4Runner vs. JGC vs. Pathfinder

[snap315]

Hi all,

I might be in a position soon where I have to get rid of my 4Runner (a long story for another thread once it gets resolved).

:bash:

If needed I'll be replacing it with another SUV with similar performance and characteristics. The top contenders currently are:

Jeep Grand Cherokee (with either the V8 4.7L or 5.7L Hemi).

Nissan Pathfinder V8.

Either will be 4x4 and pretty much fully loaded (NAV, Sunroof, Backup Camera, Heated Seats, etc). Right now I'm leaning towards the JGC. My 4Runner has a 1/1 Cornfed spacer lift & 265/70/17 BFG tires.

I actually found a picture posted my a JGC owner who has a 2.25 inch Daystar lift & the exact same tires has my 4Runner. That allowed me to see what a JGC would look like if I did the same mods (which I would).

Here are the pics of that Jeep and I have to say I like it:

 

[Even Steven]

Okay, so what's the story? What are you getting banned from Toyota or something? If I had to get rid of my 4Runner (for some strange reason) I would buy another one before I ever even considered the other SUVs you mentioned.

If I HAD to get a Jeep, it would be the Commander over a Grand Cherokee. Much cooler looking, but the same basic package. But the unreliability of the Jeep brand in general is what keeps me from seriously considering one.

 

[pipspeak]

I'd rather get a used V8 Landcruiser than the other two, although the Pathfinder's not bad IMO.

 

[Jeep to Yota]

As my name might indicate I am a former Jeep owner. I had a '86 Cherokee, a '95 Wrangler and then a '96 Grand Cherokee. While I loved Jeeps and I mean loved them....had back packs, t-shirts, die-casts everything, but I will tell you the difference between the 4Runner and Grank Cherokee is like night and day.

I agree the new Jeeps look nice and from my experience they will be nice for about 40-50K, but that is when I noticed that they fall off in quality. My 4Runner has about 68k miles and I feel like it still drives like brand new.

From my experience and talking to others who still have Jeeps, it isn't the major things that go wrong like engines or transmissions, but the little things that go wrong. Squeeks and creaks start appearing, plastic starts cracking, windows stop going up, etc.

I don't know what issues you are having with the 4Runner, but just a word of caution.

As for the vehicles you mentioned, I like the Pathfinder. I looked at those when I bought my 4Runner and was really impressed. My wife has an Altima and we love that car.

 

[Mark86]

I am not a big fan of any SUV mentioned in this thread. Jeeps have way too many reliability issues and the Pathfinders build quality is not up to Toyota standards. I would highly recommend the Acura MDX to you. It will probably run you the same amount of money as the SUVs you mentioned.

 

[Good Times]

Here are my options:

Used 95-97 LC/LX (one w/ dual lockers) - I6 pig
Used 98-99 LC/LX (one w/ rear locker) - v8 4spd auto tranny
Used 03+ LC/LX (no lockers) - v8 5 spd tranny (same as 4th gen 4runner)
Used 4th gen (last option) - v8 5 spd tranny

Either the 80 or 100 series LC would be a good option to go for. If I had to sell my 4th gen (heavens forbid cuz I'd prob go crazy after all of the stuff I've done with it) I'd get an 80/100 LC for sure. Anything else would be unjust to my 4th gen 4runner.

 

[Neversummer]

The V8 Pathfinder is a beast. Plus you get a lot of creature comforts for your $40K. If it's going to be just a mall cruiser that would be my choice hands down

If you actually use your truck outdoors I would get another 4Runner without a doubt.

 

[Neversummer]

With all that said though getting $10-12K off MSRP on a brand new Jeep would be a nice choice financially. A 5.7 Hemi Limited for around $30K is a sweet deal imho.

 

[004Gunner]

Initially I think you would be hard pressed to find more for your money than a grand cherokee would offer, but I definitely agree with others in that you will lose in the long run. Jeeps just love to nickel and dime their owners to death all while annoying them over little problems (i.e. one side of climate control fails, lights operate intermittently, rear end noise, etc.). Fuel economy may not be on your mind but a 5.7L in a mid size SUV? Save it for a full size pickup/maybe SUV. I don't have any experience with pathfinders but IMO it finishes last amongst your choices as far as styling and interior fit and finish goes. The only thing that has kept me away from grand cherokees is the consistently piss poor reliability ratings.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Also remember new SUVs value retention will be risky since SUV/truck sales have taken a major hit.

I guess if you can afford the gas but a new Jeep equipped with a thirsty Hemi probably isn't a wise choice as a daily driver.

 

[boston_kevin]

One of my friends here at work just got a new JGC and after 7000 miles, had to rebuild the front brakes (caliper on driver side froze), so he lost his vehicle for a day while he was getting new calipers and rotors put on. Yea, they are the least expensive, but when you pay for cheap stuff, you get cheap stuff. Honestly, go for another 4Runner or if you have to go for something with some offroad prowess, go for an Xterra. Pathfinders are great mall cruisers, but lack the suspension and frame for serious offroad adventures.

