I need a new vehicle, well 2 actually, will buy used.

Which is better a Nissan Pathfinder, or a Toyota 4 Runner, or something else form these two.

My current vehicle is a 1987 Pathfinder, 4x4 bought new, that has over 300,000 miles on it.
I do not want anything smaller than my current Pathfinder, and it MUST be 4 wheel drive.

It has been a GREAT vehicle, but a newer one is in order.

What say ye???

Tony
I would go with what you know
Pathfinder

Tough decision between 2 winners. I drive a Tundra but would not be afraid of any Nissan...

Wow buddy...I thought I kept one a long time. My 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x4 has 225,000 on it and I am thinking about a new one. I have never owned either, but family members have and you could shake both SUVs up in a sack and couldn't tell a bit of difference in durability, comfort or performance.

Perry

I have had experience with the nissan pathfinder, the truck before the frontier, and a couple of early 90s maximas. Whats the common denominator? The engine is all the same, and I think its the best engine (in terms of durability) ever made. If you changed the oil regularly, a timing belt here and there, the wheels were going to fall of before the motor quit. I say pathfinder, though I am a bit biased.

My vote is for the 4 runner. The Pathfinders are good but not as heavyily built as the 4Runners. The Lancruisers are even better but the fuel economy stinks.

Good luck.

I'm driving a Toyota 4x4 PU and had a Celica.Both have proven ultra reliable so I have to vote big T.

All we have are Toyota's. I have a 94 Landcruiser with 200k on it and an 06 Tundra Doublecab 4x4. The Tundra is a great street/hwy ride. It is my daily driving vehicle. Get off road (serious) give me my cruiser, it will go anywhere I need it to and in some cases not where I need to go. Both have their purpose.

However, if it ain't broke don't fix it, stay with Nissan, you are happy with them.

i vote ford F-150 i could send some pics of a real truck! good luck in your quest.

i just bought 4runner

both are good--------the old fj-40 is still the king
though smaller than you stated you wanted--best of luck

My first 4R went a quarter million miles. A hundred grand into my second one and still, neither have ever let me down. Climbing mountains, hauling boats in the salt and snow, inner city.... Legendary reliability indeed. As long as they keep building them I'll own one.

Nothing wrong with the Nissan but I think the 4Runner may be just a bit better finished and might have just a bit longer life overall. I vote Toyota.

Steve E.........

Subaru of your choice, unless the ground clearance is inadequate. Close to unbreakable. The 4 cylinder is plenty, unless you tow something substantial.

Can't miss with any of these. BUT....

USED CAYANNE S!

I've hauled hundreds of deer on the rack I built for my 4runner. After lots of hard hard driving in rough country I can say the front end of the runner is junk. The lower balljoint design is a joke, should have been recalled years ago. Mine ripped out and pulled the whole assembly out and under the vehicle. If you look at it, the strut is putting all it's force onto a balljoint that faces downward!

The guys here in Japan laugh at me as they drive by in their fj80s. There is a reason the serious guys rip out the front and stick in dana 60s. If I had to do it all again I would go with the fj80 and pay the higher taxes.

It depends on what you use the SUV for. I have an 05 Xterra. Its a great truck. The Pathfinder is more luxurious. In 05 they got a new motor and frame. They are bigger stronger faster and still get good milage. My 4 liter Xterra gets 22 on the highway with the A.C. on. DW

quote:

Originally posted by mauser93:
Subaru of your choice......

I have a '99 4Runner locking center diff, locking rear diff.

285,000 flawless miles.

.

I like 4-runners, but stay away from the older 3.0 liter V-6, crap motor that has little power, bad head gaskets, and a propensity to burn the valves on the rear cylinders due to the poorly designed exhaust manifold.

The 4 cylinder 4-runners are great, and I believe when they went to the tacoma body style, the 3.4 liter V-6 cured the old 3.0 slow's ills.

Go with a Toyota FJ Cruiser. The absolute best production 4 X 4 out there today. Makes Jeeps look like a stepchild.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
I like 4-runners, but stay away from the older 3.0 liter V-6, crap motor that has little power, bad head gaskets, and a propensity to burn the valves on the rear cylinders due to the poorly designed exhaust manifold.

The 4 cylinder 4-runners are great, and I believe when they went to the tacoma body style, the 3.4 liter V-6 cured the old 3.0 slow's ills.

+1

I was never impressed with the 3.4, though.

I had a buddy who had a V6 Taco and he went through 3 engines while it was under warranty. He eventually got one that didn't overheat.

It was amusing going to the service department with him. He had just totally run out of patience with those guys.

"You know those ads where Toyotas are charging up mountains and across rivers. Well, I don't want to do that. I just want to make it to work and back."

The four cylinder engines are absolute jewels, though.