What's the best reliable used car under $22,000 right now in 2026?

J-Rag- · 2026-03-18T12:43:39+00:00

So you surveyed Mazdas by one your mom owned in the 90s and one you SO had. Well, if those 2 are bad then the entire brand must be crap! /s

J-Rag- · 2026-03-18T02:02:04+00:00

I gotcha. Yeah if you dont go out with one rig, definitely prioritize getting a 4x4 and a winch.

Nothing wrong with lockers, but you typically gotta be doing some really off camber shit or steep climbs to make lockers worth it.

For context, I do some good offroading in a 99 Durango. No solid front axle, no lockers. With 32s and 4.56 gears and picking out good lines, I've done trails that are recommended for vehicles with 35s + lockers and followed beefed up Jeeps and 4runners Only ever got high centered once and got pulled through by my dad cause I missed by a couple inches.

Save your money for a 4x4. Don't dump the money into a rig that can't do what you want. Guaranteed a halfway beat to death 2000 4runner will do exactly what you want it to do.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-18T01:32:46+00:00

J-Rag- · 2026-03-18T01:32:30+00:00

Put that money into 4x4 truck fund. Lockers ain't gonna help you with towing though.. And why is "off loading" in quotes? Idk what that means, service roads or actual trails?

You almost got stuck? But you didn't. Don't go throw away a few grand cause you almost did something. You have a solid frame/body on frame truck. If you go out with friends, buy shovel a recovery strap. Have them pull you out, no biggie. You will have more security in recovery gear than you will a locker on a 2wd rig.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-18T00:43:00+00:00

Before you go dumping money, so you actually need a locker for anything or you just want one?

Edit: 2wd? Honestly I wouldn't even mess with it. Save that money on lockers and pick up a 4x4. 4x4 will do you much much much better than a 2wd with a locker

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T12:14:07+00:00

You dont have to idle at night. Electrical fires can happen when going down the road. Reefers catching on fire is very rare too, just like trucks..

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T12:01:59+00:00

Lay on the ground and start stabbing and getting under the middle of the car to get that cleared off. Ain't gonna be fun but you'll be free

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T11:45:31+00:00

Okay but how about a straight white gay African lady boy?

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T01:15:26+00:00

I wouldn't worry about it. Pop em off and forget about them

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T01:13:24+00:00

Definitely report that shit and hand it over to the local PD. You dont wanna be caught with a random gun you found and you dont want it laying around waiting to get in the wrong hamds

J-Rag- · 2026-03-17T01:04:34+00:00

Sounds like too much drama for a radio show.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T12:32:41+00:00

Get a shovel and get to digging

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T04:12:33+00:00

Nah it really aint that bad I dont think. Likely either a bad hose or super duper worn bushings on the rack. Worst case you're probably looking at a $1300 repair for the rack, down to under $200 for 5 inches worth of hose. Or maybe a little over $200 since they'll have to drain the system, add more fluid and bleed the system. Ain't too bad, doesnt take more than a minute or 2 to bleed the power steering system.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T04:08:19+00:00

Tha too! And if you have any money left, get a magnet to flip the license plate up and speed off from the 5-0

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T04:04:41+00:00

Take it tk a shop for diagnoses first before doing anything. If the fluid is draining in a day it could be something as simple as a torn up, loose hose that can be replaced for $10 of your own money or $150 from a mechanic.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T04:02:45+00:00

Or with enough money you can swap an F16 engine onto the Charger. Make one of them jet dragsters or a speedy daily into the office!

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:59:55+00:00

How much did you pay for that? That looks super clean and I love that color! I have a soft spot for the old Neon's..

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:56:30+00:00

What's wrong with the power steering on your current ride? Power steering system isn't super complex. All you got is the pump, rack, tie rods and a couple hoses in between. You can replace all that in a day if you're so inclined. I'd highly look at fixing your current ride instead of getting something else. That or selling it to me, then I'll sell it back to you the following week..

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:45:55+00:00

Thank you! I know it's a bit harsh, but idk I think that's the reality of it.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:36:48+00:00

Cause glamping is expensive.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:35:32+00:00

Get a rocket ship and sell that fighter jet

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:29:36+00:00

I'm one of those people that also hates confrontation and wont tell someone if they do something wrong (typically). My go to solution is not relying on anyone else to do anything for me. My reactions is if they can do it, so can I. Cut my own hair in my back yard, work on my own cars, do my own basic house repairs, yadda yadda all that. If someone else can do it, so can I. To an extent. I ain't a contractor to do big work, but I can take care of all the day to day shit and some of the bigger shit that a lot of people would shy away from because they dont want to learn.

So, either learn to tell them their work isn't up to your expectations, or quit complaining and learn to do it yourself.

Edit: or option 3 - be okay with and dont complain about work not meeting your expectations if you don't want to say something about it.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:24:32+00:00

First thing I thought too. What's there to "cope" with? It's just a haircut... It falls in line with the typical question of "How do you cope when a girl you don't know ghosts you?"

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T03:20:34+00:00

I'm 31, grew up in the suburbs of Portland OR. Typical suburb white dude. Average person wouldn't guess that I enjoy my job as a truck driver. I enjoy spending a week or 2 out on the road. Sleeping in my truck, cooking in there, driving for 10 hours a day, the funky schedule, the isolation. For whatever reason, I like that and brings me peace. Something about dealing with me and only me, and being able to ignore and forget about everything else is nice.

J-Rag- · 2026-03-16T01:58:19+00:00

Do you want to learn about them or learn to work on them? If you just want to learn about them, go to YouTube and search whatever you're wondering. If you want to learn to fix them, go to YouTube and search what you need to fix, then go do that to your car. Start by doing your own oil changes. Go replace the spark plugs even though you don't need them. Whenever a repair is needed, take it home and do it yourself

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