Hello From Ohio

Greetings all!

I'll preface my post with this...

I currently own a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and have been a Jeep guy since I can remember. However, due to recent financial restrains, my beloved JKU's payments may become a bit much. In order to ease the budgetary strain, I am looking at all courses of action. The best course of action maybe to trade in my JKU for something a bit cheaper that will drastically reduce or have no payments.

My 14 JKU has 76k on it and is worth about 24k to 26k and I still owe about 15k on it. So I figure I have about 10k worth of a trade (that may be a gross overestimate but not sure). I have always admired the Xterra and am seriously considering one. I have seen them hold their own on the trail and I have always liked the looks of them. That's about all I know of them, while I have extension knowledge of just about any Jeep platform I have no knowledge of the Xterra. This is where I'm hoping you all will help me out.

What are some things to look out for?
What are the desirable options?
What kind of reliability could I expect?
Are there certain years to stay away from?
And so on...

I am your average shade tree mechanic and am not afraid to get my hands dirty when it comes to anything with an engine and wheels.

Any input you all could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey man thanks for looking into the dark side...if you want a great off-road truck that is not a Toy than we may have what you are looking for.
First off in terms of available aftermarket options prepare yourself for a desert. Not much out there. However what there is, is of a decent quality.
2nd there are 2 or rather 2.5 generations of Xterra, nothing is interchangeable. 1st and .5 gens are most probably the most affordable but with the highest mileage.
2nd gens are larger and have a larger engine along with a factory available rear locker (pro4X model ) and have a significant amount of front suspension interchangeable parts with the Titan. They also have the most amount of aftermarket stuff currently available.
Reliability wise... well they’re Japanese, so unless they were mistreated the build quality is great...though sometimes you shake your head at the engineers when doing service work.
I’ve had both a Pathfinder and an Xterra the best part is driving something that is just as capable but not a cookie cutter Jeep. It’s nice to be different.
If your budget allows I’d look for the newest X I could find. Pro 4X. Production ended in 2016?
It’s to bad that Nissan lost their mojo and now market to the majority. For a while they produced some truly great 4x4s. I’d give my left nut for a Patrol.
As a shade tree mechanic myself I enjoy my 1.5gen. it’s a tractor off road. Easy enough to fix myself and comfortable enough that I’ve put 15,000 km of highway miles in the last year as an over lander.
I don’t think you’d be sorry if you found an Xterra except for having to deal with the likeable degenerates on this forum.

Welcome for central ohio

Greetings from Dallas.

2nd gen is probably your best bet if you want to daily it. The 1st gen was under powered for what it was. Both are extremely reliable as long as the basic maintenance is done. If you do go 2nd Gen, the biggest issue was the autos had a problem until 2009 where the radiator would break down, causing the engine coolant and the transmission fluid to mix, called the Strawberry Milkshake of Death (SMOD). Because the coolant was pink.

Muadeeb said:

Greetings from Dallas.

2nd gen is probably your best bet if you want to daily it. The 1st gen was under powered for what it was. Both are extremely reliable as long as the basic maintenance is done. If you do go 2nd Gen, the biggest issue was the autos had a problem until 2009 where the radiator would break down, causing the engine coolant and the transmission fluid to mix, called the Strawberry Milkshake of Death (SMOD). Because the coolant was pink.

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This only applies to auto transmissions.

Also, welcome from Denver.

Lots of good information here so far. I've daily driven both gens. 2nd gen is definitely easier for the day to day. A bigger interior. Can get out of its own way. If you're looking for an automatic, double check and triple check SMOD problems.

Welcome from PA.

Thanks for the info everyone. This vehicle I end up getting will be a daily driver, and I'd still like to maintain some creature comforts. I'd love to have the navigation and such, but can do without. My biggest things are the body on frame construction, 4WD, and a decent reliable power plan and drive train. Seems as though the X will fit those categories.

How easy are these things to work on? Don't have much experience working on Japanese design stuff.

Edit. I don't have much experience working on Japanese designs with 4 wheels...2 wheels is a much different story.

Curt41 said:

Thanks for the info everyone. This vehicle I end up getting will be a daily driver, and I'd still like to maintain some creature comforts. I'd love to have the navigation and such, but can do without. My biggest things are the body on frame construction, 4WD, and a decent reliable power plan and drive train. Seems as though the X will fit those categories.

How easy are these things to work on? Don't have much experience working on Japanese design stuff.

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Stupid easy. A 10mm will take apart 70 percent of the truck. Add a 17, 19, and a 21 and you're covered about 90‰

Prime said:

Stupid easy. A 10mm will take apart 70 percent of the truck. Add a 17, 19, and a 21 and you're covered about 90‰

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Great, the 10mm...guess I'll need to buy spares at the rate I lose those things. Good to know though!

One thing I've found in looking for used Xterras . . . people must love them, because they literally drive the crap out of them. Virtually every 1st gen Xterra I look at is (what I consider to be) high-mileage. I have yet to run into an authentic "garage queen". On the other hand, they are a lot like the energizer bunny.

Hetzer said:

One thing I've found in looking for used Xterras . . . people must love them, because they literally drive the crap out of them. Virtually every 1st gen Xterra I look at is (what I consider to be) high-mileage. I have yet to run into an authentic "garage queen". On the other hand, they are a lot like the energizer bunny.

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What do you consider high mileage? I'm at 220k miles right now.

Hello from west central OH! Just picked a 2004 up last week. Spent the last 7 years in an XJ Cherokee. Have to say I do miss the grunt that the 4.0 straight 6 had. But the ride comfort is way beyond the ballpark of the Jeep. The other thing i miss is the storage under the back seat. Was nice to have a place to keep things out of the view of prying eyes. Other than that i am really happy with the decision.

Rick S. said:

Hello from west central OH! Just picked a 2004 up last week. Spent the last 7 years in an XJ Cherokee. Have to say I do miss the grunt that the 4.0 straight 6 had. But the ride comfort is way beyond the ballpark of the Jeep. The other thing i miss is the storage under the back seat. Was nice to have a place to keep things out of the view of prying eyes. Other than that i am really happy with the decision.

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What part of center ohio are you from? I'm in mt. Gilead.

In London, About halfway between Columbus and Springfield.

Rick S. said:

Hello from west central OH! Just picked a 2004 up last week. Spent the last 7 years in an XJ Cherokee. Have to say I do miss the grunt that the 4.0 straight 6 had. But the ride comfort is way beyond the ballpark of the Jeep. The other thing i miss is the storage under the back seat. Was nice to have a place to keep things out of the view of prying eyes. Other than that i am really happy with the decision.

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Welcome aboard Rick. Enjoy the community