Shopping for an SUV Xterra / CR-V?

shelby27604

shelby27604

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Location
Efland NC
So obviously these are two completely different animals.....looking for opinions on both. We need something that we can take out to the western side of the state for very basic two tracking and not getting stuck in a field when it rains for 3 days, and something that can swallow up our 100 lbs. dog and still leave some room for gear (current fwd hatchback doesn't fit the bill).

These two are in the running because they are available in 4wd and manual transmission. We had looked at the element, but the back pass. windows are pop-outs, and don't actually go down, so they are out of the mix, prefer to stay with 4 doors, would entertain 2 doors. Would love to get an XJ, but finding a 4wd that isn't all ragged out and isn't in the $8k range is proving harder than anticipated.

Any years / generations to avoid? Any achilles heel / "killer dowel pin" type issues to be weary of? It seems like the Xterra goes through clutches quickly and the CR-V goes through CV joints quickly.

Any other vehicle suggestions appreciated, this will also become a daily driver, so reliability and a sub $8k asking price are top of the list.
 
I DD a 4.0 WJ. Not manual but very comfortable. Reliability is on par with most jeeps of that time. Maybe a faulty sensor every blue moon.

My GF also had an Isuzu rodeo which I liked. Some of those are manual. The trooper would be even bigger. Gas mileage isn’t great. Pathfinder perhaps?

Probably out of your $8k price range but a 4 runner sounds like what you are after.


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last 4runner with 3 pedals was made in 2000, and most have 300k on the clock.

Looking for something that I don't have to rebuild right off the bat.

I will look into isuzus though
 
If you really are dead set on a that have manuals.manuals transmission, that will immediately limit your options. Is this really a definite requirement? There just aren't many vehicles (in the US) made in the last decade.
 
Since you mentioned a crv, maybe a Subaru forester? They made a good number of them in a manual transmission.
 
junkxj said:
Since you mentioned a crv, maybe a Subaru forester? They made a good number of them in a manual transmission.
Click to expand...

Yep, up to 2018 models I believe. They killed off the manual trans for 2019.

The nice thing about a Forrester is that you'll actually have AWD. You won't have that with the CR-V, as it's a FWD car with the ability to shift torque rearward when needed. It works decent, depending on conditions.
The pre-2012 CR-Vs with the hydraulic AWD were better than the current versions with electronic AWD, but it's still ultimately an "on-demand" AWD system and not the same breed as the 4WD in the Xterra, or the AWD in the Forrester.
 
I don't really like fwd....from both a driving and a maintenance standpoint.

That being said, the Subaru packaging does seem nice from a service standpoint (lots of room under the hood). I will have to give them another look, although I am told their quality has taken quite the down turn in the last decade.

After seeing what people want for 300k mile 4runners and 150k mile Xterras with a stick shift, I may just keep my eyes open for a clean XJ and do a drivetrain swap down the road. This won't be a wheeler, and it seems like a clean, stock XJ with 4wd and an AX15 will hold its value if taken care of.
 
Because he's a man and this is America.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Because he's a man and this is America.
Click to expand...

What he said!

I could go into all the reasons, but inevitably that starts a pissing match about how great someone elses comparably equipped, automatic blah blah is.....and that isn't the point.

I am slow to jump on new technology, AC and fuel injection are the only good additions to modern vehicles when it comes to a daily driver.
 
Been finding a couple of R50 Generation Pathfinders with the 3.5l V6, looks like the pathfinder is a unibody, and the Xterra is a body on frame.
In the running at the moment
4Runner w/ 3.4l V6
Xterra (only offered with the 4.0)
Pathfinder 1999-2002
XJ <----- If I can find a close to stocker, is it the 00-01 that have a head casting problem?
 
Shopping around, dollars for dollars, I have definitely added the XJ to the list. There are some stock-ish rigs out there, bouncing between getting a clean auto, and a beat ax15 4wd version and doing the swap....or holding out for a 4wd 5 speed that was factory built.
 
I think you've made a great decision.
 
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