Looking for some advice on buying a QX4 or Pathfinder

[BT5150]

I want to buy a used SUV for a second car and I'd like to keep it under $10,000. I have been looking at a lot of different makes and I'm amazed at the reasonable prices, especially on QX4's. I had a Pathfinder for a rental for a couple of weeks around 2000 and really liked it, so either a Pathfinder or QX4 would be nice, I'd like a loaded one though. (I guess all QX4's come loaded) Is there anything in particular to look for (or look out for) on these trucks? Any problem areas that come to mind? Another vehicle I was interested in was the Acura MDX, I noticed that the earlier years were selling for a fair amount less than later years, then I found out that the earlier transmissions on the MDX are problematic and expensive to fix, hence these years go for quite a bit less. Anything like that on the QX4/Path? I'm actually surprised at how low the selling prices are on some of these, for instance on Ebay I have seen several QX4's with around 100,000 miles going for around $6000 in nice shape, this seems like a pretty good deal for a nice vehicle. Any advice is much appreciated!

[Qxxx4]

go for it. im not just saying that because i own one and am a nissan guy. My dad bought ours with 56,000kms. and gave it to me a little over a year ago with 100,000kms. ive put another 15,000 kms on it and......its never seen a mechanic.

Their not that bad on gas either if you keep it well maintained. most of us get just under 20MPG. either 3.3L motor or the 3.5L.

Heres the difference between qx4 and pathy....nothing. some bells and whistles and nameplates....not much. even some pathies come with the wood grain and sound system the q's have.

if your going with a qx4 though i reccomend a 99.5-2000 if your getting the first gen body style....people dont notice the difference until after they get it. Every time i look at a 97-99 qx4 it seems so different. my 99.5 and all 99.5-2000 qx4's come with a couple small things like a switch for the 4x4 instead of stick,clear headlight housings, a switch for the rear glass, etc etc.

If i were you, id spend the extra money and get a 3.5L pathfinder or qx4. I have 170HP on my 3.3 and i wish i had the 2001+ engine with 240 horses.

As far as reliability.....alot of guys here have problems with 02 sensors (i for one) which are fine after they are replaced at around $150 each. Watch out for weatherstripping, if you see any bubbles on it itll have to be changed soon.

If its a 3.3L they need a timing belt replacement at 160,000kms...i think thats 100,000 miles...probably why you see so many sell for cheap at that mileage, they require about $1000 give or take to change it and the water pump at that time. the 3.5's have a timing chain and dont require that. some say the 3.3L motor is more reliable and, my favorite "bulletproof" but id still rather have the 3.5. We all love our q's, i even hold a grudge with fueler over his "qxslow" slogan, but hey, hes right, their a little underpowered and the 3.5L owners are getting much more for their money.

if your about flashyness and bells and whistles....get a 2001-2003 qx4. I had mine next to ajrk's and that thing is a gem. even the interior feels that much more luxurious (and believe me i felt like a million bux when i first sat in mine)

The R50 platform is amazing for highway, its so comfortable. my parents have a 2003 land rover discovery and that thing is brutal on the highway.

read around this forum, there is so much great information that i have learned from and benefitted from! their good suv's and as all of us are, youll be very happy if you get one.

and other members will agree with me, not because were fanboys, we just know. most of us have driven many other cars besides nissan and can tell you that we love our pathys/q's!

and dont forget that you will get addicted to this forum. the most down to earth, honest, and friendly people are on here, I love owning a q that much more because this forum is so much damn fun.

keep us posted!

[ReKleineR]

I think Qxxx4 pretty much covered must of what I was gonna say.

But I also like to add that the 3.3L Manual transmission (if thats your ticket) has a short 5th gear. I don't know if others with the 99.5 5spd noticed but 5th gear revs at around 3k rpms going about 70mph, and that gets kinda annoying on the highway, as the older pathfinders are known to have loud motors.

I suggest looking at gettin a 3.5L Pathfinder for the horsepower, and If you want a more luxurious Pathfinder go for the Platinum Edition, Sexy SUV imo.

But over all I love home confortable the ride is, and how awesomely awesome the four wheel drive works. No matter how much snow its seems they can't be stopped!

As for my 99.5 Pathfinder I've had to get these replaced:

All belts: Around $120A/C compressor: $400 (I bought mine (new) online for cheap, and had my mechanic put it in, otherwise it would either be like $1,200 from the dealer, or $800 for a remanufactured one, which suck)

I need to get my belt tensioner pulley replaced now too. I think depending on what type of climate you live in results in what you'll need to fix. But other than that I've had it for about 1.5 years and I enjoy it very much so.

Good luck to you and your vehicle searching!

[BT5150]

Thanks for the advice! If the worst common problem is an o2 sensor, that sounds pretty darn good to me. Timing belts are always a pain, I have owned several Hondas and Acuras and the timing belt is always an issue with their motors. I never understand why any carmaker would build an interference design engine where the timing belt breaking can basically trash the motor, but they do, I think just about every Honda product is that way, other than that they are great motors. I'll have to see what comes up as far as what's for sale, I'll post it when I buy one.

[Empty V]

in 2000 they changed it to a timing chain. Expect normal maintanance though. I've got almost 200k miles on mine with no major issues. I still have yet to see what my check engine light looks like. This is my 3rd SUV and let's just say my mechanic and transmission guy no longer like me.

Best of luck!

Billy
Modified by Empty V at 11:34 PM 11/1/2008

[pathfinder9035]

i own a 2001 nissan pathfinder with the 3.5 liter 5 speed. man do i love it. i am a big on offraoding and i beat the living crap out of my pathfinder. and it still purrs. i bought it a year in half ago and it still feels solid with 104000 miles.

i reccomend the 3.5 over the 3.3 because of power and its just as reliable except for few minor issues. the power is just awesome for the suv. highway cruising is extremely comfortable thx to the unibody and has all the power u need for passing. offroad... for a unibody there nothing i havent been able to tackle yet but u probably will not take it off the pavement. some people on here dont believe that i can do a late 7 seven second 0-60 with my 5 speed but i will soon post the video once i get it working. lol... this suv is so durable and can take alot of beating trust me i know i used to own a toyota 4runner and i beat the living **** out of it than i rolled it on teh highway but this nissan is just as durable as the body on frame 4runner but u get the best comfort from it too.

there are a few things i replaced but its all my fault really. i had to replace my number two coil pack but that was my fault when i changed the sparkers i forgot to plug the number two cylinder in and that screwed up the coil pack and a bunch of other stuff but again thats my fault.

so yeah go ahead and buy it deffinitely recommend this suv. its a solid build high quality vehicle. and again i am not saying this because i own one. and also u should buy one because of this forum its the best! just joined about 1 month ago and already addicted. this forum has saved me 600 dollars so far

thank you nico!