90's Pathfinder vs 3rd Gen 4runner?

[atalarico]

So, I'm really surprised that I haven't been able to find this using the search.

I'm interested in comparing a 90's Pathfinder with a 3rd Gen 4runner.

I've been in the market for a 3rd gen for a few weeks now, but it's been less than ideal, as price and availability are kind of making me lose hope.

Basically, the comparison should keep the following in mind.

I want a 4x4 SUV (or ideally a Tacoma, but talk about a high price to pay) for a few reasons.

I live in Colorado. I enjoy playing in the mountains, a lot. I mountaineer in all seasons, I rock climb, I snowboard at resorts, I snowboard mountaineer, I road bike, I backpack, I car camp, etc.

However, my 2000 VW golf leaves something to be desired for ground clearance on access roads.

I'm not looking to get crazy into off-roading and rock crawling, but getting to some trail-heads can involve fairly serious 4x4 access roads. I would probably not be adverse to lifting a bit and putting on some beefier a/t tires, but I don't think that most of the roads I would need to get up would warrant much more than that (or would they?).

My price range is in the mid-$6,000 range. I want reliability, a car that I can find readily available parts for, and that is fairly straight forward to work on myself. I'm a grad student, so the budget is a big issue.

I've been told that a 4runner is the way to go, and my Dad owned a 2nd gen (which is supposedly the black-sheep gen) and loved it! I know they are great cars for sure.

However, I don't know much about Pathfinders in comparison to 4runners. What are pros and cons? Pathfinders appear more affordable, but is that made up for in a lack of reliability, or anything else?

I've driven in a early 90's Pathfinder before, and while it's not the smoothest or quietest ride, it felt like it was built like a tank. I also don't want to be afraid to use the car, T4R or Pathfinder, for what I want it for, trails access! I don't want to feel bad if I dent it up a bit or scratch it on stuff. I mean, ideally I'm not going to trash it, but I don't want to have such a nice car that I'm paranoid about using it for the reason I bought it.

What say you T4R lovers! I want in to your club, but I want to make sure it's the right decision!

 

[BamBam]

I dreamed of a Pathfinder for years and years. I finally bought one and hated the hell out of it. That thing was a piece of crap. I sold it within about 9 months of buying it. If I had it to do over I would have kept my 2001 Trooper. That is a vehicle to look into. They run forever, are easy to work on, have a really good and beefy 4x4 system, and can be had for cheap. I know this is a 4Runner board and this is probably considered blasphemy, but I think for your budget you'll get much more vehicle for your money if you find a good Trooper over a Pathfinder or a 4Runner. That's just me though. I drive a 4Runner and love it, but there's no way in hell I would have been able to afford one while I was in school. I drove an Eagle Talon back then and upgraded to a Trooper when I got my first "real job" and it was a great truck.

The third gens are excellent if you can find one for your price. I felt like the Trooper beat it in a few areas though. I used my Trooper for snowboarding and it was the perfect vehicle for it. Tons of room, comfortable, reliable, etc. Then get a 4Runner when you get some cash saved up in a few years. Just an idea. If it came down to a Pathfinder or nothing.... I'd probably take the bus. I'm dead serious. I was the biggest Nissan fanboy on earth and I couldn't get rid of that thing fast enough.

 

[brian2sun]

4runners are a lot better than Pathfinders. Nissans in general have always been 2nd to Toyota in every way. What happened with the 4runner you were going to get for $6500 with the immaculate records?

 

[BamBam]

4runners are a lot better than Pathfinders. Nissans in general have always been 2nd to Toyota in every way. What happened with the 4runner you were going to get for $6500 with the immaculate records?

I don't know about that. I know a lot of people would take a Maxima of the mid-90's until now over a Camry. I sure would. I'd take an Altima over any sedan Toyota has made in the last 20 years as well. That's just me though. The Camry is a totally boring car and the models from about 95+ had some serious issues until they moved on to the next generation. Then this current generation has had all sorts of problems as well. The Maxima? Not so much.

