Below are the 5 different auto brands I am trying to pick from. I have prepared an excel sheet with a handful of vehicles in each brand/category. I would like some help in picking one brand and then in my next post, some help with picking the best one from within that particular brand. Would appreciate your help in helping me choose a good vehicle. I would really like to buy something before the end of next week (Nov 7th) and I have been looking for a long while.
Essentially, I am looking for the following only. Dont need 4WD btw.
1) Long term reliability and durability ; definitely >200k miles with least hassle.2) Attractive and impressive. Especially with the ladies. 3) My budget is 8000 bucks give and take and looking for an auto with around 100k miles give and take.
My choices are;1) 2001 QX42) 01-04 pathy3) 2000 lexus rx3004) BMW 3 series5) 2003 Mitsu montero sport---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have compiled a list as mentioned and all the vehicles have a clean carfax record as far as accident hsitory is concerned. But except the 03 montero sport, no other vehicle has any service records whatsoever in the carfax reports. Should that be a concern? I mean if the carfax has no service records and the dealer has none either, how I am supposed to know the vehicle maintenance history?
As always, this forum has been very helpful and Im thankful for that. I cant be of much help here but I am active in other forums - myfico, creditboards, ubuntu, tech-forums etc if anybody needs help over there . Thanks again.
PLease help me choose...gotta larger list...
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Pwnin O'Brien
- Posts: 1612
- Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:10 pm
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (ugharin)
Ok, I am going to give you my honest opinion on your choices; a lot of people may disagree but this is just from the experience I have had with these vehicles.
1. I am going to combine the QX4 and Pathfinder together. These two vehicle are definitely the top choice of all of these options. The reason? Well the engines are super reliable and can last a very long time. The QX4 and Pathfinder will have more interior space than most (if not all) of your other choices. Now, if you are leaning more towards luxury then choose the QX4, but you have to remember, a QX4 will be slightly higher in price, so you will have to purchase one with higher miles. If you don't care about luxury and you want something you can just haul stuff in, then you should choose the Pathfinder. If you go with a Pathfinder, you can get the same year as a QX4 but you can get one with lower miles. Personally I would choose the Pathfinder, but obviously I am biased. You may also be able to find a Pathfinder with options (such as leather, auto HVAC, upgraded stereo, etc.) for a little more money if you really want those amenities.
2. Lexus makes some GREAT cars. They can be extremely reliable and can also last you a very long time. My mom has owned Toyotas for most of her life and my brother just got the new IS and they are both excellent cars. A Toyota engine can last forever, and can probably outlast the Nissan engine in the QX4/Pathfinder. The only reason I don't like the RX? Well it lacks in the space department. The RX is closer to a compact SUV, the cargo area is very small and can pretty much only carry groceries. These "SUV's" were only made to carry people. They have somewhat nice interiors, but I would much rather have an upgraded Toyota Highlander (or even 4Runner) for less than the price of the RX. While this is a good choice and I am sure you will like it, it just doesn't offer as much as the Pathfinder/QX4.
3. I hate the 3-series. BMW has made some great cars, and I mean really great cars. I think they dropped the ball on the 3-series. I learned to drive on my brother 328is, I though it was the greatest car; until I got my Range Rover. I like to consider the 3-series the poor mans luxury sedan (unless you get the coupe, which is pretty nice). I think the build quality is poor on the 3-series and the seating surfaces feel cheap. Even the 3-series "real" leather option feels like vinyl. Also, the 3-series lacks horribly in space. You cannot comfortably fit four adults in the vehicle if you tried. The back seats have no leg room and you always have to move the front seats forward to fit people in the back. On the topic of reliability, they tend to be pretty reliable cars. However, my moms fiancee's 2008 3-series has been in the shop four times in the past 6 months for major repairs (the car won't start at all and BMW can't figure out what's wrong with it). Even on the 2009 5-series loaner they gave him while his car was in the shop had a really loud whine from the power steering pump (the 5-series had less than 3000 miles on it).
