domestic dispute - 5th gen vs new Pathfinder

[wnelax04sr5]

dont want to stir the pot too much, but my next door neighbor worked from age 18 until he retired at 60 in fords service and parts department. he has owned nothing but toyotas until last year, when he bought an explorer. he said that ford has finally come around to focusing on the right aspects of building vehicles, and he bought his first ford after working for them all his life

 

[Biggcrisp]

Hot chicks

All the pretty wemon in my area are styling the 5th gen.

 

[Paisano]

Good luck man! Sounds like the 4Runner will take it.

 

[stevec5000]

Forget the Pathfinder. Get her a Ford Explorer Sport. Trust me, you'll be happy. I'll be getting one as soon as I can rearrange the finances.

I wouldn't get a Pathfinder or a Ford Explorer either. Google: Complaints & Recalls, they both have a million against them while the 4Runner has hardly any.
Nissan products like the Pathfinder, Xterra, etc. are really bad, worse than Fords even. You wouldn't think a Japanese made vehicle could be so bad and poorly made but it's not made in Japan, it's made in the USA! The Ford has more complaints about the transmission failing than anything else. They aren't the death traps they used to be that would roll over and kill you when the Firestone tires blew out but I wouldn't want a vehicle with potential transmission failure either.

 

[M1911]

They weren't death traps then either. The Firestones would only blow out in hot weather, when the truck was overloaded, the tire was under inflated, and it was driven at high speed.

Second, it really wasn't hard to control if it did blow out if you weren't a moron. One of the car magazines spent a lot of time and money to simulate blowouts on Explorers. Their drivers never had a hard time controlling it.

 

[Okki]

** UPDATE **

We test drove the Honda Pilot Touring tonight. Yawn.

While I've loved Honda's in the past, the Pilot and Ridgeline really fall below the mark. Cost wise an Acura MDX is a closer competitor. For me it ended up between a 4r LE and and MDX and I chose the 4R for the ground clearance and "I still have some control over the 4x4 computer" ability. But for the Mrs, the MDX may be a good fit.

Okki

2013 Acura MDX | Compare Vehicles - Results | Acura.com

 

[jediwebdude]

he said that ford has finally come around to focusing on the right aspects of building vehicles, and he bought his first ford after working for them all his life

Yep...in the mid-2000s, the CEO of Ford did something that Chrysler and GM did not: he announced a shift to focus on improving quality. Ford's reliability ratings have increased for the mechanical/drivetrain areas, and slightly for the interior integrity. The electronics are the weakness.

All the pretty wemon in my area are styling the 5th gen.

My wife says she gets lots of looks when she's driving my 4th gen 4Runner. I said, "Yeah...they find you amazing cuz you let your husband mod it."

Nissan products like the Pathfinder, Xterra, etc. are really bad, worse than Fords even.

Nissan used to be one of the big 3 in reliability. Not sure what happened, but reliability started tanking for Nissan/Infiniti in the mid-to-late 2000s. The new M37 sedan is known for having engine replacements. Maybe they are pushing for new technology without adequate testing. Sorta like Microsoft.

While I've loved Honda's in the past, the Pilot and Ridgeline really fall below the mark. Cost wise an Acura MDX is a closer competitor. For me it ended up between a 4r LE and and MDX and I chose the 4R for the ground clearance and "I still have some control over the 4x4 computer" ability. But for the Mrs, the MDX may be a good fit.

We had a 2003 MDX and liked it a lot...except for that part where the engine mounts kept breaking, and there weren't any stronger aftermarket mounts avail. We really like the new MDX, but not the premium fuel requirement. Plus the cargo space is not as big as the Pilot and 4Runner.

 

[PGRunner]

While I've loved Honda's in the past, the Pilot and Ridgeline really fall below the mark. Cost wise an Acura MDX is a closer competitor. For me it ended up between a 4r LE and and MDX and I chose the 4R for the ground clearance and "I still have some control over the 4x4 computer" ability. But for the Mrs, the MDX may be a good fit.

Okki

2013 Acura MDX | Compare Vehicles - Results | Acura.com

I totally agree. I have both..4R for me and the wife has the MDX.

 

[PGRunner]

We had a 2003 MDX and liked it a lot...except for that part where the engine mounts kept breaking, and there weren't any stronger aftermarket mounts avail. We really like the new MDX, but not the premium fuel requirement. Plus the cargo space is not as big as the Pilot and 4Runner.

.

Like my above post said, I have both a 4R and a 09 MDX. I haven't measured the cargo area but I feel that the MDX has more. Remember, when you have the 3rd row seat you lose some cargo space since the floor is lifted due to the 3rd row.

 

[jediwebdude]

Like my above post said, I have both a 4R and a 09 MDX. I haven't measured the cargo area but I feel that the MDX has more. Remember, when you have the 3rd row seat you lose some cargo space since the floor is lifted due to the 3rd row.

Right...there are three cu ft values for Cargo Space. Below are the cu ft values for 2013 models (missing a few values):

15/43/84 - Acura MDX
18/48/87 - Honda Pilot
16/43/80 - Nissan Pathfinder
??/46/88 - Toyota 4Runner
17/??/100 - Mazda CX-9

First value is cargo space when 2nd and 3rd row seats are up.
Second value is cargo space when 3rd row seat is collapsed.
Third value is cargo space when 2nd and 3rd row seats are collapsed.