 

[brian2sun]

I should have said "trucks". The toyota pickups and 4runners have always been a step above the Nissan pickups and Pathfinders IMO. As far as the cars, I don't have a real opinion on Toyota vs. Nissan, I prefer Hondas.

 

[BamBam]

I should have said "trucks". The toyota pickups and 4runners have always been a step above the Nissan pickups and Pathfinders IMO. As far as the cars, I don't have a real opinion on Toyota vs. Nissan, I prefer Hondas.

No argument there. There was a time when the Pathfinder was fairly new that it seemed to make a leap above the 1G 4Runner, but that was quickly answered with the more powerful and refined second generation. The 1G 4Runner was more versatile, but the Pathfinder was more comfortable and had better manners.

I had a 2003 Pathfinder and to me it was a very good vehicle, but Nissan's incompetence and dishonesty made me hate it so I got rid of it. My 2007 4Runner is leaps and bounds above it though. I'd say the Pathfinder is a solid #2 pick though if money is a real concern. I have a friend who drives a Frontier because he couldn't afford a Tacoma and he really likes it and has never had a problem. He's at over 130,000 miles on it and it looks brand new.

In this day and age if you get an SUV and take good care of it, then it will take good care of you. This isn't the 80's where you'd get a lemon in 9/10 vehicles and only by a sheer miracle would you hit 100,000 miles. Now you can be pretty sure that you're getting something good. Just check it out, make sure it has been taken care of, and that you do the same.

 

[T4Fun]

Toyota suvs outrank honda and nissan for sure , however, they may be onto something with the nissan patrol and the new qx 56

As far as sedans, yeah, nissan makes them ride better and more stylish. However, nissan resale value stinks. Would rather get an acura or honda

 

[Uneek]

I don't know about that. I know a lot of people would take a Maxima of the mid-90's until now over a Camry. I sure would. I'd take an Altima over any sedan Toyota has made in the last 20 years as well. That's just me though. The Camry is a totally boring car and the models from about 95+ had some serious issues until they moved on to the next generation. Then this current generation has had all sorts of problems as well. The Maxima? Not so much.

True, the majority of Toyotas are "soul less" and like plain vanilla ice cream. But vanilla is the best selling flavor ice cream. Cars are like ice cream. :hungry:

 

[brian2sun]

I agree BamBam. I think I would take a Nissan 2nd to a Toyota truck/suv. I'm going out for ice cream now dammit.

 

[atalarico]

:lol: I'm glad I enabled ice-cream eating!

I was just curious because it seemed like the people who can't necessarily afford Yotas go for Nissans. I've definitely known a few people with old Pathfinders that run over the 200k mark.

It was a post I made because I felt like I was getting priced out of Yotas. However, indeed, I found the one. I just have to get her green-lighted by my mechanic, and she's all mine!!

Thanks guys! Enjoy the ice cream.

 

[BamBam]

The one thing the Pathfinders pre-2004 has going for it is the 3.5 liter V6. That engine is absolutely bulletproof. It is one of the best engines made for the time period and is still a great engine. I think it totally outclasses the hunk of crap 4.0 they are putting in the SUV's they build now.

The Pathfinders that were built in Japan up through the 2004 (or 2003.5) model year were good vehicles with that bulletproof and amazing engine. The 2004 on up that are built in I believe Tennessee with the 4.0 engine are NOT good vehicles. Nissan's arrogance got the best of them because they finally got it right with the previous generation Pathfinder and they've blown all of that goodwill to hell with their latest incarnation which is a travesty.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If you plan on leaving the road the 4Runner is definelty a better choicewith considerably better ground clearance and overall more room on the inside for gear and friends. I like Nissan as a company but their pathfinders have never really seemd too much of a rugged trail runner.

 

[bkw]

If you plan on leaving the road the 4Runner is definelty a better choicewith considerably better ground clearance and overall more room on the inside for gear and friends. I like Nissan as a company but their pathfinders have never really seemd too much of a rugged trail runner.

