Considering what to replace mom's 1996 Disco with.
1st: What does she like about the 96 and why change now?
Bad: It's getting on in miles, has growing rust and more frequency of annoying troubles like now AC doesn't work somewhere between compressor and head unit. Electrical gremlins more often (lights come on just for hell of it etc when parked - workaround she uses is cut-off at battery when parked LOL)
Good: She loves riding up high in it, seeing the roadway for traffic but also view of landscape on trips, feels safe from being hit by other vehicles (somewhat irrational but was hurt in a red light runner many years ago while in a sedan). She likes how well it grips in snow, dirt roads to hiking trails, etc. ...and she says "it's just cool, like a big toy"
She's moving from a small town with nobody to do serious work on it but only 4 hrs from me and 4 -6 shops/dealers to choose from to a small town with closest rover tech maybe 2 hrs away. * Grand Marais MN which is 2 hrs up north shore Lk superior from Duluth MN....
I figure she could use something for her limited driving that is at least more 'reliable' - not that the 96 has stranded her, it has had more frequent issues like when I had to go out there to replace the steering pump last summer and find parts for permanent fix of rear window regulator. She came to Tacoma last summer where I could do more little things and have dealer look into the AC issue - deemed not worth the $ to fix after finding the compressor worked w power to it.
I have the 04 disco .... it's only 90,000 miles and in top working condition owned since 2006. I also have the lr3 which she finds "bigger" than the d1 but I think it's in part due to all the shit on it. I could actually let her have/use the D2.... but how is that any better in terms of finding a proper mechanic near her? Same goes I guess for an lr3 but in some ways I feel like it'll need stuff less often.
Hence idea for more common Subaru, Toyota, or I suppose even a Ford.... God forbid
Any ideas welcome - what would you do in your 40's for a mom in her early 70's who likes to get out hiking, snowshoeing, camping, etc. but is in now way mechanically inclined and always feels like she'll be taken advantage of by mechanics unless they are well recommended?
Oh, my budget is around $10-12k but that happens to be a 07 Subaru H6, or lr3 or d2 - I haven't researched Toyota 4 Runners Highlanders of similar age 2005-2008 ish.
thx
1st: What does she like about the 96 and why change now?
Bad: It's getting on in miles, has growing rust and more frequency of annoying troubles like now AC doesn't work somewhere between compressor and head unit. Electrical gremlins more often (lights come on just for hell of it etc when parked - workaround she uses is cut-off at battery when parked LOL)
Good: She loves riding up high in it, seeing the roadway for traffic but also view of landscape on trips, feels safe from being hit by other vehicles (somewhat irrational but was hurt in a red light runner many years ago while in a sedan). She likes how well it grips in snow, dirt roads to hiking trails, etc. ...and she says "it's just cool, like a big toy"
She's moving from a small town with nobody to do serious work on it but only 4 hrs from me and 4 -6 shops/dealers to choose from to a small town with closest rover tech maybe 2 hrs away. * Grand Marais MN which is 2 hrs up north shore Lk superior from Duluth MN....
I figure she could use something for her limited driving that is at least more 'reliable' - not that the 96 has stranded her, it has had more frequent issues like when I had to go out there to replace the steering pump last summer and find parts for permanent fix of rear window regulator. She came to Tacoma last summer where I could do more little things and have dealer look into the AC issue - deemed not worth the $ to fix after finding the compressor worked w power to it.
I have the 04 disco .... it's only 90,000 miles and in top working condition owned since 2006. I also have the lr3 which she finds "bigger" than the d1 but I think it's in part due to all the shit on it. I could actually let her have/use the D2.... but how is that any better in terms of finding a proper mechanic near her? Same goes I guess for an lr3 but in some ways I feel like it'll need stuff less often.
Hence idea for more common Subaru, Toyota, or I suppose even a Ford.... God forbid
Any ideas welcome - what would you do in your 40's for a mom in her early 70's who likes to get out hiking, snowshoeing, camping, etc. but is in now way mechanically inclined and always feels like she'll be taken advantage of by mechanics unless they are well recommended?
Oh, my budget is around $10-12k but that happens to be a 07 Subaru H6, or lr3 or d2 - I haven't researched Toyota 4 Runners Highlanders of similar age 2005-2008 ish.
thx