 

[Neversummer]

I don't have any experience with pathfinders but IMO it finishes last amongst your choices as far as styling and interior fit and finish goes.

Eh? If you don't have any experience with them then how did you form your opinion??

With regards to the MY08 Pathfinder, fit and finish is debatable. Certainly far better than the Jeep and touch and go with the 4Runner.

Interior design, features, and ergonomics go to the Pathfinder BY FAR over both the 4Runner and Jeep. Not even close.

 

[004Gunner]

Eh? If you don't have any experience with them then how did you form your opinion??

Simple, I just hopped in one that my brother was working on, an '07 i think, and thought that it was lacking in exterior style and the interior was in need of serious refinement. I didn't get to drive it though and I am not close with any one that has owned a pathfinder.

 

[snap315]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. Please keep them coming in.

A little clarification...

I'm only looking a new vehicles (the only used vehicle I'd buy is a classic Corvette or Mustang).

Also, I'm looking for a offroader, not a softroader. While I don't go offroad often, I demand my truck be capable in that regard and I also don't drive "Soccer Mom" or chick vehilces.

I'm a single guy after all.



And the issue I'm having with my 4Runner can be summed up in one word...

SULFUR :upset:

I am EMBARRASSED every time I drive my truck due to the exhaust smell. While I don't smell it often, EVERYONE behind me does. The worst part is driving on the freeway; especially in stop-n-go traffic. Traffic can be bumper to bumper but I'll have a HUGE gap behind me because of the stench!!!

I didn't buy a $40,000 truck just to be embarrassed every time I drive it. I have a POS base model Chevy trailblazer for a company vehicle that I enjoy driving MORE than my T4R because I don't get glares from other drivers who are unfortunete enough to be behind me!

:twak:

There is nothing worse than having a young lady give you a smile when she notices you and your good looking vehcile only to have her crinkle up her nose after getting wiff of the stinking exhaust!



Those of you who are married might not care about the image you project to others (espeically the opposite sex) but I'm a single guy and driving this truck SUCKS!!!!

And YES; it is that big a deal!!!!

I think the JGC is the front runner to replace my truck if Toyota can't come up with a satisfactory solution. I've already had the Sulfur TSB done but the smell came back Worse than before.

The Pathfinder has very weak rear shocks which causes it's back end to droop when there is any weight back there and the rear end is very narrow. It is also much harder to lift a Pathfinder even slightly compared to the JGC or my 4Runner.

:sadwave:

 

[00void]

ok, my 2

 

[Even Steven]

Okay, listen up... I can save you a bunch of money.

If your ONLY concern with your 4Runner is the sulfer smell from the exhaust system, then you should go out and buy yourself an aftermarket catalytic converter and have it installed. Problem solved.

http://www.catalyticconverterwarehouse.com/?gclid=COG4xs-X25MCFQOjFQodphVdYg

 

[jlaud]

I bought my 05 4Runner Sport V8 about a month ago after looking at all the vehicles you mentioned. I looked at JGC Hemi Limiteds and Pathfinders V6 & V8 SE/LE, but I picked the 4Runner.

JGC: Kick-ass HEMI, sounds good, crazy power. But its a fuel sucking pig, 10-12mpg City!!! I don't think so. I get 17-18 in my V8 4Runner. It is a tight fit in there, especially the back seat. Interior materials are crap, run your hand through the dashboard of a JGC and then the 4Runner and you can feel how much better the 4Runner's dashboard is. There are large gaps in the panels (exterior and interior), the one I drove had 13K miles (I will never buy a new American Vehicle, the first year depreciation is crazy) and it already rattled and squeaked. But, this JGC is miles ahead of any of the older models; credit probably goes to Mercedes Benz.

Pathfinder: Interior is better than the JGC, but not as good as the 4Runner. There are gaps in the panels and the plastics are not up to Toyota standards. I drove a brand new V8 LE top of the line Pathfinder and it had rattles and squeaks. The V6 in the Pathfinder, while powerful, sounds horrible and its way too loud. The V8 is nice, but again it sucks down gas like the JGC. There is more space in the Pathfinder than the 4Runner and its nice to sit up high rather than on the floor. I drove a used 05 V6 LE with navigation, it had 40K miles but it squeaked and rattled, the a/c fan worked at either the highest or lowest setting, it may have just been that particular vehicle. The Pathfinder's suspension is made for minivan duties, it does not like to off-road like the 4Runner or JGC.

