1997 QX4 is sold

[ARKQX33V6]

Remaining: For sale 4 bike rack swing out hitch mount, Land Rover $200
Hitch carrier 30" x 5" 2" x 2" receiver, with ramp $350
Load distributor hitch 2" x 2" cat 4-5 6000 lb $150
1997 QX4 Service manual $50

All items are in very good shape

[Chris.m]

You sold the qx4?

Why?

What did you replace it with?

[ARKQX33V6]

My 15 year old QX4 was not a willing or wanted sale but rather a write off after putting it in a ditch. No body damage but steering and suspension were crushed to the point of $5100 damage and insurance paid me that instead of fixing it.

What to replace it with, that's an easy decision because my son sells Toyota and my replacement is a Rav 4 sport loaded with a V6, run flat tires and a ton of options.

Some things I took off the QX4 are available but I did shed a tear for that car, the cost of owning and repairing and keeping that car in shape over 14 years worked out to about $4300 a year without insurance. It was easy to see that as the years rolled by maintenance grew, but reasonably I thought.

In a 14 year term:
3 sets of front pads
3 sets of Front struts, 1 under warranty
1 set of rear shocks
3 sets of outer tie rods
1 bottom bearing, steering
lots of oil changes with Mobil 1 and filters
Timing belt, idlers, water pump
1 battery
2 sets O2 sensors, 1 set at warranty
1 complete exhaust system under warranty

For the 1st try at the QX4, Nissan did a good job that 3.3 was great
Fluid changes every 2 years, brake fluid changes every 3 years
A wax job every year.

After driving her for 14 years 2 months it will take some getting used to a Rav 4, but with Sport suspension I really like the stiff ride and it is just as quiet as the QX4.

All the very best to Pathfinder and QX4 owner operators

Al

[Chris.m]

As proabably the most knowledgeable person on this forum, you will be missed.

-Chris

[GRNMACHINE]

Sorry to hear, and yes I agree, you will be missed!

[ARKQX33V6]

I am now a Toyota Rav 4 Sport driver as of tomorrow, but I am still looking and will continue to try my hand at some of the problems the QX 4 and Pathfinders come up with.

I decided to buy a Rav 4 for very reasonable reasons, 1 being that every person that I asked about their Rav 4 were happy with it, 2 my daughter has had hers for 50,000 km 2 years and is very pleased and 3 it doesn't hurt that my son sells for Toyota.

I will miss that QX, I knew her well, it's very easy to know a car when you have repaired every part of her for over 14 years and still there is or was no rust. That model proved to be a rust bucket but Krown Rust Proofing worked.

If anybody around the GTA needs tires, wipers for a 97, 98 or so QX4, I still have 4 snows a couple extra rims.

Happy motoring and unlike me keep the shiny side up and between the ditches.

[miamiheat3332]

Damn that sucks you put it in a ditch, and i know exactly what you mean when you've worked on the car for so long, when something is wrong you can picture exactly in your head what you have to fix, and how to fix it. Versus in a newly acquired car you need to figure all that out again.

Do you have any pictures of how it looked?

[ARKQX33V6]

Looks good no body damage, front wheels were pigeon toed, lower A frame was bent, left wheel was mangled, battery was dead, could not be driven, but I limped home after being winched out of a 45 degree ditch

[ARKQX33V6]

Well the transition is done, the mourning is over for the QX4, the insurance has paid the bill for old faithful and now life starts a new with a 2011 RAV 4 Sport.

The Rav 4 is just a little narrower than the QX4 but is very nice to drive. The automatic 5 peed matched to a V6 has good ratios and the tach levels are similar to the QX4. Not a luxury SUV the Sport has a stiffer suspension but is quiet, no wind noise but the Blizzak snows can be heard.

4 WD with FWD splitting into rear at a 50/50 split through a 1 speed transfer box with no human intervention. With 4 run flat tires there is no spare but they will be mounted when the winter is over.

Rear camera and all kinds of options the RAV 4 is just as comfortable as the QX4 but as I see it not as robust. But in 14 years the QX4 always saw black top and the RAV 4 should never see off road.

With the Rav 4 at close to $10 k cheaper than the QX4 close to 15 years ago it appears to be a decent price and the insurance costs were or are about the same considering the age difference.

The RAV 4 V6 at 3.5 l and 269 HP claims great MPG as about the same as their 4 cylinder. The 1997 QX4 at 169 HP in comparison is a bit low but both use regular non leaded and the RAV seems to like downshifting 5 to 4 when loaded more so the the QX4 with a 4 speed.

The sport has a nice leather interior and far better storage room everywhere in comparison to the QX4. The steering is quick and car like unlike the QX4 and with 18" wheels the ride and sport suspension are firm and positive.

The QX4 delivered a great ride and no unusual wear and never stranded me in all the years I had and used her. That goes to a great maintenance routine combined with a well built car in the first place. I think the RAV 4 is a good replacement, I see and feel many of the same attributes.

Time will tell!

[Towncivilian]

I'm glad you're pleased with your QX4's replacement. I hope it'll last just as long, if not longer.

Thanks for all the help you've provided around here. Drive safe!