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BSKOHLER: Test drove one tonite(SE 4X4,no SC). Power a little lacking. Amenities lacking(no power sunroof,power seats,learter,etc.)Excellent Nissan build quality. Handling fair to good.Value-excellent. Gas mileage poor(same as Pathy).Looks, GREAT! Comparing to CR-V like apples & oranges.Actually it's hard to compare to anything if you factor in the price.
Handling, well again...it's a truck and it drives like one. Steering is a bit numb, especially if you're used to driving a car. Handling is decent, I think, compared to others in it's class. Braking is pretty good too for 4000lb SUV.
Build quality is very good. I've pounded mine on some pretty serious rocky off-road trails and I still have yet to hear even the slightest squeak or rattle. Not to say some X's might not have their share of problems like this (like most cars), but on average I think the X is built pretty tight.
Can't really compare it to the CRV, Escape, RAV-4, etc. Those suvs will ride/handle much, much nicer on the pavement (more car-like) than the X. But they don't do well off-road (probably ok for snow though).
What I like about the X is that it strikes a perfect balance between a 9-5 commuter vehicle and a weekend off-roader/trail rider. It truly is a utility vehicle.
My advice is always to get what suits your needs.
If you don't leave the pavement, there are better choices out there then the Xterra. And if you're on the fence about getting the 4wd option...get it! I know a lot of people who bought 2wd Xterras (and other 2wd brands) and now after taking them on some mild trails - wish they had spent the extra $1,000 or so on a 4x4.
The only negative, in my opinion, are the tires Nissan puts on the X (probably a cost cutting measure to keep the price within reason). The stock tires hinder what the X can accomplish with a real set of AT tires. This is true of most manufacturers though. They tend to put on street or all-purpose highway tires to cushion the ride and keep costs lower.
COMMENT ABOUT SOCCOR-MOM MOBILE-I am definitely not a "soccor-mom" but I do see a lot of women driving the X around my area also (MD).
COMMENT ON 2WD-I own a 2wd X, and I have not had any problem on wet surfaces, I actually got stuck coming back from WV in snow on curvey country roads and thought the X performed very well. I don't go off road so there was no real need for 4wd. We needed a bigger vehicle to carry more stuff and for the price, we couldn't beat it. Besides, I like the way the X looks oppose to others out there. If I was willing to pay out the "butt" for a monthly payment, I could of gotten something more cushy-But I couldn't be anymore happier with my X-My wallet is happy also. As far as the X being noisy, well, it is! But the radio usually takes care of that-besides it goes back to the comment I just made before this one. PAY MORE MONEY vs A LITTLE LESS NOISE
JANET
I can say hands down that the S/C is what we will be getting. I could really appreciate a difference between the two. We absolutely loved our test drives. The damn thing feels like a tank ready to be beat on! But then the depressing interaction with the salesman began. He said that they were willing to sell at invoice prices because Nissan is at the end of the fiscal year. I thought, well, invoice would be entirely acceptable to me ($26518 or thereabouts). Then he brought out the invoice on the SE which was around $26k (bullcrap, but whatever) which is a nice trick they sometimes try so you think damn what a great deal and proceed with the paper work as you begin consciously thinking that you've got it sealed only to later say ooops, that wasn't the S/C invoice, it's actually a little more, hoping you're far enough into the deal that it will be harder to end. Well, we caught on instantly, so then he brings out the 'ole photocopied "invoice sheet" that says their invoice was $27018... the EXACT price on www. carsdirect.com. The he added some extra stuff for $27132 as a total price (wasn’t listening at this point) HMMMMM I wonder if that was because I had told him I had been researching the Xterra on the net for the past 4 months?!?!?! Then he proceeded to go into the 'ole line about how edmunds.com and the other car info sites don't take into account advertising costs, and blah blah blah.
Then the mood changes and suddenly Mr. Nice Salesman isn't so nice anymore. As if subtle hostility and superciliousness is going to somehow make me buy. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. I told the guy I really was only there to test drive tonight, and I didn't want to get into the numbers at which he quickly said, "well, there isn't really any numbers because I don't sell S/Cs for less than this invoice.... (then the big classic one came rolling out of his mouth)... you won't get this vehicle for any cheaper than this anywhere." At this point I almost fell out of my chair thinking, "hasn't car salespeople school taught them not to say that stupid line anymore?!?!?"
EVERY time we've bought a car some sorry salesperson has used that line, and EVERY time, I've found a dealer who will meet my offer exactly. I guess they have to try because some people walk into the store and pay sticker or think they are getting a great deal when they get $500 off without knowing that the dealer made 2 grand off the deal not even counting the holdback, etc. Well, I didn't really lay down the law with him tonight because my wife doesn't like being around the dealing when it happens, so I played stupid and walked out saying we were going to talk about their great offer. He wouldn't even make eye contact with us when we left. I felt sorry for him.... that's got to be a tough job especially when educated buyers (although I didn't really engage tonight) come in.