4Runner: What can I say; mine has 65K miles and it drove better than any of the above vehicles. It felt strong, planted, interior quality is miles ahead; no rattles or squeaks, everything worked, the V8 sounds oh so good, great handling love X-REAS, good gas mileage for a V8, off-roads well, can do mods easily etc etc. The first time I took it out of the dealership and punched it at a light....I had a huge smile on my face. I love that low rumble from the V8 and for a 4.7, its quite powerful. And, there's just something about driving a Toyota.

These are just my views, everyone is different. But it seems like you are kind of set on the JGC, I'd say if that makes you happy go for it. It's a good vehicle, the drivetrain is quite good. There is a huge following behind them like 4Runners. They off road well, especially the Quadra Trac II (I think thats what its called), its got 3 lockers/limited slip and it looks good.

Let us know what you end up with.

Good Luck

 

[Even Steven]

I'd hate to see someone give up his 4Runner because of a sulfer smell.....especially when the smell is easily fixed. It's a damn shame Toyota isn't willing to really fix the issue. The TSB they issued only makes it slightly less noticeable....it doesn't correct the problem at all.

If the sulfer smell really bothered me, I seriously just go out and buy an aftermarket (hi-flow) catalytic converter and replace it myself.

 

[Thai]

IF i was single, then i would not buy anything you mentioned above. For one, fuel prices ain't gonna stop going up. I understand that you need an off-roader. You need something that is cool. You need something that does not lose image over time...something that is "unique." Don't you just hate it when you buy something and then, 6 months or a year later, something else comes out that is better than what you have?? As a single guy, you need to get something that is not a "fad."

My suggestion: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (2 or 4 doors)...or, if you still can put up with Toyotas, then i would consider FJ Cruiser Trail Team Edition.

Why? The Jeep Rubicon is just cool...you can go top down or top up. The hardtop itself is a pretty cool ingenious design. The Rubicon retails for around $32k loaded. There is nothing on the horizon that will be able to compete with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in terms of off-road performance or cool factor. The same cannot be said about SUVs, e.g. JGC, Pathfinder, 4runners, etc.. Yeah, the Rubicon is slow, but that is not the point of it because off-road, it will kill any stock SUVs in the world right now and you don't need to go fast to be cool in the Rubicon. I think that it gets 19-20 mpg on the highway on regular gas. Oh yeah, it has LIFETIME powertrain warranty...and for $3000 more, you can get LIFETIME bumper-to-bumper warranty ($0 deductible). I would also get the Wrangler with side airbags.

The FJ TT SE is a very cool FJ...the best special edition of the vehicle to date. It is fairly unique. However, competition is coming from Hummer next year that will make the FJ 2nd best in it's class in off-roading. (Jeep Rubicon is in a class by itself when it comes to off-roading IMHO.)

Nothing out there that can beat the coolness of a Wrangler...and surprisingly, the Wrangler also holds it's value extremely well and is pretty reliable too. None of the other Jeeps can even come close in these regards. And if you have dogs/cats, then get the 4-door version. The new Jeep Wranglers are much better than the old Wranglers in terms of ride and comfort. BTW, there are TONS and TONS of aftermarket support for the Wrangler...it's a no brainer IMHO.

 

[snap315]

Thank you all.

jlaud,

Your take on the Pathfinder pretty much matches mine. I do like it's interior better than the JGC (or even my T4R slightly) and also find the V6 way too noisy. I haven't driven the V8 yet. The lack of rear seat room and the fact that it was a brand new design was what kept me from buying a JGC back in 2005. However I now realize that almost no one likes riding in the rear seat of my 4Runner because of the lack of foot space more than leg room (due to the lower front seat on the T4R) so that is a draw IMHO.

I found the fix & finish on the 2008 JGC to be much better than previous models and very close to that of either Toyota or Nissan in quality. And now the JGC has an amazingly great warantee (7yrs bumper-to-bumper + lifetime on the powertrain). That coupled with the decent history so far on that design has changed my view of the JGC somewhat.

Even Steven,

Thank you very much for the info on replacing the cats. I will seriously look into this. However, I'm curious how it will affect the vehicle passing a smog check. More research is needed by me on this one.

Thai,

I do like the Rubicon and the FJ but since this will be my only vehicle and my daily driver (sorry I forgot to mention that), I prefer something with both offroad and onroad performance (yes... speed matters ).

And I'm from NYC where we care more about how something works more than how it looks. I don't follow fads and could care less about what the latest & greatest for the most part. That is why I usually get my vehicles fully loaded. That way, I don't have any regrets about not getting a particular feature and will be happy with my purchase for many years to come, regardless of what vehicles come out.

It is very hard however when you arrive at a club where you can "dress to impress" looking good and everyone cringes from the toxic smell when the valet drives off with your vehicle.

:rant:

I really do want to stay with Toyota and had planned on keeping this truck for the same amount of time as my previuos vehicles (7 to 9 years). I saved up a bunch of $$$ prior to buying it and feel let down by Toyota to some degree. This is the first vehicle that I've wanted to get rid of this fast.

:nono: