As in many families with this type of second car driven by a "wicked car guy" so it needs to be fairly versatile. When the J was new it was dirty and in sad shape. Now I find myself driving it as it if it were new. This doesn't work when parking near the garden center entrance of the Home Depot. It's turned into a shinier version of the car my wife should have (it keeps getting me in trouble).
If things all go as my imagination has played out a friend and co-worker of mine will be getting ready to move on from his 2k Xterra Se. As a 1 owner low mile newer version of my favorite vehicle (green 4x4 D21), it is raw crude and perfect. Being such a well maintained and having the lowest mileage of any car I "would" have owned. As many guys who worked through the ranks of a dealership can attest the toils and tribulations associated with learning paying your dues means there is a point at which you take whatever vehicles will fit a weeks paycheck requirement and are replaced if the potential repair exceeds that value, or something just must be had.
In this market I can fetch something for my investment (enough to recoup most of mind "parts only" investment). It won't completely offset my new investment and swinging addons off the bat might be a bit of a swing so I am pre-planning early to plan my battles and "side work" needs down the potential road.
First off it will need tires, still wearing the stock 265/70/15. I can swing ~$150ish/ a tire without batting a significant eyebrow. I hear that 32x12.5x15 will fit if needed before lifting. The 32x10.5 have a decent profile aspect but I would really prefer the 12.5. I want to pretty much to everything but raise it...still a DD.
My D21 had BFG All Terrain KOs. (classic tread pattern, w/ raised white letters) in 31s it worked to sell me on Nissan trucks in less than a week, that pained me to have to part with. As I became we my car also needed four door (for house things not kids). Keeping with that trend a X would be ideal for what I want to do next. Which would most be the point I loose the wife too
The center section of the bumper is miscolored (as all older ones do)...so obviously there are a few options.... Refinish (maybe 20 hrs of work $200 max), upgrade to the round lights of the 2002 (god knows how long and most likely the better part of a grand), jump over to 4x4parts.com and buy a steel monster with shackles...however that might be a bit over kill. (might also give away what I would like to eventually do to the mrs...). I want to take on the suspension (one of the reason the X is better than the R50 or any pathfinder, even the titan basically) I am not looking to jack it up but beef it up. Instead of sagging when I attach a trailer and drag my toolbox somewhere. That will require more torque. :evilhaha: but never ever exhaust (noisy v6s never sound good).
I know that many of the readers here have much more experience in this field. I look forward to learning more about this. Back in the day I was a loyal 4x4 magazine reader I even bought a cj5 with restoration dreams (at 15 w/o a paycheck). Upon failing at that I found Japanese cars to be much cheaper to operate, and a fiberglass tub was not an option in your parents driveway (yes the one they used). Any incite that could be imparted would be greatly appreciated.
