Girlfriends wants to wheel with me.

[ColoDisco2]

Girlfriend wants to wheel with me.

My girl wants to purchase a 4x4 to go wheeling with me. She's been with me a dozen times in my disco and loves it. Only thing is that she doesn't want a Disco , silly girl. She's looking at getting either an Xterra or a 4Ruinner. Something like 1997-2001
My question is which is a better off road vehicle? Does anyone know any pro or cons for either?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I'll be the one fixing it so I'm trying to make my life a little easier

 

[Monty]

Both vehicles are nice and the Xterra is now getting some following. A lot of aftermarket parts are available for both, ie lockers, gears, lifts, depending on how much she want's to go. Xterra's will be cheaper to purchase than the 4runner.

BTW, chicks who drive a lifted truck and actually wheel are cool.

 

[curtis]

Both the 4Runner & Xterra are equally bad offroad vehicles, but I would lean towards the 4Runner for the extra ground clearance and stock 32's. They are both reliable, but the 4Runner will probably never see the shop.

 

[Peter-man99]

Why does she have her heart set on a nissan or toyota? Do you wheel with a lot people that drive them? Has she seen something that has impressed her or is it like my friends wife, she wants one because "they're cool" with no other justification.

 

[Ol'Drippy]

I own an Xterra as my daily driver actually, and it does its job just fine. I run 245/75/16s with no problems at all. As far as off road, I can only attest that on light trails and primitive roads, also on construction sites, it does quite well. I've yet to get it stuck, not that I haven't tried. It has lots of skid plates underneath which is nice to have from the factory. I picked mine up fairly cheap It's a 2002 SE with under 20k miles on it, loaded up 4X4 with leather, etc...

However, it will never replace the Disco I or Disco II in my garage though as a wheeling vehicle.. It's simply not the same.

Later.. Robert S

 

[rover4x4]

I think both are competent offroaders. Some of the upsides to the 4runner is a few had rear lockers and i think they had 4:10 gears?? The 4runner has a coil over front supension whereas the Xterra has torsion bars. I think there is as much aftermarket support for both vehicles as there is for our Land Rover's. The Xterra might be cheaper leaving room for more mods. FWIW

 

[bshinn]

FZJ-80 Landcruiser!

That ought to heat things up.

Bob

 

[bri]

Switch on and off and teach each other to drive and spot, no additonal vehicle required.

The Toy is good better than the X, convert it to axle in the front and you are set.

Brian

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

I second the FZJ80 Land Cruiser!

I own a '95 Land Cruiser in addition to my '95 Disco. The Land Cruiser is equipped with factory front, center and rear electric lockers. The only drawback to the Land Cruiser is it?s not as maneuverable on the trail due to its longer wheelbase and turning radius. If she is interested in a Land Cruiser; stick with the ?93 ? ?97 models with the factory lockers. A ?95 or newer will have airbags and antilock brakes. They?re more expensive than a same model Disco but should have fewer trips to the garage.

All this being said, try to push the Disco on her first. Even owning the Land Cruiser, I LOVE driving my Disco first.

Oh, and marry this one. You?re not likely to find another girl like this.

Brett

 

[Sergei]

Cary, either will do, but X didnt start officially untill 2000. Toyota aftermarket is a bit wider than X, so that may be something to think about. Other than that - i'd go with X, seeing thats what i got as secondary vehicle. Its got more character in it, specially early models (00/01), same way as Rovers got. It handles pretty well, and can do lots of tricks in unmodified state, and even more in modified. But its not as good as Disco on slippery roads imho. Plus you can get her used Disco cheaper nowdays

 

[LostInBoston]

old style Durango. then get an 8 in suspension lift and 4 in body lift with 38" superswampers.
or a jeep (OMG did someone just say j**p) an old renegade or new rubicon or unlimited. Im just more a fan of american made right now.

 

[Peter-man99]

I have to echo lost in boston on the "american made" sentiment. I have buddies with the rubicons who are huge fans. Can't argue the reliability of the japanese cars.
So why does your girlfriend have her heat set on the X or Toy? Has she seen them do some pretty impressive things or just like the way they look?

 

[Blueboy]

4x4

My girl wants to purchase a 4x4 to go wheeling with me.

forget the Disco. go with a new '04 or '05 Range Rover. you'll make a big hit.


Jaime

 

[ColoDisco2]

She has three reasons for wanting a Toy or X.
1. She has heard nothing but good things about the Toyotas reliability and has a friend who owns one.
2. She likes the way they both look.
3. Miles per gallon. Both better then the Disco.

I've tried to talk her out of it but to no avail. I might try and steer her towards a Land Cruiser I haven't thought of that until I read your posts.

 

[bri]

Forget the X

 

[johnnyx]

Actually the Xterra is *very* capable for an IFS vehicle.

I have a 2000 w/ 100k+ miles. I've run it all over Moab, UT, Sedona, AZ, Northern CA Mountains. It does very well.

Go to xterraownersclub.com and take a look through the Pictures forum. (or the GOX (Gathering of Xterras) forum - http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=59&DaysPrune=100&submit=Go)

A Toyota might last longer, but you pay a bit more for them. Then again, Toyota has more aftermarket support, but the Xterra is picking up steam in that area after being out for 5 years now.

Either one, you'll probably be happy.