3rd Gen 4Runner or '02-'04 Xterra?
- Thread starter MotoXRacer1551
- Start date
It's a tough call, and ultimately you'd probably be happy with either truck. I own a moderately modified '00 4runner 5spd, and I've driven a modified XTerra on several 1000+ mile road trips and on the Rubicon and Golden Spike trails among many others. For comparison's sake the XTerra is a V6 5spd with a 3" lift, 32" or 33" tires depending on the trip, a rear ARB locker, full skids, and 4:1 crawler gears. The 4runner has a SS 1.2" lift, 32" MTs, rock rails, and an open rear diff (for now).
So offroad: tie
Offroad each truck has it's benefits. The 4runner has a lower stock crawl ratio which is helpful, especially with a manual transmission. It also has an available rear locker which is invaluable on the trail. I prefer the front coil setup of the 4runner over the torsion bars of the XTerra which don't flex very well. The XTerra is a bit shorter which is a benefit on tight trails, has arguably stronger axles and steering, and the plastic front and rear bumpers deform when they hit rocks instead of breaking.
Onroad: 4runner
This comparison is a bit unfair since the Xterra I'm comparing to has lead a hard life. But, even when comparing new vs new I find the 4runner to be a better driver on paved roads. The engine is smoother and more rev happy, the suspension is more compliant, and I like the extra features such as the power sunroof and rear window.
Reliability: 4runner?
My 4runner has 90k miles on it, of which I've only had it for 8k. Based on my experience and the service records it has had no major issues. The 3rd gen 4runner does have known issues with leaking rear axle seals, leaking valve cover gaskets, and gas guages. My friend's XTerra has about 90k as well and has also been pretty reliable. He's had to rebuild the transmission and replace front suspension components, but those were both likely due to extra wear from a lot of trail usage.
Power: 4runner
In my opinion the 5VZ-FE is a better engine that the VG33E, mainly because of smoothness and ability to rev. The XTerra's VG doesn't like to go much above 4k rpm which is annoying when accelerating quickly or passing.
I've spent a lot of time with XTerras on the trail and very much respect the vehicle, but ultimately I bought a 4runner. As I said initially, I think you'd be happy with either and the best way to make the decision is to drive a representative version of each truck.
How about some pictures?
XTerra on 32" tires on the Rubicon
XTerra on Slickrock
4Runner on Slickrock
SAS Xterra on Slickrock
- Matt
So offroad: tie
Offroad each truck has it's benefits. The 4runner has a lower stock crawl ratio which is helpful, especially with a manual transmission. It also has an available rear locker which is invaluable on the trail. I prefer the front coil setup of the 4runner over the torsion bars of the XTerra which don't flex very well. The XTerra is a bit shorter which is a benefit on tight trails, has arguably stronger axles and steering, and the plastic front and rear bumpers deform when they hit rocks instead of breaking.
Onroad: 4runner
This comparison is a bit unfair since the Xterra I'm comparing to has lead a hard life. But, even when comparing new vs new I find the 4runner to be a better driver on paved roads. The engine is smoother and more rev happy, the suspension is more compliant, and I like the extra features such as the power sunroof and rear window.
Reliability: 4runner?
My 4runner has 90k miles on it, of which I've only had it for 8k. Based on my experience and the service records it has had no major issues. The 3rd gen 4runner does have known issues with leaking rear axle seals, leaking valve cover gaskets, and gas guages. My friend's XTerra has about 90k as well and has also been pretty reliable. He's had to rebuild the transmission and replace front suspension components, but those were both likely due to extra wear from a lot of trail usage.
Power: 4runner
In my opinion the 5VZ-FE is a better engine that the VG33E, mainly because of smoothness and ability to rev. The XTerra's VG doesn't like to go much above 4k rpm which is annoying when accelerating quickly or passing.
I've spent a lot of time with XTerras on the trail and very much respect the vehicle, but ultimately I bought a 4runner. As I said initially, I think you'd be happy with either and the best way to make the decision is to drive a representative version of each truck.
How about some pictures?
XTerra on 32" tires on the Rubicon
XTerra on Slickrock
4Runner on Slickrock
SAS Xterra on Slickrock
- Matt
brian2sun
Elite Member
Dammit rdgt4r, don't look into the light! haha. No, really that thing is cool.
Pure 98
New member
LOL that SAS Xterra is cool.
I'm not hating on X's owner but WOW they get so defensive :sobbing: :rockthrow:
rdgt4r
New member
HAHA but its so hard!
Okay Im not shitting you when I say I'm saving up for a Syncro, seriously.
This is what I want seriously great overlanding rig. =)
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/quik88/?action=view¤t=3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/quik88/3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Pure 98
New member
That thing is kick A$$
97RunnerSR5
New member
:lol: Also, the self obsessed people who drive BMW's are my biggest pet peeve. They put the indoor rock climbers to shame!
Seriously though, the X's stance reminds me of the liberty, and who can forget the guy who bashed 4Runners when he drove this nicknamed "Big Nasty":
Reality is funny, this guy had to do a 2.5 inch lift to fit 265/75/16s, which fit stock on our trucks without modification.