4. Mitsubishi is really a forgotten brand. Although the lancer is a great little car, they don't really pay much attention to their SUV line. Probably the biggest thing I hate about the Montero sport is the exterior design. I personally think it is a very ugly SUV. I don't like the front end or the back end of the thing, it looks like they had a five year old draw an SUV with some crayons and then chose that for the final design. Their designers really just put together something quickly and then put it out there to sell. I'm not too familiar with Mitsubishi reliability, one of my friends swears by them. The Montero sport will definitely have a lot of interior space, I'm not sure if it has more than the Pathfinder/QX4, however.
I you were to ask me today, what SUV I recommend for purchase out of all SUV's on the market today, I would recommend a Toyota 4Runner. I am a really big fan of the 4Runner; they have loads of interior space and they literally run forever (if taken care of properly). The 4Runner also has a long line of off-roading heritage and is more capable on and off-road than most new SUV's today. My immediate family has owned almost every brand of car (Audi, BMW, Lexus, Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Jeep, Chevy) sold in the US (my family's not big fans of American-made) and I can honestly say that the Toyota vehicles have required the least amount of repairs and even the least amount of maintenance.
1. I am going to combine the QX4 and Pathfinder together. These two vehicle are definitely the top choice of all of these options. The reason? Well the engines are super reliable and can last a very long time. The QX4 and Pathfinder will have more interior space than most (if not all) of your other choices. Now, if you are leaning more towards luxury then choose the QX4, but you have to remember, a QX4 will be slightly higher in price, so you will have to purchase one with higher miles. If you don't care about luxury and you want something you can just haul stuff in, then you should choose the Pathfinder. If you go with a Pathfinder, you can get the same year as a QX4 but you can get one with lower miles. Personally I would choose the Pathfinder, but obviously I am biased. You may also be able to find a Pathfinder with options (such as leather, auto HVAC, upgraded stereo, etc.) for a little more money if you really want those amenities.
2. Lexus makes some GREAT cars. They can be extremely reliable and can also last you a very long time. My mom has owned Toyotas for most of her life and my brother just got the new IS and they are both excellent cars. A Toyota engine can last forever, and can probably outlast the Nissan engine in the QX4/Pathfinder. The only reason I don't like the RX? Well it lacks in the space department. The RX is closer to a compact SUV, the cargo area is very small and can pretty much only carry groceries. These "SUV's" were only made to carry people. They have somewhat nice interiors, but I would much rather have an upgraded Toyota Highlander (or even 4Runner) for less than the price of the RX. While this is a good choice and I am sure you will like it, it just doesn't offer as much as the Pathfinder/QX4.
3. I hate the 3-series. BMW has made some great cars, and I mean really great cars. I think they dropped the ball on the 3-series. I learned to drive on my brother 328is, I though it was the greatest car; until I got my Range Rover. I like to consider the 3-series the poor mans luxury sedan (unless you get the coupe, which is pretty nice). I think the build quality is poor on the 3-series and the seating surfaces feel cheap. Even the 3-series "real" leather option feels like vinyl. Also, the 3-series lacks horribly in space. You cannot comfortably fit four adults in the vehicle if you tried. The back seats have no leg room and you always have to move the front seats forward to fit people in the back. On the topic of reliability, they tend to be pretty reliable cars. However, my moms fiancee's 2008 3-series has been in the shop four times in the past 6 months for major repairs (the car won't start at all and BMW can't figure out what's wrong with it). Even on the 2009 5-series loaner they gave him while his car was in the shop had a really loud whine from the power steering pump (the 5-series had less than 3000 miles on it).
