Nissan Xterra owners, questions???

[fplowman]

Ok so my Lincoln took a dump. The manifold is plastic and it needs replaced at 900$

Ok so i go to the local Honda dealership. Im being conservative looking at civics etc.. $ 13k range. Need payment to be $300 or less

We spent about 3 hours and I pick out a civic 2001 with 50k miles.

They cant get the bank to loan that and my upside down trade ( $ 2700 ) rolled in from the Lincoln along with taxes and tags.

So we start over again looking at other newer model vehicles so they can make the deal work.

Heres where things change... Now they have ran my credit and they are working hard to put me in a vehicle.

I had been looking at an 04 Xterra on their lot but decided it wasnt prudent and the payment would be more than i could afford.

It is an 04 4x4 58k miles, all in nice shape no issues like a metallic brown color. Payment will be $315 on 72 month financing.

At 10% interest for 6 years payments 315$ Im driving it now and testing it for the Memorial day weekend. Around $ 17k im financing with taxes, title and paying off my trade.

My question = I know many here drive Xterra's. How do you like them? Any cons? How many miles are you getting out of these things? Resale good or bad? Can i get some advice here if this is a good deal or not? Any help is appreciated. i think it probably is I just need confirmation im making the right decision.

Fred

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I just got my Xterra about 4 months ago, but I love it. I have already put about 15,000 miles on it. I have put it through a severe beating on several chases. When we flew off the road a couple weeks ago I thought for sure the car wouldn't run after we came to a stop. We seriously got airborne, but to my suprise the car was fine. I have been on some pretty sloppy roads with it too and haven't gotten stuck. I work with two other guys that have Xterras that love them. That was the main reason I got one. That and I wanted an SUV I could sleep in if I need to and that was still affordable (and looked good) and the Xterra seemed like the best option. It is perfect for chasing. The roof rack is going to come in very handy when I need to haul extra gas for hurricane chasing. I don't know how many total miles to expect out of it the way I drive it, but it does get about 17 miles to the gallon on gas which is way better than what I got with my Jeep.
As far as the price they are giving you, that seems awfully high. Mine was brand new, 4x4, upgraded wheels, and several other upgraded features with a sticker price of $27,000 and I talked them down about $3,000. I would check Kelley blue book and see what that says.

 

[fplowman]

I figure after taxes, tags and title ( $2,000 ) and paying off my vehicle ( $2700 ) I am getting a 4x4 w/ 58k miles for about $12,500. Looking at it that way is it istill bad?? Seems like a perty good deal.

 

[Jason Boggs]

I don't drive an Xterra but I do drive a Frontier. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with a Nissan, PERIOD!!! I say take a dive and get it. I don't think you'll be dissapointed at all. I think if you decide to get it, take it to a good mechanic just to be safe. I'm sure nothing is wrong with it, but it's better to be on the safe side. Of course with 58k, it's just now starting to get broke in.

 

[Caleb Kimbrough]

The Xterra we use is my brothers. He's had it for a couple of years and hasn't had any problems that I know of. As far as cars go, Nissan's are more dependable than most others....except maybe Honda's.

We've put our X through a lot of crappy situations so far this year and it hasn't let us down yet.

 

[Mike Mezeul II]

Like Jason, I too drive chase in a Frontier. It's a 2002 and I've put about 107,000 miles on it since, and it still runs fantastic. The only thing that I don't like about the Frontier, I imagine the X-terra is the same, is that there really is no good way to add a laptop mount, so with that, you have to either have someone hold it or just leave it on your passenger seat. Besides the laptop issue, I've been totally happy with Nissan.

 

[fplowman]

Like Jason, I too drive chase in a Frontier. It's a 2002 and I've put about 107,000 miles on it since, and it still runs fantastic. The only thing that I don't like about the Frontier, I imagine the X-terra is the same, is that there really is no good way to add a laptop mount, so with that, you have to either have someone hold it or just leave it on your passenger seat. Besides the laptop issue, I've been totally happy with Nissan.

They have a universal mount that will work fine. It doesnt just bolt in though "no holes drilled". You have to mount it.

 

[Zac Goode]

Im also love my Nissan. Just keep up with the maintience items(t-belt,fluids and filter changes) and should last for a long time.Mines a 2000 so the interior has probably changed but heres how I mounted my laptop.
I get around 18-21mpg 3.3l v-6 4x4.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I was busy getting lambasted over in weather and chasing.