Don't hate on the libbys mang!!!! Those are 35s btw. Though, that is funny he needed so much lift for 32s
But back on topic, I would take a 4runner over an Xterra anyday. My aunt had an older xterra and the damn thing kept breaking.
JohnsD90
New member
theizzardking
New member
Wow, this poor little Liberty must be scared to death sitting that high off the ground, and all it ever wanted to do was go pick up lattes.
hahaha lol
looks like a yj and xj had a baby and this is what it crapped out......:gun4:
in a simpson's comic book voice *worst suv ever*
hahaha
yeah i'm looking at buying a unimog found one for 3K yesterday... may buy one of those instead of fixing the runner....i'm just playing with the idea so don;t flame me, lol
theizzardking
New member
since we are going all vw how about one of these?
redbeard
New member
since we are going all vw how about one of these?
Beautiful! :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:
Did some 4wheeling back when I had a VW......
theizzardking
New member
check these ones out as well, good pics and good places, i've been restoring baywindows for a few years now and have about 7 buses in that time,
my current project is a 1970 sub hatch riviera that i'm trying to make like
the red one in the top thread i posted below.
here is what it looks like now,
off road vw buses
TheSamba.com :: View topic - How about Offroad Bus pics?
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Off road modifications for your bus
and in case you guys actually care here's my build thread on wanda my daily driver/road trip bus. i did all of the work on it and my first shot and bringing something back from the dead.
my build thread (you can totally see the learning curve, i like the pics of me having fun at the end!!!!)
TheSamba.com :: View topic - My 1971 Bay Window Westie build thread-The wanderer-
my current project is a 1970 sub hatch riviera that i'm trying to make like
the red one in the top thread i posted below.
here is what it looks like now,
off road vw buses
TheSamba.com :: View topic - How about Offroad Bus pics?
TheSamba.com :: View topic - Off road modifications for your bus
and in case you guys actually care here's my build thread on wanda my daily driver/road trip bus. i did all of the work on it and my first shot and bringing something back from the dead.
my build thread (you can totally see the learning curve, i like the pics of me having fun at the end!!!!)
TheSamba.com :: View topic - My 1971 Bay Window Westie build thread-The wanderer-
theizzardking
New member
yeah actually, i go there quite often i've climbed mt.adams 8-9 times and done helen's twice i just love the trout lake area out there good farm country with massive mountains hanging in the sky.. also the lava caves out by adams are crazy there's a secret cave out there that was closed down in the 60's and someone blew the entrance open in the early 90's with some dynamite it's now called dynamite cave and it goes down about 2 miles under the earth and has massive 100ft drops in it with huge caverns 4x's the size of my house, epic man epic.....
anyways if you want to learn how to climb mountains do some laps on adams south spur, easiest and most rewarding climbing in the state!!!!
If you guy's would like to come up and stay for weekend we could take you to baker and some of the other places further north, on the VW page my house is kind of a hub for travelers i've had about 10 groups of people from all over the world either camp thier vw's in my driveway for a few nights or just stay with us for a wile and see what washington is all about.
here's some pics of a good bernie and his girl they stayed with us for about a month, they came from england and bought a bus in boston and did a cross country tour, he's a sports/travel writer and a very very good friend,
we never meet till the day he rolled in my driveway and ever since
we have be good friends. i love it when life works out like that!!
his page
Bernie Friend an award winning sport and travel journalist
jspagna1
New member
4Runner all the way. I had a freind of mine who had a 2005 Xterra and he hated it. He actually traded it in and bought a 2002 Dodge Durango.
Anyway, I have never driven a Xterra, but it is a Nissan and I have driven a 1998 & 2000 Pathfinder and the build quality is no comparison to my 97 4Runner. With 141,000 miles on my 4Runner now, it still rides better and feels better constructed than my nephews 2000 Pathfinder LE (Luxury).
Anyway, I have never driven a Xterra, but it is a Nissan and I have driven a 1998 & 2000 Pathfinder and the build quality is no comparison to my 97 4Runner. With 141,000 miles on my 4Runner now, it still rides better and feels better constructed than my nephews 2000 Pathfinder LE (Luxury).
Snwwlkr7
New member
Like someone else said.. This is a 4runner forum so you already know its going to be biased.
Back in 1999 I bought a brand new Toyota Tacoma, ex cab, 4x4, V-6, automatic. It was a sweet truck, very tight and solid feeling.
About a year later I needed to trade down so I traded into a 1999 Nissan 4x4, ex cab pickup, 4 cyl, 5 spd with 28K miles.
I know it wasnt an Xterra and I have never driven an X but that truck SUCKED in comparison!!! It felt so completely cheap and tin can feeling compared to the Tacoma. The drive line was also a little funky and not easily tweaked and upgraded like the Tacoma.
Back in 1999 I bought a brand new Toyota Tacoma, ex cab, 4x4, V-6, automatic. It was a sweet truck, very tight and solid feeling.
About a year later I needed to trade down so I traded into a 1999 Nissan 4x4, ex cab pickup, 4 cyl, 5 spd with 28K miles.
I know it wasnt an Xterra and I have never driven an X but that truck SUCKED in comparison!!! It felt so completely cheap and tin can feeling compared to the Tacoma. The drive line was also a little funky and not easily tweaked and upgraded like the Tacoma.
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