My dream offroad vehicle is probably the Toyota FJ Cruiser, although because I can’t have a different vehicle for each activity, I’ve considered the Toyota 4Runner Limited. Given our current escalated prices on used cars, though, finding nice examples of either one that are within my budget is almost impossible. I don’t mind having a project car, but I also don’t need something that’s been in a couple of wrecks or is in complete mechanical shambles.
One that some enthusiasts are recommending now is the Nissan Xterra. There is an active community of owners and more than a few aftermarket parts to help enhance it for offroad use. Older examples can be purchased for under $5,000, which are still mechanically sound.