looking to buy a pathy, what to look for??

[valdaviper1]

Hello all,
I'm a college student looking for a 00-04 pathfinder or qx4 with under 80,000 miles of course.
I have had 2 isuzu rodeo's and currently have a honda passport. they have been great and never gave me trouble. I could redline/race them, take them offroad, or on long 1000 mile+ trips for days at a time with no trouble at all. However, I'm trying to see what the pathfinder has to offer.
I like the body and the luxury, 93 gas isnt an issue because I use it in my rodeo's(dont have to, it just drives alot better) anyways. What should I look for? Any common problems? I know practically everything that can break and how to fix it in a rodeo(believe me the list of possibles is small) but nissans have always been either really good, or really bad with everyone I know. I know I can get the 02's and older for under 10g's but I can get a fully loaded 04 rodeo for less than that, so I don't know.
Any input would be great..
Thanks!

[mr-realtor]

When I bought my 03 Pathfinder, LE, I was also looking at the QX4's but they were much higher than the Pathfinders. I bought mine with 45K miles for $16,900 and it has everything possible. I don't think there are any real issues with these as I checked for recalls and the such and just did not find anything. Shortly after I bought mine I smelled fumes and I thought the catalytic converter went out when in fact it just needed some kit and there had been a bulletin issued for it and they fixed it at no charge.

Most QX4's were lease units and typically well cared for. I noticed that the LE Pathfinders had caring owners and most were very clean and maintained. I was able to obtain most if not all the service records showing what was done and that helped me as well.

My final reason for buying was the value down the stretch. Much better than most of the SUV's out there. I also have a 2003 RODEO with about 56K miles and I might be $7000.00 for it while my Pathfinder will fetch $14K so down the road my resale will be much better and I think this will last a long time.

Good Luck!

[valdaviper1]

thanks for the input,
I saw a 03 pathfinder le with 6disc bose and every option with 66k today, they wanted about $10,500 for it(car auction). i just sold my 00 rodeo lse with leather/sunroof/every option with 130k for $5,200. I agree that the nissans get better resale value, but with all the rodeo's ive seen, most can have 150,000 miles + and run like new, while pathfinders with more than 120,000 seem beaten up. isuzu's are way too underrated.

[mr-realtor]

Oh we love the Rodeo and it drives perfect and looks great. I cannot believe they stopped making them

I would jump on that '03 for $10,500 if it is still for sale. Mine has the Bose, heated seats, 4x4 and all the goodies like slip, traction control, tire pressure monitoring, etc.

Mr-Realtor

[valdaviper1]

well it was a dealers car auction and I was looking to give $9,800 but they stopped at 10,500. No worries, bound to be more like that, and I don't know but it seemed like the rodeo has more room inside(altho the pathfinders leather was more wrinkled, it felt more luxurious), and is lighter/faster/nimbler than the pathfinder. true? anyways thanks for the help

[mr-realtor]

I do believe that our Rodeo has a little more pep than the Pathfinder and about equal in room. My Pathfinder's leather was perfect on the inside and the drivers seat showed very little wear so it was a no brainer when I saw and drove it.

[mmcpeck]

00 -04 is like brand new to me, I usually only have older cars, so I know which ones are junk after they have 2 or 3 owners and a lot of miles, and Nissan's are not one of them.....junk that is.

I have had a few Nissan's. A '94 240sx, a 94 X body pickup (both with the same engine), and currently have a '97 Pathy, all with high mileage and all very realible. The Pathfinder has been without a doubt one of the most reliable, trouble free vehicles I have ever owned. I have 160K on it now, VG 33E engine, and have never done anything besides maintenance, which I am very good about, but no way to know what previous owners ever did. Nissan's V6's are some of the best ever produced, a number of them have won best V6 of the year, many years in a row.

The Pathy I have now, was a lease, I got it in '00 with 30K on it. The only real repair I've had to do to it was with the EVAP system. I needed a new canister and some new valves, but that's pretty much been it in the 130K I've had it, oh also a new condenser for the A/C this past summer. And it runs as good as the day I got it.

I still have the original rear drum brakes shoes on the back, and I do a decent amount of towing with it. The tranny is still as tight as can be, and I have just recently replaced the front CV's, about 5K ago, not a bad run for CV's, I consider them maintenance though, as well as struts, not repairs, they are replaceable items with a life/mileage span, like brakes.

All in all, I don't think you can go wrong with a Pathy, reliability wise.

Good luck.

[Oldpirate]

My 1995 has 239,000 miles on it. Starting to use oil. Probably needs a real good engine rebuild. I replaced the transmission at about 120,000 and now it's acting up again. Just bought a 2000 Xterra, so the Pathfinder's for sale.

Be sure the exhaust manifolds were both replaced. They warped and cracked and were the subject of a recall. Front end parts (ball joints, tie rods, control arms, etc. probably will go at about 200,000. Rust just started appearing around the left rear wheel.

YMMV

They are a very good vehicle.