Lookin at a Pathy/QX4.. Do you like em?

[elwesso]

So where I work now has me driving about an hour each way.. Im thinking in the winter time, my Q45 even with winter tires isn't going to cut it. Where I live has a lot of back roads that may or may not get plowed, and even though my Q does pretty good in the snow if it gets deep im done.. Not to mention I want to do some work on my Q over the winter..

I used to be a lot more active in these forums a few years ago, and then most people had older ones, so Im not as familiar with the 3.5L

So I've been looking at 97-01s with 3.3L and 02+ with 3.5.. I would imagine the 3.5 is preferred over the 3.3... Anything in particular I should look for? The drivetrain seems pretty solid from what I remember.. Also it seems that the pathy's and QX4s are worth basically the same money, which doesnt make any sense to me since the QX4 has more amenities....

Thanks in advance, happy thanksgiving!

[elwesso]

also how are these things on gas? I do all highway driving, and I see about 23MPG in my Q.. If I could expect similar gas mileage (within a couple MPG) I will be happy..

[naladude911]

All I have to say is that my QX4 is great in snow, handles very well, is fun to drive, but sucks on gas. I drive home from school for 1.5 hours on the interstate doing ~75mph and go through half a tank of gas.

[Buzzman]

2001 was the first year of the more powerful 3.5 engine.
However, if you hang around here long enough, it seems that half (or more) of the problem posts all start with: "I have a 2001 Pathy/QX4, and it's doing ......this......can you help?"
Can't explain it, but it's definitely a trend.
The pre 2001's are underpowered, in my opinion, plus you need to be aware of the timing belt replacement requirements.
Personally, I'd try to find a 2002 or later.
The newer R51's came out in 2005, and no-one seems to think they are as good as the older R50's.
Mine is a 2002, and I'm still as happy with it today as I was when I bought it.
I'll drive it to it's grave.
Good luck.

[miamiheat3332]

Get a 2002 path/qx4 or a 2003 path/qx4, also possibly the 2004 pathfinder platinum edition or even the qx had a platnium edition but both of these are really rare.

The 3.3's are underpowered, be aware as the body style switch was made in 1999.5, while the 3.5 was available only starting 01 like buzzman said, you can also tell if the 1999.5+ body style is a 3.3 because the tailpipe will be curved to the right and not go straight out the back.

[01silvapathy]

Love my 01 VQ, with a 6.5in lift and 33's on stock gears....on the 4hr trip home at 75 the whole way I averaged 15mpg...noot too too bad considering what it is imo.

[elwesso]

Thanks guys!

I have been kinda eyeing down this one.. The price is high, however it looks super clean. If I could talk them down into the 9000 range including all the dealership fees, i think it would probably be worth it.

http://www.tomwood.com/used/Infiniti/20 ... 46dafb.htm

For the money, my research has shown that something in roughly the same size as a QX4 its going to be hard to beat it for the money, as far as reliability and features are concerned..

[01silvapathy]

From the looks of it, the only thing that QX has on an LE Pathy is heated rear seats, and the projector style headlights. The heating and cooling controls look to be more dated than my 01 pathys controls.... Plus the wheels on the QX are just hideous to me, as well as the body moldings and trim pieces. But hey to each their own.

[elwesso]

I personally like the styling of the QX a little bit, but yeah I agree with you its pretty much the same. I dont really give a rats a$$ about heated rear seats, im never back there haha!! Not to mention I got used to the analog clock in my Q45... IM not a huge fan of the white face gauges in the pathy, however its not a deal-breaker.

My aunt and uncle have an 03 pathy LE they let me drive on thanksgiving. Definitely has a little more acceleration esp on the low end than I expected. The 3.5 is a nice engine, seems to have nearly bullet proof reliability.. the RE4R01A trans seems pretty solid in many models, main thing is keeping fluid clean and cool..

Does anyone do any towing with these things? How do they handle, I read the max towing capacity is around 5000lb...

[01silvapathy]

The only thing you have to look out for with these trucks is the power valve screws coming loose and your engine ingesting them and thus grenading itself. A weekend of work and some locktite solve the issue apparently, I still have yet to do this to my 01...but its on my list.

I added a JWT Pop Charger to mine and it really awakened the VQ. Now it sounds like a Z above 4grand and it has that nice pop when you rev it

[elwesso]

Thanks for the heads up on the power valve screws... Ive removed the intake off VH45DE a few times, and after a quick search, pulling the intake on the VQ looks like a walk in the park compared to the VQ.. Great info!

[Densetsu]

Handling is fine when towing, and the 3.5L engine still has lots of power for it.

The only time I've felt it struggle is when I was towing close to 4 tons of dirt. It took probably 20 - 25 seconds to get up to highway speed, but I was being careful because I was towing 150% of the towing capacity and didn't want to put too much stress on the transmission and frame by flooring it.

Most of the time I'm just towing a boat in the mountains on my way to camping/fishing. The 1500 - 2000 lbs feels like nothing, even on the inclines in the mountains, and still had plenty of power to pass slowpokes on those stupid twisty two-lane highways.

[elwesso]

Yeah I know on the Qs we usually like to add transmission coolers, so if I end up pulling the trigger I think I have my old trans cooler from when I had an AT..

I was reading about the swirl control and power valve screws, briefly perusing the FSM and parts book. Can all of those screws be accessed by removing only the upper intake. I think Canuck only took off his upper manifold, but I was unsure how these 2 systems worked together. Just curious, im sure once you're in there its pretty easy to tell whats going on.

it appears that there are some on the lower intake, but maybe they are dowels and not screws?

[CanuckQx4]

Im almost positive the cooler built right inside the bottom of the rad is for the transmission, the 2 inlet.outlet pipes in the middle of the bottom of the rad... I remember someone showed me there was a cooler there I forget if they said it was engine oil and transmission oil cooler though, might have to follow the lines later if knowbody chimes in

The power valve screws only need the upper intake removed, easy job, there are more screws below but aparently arent affected

I love my 2wd Qx4, with a few mods the 3.5L is prety quick and sounds great, decent gas mileage, excelent reliability.

The 6 bolt kinda sucks for aftermarket rims and limits you in some ways.

Id buy another

[elwesso]

So the ones in the lower intake apparently are OK? Seems weird that some would be ok and some wouldnt be?

[CanuckQx4]

type of screw or method of assembly Id assume made the difference