ExplorerTom
Explorer
I'd figure out what rusts the least in Ann Aarbor, MI and go from there.
Opinions needed: Xterra, or alternatives?
- Thread starter hansolex
- Start date
The user rayra mentioned has >50K posts on that forum, so that's a lot to wade through to try to find anything helpful. So here's a thread with IMO a much better signal to noise ratio:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1245618_.html
Have you tried driving some vehicles yet? I was comparing 4Runners and 2nd Gen Xterras before I made my purchase (06 Xterra OR). The lower pricing of the Xterras was attractive, but after driving both 3rd and 4th Gen 4 Runners, I liked the Xterra even better. It just felt better driving it, completely subjective and personal preference, but an important one.
I love how easy it is to prepare a completely flat area and sleep inside the Xterra on a solo trip; I'm 6'4" and have plenty of room. Two adults will fit comfortably also, but you need to figure out where to move some gear.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1245618_.html
Have you tried driving some vehicles yet? I was comparing 4Runners and 2nd Gen Xterras before I made my purchase (06 Xterra OR). The lower pricing of the Xterras was attractive, but after driving both 3rd and 4th Gen 4 Runners, I liked the Xterra even better. It just felt better driving it, completely subjective and personal preference, but an important one.
I love how easy it is to prepare a completely flat area and sleep inside the Xterra on a solo trip; I'm 6'4" and have plenty of room. Two adults will fit comfortably also, but you need to figure out where to move some gear.
hansolex
New member
I think that's my next step ... While I'm still out in Ann Arbor, it'll be harder because anything I'm considering has turned to swiss cheese by now. I may have to wait a month until I'm out in Seattle and have a much, much larger selection. I've spent plenty of time in older Toyota ('84 pickup was my first car, dad has a '97 Tacoma I drive when I go back to visit) so I know what to expect there, but don't have any Xterra seat time. It might be horribly uncomfortable for me. Probably not, but yeah, only so much I can figure out by reading. I'm getting pretty impatient to get out there and drive some stuff!
That's great to know! I didn't realize the rear seats folded flat.
Montero's are great in this segment. I'd go with a Montero Limited 2003 or later, crank the torsion bar(going off memory they have them) and install 33's. That setup will get the job done just about everywhere(traction control system is great) but be a bit laggy on the road with the V6.
I got a 06' LR3 when working with your budget($7,500) and it's been awesome for what you describe(and some heavy off road too). Its a 3rd vehicle with the other 2 being luxury cars but I daily drive the LR3 now and looking to sell one of the cars. I just like it alot and it rides extremely well(like a full size Lexus on the road) which cuts down on fatigue when off roading/long ride home.
I'd look into a Grand Cherokee WK with quadradrive II as a serious contender as well. Not quite as big inside but will have a better power/weight ratio than the others making it nicer to drive on the road/hwy. I've owned two WJ's and they are good but definitely not aging like I'd hoped and as good as solid axles are off road I don't like the on road ride.
I got a 06' LR3 when working with your budget($7,500) and it's been awesome for what you describe(and some heavy off road too). Its a 3rd vehicle with the other 2 being luxury cars but I daily drive the LR3 now and looking to sell one of the cars. I just like it alot and it rides extremely well(like a full size Lexus on the road) which cuts down on fatigue when off roading/long ride home.
I'd look into a Grand Cherokee WK with quadradrive II as a serious contender as well. Not quite as big inside but will have a better power/weight ratio than the others making it nicer to drive on the road/hwy. I've owned two WJ's and they are good but definitely not aging like I'd hoped and as good as solid axles are off road I don't like the on road ride.
ExplorerTom
Explorer
If you're moving to Seattle, wait until you get there. Believe it or not, there are some places where cars don't rust through. Seattle is one of them. Someone told me that they don't salt the roads at all because the runoff will effect the salmon eggs and salmon is a huge part of their economy.
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Agreed
I was just in Ann Arbor for a family thing. Wifes side. The rust on vehicles only a few yrs old was impressive. As a west coast guy 100% our coastal rust is nothing in comparison to the road salt mess in the east.
hansolex
New member
Yeah. I'm from (near) Seattle originally, only been in Michigan for 3 years. What I considered to be "serious rust" is laughable. You should have seen my face when I was moving out here. I drove through Chicago and was just slack-jawed at all the cancerous mid-2000s American cars on the freeway. I'd never seen anything like it. I'm definitely, definitely not buying anything out here.
hansolex
New member
I believe it ... I'm from Seattle! I see you're in Colorado. Just curious, do they salt out there? Every once in a while I see something really neat on Denver Craigslist, like a Toyota Trekker or that sort of thing. Always wondered what the rust potential was for a Colorado truck.
ExplorerTom
Explorer
We use mag chloride out here. It's not as bad as salt, but can cause problems. The biggest thing out here is that it's so dry. It'll snow 20" in the city but it'll be gone 3 days later. My Explorer and Expedition (19 and 16 years old) are both Colorado vehicles and have minimal rust- just surface rust on frame and suspension components. Zero body rust. And I don't see other rusty cars on the road (or in the junk yards) either. When I go to WI/MN/MI, I notice the rusty cars in traffic.
And we sand the roads so the paint can take a beating. But even all chipped up, it still doesn't rust.
And we sand the roads so the paint can take a beating. But even all chipped up, it still doesn't rust.
I have a second generation Xterra, newer than your price range but all years of the second generation are pretty much the same. I bought it because I thought the value was better than the Toyotas, without giving up much in terms of quality or performance. MPG isn't great but none of them are.
