They are pretty reliable.....sounds like a good choice.

Mileage 4x2, my guess is you will average around 18-19mpg with mixed use. Freeway will be 22-24 while city will be 16-17 or so....those are guesses though.

Interference engine...I don't believe so, but not 100% on that.

Timing Belt...I didn't change mine until 100K and it was still ok. I would never really push it much past that. The manual suggests changing at 60K, so see if the previous owner did..if so, I would say 100K after it was done is reasonable.

Trans: Not sure. If it is auto, it has a GM 4L30E trans. Not sure how well these are...they are ok, but do eventually leak and go into limp mode. I would think you have at least another 100K out of it before those problems. I however have a 5spd so I am not all that familiar with them.

Electrical problems aren't very common on these things.

Fluid. really nothing special, since you don't have a xcase all the fluids should be pretty straight forward. Y ou may want to use a 5W-30 Mobil 1 or something simliar...these engines develop a lifter tick...it's nothing to worry about, but a lot of people are freaked by the noise. 5W-30 Mobil 1 has been known to help quiet it some.

Good luck with it if you decide to go that route


'97 Rodeo
3.2L V6
DOR 3" lift, 3"BL, DOR Boulder Bars, Tera-Low's, 33x10.5,Surco Safari Rack, Cobra CB, Rancho 9000's....andnNow with Half-Doors for the summer