Vehicles with features that are getting harder to find.

[B. Dean Berry]

As of late, me and my family have begun entertaining the idea of moving to Texas. Part of this research is going to be another vehicle, as the ones we currently have are already rusting underneath, and transplanting two rusty cars to a place with no rust is not that smart. For my own vehicle, I've been stuck in something that just had to do for a couple of years, and I'm looking to change that.

After perusing used car ads on Craigslist, AutoTrader, AutoTempest, and many others, I have also noticed that even older vehicles that are going for low prices there are vehicles that would command prices multiple times higher here, just because they aren't rotten away to nothing. Overall, the Southern Plains seems to be a gentler life for vehicles than the Northeast. Considering all of this, I'm racking my brain, trying to come up with a list of vehicles to peruse as future daily drivers and Chase Rigs, that offer a certain number of features that I consider mandatory.

Those features include basic stuff like air conditioning, of course, but are more *minute* in the details. Things like no sunroof (some vehicles come with them standard in certain packages), center consoles that are either non-existent or that can be removed (too many modern vehicles have a big, stupid automatic shift lever or parking brake in the center console area), and that also come with AWD or 4WD. Probably, and oddly, the most important feature is the blank floor space/removable center console, as I intend to put a police console in for two-way radios and scanners. Of course, that isn't for all chasers, but it is for me.

I could of course invest in a Ford Police Interceptor Utility or Sedan, Chevrolet Caprice, or Dodge Charger, but those are police vehicles and they look like police vehicles, and that's not a look I really want. At all. I have a similar look now, and quite frankly I'm tired of being stopped on a whim every few months and questioned for an hour, for the charge of leaving the house.

So far, I have found the following to be acceptable, and am looking for any other suggestions that I may be missing out on:

1995-2001 Ford Explorer
1995-2003 Ford Explorer Sport
1999-2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
1993-2012 Ford Econoline Van
1998-2002 Ford Expedition
1999-2005 Ford Excursion
1995-2001 Chevrolet Suburban
1995-2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
1995-Current Chevrolet Express Van
2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline

Any other ideas?

 

[Drew Terril]

The 04-15 Titan has a bench option, and all 16-current Titans are column shift. I can't think of any AWD crossovers that get decent fuel mileage AND don't have a floor shifter, which since I already have my Titan, my next vehicle will have fuel mileage as a priority.

 

[B. Dean Berry]

I wonder if the Titan's console can be removed? A lot of newer cars with the console, even without a shifter, have hidden all types of stuff inside of the console. Biggest example I can think of is the newer Explorers have a box that runs the bottom of the armrest pocket that controls the headlights and turn signals for some reason.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I can’t rememebr the year for sure (except I know it was before 2015) but I seem to remember my wife having a Honda Odyssey minivan that had a removable center console.

 

[Drew Terril]

I wonder if the Titan's console can be removed? A lot of newer cars with the console, even without a shifter, have hidden all types of stuff inside of the console. Biggest example I can think of is the newer Explorers have a box that runs the bottom of the armrest pocket that controls the headlights and turn signals for some reason.

If it has a built in power inverter, then that's contained in the console. Also, switches for seat heaters are located there as well, but can probably be relocated fairly easily. That's a really tall console too, and there's a big gap in the middle where you could cut out the middle of the console and build in something to bolt Jotto plates to.

 

[B. Dean Berry]

The ones with the center bench seat, it looks like the bench can just be removed.

 

[Drew Terril]

Yes, on both body styles of Titan, the bench can be removed. That's what I was setting up to do on my old Titan before I decided to upgrade.

 

[Jack R. Jester]

As of late, me and my family have begun entertaining the idea of moving to Texas. Part of this research is going to be another vehicle, as the ones we currently have are already rusting underneath, and transplanting two rusty cars to a place with no rust is not that smart. For my own vehicle, I've been stuck in something that just had to do for a couple of years, and I'm looking to change that.

After perusing used car ads on Craigslist, AutoTrader, AutoTempest, and many others, I have also noticed that even older vehicles that are going for low prices there are vehicles that would command prices multiple times higher here, just because they aren't rotten away to nothing. Overall, the Southern Plains seems to be a gentler life for vehicles than the Northeast. Considering all of this, I'm racking my brain, trying to come up with a list of vehicles to peruse as future daily drivers and Chase Rigs, that offer a certain number of features that I consider mandatory.

Those features include basic stuff like air conditioning, of course, but are more *minute* in the details. Things like no sunroof (some vehicles come with them standard in certain packages), center consoles that are either non-existent or that can be removed (too many modern vehicles have a big, stupid automatic shift lever or parking brake in the center console area), and that also come with AWD or 4WD. Probably, and oddly, the most important feature is the blank floor space/removable center console, as I intend to put a police console in for two-way radios and scanners. Of course, that isn't for all chasers, but it is for me.

I could of course invest in a Ford Police Interceptor Utility or Sedan, Chevrolet Caprice, or Dodge Charger, but those are police vehicles and they look like police vehicles, and that's not a look I really want. At all. I have a similar look now, and quite frankly I'm tired of being stopped on a whim every few months and questioned for an hour, for the charge of leaving the house.

