domestic dispute - 5th gen vs new Pathfinder

[M1911]

I drive an '03 V8 Limited. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It rides pretty well, for a truck. It stops pretty well, for a truck. But there is no mistaking it for anything other than what it is - a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. I put up with it because I need 4WD for the two weeks each year that I am on the beach, and because it is far better on the muddy, rutted roads at the gun club. But each time I drive Mrs. M1911s C300, I am instantly reminded just how badly it rides, handles, and brakes.

Your wife doesn't need a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. So why are you trying to push her into one? A cross-over will have more room, get better mileage, handle better, and stop better.

There are plenty of crossovers to choose from. If you are partial to Toyota, try to get her to test drive a Highlander. Just remember this is her car, to be used for taking the kids to school and the mall. Let her get what she wants.

 

[thebwlife]

My wife is in grad school and drives our BMW. But when she gets out in Dec 2014 and I'm thinking we'll do a GX 460 and keep it all stock.

 

[lezavw90]

I sat in a loaded Sienna last month, and I would totally drive that thing if I had a bunch of kids. Which I don't lol.

But that thing was like a living room on wheels. :beer:

My '12 Highlander was also a much better kid toter than my 4Runner.

Then I came to the realization that 99.9% of the time there is only one seat occupied in my vehicles. :hatsoff:

Lol, we did the same thing when we went from the Tacoma to the 4runner. If the Sienna had a 5000lb tow rating we so would have bought it. It's like sitting in a first class airline seat.

 

[jspagna1]

Actually here would be my choices:

#1 Highlander
#2 CX-9
#3 Pathfinder

 

[bernardmwrangle]

Nissans are garbage, the defects in my Xterra cost me $6k on the trade in, see this link for the class action lawsuit they settled on the defects in their V6s. NissanAssist.com

 

[453030]

If she does not need off roading ability (and how much does the new PF really have compared to a 4Runner??), scrap the PF and get the Infiniti JX. Bought one for my wife and it has been perfect. I have had excellent experience with Infiniti; the JX is the first US made Infiniti but we have had no issues. Kids love it, fit great, has tons of bells and whistles (the around view monitor launched in 2008 in the EX, always been a favorite feature and I wish our trucks had something like that). I like the statement of rolling my muddy Trail up to nice events and getting out in a sharp suit, but for those I can't pull it off at, the JX is really sweet.

 

[Ryan1975]

I'm curious Ryan, what are your reasons for going with a Explorer? It's the newer unibody style that you are talking about right?

I have the following vehicles now:

2012 Toyota 4Runner TW w/ lift and mods
2011 GMC Denali XL
2012 Ford Taurus Limited (16y/o/s car)

The vehicles we have is a product of when we got married. I do not like the fact the 16y/o is driving a $40k car. So it's my intent to trade the Denali and the Taurus in on a new Explorer Sport...a really really nice CUV.

 

[PGRunner]

Depending on your price range here would be my choices...

MDX, CX9, JX, Highlander, Pathfinder

Good Luck!

 

[jediwebdude]

Wow...interesting responses. So I finally got her convinced tonight to forget the Pathfinder due to the number of issues people are reporting on the CVT tranny. She starts looking over the 4Runner Limited features and options and notices something missing: memory seating.

What the heck, Toyota?? The 4th gen Limited had memory seating. Can you not carry that forward to the 5th gen?? So now she's looking at the <gasp> Jeep Grand Cherokee.

:ybrick:

 

[Tengu]

My vote, Nissan before Found On the Road Dead. The Nissan 6 will last many times longer than the ford

 

[jediwebdude]

I own a 2009 CX-9 and a 2010 4Runner. They are worlds apart. The CX-9 is much better for general driving and kid hauling. That being said, my wife also likes driving my truck. It is exactly that, a truck.

If you aren't going to use any of the truck like features, she really should stick with a crossover.

We love our CX-9 also btw. 70k trouble free miles.

But I like my 4Runner better

We purch our CX-9 in 2008...bought the top model with rear entertainment. CX-9 provides a lot of luxury at a very affordable price. Drove it all over the U.S. on family vacations. First problem was front driver's side bearing went out at 97,000 miles...covered under ext warranty. All's well until several weeks ago, the engine started flaking on us. We made it to 127,000 miles. Guess that's a lot for a Mazda partially built by Ford. Even then, it was a great vehicle that got excellent hwy mileage for its size.