Well, at any rate, the Xterra is frickin' phenomenal!! I'm glad my wife has made a commitment to it.... so let the hard ball begin. I'll keep a posting of the adventure (for those of you who care to read it) of the progress. I'm thinking "fair" will be around $26600-26800, and I know someone out there will oblige.
Can't wait to own this wonderful truck, but patience is a virtue!! Peace!
CALTMAN- I loved your post, oh, how it brought back memories. I too did a lot of research before buying, I knew exactly what I wanted and stated that. I ended up getting everything I wanted plus for less. I found that instead of calling the dealership or going in (I too was usually not in the mood to hear the crap), I would email. If the dealership has a website that has their inventory listed, usually they offer a bigger discount that way oppose to just walking in. I don't go by their so-called invoice because they just make them up, but I knew what I wanted and how much all it was by invoice and MSRP. I got a 2002, Xterra XE 2wd, with the power, utility and sport package, in-cabin microfilter, side guards, grill and light guards and the automirror that displays the temperature and compass. I paid 21,900. The MSRP was over 24,000 and the side guards wasn't listed on it. It kinda funny (or reversed), I do all of the negotiating. When it comes down to talking price, my husband goes off and does his thing. He says "go get em tiger".
Getting a decent set of AT tires will improve snow traction - both for 2wd and 4wd. The stock street tires aren't meant for anything other than highway cruising in my opinion.
As far as tires.. I was generally impressed with the LTrails in snow ( when the X was new, first winter ).. I did move to duelers for the winter. I got caught this year though, thought spring was here to stay, swapped my tires & rims back to my LTrails.. and we proceeded to get multiple snow storms.. Slightly worn LTrails do suck.. well, compared to a real winter tire.
I also spend most of the time in 2WD in winter.. I save 4WD for the deep stuff. The X handles quite well and is nicely balanced.. better than my 4runner in the same conditions. A little extra weight in the back of a 2WD would do wonders.
MSRP was 29073.
Sounds like you went in looking for a fight.
I could be wrong though?
I was a proud owner of a 2000 Xterra until last Saturday when it was totaled. First, just so y'all know, the Xterra is one safe vehicle. I hydroplaned in really bad rain off a 40 foot drop. I landed on my front end, then fell at an angle into a creek. Surprisingly, I'm not hurt at all! The Xterra held up amazingly! The body remained strong. The Xterra was totaled, but it kept me safe.
Therefore, I'm looking for a new car and the 2002 Xterra is high on my list but I have a few questions.
1. What's the mileage on the V6 Super charged? My 2000 V6 5-speed averaged right at 20. I was just wondering what effect the Super charger had.
2. Also, I've always heard negative comments regarding turbo charged engines. Would the Super charger have any long term negative effects or require higher maintenance costs?
Thanks for any help with these questions.
Brandon
Had it been available when I bought my 2001, I probably would have bought an S/C, but it wasn't. After owning my 2001 for a year - and driving a few 2002 S/C models, the power increase isn't enough to make me want to run out and trade in my 01 for an 02. But given the choice, I'd go for it if you're buying new.
Good luck with whatever you decide to get. The Xterra is a great truck.
I am wondering if any of you have the interior bike rack made exclusively by Yakima for Nissan?
I have an '02 Toyota Highlander (I know, blasphemy!), and have heard on that board that it will fit in my vehicle.
If you have this item, I would appreciate it if you could email me at raprider@yahoo.com with your feedback, good and bad.
Thanks much!
Rap
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk/rack3.html
The post about the guy hydroplaning and totalling, while reassuring about the construction of the Xterra, was a little scary in that we have not owned a rear-wheel drive in many years and I'm a little concerned about that. Or is it recommended to use the 4wd in the rain, etc.?
Thanks!
As far as the rear wheel drive...well...the Xterra is not a car and thus will handle much differently than a car. If you've never owned a higher riding, rear wheel drive vehicle, like a truck or SUV then it may take a little getting used to. You can't take corners like you can in a car (like off-ramps and such) at high speeds. The rain is not a problem really. The biggest negative is tires. If you feel it is too squirrely back there during the rain, then the first thing is to ditch the tires and get a better set. I did and now my wet traction and braking is awesome. Most suvs are this way though, so it's nothing particular to just the Xterra.
As for the 4wd...no, you can't use it on the pavement at all, not even in the rain. The Xterra comes with a true part-time 4wd system just like many other "truck-based" suvs. It should only be engaged on loose surfaces such as mud, snow, dirt, grass, etc. The system will bind up on pavement - wet or dry.
Do a search on part-time systems and read up on them a little. There are tons of articles out there that will explain it. If, after that, you're still confused, just ask on the board here. Many of us here can help you with questions.
Good luck, hope you get the Xterra (p.s. I have the silver ice too and love it...even when it's dirty it still looks clean).
