We are looking at getting a Xterra for an expo vehicle General input wanted.

[jarmentrout]

Dont worry about that. The x will never be half the vehicle of the 4 runner.

Don't take my statements the wrong way. I'm in no way bashing any other vehicle. I would be perfectly happy driving a 4runner trail, but just don't want to spend that much. And I want a manual, as I can rebuild them myself if necessary, and the autos in my experience are expensive to fix. I should revise my post. I just wish that we could get a pretty basic truck like wagon from toyota like the rest of the world. I'd buy that instead in a heart beat.

 

[jarmentrout]

I really appreciate all the feedback. The jury is still out on the decision. We are trying to find a gen 2 to check out. We still have the back up plan of a Grand Cherokee with the 4.7HO as default (as I am by nature a Jeep guy) but I am still wanting to give the xterra a chance. We are going to be looking at an 07 this weekend.

I never agreed with AAL. It always seemed like a band-aid. I would probably see about just replacing the whole leaf packs to gain carrying and towing capacity.

Someone said the diffs (as in both) are aluminum? is this correct including on the offroad package with the Dana 44?

Nissan did put some weak rear springs on these. But the aal pack that prg offers adds the two bottom leafs that nissan should have added. So there's no rearranging of the leafs, just adding two to the bottom. Or go with the ome full leaf packs.

The rear with locker is a conventional solid axle made of iron and steel. The front case is aluminum as is most vehicles with IFS.

 

[scrubber3]

Ah yes, the casings but not the gear set. Makes sense now.

 

[CoastalDefender]

Dont worry about that. The x will never be half the vehicle of the 4 runner.

Blanket statements after an insightful post is a bit juvenile.

How about instead of being snarky, you provide extra information to assist the OP in making an educated decision about his potential purchase?

 

[2025 deleted member]

I actually like the new pro-4x's. Just not on the same level as 4-runner IMO. No offense to anyone.

 

[Xterabl]

Except, the 4-runner looks like @$$.
(thanks Mr. C for bringing out the juvenile in all of us with your informative posts)
You're right about the 4-runner not being on the same level as the Xterra. It's quite a bit over-priced. Pfffffffffffft.
As someone else said, maybe you should add reasons for your opinions.
It's also in another class, known as the 17" wheel unibody class...har har gotta love aluminum can grocery getter SUVs.
Oh, and I almost forgot: no offense to anyone.

 

[lizardking]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45HpRQm9RI

Xterras aren't off road capable at all... ??? They are at least as capable as a 4 runner.

If you like manual transmission, SUV and off road there are only 3 choices anymore: Xterra, FJ or Wrangler Unlimited.
Each has their own pros and cons.

My only complaint with the Xterra is the lack of aftermarket support. However, the Xterra/nissan community is super because of this.

Nissan is a fine choice.

 

[drbandkgb]

You guys...
4wd is 4wd..

IT generally comes down to motor size, and features, and styling. I own a 4wd Sequoia but does that mean it will out do my Xterra on the trails? Hardy!
Toyota is a top pick.. Why? They have been the leader in the small SUV category for a long time. But Look at what they are offering now.. Very soccer mom rigs..
That cost 3 to 5k more than Nissan and have less HP's Even the v8 they offered was less HP than the Xterra's v6 and with similar MPGs. Oh and read up on the frame rot issues..

The 4runner has 3rd row seating but unless your kids are midgets I wouldnt stick them back there..

Now do I like the 4 runner? Heck yes.. I like the styling of it. But when you figure 3 to 5k more used and your buying a very very similar SUV..no thanks.

 

[drbandkgb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45HpRQm9RI

Xterras aren't off road capable at all... ??? They are at least as capable as a 4 runner.

If you like manual transmission, SUV and off road there are only 3 choices anymore: Xterra, FJ or Wrangler Unlimited.
Each has their own pros and cons.

My only complaint with the Xterra is the lack of aftermarket support. However, the Xterra/nissan community is super because of this.

Nissan is a fine choice.

This is true.. Get on Xterranation.org or thexterra.org or even clubxterra.org They are all very friendly sites.. Most will bend over backwards to help a person in need.
I have owned Jeeps and OMG! do not ask a noob question on those forums.. I think Jeep/Toyota guys would eat their young if they asked a silly Noob question..

I think the Xterra community over all is great due to the lack of aftermarket support.

Look up there regional clubs too..
NEXTerra - NE Xterra
seXTERRA - SE Xterra
GPAX - PA
MAXterra - Mid America
and so on.. They all offer Mod days and are willing to go that extra mile to help out.

And check out a few national meets.. goneMOAB, The National Xterra Meet, East Coast Xterra Challenge

 

[2025 deleted member]

Except, the 4-runner looks like @$$.
(thanks Mr. C for bringing out the juvenile in all of us with your informative posts)
You're right about the 4-runner not being on the same level as the Xterra. It's quite a bit over-priced. Pfffffffffffft.
As someone else said, maybe you should add reasons for your opinions.
It's also in another class, known as the 17" wheel unibody class...har har gotta love aluminum can grocery getter SUVs.
Oh, and I almost forgot: no offense to anyone.

