Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
New to overland and need some direction.
- Thread starter dustan
- Start date
Enthusiast III
Thanks, The more I look It seems for my price range Nissan is the better way to go, But I'm also finding some Lexus GX 470's for about the same price. I'm sure something will just show up when the time is right. I'm torn on the Xterra, GX470, Forester, jeep XJ and 4runner. I know the Subaru is the odd ball but it gets the best fuel economy of them all and offroad support appears to be increasing.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
I would go XJ just because it's a jeep and the aftermarket for it is insane. Plus, I have a soft spot for XJs.
Influencer I
The Lexus GX series is basically the vehicle sold as the Toyota Landcruiser Prado outside North America - very comparable to a 4runner. The 470 will have a 4.7liter V8. Kevin and Sarah @Lifestyle Overland. have done a nice series of videos on outfitting Sarah's Lexus GX460 that you might find helpful. You might also watch for deals on a Lexus LX series which is the Lexus badged Toyota Landcruiser. For whatever reason, the resale on Lexus-badged vehicles is often more reasonable than the Toyota-badged vehicles and in many cases they've been driven gentler.
Enthusiast III
2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X 101k $12,000
2004 Lexus GX 470 99k $12,000
2010 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited 106k $9,999
Finding a jeep XJ not jacked up is very hard now being 2001 was last year.
All them these are 300+ miles away and all seem clean and service on the carfax was very detailed. Ofc I would put 5k down and haggle a bit too.
Tomorrow I'll be going to look around here too.
2004 Lexus GX 470 99k $12,000
2010 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited 106k $9,999
Finding a jeep XJ not jacked up is very hard now being 2001 was last year.
All them these are 300+ miles away and all seem clean and service on the carfax was very detailed. Ofc I would put 5k down and haggle a bit too.
Tomorrow I'll be going to look around here too.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Explorer I
My wife drives an LX 470 (IFS) and it is a comfy beast and has a manual transfer case with 4 low. My only guess on resale value is the fear of taking it to the Lexus dealership - hers is out of warranty so we go to a more reasonable mechanic if needed. In 1998 Lexus/Toyota converted the solid front axle to IFS - so if more articulation is desired look for an older than 1998 copy. Its super capable offroad and comfy - but I'm not allowed to take it to the dirt :(
If MPG is important to you then look elsewhere - its a beast.
Enthusiast III
Some people like to bag on Nissan for some reason. I rather like the Xterra, the previous gen Pathfinder (ladder frame, not the newer station wagon heap) and the Frontier. Lots of common parts between them and I have not been disappointed with the capabilities of my Fronty so far.
Enthusiast III
If this ride is also going to be something you're going to be driving everyday, add that into your decision. If I am lucky, I can make it out for maybe 1 trip per month. The rest of the time, my rig is used for everything else in my life - family stuff, hauling things, towing my boat, going to the store etc. I've always wanted a Raptor, but going with a decked out F-150 XLT made more sense for all of the things I needed the truck to do.
If you have a grocery getter, or commuter car, it would make it easier to justify buying something bigger, gets less MPG, etc. If this is going to be your primary vehicle, something like a Subie or Xterra may make more sense than a high mileage, 20+ year old XJ.
If you have a grocery getter, or commuter car, it would make it easier to justify buying something bigger, gets less MPG, etc. If this is going to be your primary vehicle, something like a Subie or Xterra may make more sense than a high mileage, 20+ year old XJ.
Advocate I
If it was an on-line listing (like Autotrader) some dealers provide a link to a CarFax report for that vehicle. If so and it has somewhat a regularish maintenance history that would be a bonus as well.
Here are a few Xterras doing work at Hollister hills. Very underrated and slept on vehicle.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
I had a very similar one back in collage. Unfortunately I totaled it on the highway in -45 weather because of some black ice. Luckily help wasn't too far awayThis was like my pathy but mine was burgandy. It was an awesome rig. Wish I still had it!
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Member III
I run a 2014 Xterra and I really enjoy it. Price point at the time with me, and the engines and transmissions are usually bulletproof. Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the 1.5 gen (the 2002 you're looking at). The only thing I have noticed is that aftermarket upgrades are starting to dry up, but it doesn't look like you're planning too much of that. Still plenty of options on the gen 2.
Not sure if it applies to that one, but as others have said, the alternator is low on the gen 2 (I upgraded to a waterproof design), and the rear leaf springs are relatively weak and tend to give out (I'm replacing mine at 94,000 miles). Other than that I've had no issues.
For shopping, there are potential issues with certain years (I think 2005-2009), where the auto transmission would get contaminated with antifreeze (Strawberry Milkshake of Death). Keep that in mind to ask if the fix has been done.
Not sure if it applies to that one, but as others have said, the alternator is low on the gen 2 (I upgraded to a waterproof design), and the rear leaf springs are relatively weak and tend to give out (I'm replacing mine at 94,000 miles). Other than that I've had no issues.
For shopping, there are potential issues with certain years (I think 2005-2009), where the auto transmission would get contaminated with antifreeze (Strawberry Milkshake of Death). Keep that in mind to ask if the fix has been done.
Member III
I retired mt Xterra from DD duty once I got it paid off. I had done so many mods I was sick of burning fuel and mileage to drive to work, and wanted something I could do roadtrips with if there were no offroading planned. Picked up a 2017 Ford Escape...then COVID happened and I've been working remote ever since. Go figure.
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Enthusiast III
So I bought it and it does need work, the chain in the tcase is lose so it needs a new or used one and already priced one and my brother will install it. It only has 119850 miles and came from Oregon so it’s rust free. Got it for $3,840 out the door.
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Off-Road Ranger I
Looks like you did what I was going to recommend. Buy the Xterra you can pay cash for. Buying something a little newer and more expensive is never a guarantee that it is going to be any more reliable than the one you can pay cash for. A years worth of car payments will pay for plenty of repairs that may (or may not) come up. I’ve spent a boat load on my wife’s low mileage mini in the past 4 months (and they still can’t figure it out) and next to nothing in 3 years on my 235,000 mile LR3!
The Xterra has enough fellow enthusiasts and support out there that you’ll get a good taste of how/what you may want to build next, if anything. Now go put some good tires (and a full size spare) on that thing and get out there!
Off-Road Ranger I
I had the same thing, except mine was half white and half rust! Bought it for $250 not running, 15 minutes later had it going. Replaced the rocker panels with 2x3” tubing, coil spacers up front, Land Rover discovery front springs and extended shocks out back made it a flexy beast! That thing would go places that really surprised people.This was like my pathy but mine was burgandy. It was an awesome rig. Wish I still had it!
Member III