4. Mitsubishi is really a forgotten brand. Although the lancer is a great little car, they don't really pay much attention to their SUV line. Probably the biggest thing I hate about the Montero sport is the exterior design. I personally think it is a very ugly SUV. I don't like the front end or the back end of the thing, it looks like they had a five year old draw an SUV with some crayons and then chose that for the final design. Their designers really just put together something quickly and then put it out there to sell. I'm not too familiar with Mitsubishi reliability, one of my friends swears by them. The Montero sport will definitely have a lot of interior space, I'm not sure if it has more than the Pathfinder/QX4, however.
I you were to ask me today, what SUV I recommend for purchase out of all SUV's on the market today, I would recommend a Toyota 4Runner. I am a really big fan of the 4Runner; they have loads of interior space and they literally run forever (if taken care of properly). The 4Runner also has a long line of off-roading heritage and is more capable on and off-road than most new SUV's today. My immediate family has owned almost every brand of car (Audi, BMW, Lexus, Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Jeep, Chevy) sold in the US (my family's not big fans of American-made) and I can honestly say that the Toyota vehicles have required the least amount of repairs and even the least amount of maintenance.
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Empty V
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:53 am
- Car: 2001 Infiniti QX4
1982 Chevy Corvette C3 Shark
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (ugharin)
Well I've got an 01 QX4 that's got 199,800 miles on it. I keep a spreadsheet of what maintenance and upgrades I've had done or done myself and the cost. I think since I bought it at 60K miles I've put a total of $4K into it and most of that was into the audio system. everyone that gets into my SUV says that they can't believe the mileage and how it still looks and smells new. Plus maintenance is easy on these vehicles, they seemed to be designed with practicality and ease access in mind. I think there are a few benefit for going with the QX4 over the pathy but it's all aesthetics like stock HID lights with projector high beams, different seats, analog clock, a-pillar tweeters (I don't think the pathy's have those) etc.
My wife has an 01 RX300 which is pretty much identical with the 2000 and honestly I feel like a p**** when driving it. It's an okay car, and I call it a car because it's really not an SUV, but doesn't have much of a masculine look or feel. To me it looks like a compressed minivan. I think the front seats have a little more room then the QX4''s/Pathy's but I'm 6'1" 200lbs and comfortable in my QX4. Engine wise it's been solid but the door locks have been jamming, the front rotors are warped and a few quirky things have been happening. Needless to say when compared to the QX4 I'm less then impressed. Plus I think the interior is very plain looking. Another thing is that they're everywhere. At one point the explorer was the most common vehicle on the road, the RX has taken over. I can drive down the street at any time and probably see 4 of them. QX4's were in limited production and a much more rare vehicle and that adds a little for me.
Hope this helps!
Billy
My wife has an 01 RX300 which is pretty much identical with the 2000 and honestly I feel like a p**** when driving it. It's an okay car, and I call it a car because it's really not an SUV, but doesn't have much of a masculine look or feel. To me it looks like a compressed minivan. I think the front seats have a little more room then the QX4''s/Pathy's but I'm 6'1" 200lbs and comfortable in my QX4. Engine wise it's been solid but the door locks have been jamming, the front rotors are warped and a few quirky things have been happening. Needless to say when compared to the QX4 I'm less then impressed. Plus I think the interior is very plain looking. Another thing is that they're everywhere. At one point the explorer was the most common vehicle on the road, the RX has taken over. I can drive down the street at any time and probably see 4 of them. QX4's were in limited production and a much more rare vehicle and that adds a little for me.
Hope this helps!
Billy
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (Empty V)
all those cars are great and reliable --- looks like my list did when shopping for a 4x4 (substitute the bmw 3 series XI)
since 4x4 is of no concern, we can rule out the 4 lows that the qx4 pathfinder and montero offer.
