<p>This is not for us.
A grad student who works at my D’s barn needs to replace a car quick. She was driving an old Suburu wgn. She was in an accident and the car is not worth fixing. She only had collision insurance. The car was quite old.
She only has 4500 dollars max. She needs a car for 2 yrs.She is getting a later model Suburu in two years from a relative. She exercises horses at several locations and carries in her car, 2 saddles, tack, boots and also hauls hay. She found two cars. 2000 Ford Explorer XLT with 90000 miles. One owner. 2001 Mazda tribute with 114000 miles. She says she is not concerned with gas mileage. She wants a car that she can easily get to her stuff.
Any input on any of these cars. She has absolutely no interest in a small sedan.Not that she is listening to me.</p>
<p>I’ll bet she could pick up this baby cheap:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/878791-runaway-prius.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/878791-runaway-prius.html</a></p>
<p>I had a 1991 ‘Exploder’ that was the least reliable vehicle I’ve ever had. I’m sure much of it was redesigned but that experience left a bad taste for Exploders for me. The Mazda Tribute is a Ford Escape fwiw.</p>
<p>Looking at it from a mileage perspective, the 2000 Exploder is 2 years or so younger than the 2001 Mazda.</p>
<p>First, it’s worth it to spend the money for carfax reports - I always get an unlimited month subscription if we need a new (new to us) car and have avoided many mishaps that way. All dealers should be willing to give VIN number to run a search. Even if private seller, the carfax report can show state maintenance records, any accident data, etc.</p>
<p>That said, it is also worth looking at consumerreports.org for the year data for each car she is looking at - some model years are better/worse than others by a lot. I went ahead and got the data for the models you listed: the 2000 Explorer had average to good reports in all categories except transmission major and drive system but also take into account it is a 10 year old car at least and those items would be expected around now if not already. The 2001 Tribute was average to good in all categories except transmission minor. Both car years for those models were given an average reliability rating as a used car so either should serve her well provided the background check (carfax report) turns out okay. Average price listed for the '01 Tribute was 4K-6.3K and for the '00 Explorer was 3.6K-6.2K</p>
<p>I have a 2003 Explorer that I love and have had no problems with. Handles really well, great turning radius and roomy. I haven’t driven a Tribute so can’t weigh in on that.</p>
<p>She has seen the carfax on the Explorer. It is good, one local owner and no accidents and it has been maintained.
Correction the Tribute has 130,000 miles but it has a new transmission and brake sensor. It is $1000 less. It drives much nicer. I think her Dad is coming up to look at the cars tomorrow.</p>
<p>Carfax only can report accidents that have been reported to insurance or another recording body. If someone paid to have it fixed themselves, not at a dealer, no report. We found this out the hard way.</p>
<p>Sorry dragonmom! Yeah, any used car purchase will still be a leap of faith of sorts 
but such steps hopefully help. I’ve also found the most suspicious reports are the “sale of the day” type ones on the dealer lots.</p>