I got a 1987 4runner for $1800 3 years ago, now at 275k miles, blew the head gasket.
In response I found a 1996 pathfinder SE for $3000, 175k miles.

Both manual tranny of course, both 4x4 of course, both have acceptable looks at least to me who is all I'm concerned about, (once I took the nerf bar running boards off the pathy, and no I didn't replace them with anything else.). Both have solid rear axle and independent front.

The Pathy is 9 years newer, has 100k fewer miles, has a stronger v6 engine (just the 168 hp the 3.3L, not the later 3.5) is much nicer fit & finish inside, electric windows, sun roof, built in garage door opener, shift between 2H and 4H on the fly up to 50 mph, heater and a/c work, electric door locks and they all work, rear gate isn't busted and the rear window works and the rear wiper and sprayer work, and the rear bumper isn't caved in, it has 4 doors which is vastly nicer for passengers, has a much more useful class3 tow hitch instead of class 2, quieter and smoother ride etc... NONE of which is true for my 4runner.

And basically, I can't wait to fix the 4runner and get back into it.

Even though it's 9 years older, has 100k more miles on it, has a weaker engine has no a/c, is generally dirtier and more busted up on the outside, and has all those other shortcomings in comparison to the pathfinder, it's just more fun to ride.

I have driven both around in the snow and the 4wd works great in both (once I put manual lockers in the 4runner). I know this year/model/edition pathfinder has limited slip in the rear end, don't know about the 4runner, but both vehicles get around ok as far as my usage goes.

Maybe it's nothing more than the fact that the 4runner has ancient almost flattened out leafs in the rear with a poor-mans lift kit hacked in there (2" square stock), vs the coils in the pathy, maybe the 4runner has better shocks (I never changed shocks on either truck yet, both "look old"), maybe it's just something stupid like a better anti-sway bar or bushings in better shape etc, but basically the 4runner feels like a good solid useful truck or suv and the pathfinder feels like a minivan that just looks like an suv on the outside. It's just more fun to drive and the cargo area is slightly more useful in that the seats fold down flatter which matters sometimes.

On a less-subjective note, the pathy's 175k manual transmission growls (yes, gear oil is full and in good condition) where the 4runners 275k manual transmission is silent and shifts better, and the pathy's throw-out bearing is a bit noisy where the 4runners is silent.

Those could just be abuse by former owners though.

--
bkw

 

[JohnsD90]

4runners are a lot better than Pathfinders. Nissans in general have always been 2nd to Toyota in every way.

Not in the sports car department, R34>Supra, S15>Celica. And idk the Patrol vs. LC's of old seems like a close match as well.

 

[TheeMikeB]

The one thing the Pathfinders pre-2004 has going for it is the 3.5 liter V6. That engine is absolutely bulletproof. It is one of the best engines made for the time period and is still a great engine. I think it totally outclasses the hunk of crap 4.0 they are putting in the SUV's they build now.

The Pathfinders that were built in Japan up through the 2004 (or 2003.5) model year were good vehicles with that bulletproof and amazing engine. The 2004 on up that are built in I believe Tennessee with the 4.0 engine are NOT good vehicles. Nissan's arrogance got the best of them because they finally got it right with the previous generation Pathfinder and they've blown all of that goodwill to hell with their latest incarnation which is a travesty.

I know this is an old post but I agree the 3.5 Liter V6 engine in the pathfinder is awesome, my father in law has an 01 pathfinder and while I don't really like the over all feel of the truck compared to my 01 runner, the power of that motor and pep off the line are far superior to the 4runner. I step on the pedal in the pathfinder and that thing moves, I step on the pedal in my 4runner and it seems only my fuel gauge moves

 

[1beastnstl]

Agreed that this is an OLD thread, but I too have been having this debate. I'm looking to purchase another 3rd gen and the pickings are slim to none for a "low" mile clean vehicle. I went out and test drove a 05 Pathfinder yesterday and the thing was really nice and the power was MUCH better than the Runner BUT the Runner just "does it for me". Prices are better on a Pathfinder than a Runner for sure and there are a TON of them out there for sale.