Pros about the lex - drives nice, as close to a car as u can get without sacrificing the rear cargo area and higher stance. If you happen to somehow me caught in snow, its FWD instead of RWD --- miniscule as u live in alabama.Cons -- looks kinda feminine to most people, me personally i wouldnt give a crap what anyone else thinks about.Less cargo space than the other SUVs
Pros about the qx4/pathfinder --- drives nice, but not as nice as the RX -- you know your driving an SUV no matter how well nissan tried to disguise that.Good cargo space. Easily the best looking of the bunch.Cons- cant really think of any, id mention gas mileage but its really comparable to the other SUVs
Pros montero - these basic no frills suvs can be found cheaper than the rest. Still good looking depending on the color combos. Good cargo space.Cons --- WEAK engine, these things are pretty slow, also harder to find them in leather. Ride is harsher than the QX4/pathy and RX --- very basic interior design. Again no frills, just basic cheap transportation.
BMW pros --- its a car, and its a bmw, so it will handle better than the rest. sharp looking, coupes especially. 330i/ci is the way to go. will be fun to drive. will be better on gas than the nissan/montero.cons - too many options can cause a notable difference in price between cars. Lacking cargo space and not as accessible as the SUV's. not going to get a very nice 330 for 8 grand.
i would set a price for each vehicle i.e.. id be willing to pay more for an 01 qx4 with 100k than i would an 01 pathfinder with 100k... and id be willing to pay more for a pathfinder than a montero etc...
Doesnt mean you should or shouldnt get the montero (or whatever) just take into account that you should pay less.
of all the cars, and not needing 4wd, i personally would get the BMW, but nothing less than a 330 --- or if were talking e36 then nothing less than a 328 ---- BUT... id only get a manual, id never buy an auto.
If auto was a priority id take the BMW out of the equation.
since 4x4 is of no concern, we can rule out the 4 lows that the qx4 pathfinder and montero offer.
Pros about the lex - drives nice, as close to a car as u can get without sacrificing the rear cargo area and higher stance. If you happen to somehow me caught in snow, its FWD instead of RWD --- miniscule as u live in alabama.Cons -- looks kinda feminine to most people, me personally i wouldnt give a crap what anyone else thinks about.Less cargo space than the other SUVs
Pros about the qx4/pathfinder --- drives nice, but not as nice as the RX -- you know your driving an SUV no matter how well nissan tried to disguise that.Good cargo space. Easily the best looking of the bunch.Cons- cant really think of any, id mention gas mileage but its really comparable to the other SUVs
Pros montero - these basic no frills suvs can be found cheaper than the rest. Still good looking depending on the color combos. Good cargo space.Cons --- WEAK engine, these things are pretty slow, also harder to find them in leather. Ride is harsher than the QX4/pathy and RX --- very basic interior design. Again no frills, just basic cheap transportation.
BMW pros --- its a car, and its a bmw, so it will handle better than the rest. sharp looking, coupes especially. 330i/ci is the way to go. will be fun to drive. will be better on gas than the nissan/montero.cons - too many options can cause a notable difference in price between cars. Lacking cargo space and not as accessible as the SUV's. not going to get a very nice 330 for 8 grand.
i would set a price for each vehicle i.e.. id be willing to pay more for an 01 qx4 with 100k than i would an 01 pathfinder with 100k... and id be willing to pay more for a pathfinder than a montero etc...
Doesnt mean you should or shouldnt get the montero (or whatever) just take into account that you should pay less.
of all the cars, and not needing 4wd, i personally would get the BMW, but nothing less than a 330 --- or if were talking e36 then nothing less than a 328 ---- BUT... id only get a manual, id never buy an auto.
If auto was a priority id take the BMW out of the equation.
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93'Jag90'325ix98'QX4
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:25 am
- Car: 1998 Infinity QX4, 1996 XJR6 Jaguar, 2001 Jeep GC Laredo
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (ugharin)
My personal opinion is to scratch the Mitsu for reasons already listed. The Lexus RX300 are great vehicles, but if you do enough research online (especially carsurvery.org) you'll find the older RX's all had major transmission issues.
