Ok it's perhaps a bit unusual putting this request here in NPN but I am flying into Seattle on May 1st and intend buying a vehicle to last me about 9 months whilst I shoot in the PacNW. Last year I bought a Subaru Outback which turned out to be excellent in the American Southwest. I'd like to buy a similar vehicle.
Does anyone perhaps have something for sale or know of anyone who they might recommend. Perhaps someone knows an honest car dealer
I'm looking at spending no more than $4000. Essentially I'm after a car I can use to car camp and one that has AWD, reliable and low on gas.
Well, I don't know where you flew into last year, but $4000 is on the low end of what you'll likely find at a dealer in my area (I'm in Burien, just NW of the airport). You might be able to make an arrangement with one of the independent dealers to buy it from them and re-sell it back to them later, for a net loss of $4000 (buy at $9k, sell at $5k).
Most used cars are listed on the local Craigslist, "seattle.craigslist.org". Try looking there and seeing what's listed.
I personally have a '96 Subaru Outback wagon and find it amazing for the type of trip you're describing. I'd look for a '96-'99 if you can find one; in '00 and later they got larger and worse gas mileage.
Thanks Mark, I have been looking on Craigslist and see quite a few vehicles in my price range. I'm not really comfortable with the buy back schemes, I mean surely there's no guarantee the dealer will buy back. I'll definitely remember to go for a pre 00 model.
You're right that there's no guarantee... but if you end up buying from a dealer, they might be open to the idea. From a private seller, that possibility goes out the window.
You should be able to find something, though.
I'd also look at early-90's to mid-90's Nissan or Toyota pickup trucks with camper shells (the simple fiberglass roof, not the RV-lite concoction) or the minivans with AWD like the Safari or Astro. The pickups will get you deeper down dirt roads, while the vans are easier to camp out of. When I was living in Utah, I though about getting a pickup truck pretty often. Now that I live in rainy Washington, a van is more attractive (and might be over the winter, as well, if you're here nine months).
I"ll definitely look into other vehicles, I always assumed pickup trucks were low on gas mileage, I'll check that out though. I realise it's silly to limit myself to just one make of car. What amazes me is the cost of a car in the States compared to the UK. I recently gave away a car with 70,000 miles on the clock because it would only have sold for £300 max and I just wanted rid of it without the hassle. Of course our gas is over double the price
It seems like you could get a mid-90s Subaru for 4000. I sold my 2001 in 2009 for $8500, so I'm sure they are available for far less now. I second the idea of a Toyota SR5/Tacoma or Nissan 4x4. You could get one of those from the 90s for 3500 or so. They get about 25 or so mpg
I was in Utah a little over a year ago, and it was Sept. and dry, but roads like Hole in the Rock Road and Cottonwood Canyon were fully navigable in a passenger car. We had an Explorer, but we didn't really need it in retrospect. Granted, this was more of a vacation first, photography second kind of trip. I don't know what roads you are interested in, but I find most people think they need AWD if they are on gravel and dirt, and that's just not true. Call me crazy for trying, but I take my Prius everywhere now.
As far as Oregon goes, there are only a few places where you would truly need 4x4. I'm less familiar with Washington, but by the end of May, snow won't really be much of a problem on most roads, and most of the things you will want to photograph will require hiking boots more than AWD. The two places I have been the last year where I was glad I had my truck were Dug Bar Road in the Snake River/Wallowas area and out in the Owyhee Canyonlands. I would keep an open mind on car type and look for something where the price and condition are right.
Thank you for your reply, I'm sure you're right I probably can get to 95% of my destinations with a normal passenger car, however, I will be driving in Canada between November and February so I envisioned the need for AWD for snowy road conditions. Maybe I'm wrong about that, maybe snow chains are all I require. I have not planned that well for Canada, all I know is that I want to shoot Abraham Lake if it freezes in January. I guess the majority of my adventures will be around Banff and Jasper N.Parks.
I will keep an open mind when I arrive in the States on May 1st.
Discussion
6 repliesDoes anyone perhaps have something for sale or know of anyone who they might recommend. Perhaps someone knows an honest car dealer
I'm looking at spending no more than $4000. Essentially I'm after a car I can use to car camp and one that has AWD, reliable and low on gas.
Many thanks for any help you folks can offer.
Most used cars are listed on the local Craigslist, "seattle.craigslist.org". Try looking there and seeing what's listed.
I personally have a '96 Subaru Outback wagon and find it amazing for the type of trip you're describing. I'd look for a '96-'99 if you can find one; in '00 and later they got larger and worse gas mileage.
Good luck!
You should be able to find something, though.
I'd also look at early-90's to mid-90's Nissan or Toyota pickup trucks with camper shells (the simple fiberglass roof, not the RV-lite concoction) or the minivans with AWD like the Safari or Astro. The pickups will get you deeper down dirt roads, while the vans are easier to camp out of. When I was living in Utah, I though about getting a pickup truck pretty often. Now that I live in rainy Washington, a van is more attractive (and might be over the winter, as well, if you're here nine months).
I"ll definitely look into other vehicles, I always assumed pickup trucks were low on gas mileage, I'll check that out though. I realise it's silly to limit myself to just one make of car. What amazes me is the cost of a car in the States compared to the UK. I recently gave away a car with 70,000 miles on the clock because it would only have sold for £300 max and I just wanted rid of it without the hassle. Of course our gas is over double the price
I was in Utah a little over a year ago, and it was Sept. and dry, but roads like Hole in the Rock Road and Cottonwood Canyon were fully navigable in a passenger car. We had an Explorer, but we didn't really need it in retrospect. Granted, this was more of a vacation first, photography second kind of trip. I don't know what roads you are interested in, but I find most people think they need AWD if they are on gravel and dirt, and that's just not true. Call me crazy for trying, but I take my Prius everywhere now.
As far as Oregon goes, there are only a few places where you would truly need 4x4. I'm less familiar with Washington, but by the end of May, snow won't really be much of a problem on most roads, and most of the things you will want to photograph will require hiking boots more than AWD. The two places I have been the last year where I was glad I had my truck were Dug Bar Road in the Snake River/Wallowas area and out in the Owyhee Canyonlands. I would keep an open mind on car type and look for something where the price and condition are right.
Thank you for your reply, I'm sure you're right I probably can get to 95% of my destinations with a normal passenger car, however, I will be driving in Canada between November and February so I envisioned the need for AWD for snowy road conditions. Maybe I'm wrong about that, maybe snow chains are all I require. I have not planned that well for Canada, all I know is that I want to shoot Abraham Lake if it freezes in January. I guess the majority of my adventures will be around Banff and Jasper N.Parks.
I will keep an open mind when I arrive in the States on May 1st.