New Nissan Pathfinder
- Thread starter dekeman
- Start date
1engineer
Moderator
Ok, stop with the "CUV's are no good offroad" crap. Actually, for 95% of offroad activities there are some CUV's that do a good job. I had an '02 Honda CRV that did just fine in off road situations. Basically unless you are rock crawling a CUV is fine for most fire trails and dirt roads. The 4Runner is in an elite class though with very few other SUVs in the fact it can be taken almost anywhere - with very few modifications. Never forget that the most important part of offroading is the driver. True story:
Several summers ago I was heading to a trailhead with 2 MTB riders. We took his Nissan Titan with the bikes in it and it had rained for several days and portions of the road had washed out and the creek was over 2' deep at the crossing. The crossing had muddy banks and was about 20 yards instead of the usual 10' or so. We never got stuck but it was a tough 1/2 mile ride. So, we get there and see a few Jeeps - no big deal, and then we see a Subaru Impreza - impressive as we had bottomed out a few times in the Titan and knew the Impreza had to have a tough time getting there and then - we saw a 1990's model Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Sort of beat up but still a decent looking car. It was muddy but so was everything else. It had a bike rack on the back and obviously it had been driven in that day to haul a bike back to the Trail Head. We did our ride and when we were getting ready to leave a kid rode out and over to the Olds. As he was drying off we asked him (maybe 20-22 years old) if he had any trouble getting in and he said "Yeah, I spun a little but no big deal" and we were floored. We left together and followed him out. He drove that car like a rally driver! Where we were going slow and steady he went fast and and hit all the highside ruts just right. He really did not abuse the car going out he just knew how to drive - really good. As he did not have 4WD he built up momentum to coast through the tougher stuff and by the time we got to the main road he was gone. I realized right then that, just like a mountian bike rider, the driver is more important than the vehicle.
So for all the guys with the lifted and armored 4X4's (4Runners included), all the gear in the world can't help if you don't know how to drive. There is always going to be some kid in an Oldsmobile showing you how it's done!
Last thing: How many on this board can really claim to have pushed our 4Runners to their limit offroad? I don't mean getting stuck, anyone can do that, I mean using everything they have and still barely making it through. I have not. As a matter of fact, most CUV's out there will go every place I have been so far. I just like having the extra capability just in case.
Several summers ago I was heading to a trailhead with 2 MTB riders. We took his Nissan Titan with the bikes in it and it had rained for several days and portions of the road had washed out and the creek was over 2' deep at the crossing. The crossing had muddy banks and was about 20 yards instead of the usual 10' or so. We never got stuck but it was a tough 1/2 mile ride. So, we get there and see a few Jeeps - no big deal, and then we see a Subaru Impreza - impressive as we had bottomed out a few times in the Titan and knew the Impreza had to have a tough time getting there and then - we saw a 1990's model Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Sort of beat up but still a decent looking car. It was muddy but so was everything else. It had a bike rack on the back and obviously it had been driven in that day to haul a bike back to the Trail Head. We did our ride and when we were getting ready to leave a kid rode out and over to the Olds. As he was drying off we asked him (maybe 20-22 years old) if he had any trouble getting in and he said "Yeah, I spun a little but no big deal" and we were floored. We left together and followed him out. He drove that car like a rally driver! Where we were going slow and steady he went fast and and hit all the highside ruts just right. He really did not abuse the car going out he just knew how to drive - really good. As he did not have 4WD he built up momentum to coast through the tougher stuff and by the time we got to the main road he was gone. I realized right then that, just like a mountian bike rider, the driver is more important than the vehicle.
So for all the guys with the lifted and armored 4X4's (4Runners included), all the gear in the world can't help if you don't know how to drive. There is always going to be some kid in an Oldsmobile showing you how it's done!
Last thing: How many on this board can really claim to have pushed our 4Runners to their limit offroad? I don't mean getting stuck, anyone can do that, I mean using everything they have and still barely making it through. I have not. As a matter of fact, most CUV's out there will go every place I have been so far. I just like having the extra capability just in case.
While my offroading definitely isn't to the limit, a FWD biased AWD/4WD system (i.e. no center lock) would have probably not made it up the loose rock hills that I've had my 4Runner up. When those systems lose traction, they typically rely on braking the spinning to get power to the wheels with traction. When you are somewhat relying on momentum, you don't want the brakes to be doing all the work. With my 4Runner, I at least know that I'm getting power to a wheel on the front and a wheel on the rear and that can keep you moving. Another beef is that some CUV/SUV makers are worse than others (*cough* GM *cough*), but most CUVs tend to have an extremely low front air dam. While this is great for gas mileage, it is just another thing to break on relatively mild, rutted logging roads.
I have to say, though, that Subaru is one of the best of the CUVs. The Outbacks w/ 5MTs have great ground clearance, limited slip center differentials, and often limited slip rear diffs.
I do agree that the driver has a lot to do with where you can get vehicles. An incompetent carpenter cannot blame his tools. CUVs do, 100%, fit the needs of most Americans better than BOF, live rear axle, longitudinal driveline SUVs. They usually get better mileage, have better interior packaging, and ride better.
thebwlife
Senior Member
Also having good tools doesn't make you a good carpenter.
Qjake
New member
LMAO sounds like my first car...a 1970 Ford Torino. Paid $275 for it put some new leafs in the rear a set of 31x10.5 Kelly Superchargers that came off my buddies E250 then spray bombed it flat black. Man that thing was the baddest offroad car seen this side of the Mississippi! I miss the good ole days
:lmao::lmao: :lookout:Very rough draft of a large SUV review I wrote up during my search for the perfect SUV for my family.