I have a 98 QX4. Not going to lie, it's slow (considering they went to the 3.5L 2001-2003) like the one you have mentioned in your narrowed down cars. Toss up of opinions between pros/cons when comparing 97-00 QX4's vs 01-03. But newer ones have much more power and styling updates. Switched to timing chains, not belts. I love my QX4. Minimal maintenance and they're golden (same with the Pathys).
What kind of 3-series BMW are you considering?? E30? E36? E46? I know a TON about Bimmers considering I have owned a few. If you need help narrowing down the pros/cons and body style differences, etc you can message me. More than happy to give ya much more detailed advice.
Do you prefer (or need) an SUV? Kinda hard to compare buying any QX4/Pathy vs the 3-series BMW. Those would be the choice I'd narrow it down to without a doubt though. Hope this helps!
I have a 98 QX4. Not going to lie, it's slow (considering they went to the 3.5L 2001-2003) like the one you have mentioned in your narrowed down cars. Toss up of opinions between pros/cons when comparing 97-00 QX4's vs 01-03. But newer ones have much more power and styling updates. Switched to timing chains, not belts. I love my QX4. Minimal maintenance and they're golden (same with the Pathys).
What kind of 3-series BMW are you considering?? E30? E36? E46? I know a TON about Bimmers considering I have owned a few. If you need help narrowing down the pros/cons and body style differences, etc you can message me. More than happy to give ya much more detailed advice.
Do you prefer (or need) an SUV? Kinda hard to compare buying any QX4/Pathy vs the 3-series BMW. Those would be the choice I'd narrow it down to without a doubt though. Hope this helps!
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (93'Jag90'325ix98'QX4)
Pwnin o brian, empty v, the replay, jag, Thank you all for the very detailed replies and information.
I have read them again and again. I have changed the list now. Ruled out rx300 for one. Thanks for the info about the transmission sludge and other issues. 4runners are excellent but I cant afford them. With my budget, I am always falling short when I am looking at the 4runners available. My choices in order are;
1) 2001 QX42) 01-03 PATHY3) Mitsu montero sport.
I am looking for an SUV but wouldnt mind a car if its a bimmer. . Only the following 3 series are what I have in mind. BMW 323, 325,330. My only concern with BMW is its long term durability and reliability. Is it going to last as long as the Q or pathy with minimum hassle?
MItsubishi monteros in my experiance also last forever. I know couple of people with montero sports with 240k and 260k approx miles. The former actually in excellent shape. My beef with a montero is that its got a timing belt and an interference engine and also a very simple layout inside. Its very boring inside.
So today I went to this dealership in MIami (prado auto sales) and looked at this infiniti qx4
http://www.pradoautosales.com/....html
The asking price was 7895 (They just changed it to 10k+ on the website the last few days dunno why)I offered 7500 including everything. They finally agreed to 7500 but said that sales tax of 266(alabama 2%) and 299 title fee(it takes some 3 stamps or something of 99 bucks each and the money goes straight to Uncle Sam as he put it!) was extra. Is it a good deal? 7500 + tax + 299 for title stamps or something (stil not clear about this last part)
KBB value for exc ellent condition is 9200 but given the economy I think its way too much. Isnt it? I test drove the vehicle and it was good. Absolutely no vibrations. I am not used to SUVs and am wondering if the slight struggle I sensed in the engine is normal and thats how an SUV operates. It otherwise drove great and was very quiet. There was some oil around the valve cover gasket but that might be normal. The drivers seat leather was all roughed up and worn on one side and the brakes might need work in the future although they seemed good now. There was no antenna either and he said someone stole it. Also the check engine light came on when we cranked the engine later again but he said thats nothing.