 

[jca21]

my over all opinion of nissan is pretty low... they made amazing cars back in the 90's and the import scene is still filled with 90's era nissans running better than what they crank out currently.

grew up in a toyota family and will probably continue the tradition. i have a soft spot for subaru though having driven 2 different generations of sti's and loving ever moment of them.

i'm going to throw my vote in on a subaru forester. i think it will provide a good balance of the features that your wife is probably looking for. the new 2014 model looks great too.

 

[crunchcity]

She starts looking over the 4Runner Limited features and options and notices something missing: memory seating.

What the heck, Toyota?? The 4th gen Limited had memory seating. Can you not carry that forward to the 5th gen?? So now she's looking at the <gasp> Jeep Grand Cherokee.

:ybrick:

Wait until the 2014's come out, the '14 Limited's will have memory seating if it's that important to you I believe.

Definitely a 1st world problem. :beer:

 

[jediwebdude]

my over all opinion of nissan is pretty low... they made amazing cars back in the 90's and the import scene is still filled with 90's era nissans running better than what they crank out currently.

i'm going to throw my vote in on a subaru forester. i think it will provide a good balance of the features that your wife is probably looking for. the new 2014 model looks great too.

I had 3 Nissan Maximas (1995, 1996 SE, and 2000 SE). They were a blast. That '96 SE had a 5-speed manual and I would beat mid-90's Mustang GTs off the line up to about 70mph.

Wait until the 2014's come out, the '14 Limited's will have memory seating if it's that important to you I believe.

Definitely a 1st world problem. :beer:

The 2014 4R doesn't arrive in the U.S. until late Sept. Our CX-9 probably won't last that long. We need the new vehicle before we drive to Orlando this summer.

We have 3 drivers in the house, so memory seating is actually a big deal to us.

 

[jediwebdude]

Her criteria:

- 3rd row seat that folds flush
- mid-size and have lots of cargo space
- no V8 and no premium fuel requirement (she drives to work 32 mi in stop-and-go traffic)
- stellar reliability (hence the elimination of Pathfinder and Grand Cherokee, and why no GM products are in the running)
- memory seating
- stream music from her iPhone
- must not be ugly

My criteria:

- 4WD (preferably with ATRAC :thumb: )
- decent audio system

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Her criteria:

- 3rd row seat that folds flush
- mid-size and have lots of cargo space
- no V8 and no premium fuel requirement (she drives to work 32 mi in stop-and-go traffic)
- stellar reliability (hence the elimination of Pathfinder and Grand Cherokee, and why no GM products are in the running)
- memory seating
- stream music from her iPhone
- must not be ugly

My criteria:

- 4WD (preferably with ATRAC :thumb: )
- decent audio system

Ford Explorer Limited, better gas mileage than the T4R... and better vehicle for the wife.

 

[LandCruiser]

'14 Limited's will have memory seating if it's that important to you I believe.

Definitely a 1st world problem.

It can be very frustrating if two people drive the same vehicle over long distances. I have a bad back and it's hard for me to find the PERFECT seating position and get pretty upset if someone moves it because it takes forever to find it again.

Couple that with the fact that I'm a full 15 inches taller than my wife and 100 pounds heavier.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

Ford Explorer Limited, better gas mileage than the T4R... and better vehicle for the wife.

Does the Explorer really get better MPGs then the 4Runner?

2013 Ford Explorer MPG Reports | Fuelly

According to real world examples from fuelly, they are getting between 17-22 MPGs. That is about what I am seeing for the 4runner. Also how reliable are the new explorers? I haven't heard great things about the reliability of the older ones.

Also, if you are talking about the Eco Boost, that gimmick doesn't provide great mileage, and the additional complexity of a turbocharged engine will cut down on the reliability.

 

[jediwebdude]

Ford Explorer Limited, better gas mileage than the T4R... and better vehicle for the wife.

Explorer reliability ratings on TrueDelta eliminated it from the list.

 

[gwcpa]

If she can wait I'd go for a 2014 Highlander. I might buy one if I didn't need a tow vehicle.