I really don't have too much of a problem believing them about rover issues. In my search for them a good 30% were blown engine mechanics specials and sub 100k miles.if that's from negligent yuppie maintence or a flawed engine design I can't say. I'm sure like with anything they'll be good with maintence, but I'm busy with work and school and don't have time to sort issues out in my apartment complex parking lot.
If this is the case then you dont need anything that is gonna require anything more than midas can't handle. If you are gonna buy anything over 100k, other than a stupid 1991 rusted out honda civic, be prepared for it to nickle and dime you to death. It comes with the territory.
I live in N. Indiana and have found many rovers for the $2-3k range, all in great shape. Hell, you can go to a buy here pay here dealer and get one for $4k. For $5k, you can find them ready to tackle just about anything in this country. Had I not spent $2k on a stupid camera, id be driving one right now. The fact is, 90% of the rovers out there are off lease vehicles that have not been maintained. You find a one or two owner rover, or a rover that can prove its maintenance history, I wouldn't think twice about not buying it.
And your right johnny. All of them were piles of shit, and id take a civic on a 10 day all primitive trip any day of the week. Your idea of an adventure is going out to a mud hole, cracking a few beers and seeing how many times you can run through the fucker before the water is all gone. Sounds like a great time.
I would love to do something like this before I die. Sadly enough, you are much closer than I am, and will settle for the mud hole and a beer.
http://www2.expeditionexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1229 If its not something you are interested in, keep looking. That leaves one more for me to look at