The dealer seems rigid on this price. Is it a good deal for an otherwise clean looking 2001 QX4 with 112,000 miles? $8000 which includes title, tax. I need to pay only for registration (wonder how much that will cost). I have a flight booked for wednesday the 4rth to go back to ATL and then Alabama and will cancel that and drive back if this deal works out. I want to pay 7500 but wouldnt mind 8000 if this Q is in great shape. I mean what if it breaks down on the way to AL from MIami? Can I take this Q somewhere and get it checked by a mechanic? Anything specific I should look for? Should I jump at this deal or will I find better? As much as I have been looking online (autotrader.com and google), I cant find a great deal.
I have read them again and again. I have changed the list now. Ruled out rx300 for one. Thanks for the info about the transmission sludge and other issues. 4runners are excellent but I cant afford them. With my budget, I am always falling short when I am looking at the 4runners available. My choices in order are;
1) 2001 QX42) 01-03 PATHY3) Mitsu montero sport.
I am looking for an SUV but wouldnt mind a car if its a bimmer. . Only the following 3 series are what I have in mind. BMW 323, 325,330. My only concern with BMW is its long term durability and reliability. Is it going to last as long as the Q or pathy with minimum hassle?
MItsubishi monteros in my experiance also last forever. I know couple of people with montero sports with 240k and 260k approx miles. The former actually in excellent shape. My beef with a montero is that its got a timing belt and an interference engine and also a very simple layout inside. Its very boring inside.
So today I went to this dealership in MIami (prado auto sales) and looked at this infiniti qx4
http://www.pradoautosales.com/....html
The asking price was 7895 (They just changed it to 10k+ on the website the last few days dunno why)I offered 7500 including everything. They finally agreed to 7500 but said that sales tax of 266(alabama 2%) and 299 title fee(it takes some 3 stamps or something of 99 bucks each and the money goes straight to Uncle Sam as he put it!) was extra. Is it a good deal? 7500 + tax + 299 for title stamps or something (stil not clear about this last part)
KBB value for exc ellent condition is 9200 but given the economy I think its way too much. Isnt it? I test drove the vehicle and it was good. Absolutely no vibrations. I am not used to SUVs and am wondering if the slight struggle I sensed in the engine is normal and thats how an SUV operates. It otherwise drove great and was very quiet. There was some oil around the valve cover gasket but that might be normal. The drivers seat leather was all roughed up and worn on one side and the brakes might need work in the future although they seemed good now. There was no antenna either and he said someone stole it. Also the check engine light came on when we cranked the engine later again but he said thats nothing.
The dealer seems rigid on this price. Is it a good deal for an otherwise clean looking 2001 QX4 with 112,000 miles? $8000 which includes title, tax. I need to pay only for registration (wonder how much that will cost). I have a flight booked for wednesday the 4rth to go back to ATL and then Alabama and will cancel that and drive back if this deal works out. I want to pay 7500 but wouldnt mind 8000 if this Q is in great shape. I mean what if it breaks down on the way to AL from MIami? Can I take this Q somewhere and get it checked by a mechanic? Anything specific I should look for? Should I jump at this deal or will I find better? As much as I have been looking online (autotrader.com and google), I cant find a great deal.
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Natedogg1701
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:21 pm
- Car: 2003 Nissan Pathfinder SE
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (ugharin)
7500 for an 01 QX$ w/112000 diesnt seem that bad, especially if you say its in pretty good condition from how you see it. that 299 title explanation they gave you is bull, i worked at a dealership for 2 years, they say it costs that much to reprint a new title with all the information, confirm with the registry that the title has been changed over, and void the old title, the price is absolutely rediculous tho. when i bought my 03 pathy i paid 40$ for my title fee, because i worked at the dealership so i got hooked up. the extra money is profit for the dealership and uncle sam. and what do you mean by engine struggle?
