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Old 01-03-2015, 04:41 AM #31
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here is the old(xterra) and the new(4runner). need a better picture with the duratracs on
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2000 Xterra vs. 2001 4runner-20140709_180048-jpg  2000 Xterra vs. 2001 4runner-20140311_154317-jpg  2000 Xterra vs. 2001 4runner-20150102_164613-jpg 

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Old 01-03-2015, 12:01 PM #32
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Though I've only had my 2000 4Runner for a couple of months and haven't asked it to do much except look nice, I've had a 4wd Tacoma 2.4 since 1995, so a fair comparison to the Xterra can be made.
After much online research my wife bought her 2002 Xterra new and drove it as a daily commuter until she totaled it last year with just over 300,000 miles on the clock.
To provide some meaningful context, we live at the end of a 5 1/2 mile dirt road that's a washboarded bone-shaker and is only graded by the county about twice a year.
The Xterra began shedding body components right away, starting with the running boards, then the front and rear bumpers, the skid plate, and all the extensive plastic cladding.
As far as I can recall, other problems were:
broken leaf spring (twice)
broken shock mount (twice)
broken front hub, causing it to be engaged full time and leading to...
front transfer case destroyed and needing replacement.

In all fairness, the Xterra'sV6 engine was entirely trouble-free for the 12 year life of the car. However, our local mechanic, who got to know that car really well over the years, remarked after doing a weld on a broken shock mount that the steel in the frame was poor quality.
My Tacoma, by comparison, has just over 200,000 miles on it, a fair amount of which has been off-road chores around the ranch, and has given me NO (zero) problems.
I think the Xterra is a nice enough auto if it never leaves the pavement, but I'd never recommend it except for in-town driving.

Last edited by Black Flag; 01-04-2015 at 07:02 PM.
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Old 01-03-2015, 04:04 PM #33
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I will take my 01' 4runner over an Xterra-ble any day. My son recently purchased a new Nissan frontier "desert runner" pick up and has already had it back to the dealer for water leak issues from around the extended cab windows and a grinding noise from one of the wheels. It is a really good looking truck but I buy my vehicles to drive them, not look at them. I tried to get him to buy a Tacoma but he said that our local Toyota dealers wouldn't knock off as much money from the sticker price as compared to the Nissan dealers.
I told him that you get what you pay for and he has found that out the hard way now.
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Old 01-06-2015, 02:41 AM #34
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I've driven a friend's modified 2000 Xterra through the Rubicon, Deer Valley, Hell's Revenge, Golden Spike, Elephant Hill, Black Bear Pass, and a bunch of other trails and I own a modified 2000 4Runner which I've wheeled for several years.

Making a direct comparison between these two particular trucks is unfair since the XTerra has larger tires (285s), a front locker, and 4:1 transfer case gears. Both trucks are 5speeds.

Here's my comparison (for what it's worth) of the two trucks in stock form.

4Runner
+ Nicer interior. The Xterra feels a little plasticy and utilitarian compared to the 4Runner (SR5).
+ Better engine. The hp difference isn't all that large, but the 3.4l in the 4Runner is happier to rev which is great on hills, especially at altitude. The VG in the Xterra requires quite a lot of downshifting to keep speed. Both engines seem to be very reliable.
+ Coil-over front suspension flexes better than the torsion bars on the Xterra.
+ Linked rear suspension flexes better than the leaf springs in the Xterra. The Xterra's springs tend to get hung up on rocks as do the 4Runner's control arm mounts.
+ The 4Runner's suspension feels better at high speeds on dirt roads.
+ Availability of factory rear locker.
+ Steering components seems to be stronger. Xterras have a habit of bending steering components.
+ Power rear window, because it's fun to roll down and wave at people behind you at stop lights.

Xterra
+ Flat underbelly, especially with aftermarket skidplates installed. This is great offroad. The gas tank on the 4Runner hangs down way too far.
+ Ability to put 4:1 gears in the transfer case for a reasonable price. The 4Runner requires a t/c replacement to change the ratio.
+ Plastic bumper corners that can take a beating.
+ Better roof rack system, the cargo basket over the sunroof is useful.
- Transmission syncros went out at only 90k, but this might be because of heavy trail use.
- Factory running boards have a bad habit of being shoved back into the rear tire when they hit a rock. This is a good reason to remove them.

Either truck can make a nice wheeler, but I think the 4Runner is overall better built, more capable offroad, and nicer to drive on road. But, I would not be disappointed to own an Xterra.

How about some pictures?

Xterra on bald 265s at the bottom of Cadillac Hill on the Rubicon. We went through the Gatekeeper before it was blown up, but of course took the bypass for Little Sluice.


4Runner on the Slickrock Trail.


- Matt
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