So far, I have found the following to be acceptable, and am looking for any other suggestions that I may be missing out on:

1995-2001 Ford Explorer
1995-2003 Ford Explorer Sport
1999-2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
1993-2012 Ford Econoline Van
1998-2002 Ford Expedition
1999-2005 Ford Excursion
1995-2001 Chevrolet Suburban
1995-2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
1995-Current Chevrolet Express Van
2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline

Any other ideas?

I currently chase in a '95 Suburban, and I'll tell you one thing, it gets really shitty gas mileage. Though they do run forever, mine has 330k on it, You have to take into consideration the gas mileage loss with a V8.

The best vehicle I say you should get would be a 4.3v6 chevy c1500 with a 5 speed manual. Plenty of room in ththe back, and bulletproof.

If you want some interior room, you may want a 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ. those 4.0 i6's are bulletproof, and if you find one with a manual transmission, you would never have to worry about it.

That's just my 2 cents.

 

[B. Dean Berry]

Eh, I considered an XJ, having owned a couple before, but that center console is just unforgiving. Huge plastic spaceship console in that one, with a center floor shifter and a parking brake.

That, and aging Chrysler/AMC products are kind of nightmarish.

 

[Jack R. Jester]

Eh, I considered an XJ, having owned a couple before, but that center console is just unforgiving. Huge plastic spaceship console in that one, with a center floor shifter and a parking brake.

That, and aging Chrysler/AMC products are kind of nightmarish.

My '95 Suburban's center console is very easy to remove, which is what I did for my camera mount, but my '74 GMC has a bench seat in the front, which I love, but it does make it difficult to install a camera mount/laptop mount. Another dream chasing vehicle for me would be my '74 GMC with a camper in the back.

1974 GMC C1500 Storm Chasing/PowerTour Truck

I am taking Ol' Yeller to the next level by fixing it up to the point in which I can use it to storm chase this season, and/or go on Hot Rod Power Tour. I have driven it long distances before- Heres Proof: -but If I am going to basically live out of it for weeks at a time, I need to get it...

www.gmsquarebody.com

Here's the build thread for my '74 as my next storm chasing vehicle.

 

[Drew Terril]

My '95 Suburban's center console is very easy to remove, which is what I did for my camera mount, but my '74 GMC has a bench seat in the front, which I love, but it does make it difficult to install a camera mount/laptop mount. Another dream chasing vehicle for me would be my '74 GMC with a camper in the back.

1974 GMC C1500 Storm Chasing/PowerTour Truck

I am taking Ol' Yeller to the next level by fixing it up to the point in which I can use it to storm chase this season, and/or go on Hot Rod Power Tour. I have driven it long distances before- Heres Proof: -but If I am going to basically live out of it for weeks at a time, I need to get it...

www.gmsquarebody.com

Here's the build thread for my '74 as my next storm chasing vehicle.

I had a 93 Suburban, so I know of the center console you speak of. Other than storing paperwork, it wasn't very useful anyway; the cup holders were far too shallow. It was only 2wd though and I'd run it up well over 300k miles, so it was time when I finally got rid of it. That said, I did have a console designed for it before I decided I wasn't going in that direction.

 

[Shawn Schaefer]

At work we have Toyota Sienna Minivans in our fleet and I drive them quite often. Some models have no center counsel at all and they have a sort of in-dash shifter. They get great mileage (for the size) and stand up to a lot of abuse in the context of my job. They are available in AWD however, I have no experience with an AWD model. As a Boondocking chaser myself I have considered begging my boss to sell me one for trade in value when we are switching them out but for me personally, my cramped Forester provides better mileage, never gets stuck in the mud and is by all accounts my chase partner.

I do think this is a facinating thread and am interested to see what you end up with. Happy hunting!

 

[B. Dean Berry]

The way it's looking now, it'll wind up being a stick shift second generation explorer.

 

[Mikayla Norris]

I like the idea of a Chevy Express van. As I was reading your criteria, I immediately thought of the government ones I drive fairly often. Tons of room between the front seats (we regularly have 2 backpacks plus fast food bags sitting there) and I imagine they can be picked up used for a steal considering how many are used in fleets for everything from hauling materials to moving people. If you went that route I would definitely try to find a short wheel base version. The ones I've driven are the hefty long wheelbase passenger vans and they seem to have quite a bit of driveline clunk and transmission slippage with under 100k miles still. My thought is the big ones are just too heavy for the transmissions they put in them.

 

[Drew Terril]

I like the idea of a Chevy Express van. As I was reading your criteria, I immediately thought of the government ones I drive fairly often. Tons of room between the front seats (we regularly have 2 backpacks plus fast food bags sitting there) and I imagine they can be picked up used for a steal considering how many are used in fleets for everything from hauling materials to moving people. If you went that route I would definitely try to find a short wheel base version. The ones I've driven are the hefty long wheelbase passenger vans and they seem to have quite a bit of driveline clunk and transmission slippage with under 100k miles still. My thought is the big ones are just too heavy for the transmissions they put in them.

That's what happens when they put 4L60E transmissions into something that honestly should be on a 3/4 ton chassis and have a 4L80E. I had to drive a few in the military and they drove like absolute crap in higher winds though. That, and the abysmal fuel mileage, would keep me from using one as a chase vehicle.