Some Drivers Encounter Problems with Rear-Wheel-Drive
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
thanks for the fotos...pretty cool job...
unfortunately, dear wife would have my head if...
so, anybody else?
info on the interior rack for the xterra (for my highlander)?
thanks,
rap
Also, what do people get for city mileage? I'm assuming that the 16 MPG is low because of the factoring in that needs to be done for 4X4 driving. Is that a correct assumption?
Thanks!!
d
what you missed was the fact that my wife would kill me if i drill holes in her new car...even if it saves me $200!!!
rap
If you really want to drill the Toyota.. I won't stop ya
I rely on this car heavily and put 32000 miles on this car in two years. Fortunately, it is still under warranty. I had it towed to my orignial Nissan dealership this morning. To my amazement, the dealer was changing ownership and no longer accept Nissan warranty. Neverthless, they checked the problem and told me that the fuel pump was broken. I believe that they tried to coax me into fixing the problem at their place by luring me with free of chage fix. But I have do a more than $500 30,000 mile matainance there. I refused to fix it there.
I had the car towed to another Nissan dealer. They are going to check into it and let me know tomorrow.
For those living in central Jersy area, the first Nissan dealer is Laborila Nissan at red bank. The second Nissan dealer is Pine Belt Nissan at Keyport. I will report the latest progress tomorrow.
I bought my X at one dealer, didn't like their service, moved to another dealer and haven't had any problems with warranty.. actually the service dept gives me more even though I didn't buy the X there.
As far as service plans.. I always compare what the dealer wants to do and compare it to the manual.. you'd be surprised how much you can knock off their service $$ and keep the warranty 100%....
I'd like to ask you for your input on the 5 best reasons to buy an XTerra. Yes, I know it "looks cool", but I'm more interested in more substantive stuff (not looking for a chick magnet, because I already have an extremely cool chick to whom I've been married for almost 15 years).
We already have an Explorer which has been completely wonderful and 100% trouble free at 48K miles. I was considering an Outback wagon to kind of compliment the Explorer's SUV characteristics. But when I drove the XTerra I liked it so much I've had a change of heart. Please let me know what YOUR reasons were for buying, and also how reliable/wonderful/horrible/whatever your XTerra has been. Thanks VERY MUCH for this input!!
d
Thanks.
As far as the warranty, the dealer that I purchased the car from was in a transition
of changing owners. So they refused to take warranty. The second Nissan dealer fixed it without charge, but......
They only covered the towing for no more than $50. In my case, I towed the car twice and it costed me $125 in total, only $50 is covered. They do not cover car rental, and they persuaded me into buying their maintance for more than $400...... I should have checked xcanuk's email earlier.
So the lesson is when dealer says they want to do something that you orignially do not plan to have them do, say "no" on the phone. Think more about it when you hang up the phone. You can always have the service done by calling them up.
1. An affordable 4x4 price range considering other competition. 4Runner anybody?
2. Available supercharger.
3."Everything you need, nothing you don't." quoting Nissan's commercial. No frills or anything fancy on the truck.
4. For people who actually use it for its purpose.(ie. off-road, biking, hiking, etc.)
5. And from what I have seen from here, not that many problems considering this is its third year. If you do want to check, find other message boards about the Xterra.
5 reason why I got mine... I'll limit myself
1) comparable SUV's were too car-like, I like the truck feel.
2) very basic in set-up and easy to customize to your own liking. ( I hate getting a fully dressed vehicle that I'm gonna swap parts on anyway )
3) Nice interior space even with the rear seats up, easy to load.. 2 dogs and always going to home depot for projects
4) Great rack... ever notice most other suv's don't come with crossbars.. bikes, gear, canoe.. it can handle it all.
5) Well mannered on the road, (power & handling) you don't have to worry to much if you go off the pavement.
Downfalls.. typical MPG for a SUV (low).. after 2 1/2 years.. no other complaints.
The internet phenomenon that just wouldn't die.
http://www.planettribes.com/allyourbase/AYB2.swf
http://edmunds.yellowbrix.com/pages/edmunds/Story.nsp?story_id=29448023&ID=edmunds&scategory=Auto&
I use touchless car washes in the winter, and I use a my power washer most of the time.. no problems here.. ( I don't exactly aim at the crossbars when using it though )
Or you have too much pressure entering the hose. Did they ever do a diagnostic on the A/C and compressor? If not, that could have something to do with it.
Thanks!
I've taken the truck to the dealer for tire work, I've taken it to Midas and nothing...the shake on some roads is so bad, that even with someone sitting on the seat, it shakes them as well...and at speeds between 65 and 75, on open highway (I live in Miami, Fl. and travel to Disney World a lot on it...) the shake is unbearable...it feels like if the whole truck is coming apart. Can anyone please help me...I love my truck...but I can't take the shaking...