So someone labels the 4-runner foo-foo, and then another calls it unibody? Sorry for calling out blatant lies

 

[fangars]

Where in Arizona are you located. If you want you can check out my Xterra, or any of the other Arizona Xterra owners vehicle if you go to any of the events held by the AZXC.

If you are in Phoenix send me an email at fangars@xoskel.com and you can check out my Xterra or I can send you info on AZXC events.

If you are down in Tuscon there are some great guys in that area that would love to talk about their vehicles as well.

 

[PMA4x4]

Where in Arizona are you located. If you want you can check out my Xterra, or any of the other Arizona Xterra owners vehicle if you go to any of the events held by the AZXC.

If you are in Phoenix send me an email at fangars@xoskel.com and you can check out my Xterra or I can send you info on AZXC events.

If you are down in Tuscon there are some great guys in that area that would love to talk about their vehicles as well.

Thanks for the offer. We are hoping to get a look at some Gen 2s within the next couple of weekends.

As for the "I have owned Jeeps and OMG! do not ask a noob question on those forums.. I think Jeep/Toyota guys would eat their young if they asked a silly Noob question.."

I am and have been Jeep for over a decade now. There are some forums that have become very nasty but there are still more good Jeep oriented forums than bad. I have seen that attitude across the boards period. A few people screw it up for the rest. Its actually hard for me to potentially move out of the Jeep family. the minute I got my first Jeep (CJ-7) I was overwhelmed with free parts (hand me downs), free advice, free wrenching.

Aside from space and power requirements atmosphere within the group was another thing I am looking for and Xterras seem to have it.

Of course at this time with us moving more towards expedition style off-roading I am finding myself a bit further and further away from my off-roading pals cause they are still on the rocks and think a lot of what I am doing is not the best choices due to a "weak axle" or "IFS". I sometime cant get it thru their head that I aint goona go climb a class 5 trails.

I will admit that part of the attraction to the Xterra is that stepping window look similar to the Discoverys which I have a very soft spot for ever since i was kid.

 

[RonapRhys]

I know that lots of the Xterra folks try to be nice to everyone. I've had great experiences - in fact, to illustrate, we just had one of the annual get-togethers (goneMoab) and a few guys managed to blow stuff up. folks were happily wrenching on it and helping them at all hours until they were up and running again. Definitely a good crowd.

 

[jarmentrout]

I promised myself I wasn't going to post in this thread again... As I apparently turned it into a mess. But I can totally relate to PMA4x4 last post. I grew up pouring over national geographics and wanting one of those trucks that could just pick up and go spend a few years in. Again, the rock crawling and 6000 rpm mud thing is not for me.

I always wanted a discovery or series LR. Then the Toyota land cruiser of the 70s and early 80s. My first vehicle I purchased that wasn't a hand-me-down was a 77 jeep wagoneer which I went everywhere in and slept many many nights in (I still have "Emily" out back much to my wife's dismay. Can't bring myself to get rid of it). Then a 97 Cherokee which was a a great vehicle as well, and got better mileage. (I still have my dads 47 willys station wagon too). So I'm a jeep guy too. Still have the hat "since 1941".

I used to even keep enough basics in the wagoneer to make the "great escape" at any time and tried not to own more stuff than I could fit in the jeep in less than an hour. Odd I know. Ive out grown that now.

I went shopping after the Cherokee had lots of miles for something like my Cherokee or wagoneer that wasn't crazy expensive, would take me all the places those did without all sorts of bells and whistles. All the land cruisers and most toyotas for that matter, I could afford we're rusted out (in new England). Jeeps were too small to sleep in at the time. FJs had just come out but they had compromised door issues.

I still loved the discoveries, but could not bring myself to get a used one on my pay check knowing that they had reliability issues and expensive parts.

That brings me to the Xterra OR. It had just about everything I built my others up to but right from the factory for not a ton of money and I could get it with a manual trans. I have just a few weeks on my second one, a 2012, still a manual. Every vehicle is built with compromises for some buyer. A compromise for me might be perfect for someone else. The manufacturers can't get it perfect for everyone. But the 2012 is getting 19.8 MPG in the first 500 miles so my range will be ok (better than Emily at 11 MPG), the greatest expedition vehicle in the world won't get you anywhere if it's out of fuel in the boonies. It's still not perfect, I think they changed the front plastic fender liners for example and I think ill have to modify them slightly to provide clearance for my chains. But the rear suspension I think has been fixed, and at this point I don't think I'll have to add a lift unless it's for extra payload.

I'll wrap up by saying I'm still happy with the Xterra as a reliable expedition vehicle and look forward to many years more of the great places we'll go. I still look at the Discoveries with hopeless romance, but (as my wife noted the other day) I'm able to drive by most of the ones for sale on the side of road. I drive by in the X and smile a little and I remember the old National Geographic Kodachrome photos of Africa or South America.

 

[Xterabl]

Sorry, Scott C got me on the unibody thing, and I am sorry about that. But surely I am correct on the "looks like ***" thing.
Anyways, I would sure like to see Mr. C's specific reasons for preferring 4runner over Xterra for expedition purposes.