Purchasing new 03 or 04 Xterra, question

[jersey123]

i'm looking into purchasing a 03 or 04 Xterra and was wondering if anybody has any 'heads ups' on the the vehicle. Known problems? Recalls? Anything I should keep my eyes and ears open about. I'm looking to purchase bran new so I am definitely going through the dealer. Specific questions I have include comparisons between the Supercharged model and the regular 3.3. Should I just go all out and purchase a supercharged model or buy a regular 3.3 and supercharge it myself aftermarket. Has anybody supercharged one aftermarket? If yes, what has been your experience? Also, before purchasing your X, did u look at other makes and models and what were your findings? I've looked at the Jeep Liberty, Honda CRV, and Toyota Rav4, and ofcourse the Xterra and I gota say that the Xterra is my first choise but i'm curious to hear the conclusions that everybody else has made.

[OffroadX]

There's a "Known X problems" thread just 3 or 4 topics down in this section, how'd you miss that?
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=169692

Recalls: From the horse's mouth:
http://www.nissanusa.com/form/1,,act...-51031,00.html
http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/recalls/index.shtml

Other problems of note, well-documented in other discussions if you care to find them for more info:
Cracked exhaust manifolds, still no confirmation if the 03+ have addressed it.
Fuel sending unit terminal corrosion.
Circuit board in the dash dying and taking out the instruments.

Supercharged or not? Your call, can you afford premium fuel? Test drive both, see if you think the modest extra power is worth the up-front and ongoing cost. I don't, my X can hold its own OK.
Nobody has supercharged one themselves yet. Stock system isn't worth the trouble, no aftermarket kit yet though there have been a couple of teases. Still not worth it to void your drivetrain warranty.

The only vehicle from your list that the X is remotely comparable to from your list is the Liberty. It's a unibody, has a smaller interior, but has more power and comparable off-road ability. It's a Jeep though, keep any eye out for problems, not that the X is immune but it has a better track record. Others to consider are the Isuzu Rodeo, Kia Sorento, and Suzuki XL7, all of which are quite comparable to the X, if not better in some ways.

Brent

[Schludwiller]

Or you could just wait for the redesigned '05 Xterra.

[OffroadX]

Aw c'mon, you can't just drop that without more info. Not that it can't be found here with a quick search...