Xterra shopping
 

So I fell in love with the idea of owning an Xterra about three months ago. I joined clubxterra.org to research opinions and mods, and started searching Craiglist, eBay, local classifieds, and local indie dealerships for a 1st Gen Xterra. I allotted $4k for purchase, plus $6k for solid axle conversion, suspension lift, wheels, and tires. My parameters: 1. Must be 4wd. 2. Must not have been abused. 3. NOT yellow.

For three months I've had $4k cash in my wallet, shopping for an Xterra. How many have I found for $4k or less? None. Instead, I've found 2000 models with over 200k miles for $8k. Really?

I've also been watching 4wd XJs. In three months I've seen 28 of them listed and sold in my local area (50 mile radius), for $4k or less. Ok, seems like a no-brainer to me. I'll be picking up a nice used XJ in the next week or two. (As long as I can find one in dark green, my fave.)

Me: 37 years old, home in Mt Juliet, TN, married, no kids, one Doberman, one German Shepherd. Network Engineer, retired from the USAF (8 years Active Duty, 12 years in the Guard as a Combat Arms Instructor). Built street rods, 4X4s, and custom bikes for years, now I'm done with custom fabrication projects, just want to ride and 'wheel. Glad to be here.

:gunsmilie:

Welcome to CF and hopefully to the XJ family from a fellow Tennessean just down the road from you.

Thanks for the welcome, Winston. That's quite a collection of XJs you got there.

Welcome, and good luck, you wont regret buying an XJ.

Welcome and good choice. I had 2 4Runners before my xj. A sweet '89 w/removable top in mint condition and even sweeter '00 with ARBs, winch, a bunch of goodies. Still IFS though, and I wasn't going to drop the coin on a SAS. So I got me an xj instead. Best bang for the buck.

You should be able to get a really nice one for $4k.

I live in Maryland and I drive a mustang. After getting snowed in so many times, the fiance and I decided we needed an SUV to get around. I knew the only one that was good enough in my price range was an XJ. I picked it up a week ago and thank god! We got 30" of snow!

Still have some work to do, but it was the best purchase I have ever made.

Oh, and welcome!

How do we say: if you find something good stick to it, if you find something better switch to it...

I think you will be happier with the xj. I believe that mods will be cheaper and that there is more aftermarket parts available. I did see my first lifted xterra on Engineer pass in Colorado last summer. It didn't look bad, but a lifted locked and loaded xj can look just as good or better.
Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome guys! A funny thing happened today; I passed a tote-the-note dealership today that had a dark green 2000 Xterra 4wd, and I was afraid I may have to eat crow and buy it. I looked it over and wondered why it had no windshield washer squirt nozzles on the hood, where they should be. Then I started it up and the AIR BAG warning light was flashing, and the clock said 196k miles. I asked the Latino sales guy about crash damage, and his reply was "No senior, no accident!" "What about the AIR BAG light going off on the dash, and the mismatched paint on the replacement hood with no windshied washers?" He just smiled and shrugged. "So what's the cash price?" I asked. "$6500" I just drove away shaking my head.

I'm going to pick up my XJ Saturday. It's 3 hours away, but for the price I'm paying, it's worth the trip. I'll post pics when I get her home.

Xterras are nice, but I think they have IFS. And they are crazy expensive, for some reason.

I love my XJ. Jeeps just seem purpose built and utilitarian. I have a base jeep from 1999. I love it! You won't be disappointed.

Gunner...

Here is recent thread that was also posted on Clubxterra... thought you might get a kick out of it...

Welcome to the XJ world.

Welcome to CF!

Dan!! where were you my friend? we were worried...

So how did it go today Gunner? Give us the details. Year, engine, trans, axles, blah blah balh and lets get it lifted and muddy.

These are the times that try men's souls. 1. I had placed a $500 deposit on a '99 Cherokee Limited in Knoxville, for sale at a small dealership. The wife and I drove out there Saturday to bring it home, and was informed that it was a consignment, and the owner had taken it back. It seems the recent snows had convinced him to keep his 4wd. With my $500 back in hand, we headed to Asheville, NC, where our families reside. 2. My sister, in Asheville, a single mom to my nephew, totaled her car Friday, and I found out about it when I arrived. Fortunately she wasn't hurt bad, but she had no way to get to work. Knowing I had a $5k tax refund on the way, I loaned her my $4k XJ pocket money to buy a new car, until the insurance money came back. 3. When we checked our bank statement Sunday, we saw a deposit from the US Treasury for $1100, far short of our expected $5k refund. Totally confused, I started going through our TurboTax return to try to find the answer. An hour later, my wife sheepishly piped up. The missing amount perfectly corresponded with the amount of her past-due student loan, on which she secretly hadn't made a payment for over a year. Good news: no more student loan. Bad news: no more XJ money...and no XJ. So this weekend has been a comedy of errors, very disappointing, and I'm back at square one. Until my Harley sells, my sister's insurance company pays out, or I save enough cash for another nice XJ, I'm left ridin' the pine. But I'm still convinced the XJ is the only choice for me. For a small 4wd SUV, for $4k or less, with real offroad chops, I believe it can't be beat. Stay tuned, I'll be updating soon.