If it's only $12,500, then that doesn't seem bad at all. What threw me off was that the payment on mine is only $347 a month. Sticker was $27,000 on mine. I got $3,000 for trade in on my jeep and talked them down another $3,000, which put the price at right about $21,000 before taxes. When I heard that your payment was around $300, I thought you might be getting shafted, but $12,500 does sound like a good deal. I got 0% financing so maybe that is why my payment seems lower.

I did forget to mention the laptop mount issue. I have a joto desk and absolutely can not find a way to get it mounted in my Xterra. The problem is that the center console is one huge plastic molding that goes underneath the carpet, covering the floor boards on both sides on both the passenger and driver side. It is about 1 inch thick hollowed out plastic, so if you try to drill into the floor to mount you bracket for a laptop desk, all you get is flimsy plastic and it isn't even close to being strong enough to hold up a laptop. It looked like I was drilling for oil in the passenger floor board after I got my Xterra. I have holes everywhere under the floor mat. I kept thinking sooner or later I would hit metal and I never did. I finally tried to make a bracket and bolt the laptop mounting bracket into the steel leg of the passenger seat because it was literally the only metal I could get access to. That went over like a fart at a funeral too. Now my passenger seat makes a funny squeaking sound.
Zac, how does that laptop mount attach to the car exactly. It almost looks like it goes into the cup holder from the picture. I am desperate for a way to mount my laptop so I would love some help. My joto desk just isn't going to work without some new sort of mounting method though.

 

[Zac Goode]

Yes it goes through the cupholder but doesn't attach to the floor. I cut some 1/8'' plate and bolted it under the cupholder and its probably about 5'' by 5'' Its pretty sturdy. If i had any bends in the mount i dont think it would support it though cause of how the console is only secured with 4 10mm bolts and being thinnish plastic. I wish i had some pics of the plate but its pretty straightforward. Also when im done with the nissan all I have to do is put the black plastic liner back in the cupholder and it will cover the screw holes.
Heres the cheap laptop mount I am using also.
http://item.express.ebay.com/Car-La...110122244411QQihZ001QQtrZexpQQcmdZExpressItem

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I looked it up on Kelley Blue Book and made some assumptions as to what the car had on it (basically standard options). It showed that a dealers asking price should be about $14,500 before negotiating down. That assumes the car is in excellent condition though. Here is the link if you want to get a little more specific with what the car has on it. It seems like you are getting a pretty good deal though.
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/2004_Nissan_Xterra_Retail.aspx

 

[Ben Prusia]

Has anybody tried the RAM laptop mount for the Nissan Xterra which mounts to the passenger seat bolts? The manufacturer claims that it is designed and built exclusively for a few Nissan SUV's/Trucks including the 2005-2006 Xterras (mine is 2005). I have been looking at options for a laptop desk and I think that this is the best option as it also has accessory add-ons available for a PDA/Phone, etc.

GPSCity has the mount for around $170:
http://www.gpscity.com/ramvb154-sw1

 

[fplowman]

I think that is the way to go Ben if you havent already jumped in.

I have a jotto Desk.. im going to the local FAB shop and having them make it fit.. Heating Bending cutting and some welding and i can re engineer the mounts.. Wish i had the equipment.. I used to be good at Fabbing...

 

[fplowman]

Thanks Mike.. I finally signed on $15,700 paying off my old $2700 note and taxes $989 I think I got an ok deal..

Watch for me out on the plains.. Im in the 04 metallic brown Xterra instead of the old 96 Lincoln Town Car!.. wooo hooo

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I work at a manufacturing company that has a fab department. I tried to make a new bracket for my joto desk that would be fastened with the seat bolts. I only made the bracket to hook up to one of the seat bolts though and it ended up being too flimsy. I may be screwed trying to run a metal piece between the two seat bolts because I have a power inverter installed under the seat, so I would have to move that first. Anyways, I will take a look at it tomorrow and if I can find a way to get it done I can make a couple extra while I'm at it. We have lasers, brakes, etc. so it is no big deal for me to cut and brake a couple extra while I'm making mine. I will take a look at it tomorrow and post after that.