ExpoMike
Well-known member
I figured I should start up a thread on our newest purchase. April this year (2023) I had a total need replacement. Once I was healed up enough to start driving again, I found with our 1999 Cherokee, the pedals are offset a little to the left and the trans tunnel has a outward slope to it. With the new knee, I was finding my knee/leg would hurt after about 20 minutes of driving. I gave it a couple months but no improvement. I didn't have this issue with any other of our vehicles. Since not being able to drive the Cherokee comfortably, it was time to sort out what I would replace it with. I narrowed it down to a very short list. A Wrangler JKU, 4Runner or Xterra. Test drove a Wrangler and found it had a similar issue as our Cherokee. Not as bad but still not comfortable. We sat in a couple 4Runners but found with the sunroof (seems to be a common option) my wife's head almost touch the headliner. Also prices are CRAZY and out of our range. We sat in an Xterra and it seemed like it could work out.
In my research, I found I only wanted a 2013-2015 Pro-4X model and something under 100K mileage. That seems to be rare in SoCal area and expanded our search to NorCal, AZ and NV. We almost had a deal on one in NV and would have flown out and driven back, if we bought it. That fell through. Then I found this one on CarMax site but it was in NoCal. Trying to plan to fly up was an option but they could ship it down to San Diego for $200. Well that's cheaper than 2 of us flying up and driving back, plus saves a lot of time. We decided to take the chance and had it shipped down.
It arrive a few days later and we took a look at it. Very clean and good shape but missing a few things like the floor mats, Xterra specific first aid kit for the rear hatch and the roof light covers. It had just over 65K miles and drove great. We checked things over and made the deal, which included them getting the missing items. I think my only real complaint was with the tires. In pics they looked great but in person, they were at 4/32's tread depth. I questioned that but their policy is they don't replace tires at 4/32's or greater. Annoying but I can put on the tires I want. Having driven it a lot in the last few weeks, it is very comfortable to drive. Way more power than our Cherokee. Bonus, the wife likes driving the X, where she didn't like driving the Cherokee. We will miss the Jeep as it's been a great rig but I think the X will be a great replacement. I did own a 2004 Xterra SE Supercharged I bought new. It was a fun rig but that one sucked for gas mileage.
Without further ado, meet Yeti (my wife named it, since it's big, white and likes to explore in the wilderness). I'll use this thread to document my build.
With the Cherokee (make the Jeep look small), which will be for sale
For history, this was my 2004 X
In my research, I found I only wanted a 2013-2015 Pro-4X model and something under 100K mileage. That seems to be rare in SoCal area and expanded our search to NorCal, AZ and NV. We almost had a deal on one in NV and would have flown out and driven back, if we bought it. That fell through. Then I found this one on CarMax site but it was in NoCal. Trying to plan to fly up was an option but they could ship it down to San Diego for $200. Well that's cheaper than 2 of us flying up and driving back, plus saves a lot of time. We decided to take the chance and had it shipped down.
It arrive a few days later and we took a look at it. Very clean and good shape but missing a few things like the floor mats, Xterra specific first aid kit for the rear hatch and the roof light covers. It had just over 65K miles and drove great. We checked things over and made the deal, which included them getting the missing items. I think my only real complaint was with the tires. In pics they looked great but in person, they were at 4/32's tread depth. I questioned that but their policy is they don't replace tires at 4/32's or greater. Annoying but I can put on the tires I want. Having driven it a lot in the last few weeks, it is very comfortable to drive. Way more power than our Cherokee. Bonus, the wife likes driving the X, where she didn't like driving the Cherokee. We will miss the Jeep as it's been a great rig but I think the X will be a great replacement. I did own a 2004 Xterra SE Supercharged I bought new. It was a fun rig but that one sucked for gas mileage.
Without further ado, meet Yeti (my wife named it, since it's big, white and likes to explore in the wilderness). I'll use this thread to document my build.
With the Cherokee (make the Jeep look small), which will be for sale
For history, this was my 2004 X
Also highly recommended by many, I did the rear axle breather relocation mod. I bought my own stuff instead of a kit. I used silicon hose instead of the normal rubber hose, as it should hold up longer. Seems like the quality of rubber had gone done over the years. I also installed some LED reverse lights but forgot to get pics. 