watch out for the oil around the valve covers, good chance its the valve cover gaskets, not expensice parts, the valve cover gaskets themselves are like 18 buks a piece, u have to take the intake plenum off to change them so you really should replace the plenum gasket, dont wanna put it bak together then have that gasket not seal right. it costs about 40 buks and you will only be able to get it at a dealership. and if the truk has 112K on it, it wouldnt hurt to change the spark plugs too, id recomend NGK plugs, the ones that are about 10 buks a piece, and shud get new plug boots too, those are about 7 or 8 buks a piece, and last replace the pvc valve while you can get at it, when that valve gets old enough it can allow oil to blow by and burn off, not alot, bot not good either. its a 16 dollar part (dealership only). so about 200 buks in parts, IF that oil is coming from the valve cover gaskets, labor is where the real kick in the wallet is. but these motors are deff worth it.
as for the check engine light, could be a bad gas cap, 02 sensor, or sometimes ive had SES lights come on from extreme temperatures and temp changes, it will mess with 02 sensors, i know it can get hott down there. unlucky me tho, first SES light was the evap/charcole canister and vacume cut valve. both went bad, canister cost-350, cut valve cost-180. luck me i got it fixed under dealer warranty. but again SES light could be any emissions related part.
reqistration shouldnt cost much, not an amount to worry about. if you dont know a reputable mechanic then i hate to say it, but bring it to a dealership, expensive yes i know, but atleast they have a better chance of looking it over than some grease monley that grew up working on 70's chevys, and thinks all vehicles are the same. last thing too, if your buying it in florida, but are going to register it in alabama, you'll need to transfer the title, and that may be a pain in the a**, and may cost u a bit, cant see itbeing too much, but you never know, member uncle sam always wants his cut.
Hope this info helps, personally id buy it, if your getting it for almost 1200$ under KBB value that good, got my pathy for 2300$ under KBB. so i'd say its worth putting a little money into, these are great vehicles that run for ever if they are just taken care of. ive seen QX4's and pathy's with over 500K, and i mean ones that run great, fire right up, ride smooth, and look awsome, saw 2 traded in at the dealership u ised to work at.
watch out for the oil around the valve covers, good chance its the valve cover gaskets, not expensice parts, the valve cover gaskets themselves are like 18 buks a piece, u have to take the intake plenum off to change them so you really should replace the plenum gasket, dont wanna put it bak together then have that gasket not seal right. it costs about 40 buks and you will only be able to get it at a dealership. and if the truk has 112K on it, it wouldnt hurt to change the spark plugs too, id recomend NGK plugs, the ones that are about 10 buks a piece, and shud get new plug boots too, those are about 7 or 8 buks a piece, and last replace the pvc valve while you can get at it, when that valve gets old enough it can allow oil to blow by and burn off, not alot, bot not good either. its a 16 dollar part (dealership only). so about 200 buks in parts, IF that oil is coming from the valve cover gaskets, labor is where the real kick in the wallet is. but these motors are deff worth it.
as for the check engine light, could be a bad gas cap, 02 sensor, or sometimes ive had SES lights come on from extreme temperatures and temp changes, it will mess with 02 sensors, i know it can get hott down there. unlucky me tho, first SES light was the evap/charcole canister and vacume cut valve. both went bad, canister cost-350, cut valve cost-180. luck me i got it fixed under dealer warranty. but again SES light could be any emissions related part.
reqistration shouldnt cost much, not an amount to worry about. if you dont know a reputable mechanic then i hate to say it, but bring it to a dealership, expensive yes i know, but atleast they have a better chance of looking it over than some grease monley that grew up working on 70's chevys, and thinks all vehicles are the same. last thing too, if your buying it in florida, but are going to register it in alabama, you'll need to transfer the title, and that may be a pain in the a**, and may cost u a bit, cant see itbeing too much, but you never know, member uncle sam always wants his cut.
Hope this info helps, personally id buy it, if your getting it for almost 1200$ under KBB value that good, got my pathy for 2300$ under KBB. so i'd say its worth putting a little money into, these are great vehicles that run for ever if they are just taken care of. ive seen QX4's and pathy's with over 500K, and i mean ones that run great, fire right up, ride smooth, and look awsome, saw 2 traded in at the dealership u ised to work at.