My disclaimer....the language was dumbed down for V6P. Now that I've had a few dealers asking for a copy, I'm doing a complete re-write to get it ready for publication.
Dizzy's Large SUV Road Test Review 2011 - V6 Performance.net Forums
I'm still working on the 4Runner and Pathfinder review to add to it...although it'll have to be changed from large SUV review to something else. My local dealer asked me to do a write up of the Sequoia as well. I initially left it out because I felt the Sequoia was priced too high, but hey, I'm game if I'm going to get a nice SUV to test drive. I'll throw in my current other car, 2007 Subaru Tribeca as the benchmark test vehicle since its more than proved its winter AWD prowess in the mountains of Deep Creek Lake for the past few winters. The Tribeca also passed the icy slippery hill test with flying colors. My previous 2004 Sienna AWD ended up going down the hill backwards.
My disclaimer....the language was dumbed down for V6P. Now that I've had a few dealers asking for a copy, I'm doing a complete re-write to get it ready for publication.
Dizzy's Large SUV Road Test Review 2011 - V6 Performance.net Forums
I'm still working on the 4Runner and Pathfinder review to add to it...although it'll have to be changed from large SUV review to something else. My local dealer asked me to do a write up of the Sequoia as well. I initially left it out because I felt the Sequoia was priced too high, but hey, I'm game if I'm going to get a nice SUV to test drive. I'll throw in my current other car, 2007 Subaru Tribeca as the benchmark test vehicle since its more than proved its winter AWD prowess in the mountains of Deep Creek Lake for the past few winters. The Tribeca also passed the icy slippery hill test with flying colors. My previous 2004 Sienna AWD ended up going down the hill backwards.
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adio3x
New member
I like the new QX56, its a beast.
I liked it except for the price and size at the time. Although, now 2011's can be had for about 59k discounted. Their price range competes directly with the Toyota Sequoia. Yes, I know that one is "luxury" while the other is just a "regular" SUV, but if you are spending $60K+, it is something to consider.
If you look at the spy photos of the overseas Nissan Patrol (QX56 platform) it looks pretty darn good except that it looks too much like the Armada. I don't blame Infiniti on changing the front to differentiate itself but it still looks too bubbly IMHO.
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/02/2011-nissan-patrol-suv-officially.html
If Nissan were smart, they'd import the Patrol and rename it the new Armada, then the Sequoia would really have serious competition in terms of price, features and drivability.
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scanny
Senior Member
I think 4Runner would be too small for you, but try it anyway, interesting how would you feel about it. If I needed a real big SUV I would go for Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia, but I think used Expedition is better bang for the buck.
Socco
New member
I haven't read this post aside from the title, but I'm still inclined to put in my 2 cents. I had a new Pathfinder last week for a loaner. What a tur* bucket! Granted it was a base model, but the words Cheap, cheesy and uninspired come to mind. The V8 was nice off the line though. My 4Runner felt like a Cadillac when I got it back!
I agree. I had a new 2011 Pathfinder as a rental for a few days and it drove very rough, bumpy, and had rattles galore. I checked the mileage and was surprised to see only 1500 miles on it. It felt very cheap, sucked a lot of gas and the engine noise was also pretty loud. Mine was not the base S, but the SV.
@Scanny
I actually ended up w/ a 2011 4Runner LE w/ the works (see my signature). After writing that article, my needs changed and I ended up having to look at mid-size SUV's instead of large SUV's. My full explanation will be in my updated review but in short order; 1) wife 2) parking garage at various courthouses 3) fuel mileage 4) 3rd row seat no longer needed. A good used Expedition is very difficult to find in DC metro right now and it ended up being too big/tight fit for a few of the garages that I frequent. It's kind of funny how an Expedition depreciates around $9k-$10k the moment you drive it off the lot according to Intellichoice.
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mtbnole
New member
interesting.......base model Pathfinders don't have V8 engines. That must have been the classic nissan VQ engine throttle response. I still miss it from my Xterra (same engine).
scanny
Senior Member
Oops, didn't read you signature, glad you picked 4Runner after all. I've been in DC once for 5 days and I see your concern with parking. I try to avoid undeground parking if I can, once in Washington DC I coundln't avoid it and found that it easier to get in than get out. My wife was spotting for me, without her I would rip off some fire sprinklers from the garage ceiling.
Socco
New member
I stand corrected. The rental guy told me it was a V8, I didn't really care though. I just checked Nissan.ca and there is actually no V8 option in Canada.
Wow, that's a NOISY V6!
KCcarguy
New member
That's disappointing. I always liked the Xterra and Frontier.
thebwlife
Senior Member
I guessing your referring to the strawberry milkshake of death?
For those that done know - they have a problem where the radiator gives up and the tranny fluid and coolant end up mixing. Transmissions are just huge hydrolic pumps so the water just destroys them. The engine can be flushed but that trans out of warranty is way high, I've heard 5-7k for a brand new one.
They also have a very weak front diff that gives up a little prematurely under moderate stress.
mtbnole
New member
seriously?
I put 70K miles on my 2007 Xterra SE 4x4, and had minimal issues. it was rattle and creak free, drove well, had a very strong engine and transmission, and made it through the worst off roading i've ever been through (probably the more stupid as well). Other than the easy to scratch interior, it was a tank.