The CX-9 cargo space when all seats are collapsed is amazing. My 4Runner Perkins Roof Rack (looks exactly like Gobi rack) arrived last week, so I took the CX-9 to the freight company to retrieve the rack. I figured I would have to angle the rack to get it in and tie the rear door down. Nope...it was a tight fit, but the rack actually fit and I was able to shut rear hatch.

 

[Titanpat57]

I had the 2009 CX-9 Grand Touring AWD right before the TE...and I have to say it was the single nicest vehicle I ever owned....I was literally afraid I would ruin it.

just couldn't take it in woods.....

real far...

 

[jediwebdude]

The verdict is in. She drove the 4Runner Limited 4WD and sadly, she was not thrilled. While she did say it drove better than the Pilot, she found the 3rd row seat setup to be a pain and didn't like the Nav screen being nearly flush with the dash (problem with sunlight hitting it). Our kids didn't like the lack of backseat leg room when compared to our '07 4Runner. Lack of rear entertainment system was also a negative for everyone. In the end, we agreed that the Pilot was a better family vehicle, but the 4Runner was a better driver's vehicle...and seemed more durable than the Pilot.

Personally, I was really bummed...I had really hoped this was it. I really liked how the 4Runner drove, and was already plotting how I would get it off-road without her ever knowing it so I could try all the off-road techy goodies.

By the end of the day, she gave up on our budget target and decided to move up in price and get an Acura MDX with the rear entertainment system. We test drove one and that's all it took. That thing glides down the road, corners like my Audi, and accelerates nicely. Kids were wow'd by the backseat features (their own climate control system, rear entertainment system, and large cupholders).

After playing our good cop/bad cop routine with the sales team until we got the trade-in and sale deal we wanted, we brought it home.

 

[philsey]

After playing our good cop/bad cop routine with the sales team until we got the trade-in and sale deal we wanted.....

Good outcome.

Curious as to who plays 'good' vs who plays 'bad'.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I would wait until the new 2014 Highlander came out.

 

[jediwebdude]

Good outcome.

Curious as to who plays 'good' vs who plays 'bad'.

I'm the good guy. She plays the role of bad guy and doesn't budge on offer. We plan in advance what the trade diff limit will be and start lower. They do their little game of making us wait, then produce a lame offer. So she has us walk out and they chase and adjust numbers. Still off on numbers, she has us walk out. They chase and do another attempt. The best part is when they pull the intelligence-insulting speech about how they are in business to make a profit, and usually in a condescending tone. This is the breaking point as it provokes the wrath of my wife.

As they flow apologies, i step in as peacemaker with a number that sounds like we are budging and they agree to it. Works like clockwork.

 

[j_shoe99]

After playing our good cop/bad cop routine with the sales team until we got the trade-in and sale deal we wanted, we brought it home.

:worthless

 

[M1911]

The verdict is in. She drove the 4Runner Limited 4WD and sadly, she was not thrilled. While she did say it drove better than the Pilot, she found the 3rd row seat setup to be a pain and didn't like the Nav screen being nearly flush with the dash (problem with sunlight hitting it). Our kids didn't like the lack of backseat leg room when compared to our '07 4Runner. Lack of rear entertainment system was also a negative for everyone. In the end, we agreed that the Pilot was a better family vehicle, but the 4Runner was a better driver's vehicle...and seemed more durable than the Pilot.

Personally, I was really bummed...I had really hoped this was it. I really liked how the 4Runner drove, and was already plotting how I would get it off-road without her ever knowing it so I could try all the off-road techy goodies.

By the end of the day, she gave up on our budget target and decided to move up in price and get an Acura MDX with the rear entertainment system. We test drove one and that's all it took. That thing glides down the road, corners like my Audi, and accelerates nicely. Kids were wow'd by the backseat features (their own climate control system, rear entertainment system, and large cupholders).

Both the Pilot and MDX are better family vehicles than the 4Runner, and that is what you are buying -- a family vehicle.

Oh, and one more thing, taking the wife's vehicle offroad would have been a bad idea. Really bad idea.

 

[PGRunner]

Really great choice. You should have gotten a great deal on them since the 2014's will be a new body style.

 

[duckman06]

This was easy for me as my wife when we meet 12 years ago didn't care what she drove as long as dependable. Since that time & me being a toyota guy since I have been driving. When it came time to get new vehiles 1st she Chosse a camery for 3 years loved it but was hard to get in and out of with our 3 year old.

So I went to my local toyota dealer. Who love to see me walk in as they now Im not a tire kicker. I took a 4 runner home over the weekend and as soon as my wife drove it she was sold. I upgraded to SR5 with navagation and sunroof and she is so proud of it. I have leveled it out both front and rear, tinted the windows. I not done yet next will be tires and nfabs and then I will be done for a while. Bucket book needs to rest.

 

[flyrv9]

Before buying our 4Runner last December we did some research. We also own a 2000 Tundra 4WD TRD and a Nissan 2WD XE pick up. The Nissan has over 175K miles and it was my daily driver until Dec. The Tundra has 100K miles and is my daily driver now. Mrs Fly drives the 4Runner. The Nissan has been a great truck - in fact I'm still on the original clutch. However, I'm not impressed by the Frontier (which replaced the XE model) or the Titan which competes with the Tundra. We were seriously looking at another Tundra, but didn't need a 3rd PU; hence the 4Runner. Mrs Fly loves the truck and I'm impressed by the changes in the 13+ years since we have bought a vehicle. Both the Tundra and Nissan have been great trucks with few issues. I hope the 4Runner holds up as well.