What car to get with good clearance?

[boleslav]

Not sure if this fits exactly under this category- I am looking for an advice on a car to drive to the trail heads etc.

Our very old and trustworthy Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 1988 is on the way out and at this point it seems like it costs more and more to fix the constant problems that have been coming up this year.
It may be time to replace it it with a more reliable car.

Here are some specifications that we would like to have in a new car:
Stick shift
Good clearance (the Jeep had 10inches)
6 cylinder
Enough space in the back that we can sleep there (the second car we have is Subaru Forester, that has plenty of space once we fold the back seats, but the clearance is not as good and the engine is not that strong)

Would appreciate your suggestions as we just got a call from the shop that there is another $1500 issue with the Jeep.

[Scott P]

There aren't that many vehicles that still offer a stick shift. Many new autos are more efficient and perform better anyway.

Maybe look into a Tacoma if Subarus don't have enough ground clearance. I'd you want to buy used, Xterras are good.

[painless4u2]

Hooboy, this topic has been discussed quite a lot on this site, actually.

My personal favorite: Jeep Liberty, the pole smokers special.

[CHeimCO]

Get another jeep. An older Cherokee (maybe not 1988 old)... but 95-2000 won't break the bank.

[Conor]

80 series landcruiser with 6bt and nv4500 swapped in.

[tobiasfunke]

You want a truck.

[Andrew Russell]

I

Get another jeep. An older Cherokee (maybe not 1988 old)... but 95-2000 won't break the bank.

This.

[giarcd]

Get another Jeep,that's why there called Jeep Roads---you'll LOVE it!!

[oldschoolczar]

Jeep Liberty, hands down.

All the car you'll ever need.

Dick

Pffft... haha!

Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road long bed. 9.4" clearance. They make a manual and you can sleep in the bed. I have a short bed, but I just take it up high enough to get above the bugs and sleep under the stars with the tailgate open...

I got one less than 2 months ago and have had that thing all over. Up Mt Antero, no problem. Over Medano pass, no problem. Up to 12,800ft on Castle Creek road no problem. Up Yankee Boy Basin, and on and on... the thing is an absolute beast and it's a great ride in town too!

[letourneau41]

I got a 4Runner and put a lift on it. I've been on a lot of rough roads and haven't had any issues so far. Unfortunately I don't think they offer a stick shift option. I am also able to get a blow up twin bed in the back for car camping.

[lpeabbles]

In regards to your stick shift requirement - I'd recommend rethinking that. I have been a die-hard stick shift driver for years and just HAD to have another one when I bought my brand new 2015 Subaru Crosstrek. Let me tell ya - it was a mistake. It's geared very poorly so that first isn't really low enough to do anything. I can't get up anything steep and rocky because I'll either stall out or DESTROY my clutch fluttering it. I have a friend who has the same car in an automatic and it can do a lot more than mine. Despite loving my stick shifts for years, I think my next vehicle will be an automatic.

[djkest]

I have a Nissan Frontier and it'll go anywhere a Tacoma will, and they are slightly cheaper. Pro tip- the 2006-2015 Frontiers are pretty much all the same as they didn't change the model in 11 years! So you can get an older one and it'll still be the current generation (for now).

Besides that, Grand Cherokee, 4runner, Xterra are all good options. Even a Dodge Durango might be a possibility.