I've towed with a 2005 Toyota 4runner Sport V8 since the end of the 2013 season. It worked great aside from truly abyssmal fuel mileage. last week the dash lit up with every status light associated with the stability control and AWD system which has happened in the past, but it also began doing the 2-1 downshift as one coasts down to a stop, *really* hard. like violently. I took it to my good, reliable honest indy shop to have a look.
The report was not good; trans pan is full of metal, every solenoid is shot. Rebuild is an option, for about $5700 including R&Rof trans. Installing a used trans is about a grand less, but there's no warranty on a used trans. Toyota sells a factory remanufactured trans for about $2900 and R&R is 10 hours labor.
What I'd like is a c. 2014 Land Cruiser. but with retirement looming in about 3 years, I'm uninclined to retire while holding a $500/mo + car note. there are some more affordable ones assuming they're around 300k miles. (Toyota built the LC for a 25 year useful life in Africa or the Middle East.
They sold the 03-09 4runner with the 2UZFE 4.7L V8 all years, thought they're very scarce in 08 and 09.
A BMW X5D Is fairly coommon to find in the $12,000 range, and once fitted with a kit that deletes the diesel particle filter, they make a lot of TQ and HP. I own a bunch of older BMWs so I understand how to own one and not go broke keeping it running. The Maryland Vehicle Emission Inspection Program does not concern itself with diesel vehicles. so no penalty for that DPF kit. they get 20 mpg towing and make like 600 Ft/lb TQ. uphil to Mid-O is easy.
What else should I consider? for a P2 racer I'm pretty cheap. I'd prefer a cash sale under $15k.