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Densetsu
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:50 am
- Car: 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Chinook
Prev: 2003 Nissan Pathfinder Chilkoot - Location: Edmonton, AB
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (Empty V)
Yep, we do.Empty V wrote:a-pillar tweeters (I don't think the pathy's have those)
To the OP: Nissan/Infiniti and Toyota are almost never a bad choice. I'd get a BMW if you valued luxury above all things, though with most people reliability should be a much higher priority than luxury.
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Pwnin O'Brien
- Posts: 1612
- Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:10 pm
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (ugharin)
This is a red flag. The SES light normally doesn't come on for nothing. The QX4/Pathfinder has 2nd trip detection. This means that if a fault is detected on the first drive (say, from the dealer shop to the parking lot), then the SES light won't illuminate. However, if that same fault is detected on the second drive, then the SES lamp will illuminate to let you know there is a problem.ugharin wrote:Also the check engine light came on when we cranked the engine later again but he said thats nothing.
It is definitely possible that this is the first time the lamp has illuminated, maybe the gas cap isn't tightened completely or something of the sort. There is also a chance that the dealer could have cleared all DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes), thus turning the SES light off so the car looks like it runs perfectly to a customer.
What you should do is you should ask the dealer (if you are truly serious about purchasing the car) to let you watch the technician turn the light off and ask the technician to show you the code on the OBDII reader. If the code has already been cleared then you should ask the dealer if you can have the car inspected by your own private mechanic. Your mechanic can then check if there are any stored codes (some of the nicer OBDII readers can check the 1st trip data also) and tell you if there is a major problem with the vehicle.
You shouldn't just dismiss the SES light because the dealer says it's "nothing". That light is there for a reason and its letting you know something is wrong with the vehicle.
Re: PLease help me choose...gotta larger list... (Pwnin O'Brien)
HI guys and thanks for the replies. I just spoke to the PepBoys right next to the dealership and they said they would do a complete check up for 89.95. They said they would check the brakes, steering, engine codes etc. Dont know upto what detail but its gonna take a couple of hours. Will check with them tomorrow morning.
Incidentally, this is another option that I have with a mitsu montero.
" TARGET="_blank">http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...lse
I also saw a 2003 ford escape xlt with 63k miles. It was black and looked very sharp and the asking price was 7900. I know there is no comparision with the Q but are these escapes reliabile and durable - 200k miles range? Without major problems? Below is the escape. I read somewhere that ford escapes are not made for long drives but cant recall and am not sure if thats correct. Would be great if someone can help me with the info cause I really liked it and it looks great. Its at the same dealership and I thought if the Q does not work out, I will ask them about this escape.
http://www.pradoautosales.com/....html
Thanks again for the detailed replies. The tips about replacing gaskets, plugs and valves and the second trip detection were great. Actually thats what happened. The first drive there no lights. When we cranked it again later, the light came on and the guy said its normal and he would ask his mechanic to clear it up. I told him not to but am sure he would anyway.
Incidentally, this is another option that I have with a mitsu montero.
" TARGET="_blank">http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...lse
I also saw a 2003 ford escape xlt with 63k miles. It was black and looked very sharp and the asking price was 7900. I know there is no comparision with the Q but are these escapes reliabile and durable - 200k miles range? Without major problems? Below is the escape. I read somewhere that ford escapes are not made for long drives but cant recall and am not sure if thats correct. Would be great if someone can help me with the info cause I really liked it and it looks great. Its at the same dealership and I thought if the Q does not work out, I will ask them about this escape.
http://www.pradoautosales.com/....html
Thanks again for the detailed replies. The tips about replacing gaskets, plugs and valves and the second trip detection were great. Actually thats what happened. The first drive there no lights. When we cranked it again later, the light came on and the guy said its normal and he would ask his mechanic to clear it up. I told him not to but am sure he would anyway.