But in your price range I'd just buy the best condition vehicle I could, whether Xterra, Montero, or 4Runner, without worrying too much about one brand versus another. All three are good vehicles, as long as you can find a clean one that hasn't been abused.
But in your price range I'd just buy the best condition vehicle I could, whether Xterra, Montero, or 4Runner, without worrying too much about one brand versus another. All three are good vehicles, as long as you can find a clean one that hasn't been abused.
hansolex
New member
Good point. Not a ton of choice in this price range, especially since I'd dead-set on a manual transmission, which limits me to that tiny percentage of people who were buying manual-trans SUVs in the early 2000s. That being said, I'm feeling pretty good about how many newer Nissans (Frontier CCs and Xterras, and even R50 Pathfinders which aren't a top choice but may be considered) are around in the places I'm looking. I feel like I'll have some degree of choice. It's just too bad Toyotas are so damn expensive, and Mitsus are so damn uncommon!
broncobowsher
Adventurer
While I own a 2nd gen Xterra, and know the 1st gen fairly well. I think the R50 pathfinder is a better vehicle for your budget. Do it right and you can get the VQ35 and get some power and economy that the 3.3 can't offer.
hansolex
New member
Decision Time
I'm finally in Washington and have a little bit of time to look at trucks. I've seen a few things I've ruled out already, like a 1992 4Runner (was just too old and had the 3.0 was ... slow). I'm starting to think that I may want a pickup bed and a cap, so I've included Tacomas in my search, although they definitely max out my budget with anything less than 250k. Still might be a good bet. I know how rock solid they are, as my dad has a very abused one that hasn't blinked. It's a 2WD though ...
Before I start looking at expensive ones, I wanted to give an Xterra a try. Found this '02. Has 179k+ on the clock. Clean title, definitely been dinged and dented and scratched, no rust and local all its life. There's a slight exhaust leak from bank 1 header, and a recently-replaced power steering hose that may still be seeping. No evidence or records that the timing belt has been done and owner doesn't know. He's asking $3400 but would probably take considerably less.
On the plus side, new brakes all around, strong clutch, runs fine. No check engine lights. Manual windows and door locks (a plus in my book) but an aftermarket cruise control unit (???) and aftermarket remote locks (will want to remove this). Underside looks good, no driveline noises, 4WD works.
Thinking it might be worth getting a PPI, and if nothing else comes up on the inspection offering the guy more like $2800 and planning on spending time or money to make it solid and reliable. That still gives me lots of budget to play with in terms of upgrades and some cushion for further repairs. I don't have a garage yet, so I'd either pay a shop or hold off on doing the headers and timing belt until I do ... and not hit the trails solo until they're fixed.
OTOH I could spend $8500 on a low-mile Taco and leave it stock for a while until I can afford lockers and mud terrains.
Thoughts? I liked the way it drove a lot, although it needs a serious cleaning and I'm concerned about overall reliability even if I fix what I know is wrong or needs doing. I don't want this thing to strand me up in the mountains. Advice appreciated.
I'm finally in Washington and have a little bit of time to look at trucks. I've seen a few things I've ruled out already, like a 1992 4Runner (was just too old and had the 3.0 was ... slow). I'm starting to think that I may want a pickup bed and a cap, so I've included Tacomas in my search, although they definitely max out my budget with anything less than 250k. Still might be a good bet. I know how rock solid they are, as my dad has a very abused one that hasn't blinked. It's a 2WD though ...
Before I start looking at expensive ones, I wanted to give an Xterra a try. Found this '02. Has 179k+ on the clock. Clean title, definitely been dinged and dented and scratched, no rust and local all its life. There's a slight exhaust leak from bank 1 header, and a recently-replaced power steering hose that may still be seeping. No evidence or records that the timing belt has been done and owner doesn't know. He's asking $3400 but would probably take considerably less.
On the plus side, new brakes all around, strong clutch, runs fine. No check engine lights. Manual windows and door locks (a plus in my book) but an aftermarket cruise control unit (???) and aftermarket remote locks (will want to remove this). Underside looks good, no driveline noises, 4WD works.
Thinking it might be worth getting a PPI, and if nothing else comes up on the inspection offering the guy more like $2800 and planning on spending time or money to make it solid and reliable. That still gives me lots of budget to play with in terms of upgrades and some cushion for further repairs. I don't have a garage yet, so I'd either pay a shop or hold off on doing the headers and timing belt until I do ... and not hit the trails solo until they're fixed.
OTOH I could spend $8500 on a low-mile Taco and leave it stock for a while until I can afford lockers and mud terrains.
Thoughts? I liked the way it drove a lot, although it needs a serious cleaning and I'm concerned about overall reliability even if I fix what I know is wrong or needs doing. I don't want this thing to strand me up in the mountains. Advice appreciated.
hansolex
New member
You're not wrong. I'm mostly concerned about ease of lifting it. There are a ton of them around here and they are awfully low to the ground. I won't be doing any hardcore crawling, but I know I'll need more clearance than the R50 offers stock. Whereas with an Xterra, I'd be ok for a while right out of the box.
All the R50 builds I've seen seem like a ton of work to get the Pathfinder to where the Xterra is stock. Am I missing something?
4x4junkie
Explorer
You'll need a nice stroke of luck to be able to pull that off... (for one with no rust and a clean title anyway... Rust was very mean to those truck's frames, even ones outside the rust belt states)
I'd be looking for a Frontier if it's an Asian make and a pickup you're after... Me, I would not offer more than $2k for that '02 with that high of mileage, the issues it has, and the lack of records/unknown history ($2.8K can get a rather nice Explorer or Ranger with about half that mileage).