car though. Bad for rough roads. Toypota 2wd is too small for taller people too.

Adam Block wrote:The Volvo 240, those red block motors are truly the best gas motor ever manufactured, the 22r and re were great motors but nothing like the 230 Volvo red blocks. Of them all they're the easiest to work on, lowest cost, most reliable, parts are easy to find and they are BULLETPROOF! Look up the world record on a gas motor, it's Volvo with 2,450,000 miles without a rebuild! I currently have a 240 Wagon, it will swallow all the gear I can toss at it, gets 23mpg and they are VERY VERY well built, perfect for any dirtbag climber. Oh and of course you can also sleep in them.

I have a 240 and the only complaint that I have is that I didn't get the station wagon. But the sedan RULES. That little engine just doesn't quit and it has tons and tons of trunk space. Sleeping in the back seat isn't very comfortable but if you just get a wagon, you won't have a problem.

And, the heater has plastic melting capabilities which is a huge plus.

I don't think you could go wrong with a 240.

Max Johnson wrote: I have a 240 and the only complaint that I have is that I didn't get the station wagon. But the sedan RULES. That little engine just doesn't quit and it has tons and tons of trunk space. Sleeping in the back seat isn't very comfortable but if you just get a wagon, you won't have a problem. And, the heater has plastic melting capabilities which is a huge plus. I don't think you could go wrong with a 240.

Ha, yeah I joke with people all the time about the heat, it's instant! That thing could be sitting in the cold all day and I start it and have heat. No matter how cold it is I can't run the heat on full blast.

FOr the money you will not find anything better than the 240, even when they break they'll still get you home. They have some small issues such as the overdrive relay, odometer gear and shitty headlight but for $400 you can fix all those and you'll love the thing.

Added bonuses being you get asked things like:

1) How do I get out of this thing?

2) What's the smell? (I always say it's euro musk)

Also every time somebody drives it they will slam on the brakes the first time they go to stop which is funny.

In truth, the 240 is the most simple, inexpensive, dependable car you can purchase. They call them "Bricks" for a reason. And you would shit a brick if you saw how fast some of the turbos were.

Patrick K. wrote:I got this working bus from my rafting boss for free then chopped out all the seats and added a full bed, pull out couch, wood burning stove, and a kitchen plus some. ! just burned the stove in -25 degree weather and the inside temp stayed at about 55 degrees, not to bad, I now live in this during the summer and it is great for climbing buddies to stay in.

Two words: Chris McCandless.

Jay Knower wrote: Two words: Chris McCandless.

You mean Alexander Supertramp

You may find a 2wd Toy Previa for around 2K, Maybe. My '97 has 235K on it now (awd and supercharger) awesome for driving around the hills and lots of room (once ya toss the rear seats , around 8')

I just saw a 2wd on ebaymotors for $1.800