00-05 Xterra

[buster]

How are the Nissan 3.3 Xterra's? Saw a really nice clean 04. From what I researched, they are very off-road capable and pretty reliable. You can also get a manual trans in one.

The negatives are the gas mileage and on road they are very truck like. Overall, they seem to be one of the more solid, durable SUV's out there.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: buster
How are the Nissan 3.3 Xterra's? Saw a really nice clean 04. From what I researched, they are very off-road capable and pretty reliable. You can also get a manual trans in one.

The negatives are the gas mileage and on road they are very truck like. Overall, they seem to be one of the more solid, durable SUV's out there.


I'm sure a Supercharged one is exciting, while a normal one is OK.

I remember liking them back years ago.

Do they still make?

 

[buster]

I don't think they do make a SC version anymore. The Pathfinders get the 3.5L while the Xterra's have the 3.3. 3.3 has the timing belt.

My sister had an 01 Xterra and it was an automatic. I remember it feeling heavy and very rugged. It is one of the better SUV's off-road. Her Xterra had a overheating issue that came up around the 75k mile mark.

I'm not sure what caused that. It doesn't appear to be a common problem from what I've seen.

 

[dparm]

I still see tons of them out on the road -- I take that as a good sign of their durability and reliability.

 

[Boomer]

They are rugged. But I believe they may share some of the issues common to the Frontier....plastic timing chain guides that wear out and radiators that allow coolant to get into the auto trans and cause big issues. Maybe someone else can chime in if I am not correct on that.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

The VG33E has a timing belt.

 

[drfeelgood]

My daughter has had a 2004 Xterra 2wd with the 3.3 and auto for about 2 years. It has been a very reliable vehicle. Mileage is poor, maybe about 18 hwy at best and it most certainly does drive like a truck. Overall, it's been a keeper.

 

[simple_gifts]

3.3 is also the # of liters of oil the engine takes IIRC; perhaps making a few bags of groceries the amount of "work" it is truly capable of doing.

 

[ryansride2017]

Originally Posted By: Boomer
They are rugged. But I believe they may share some of the issues common to the Frontier....plastic timing chain guides that wear out and radiators that allow coolant to get into the auto trans and cause big issues. Maybe someone else can chime in if I am not correct on that.



The affected vehicles that have the radiator and timing chain guide issues are 2005+ that have the 4.0L engine.

 

[artificialist]

My dad had 2 friends with Xtterras that suffered premature engine failure. Both of them changed their oil on time, and both had an engine with worn bearings at 90,000 miles. They both filled the engine with some heavy oil and then sold their trucks.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
Originally Posted By: buster
How are the Nissan 3.3 Xterra's? Saw a really nice clean 04. From what I researched, they are very off-road capable and pretty reliable. You can also get a manual trans in one.

The negatives are the gas mileage and on road they are very truck like. Overall, they seem to be one of the more solid, durable SUV's out there.


I'm sure a Supercharged one is exciting, while a normal one is OK.

I remember liking them back years ago.

Do they still make?


The supercharged one is OK, the normal one is working pretty hard, at least in my experience driving crew cab 3.3 Frontiers. My cousin's 3.3 crew cab 2WD Frontier felt about like my 3.0 Vulcan Ranger does...nearly the same weight, with about a 20 HP advantage to the Frontier. The s/c ones drink gas and require premium IIRC. They needed the s/c to compete with 4.0s, 4.3s, and 3.4s because the n/a 3.3 couldn't cut it at around 170 HP. It's a decent engine though and doesn't seem to have many mechanical problems.

 

[caravanmike]

i think you mean 00-04 not the 05's!

 

[buster]

Yeah sorry 00-04.