2008 Nissan Xterra Off-Road...
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2008 Nissan Xterra Off-Road...
So I got a new truck and I figured I'd give all of you guys who're interested a quick write-up on my first impression. Well, Nissan are no different to deal with than any other dealer, they suck...however, i got my truck, got my extended warranty (7yr/100k/no deductible) and I was on my way. Well, it stands pretty tall, and its wheels/tires are a little different to all of the other models, it comes with fatter tires and a different style rim, however, the tires are kind of misleading, thicker, fatter, different tread pattern, yea, but, they are all season highway tires, so, decent, I noticed that right off the bat.
After walking around the truck there were a few cool things I noticed, a pocket here, a pocket there, you know, the normal things you try to shoe them off with and try to discover yourself. Of course, I had my daughter with me, so I wasn't trying to not pay attention to her, she will start to weep if I am out of sight for more than a minute...(daddy's girl). Well, the outside is interesting, very utilitarian, very aggressively styled and the materials they use reflect this philosophy. I like to stand and stare for a moment so I can capture a mental image of whats mine, kind of like the man who stands over the bed after he's conquered his woman!
Anyhow, so I climb in the truck, and it was fairly easy, of course im north of 6'4" so it wouldn't be too tough, however, the handle you'd use to climb in is right where it should be, kind of in the natural place you're hand would be when you would reach up to grab something, so they used their noggin there. The seat, although it looks very spartan, actually grabs you, its a sit in, not a sit on. The material, as i ran my hand over the passenger seat was a little different to that of the driver seat, and I asked the gentleman who was showing me different things and he said most of the new Nissan vehicles are that way, there will be small differences in the driver seat aimed at keeping the driver in their comfort zone while driving. Odd, but, okay.
So the material aside, the seats are quite comfortable and very huggish, I like that. So as i adjusted my seat, its not power, it is 8-way, but not power. It uses the aid of ***** which is fine. I think they might have engineered this while keeping the door open because when you try to squeeze your arm down to the ***** with the door closed, the door panel itself juts out and doesn't allow you enough room to reach down, therefore, if you aren't at a complete stop with your door swung open, forget it. In the name of safety, hoorah.
So sitting and covering all of the vehicles available options in my mind, I thought, uhm, the bluetooth hands free, lets give it a whirl. So after trying to navigate windows mobile on my t-mobile dash, and getting to the settings, 5 minutes of lag and 3 minutes of frustrating settings, I managed to set it up so the bluetooth is on permanently and it worked just fine through the vehicle, you can adjust the volume etc...that was a battle getting that thing to work. I can say though, once it was done, it was excellent.
My next endeavor (and remember, its an xterra so there are only few) was the audio system. With the Technology package you get the Rockford Fosgate audio system, rear-view auto-dim mirror, bluetooth and some other nick nacks I don't remember. However, first impressions last, and having only had either Bose or Harman Kardon as stock vehicle audio systems, ****, the Rockford literally rocks. Its really loud, really clear and just excellent for a cabin this size. I listen to a pretty well balanced variety of music, from hip hop, to trance, to classic Indian music to classical music to rock, and so on, and it just heeded the call every time, I changed the track and the system stood at attention, what more could you ask for?
I'm glad you asked, the ability and functionality of the radio was maxed out, its appreciated especially being this might be the first time I've driven something so spartan. It allows you every control you need to tweak the audio system without giving you a 9 band parametric. I wont complain. Well, from there, you look around, you check out the different buttons, different little options they throw in, and I can say this much, there are enough power points in the vehicle for your cell phone charger, laptop, curling iron and any other contraption you might need on your carpooled way to work!
One thing about the Off-Road edition is that it boasts a few features the rest don't, such as hill descent assist, the ability to shift from 2wd, to 4lo and 4high, it also has Vehicle Dynamics Control, i suppose more of a stability control, which I hope I never have to find out where it stops and instability starts. It boast some cool features. I think some things to take into account here are the price you pay for all you get, they want 32k as the MSRP, I paid 24,674 OTD. Their current rebates are a lottery for SUV shoppers and damn, if you want to step up in size, try a 9k rebate on the Nissan Armada.
Anyhow, back to the truck. So as you sit in the driver seat, you look around, the rear-view mirrors on both your left and right are huge, literally big enough to take in any landscape, and of course functionally so, cant get enough blind spot huh? Well, the center rear-view mirror isn't huge, but not small, I think for my taste its the smallest I could bare. It has its integrated compass which is a cool gimmick, especially while trekking the concrete jungle, and of course, its dim feature which I thought was kind of pointless because of the tinted privacy windows. Its a feature none-the-less, would I be a typical consumer and complain because it didn't come with it? Dayum right.
As your eyes venture beyond the driver seat and its controls, you see the glove compartment which is big, it fits enough of your stuff, more than you would probably need to put in there, I can see where people would be stuffing dozens of unpaid parking tickets and other such useless items. The interior itself is a lot of hard plastic, and until I had actually laid eyes on it, I had read a lot about it and thought, oh no, not the same old shitty plastic interior you find in those entry level 2wd pickup trucks built in el Salvador by Ford. It actually isn't all that bad, its hard plastic, almost on purpose, they've made it so these panels don't get damaged, and if they do ever, they can be easily replaced with a cheaply molded piece of plastic. Form fits function.
Well, take into consideration this truck is a pure 5 seater. There is no room for a 3rd row, well, there is, but its cargo space, more the reason you buy this hoplite of a vehicle. Its interesting because the more you observe and scrutinize its every feature, the more personalized you become with it and the more you expect it to be more car-like, well, its not. Its a truck through and through, the rear seat isn't the type that can recline, its not heated, its nothing but a scotch-guard wrapped bench seat. Its claim to fame, if there were fame involved, would be the fact its material is easy to clean, and that's it.
The cargo area is interesting. Its the part of the truck that puzzles me. There are hooks everywhere. I mean, a dozen or so, all over. There are 3 cargo nets back there too. Not bad, but, wtf? I have one rear cargo net, so far I've only managed to latch the two top I-hooks onto something with the lower connection points either hidden so well that they don't exist, or purely, they just don't exist. I'm working on that, I'll have to get back to you on that one. The cargo area is large, and with this Off-Road edition all of the seats fold flat, with this model being the only version where the front passenger seat can fold flat. I know I got this one for a reason.
Its utility is excellent, its well thought out, the cabin is very spartan, but very aggressive and it can handle a beating. The controls are well placed, the radio is set forward because well, you know you touch that more than most other controls, and the HVAC controls are below it, set in a bit. Everything lights up at night, even the window controls, so go figure, someone thought about these things. I have to say, of all the interior pieces, there might be only one that I don't like, and I'm a picky bastard, just ask my mother.
The center armrest. its big, its functional, it has room in it for a taxidermists tools, however, the outside cover, man, they missed with that. Its rubber, and it has a texture to it also. I don't know about you but I have a little bit of hair on my arm, man, talk about the common enemy to a man who's arm gets rubbed against it, eh...its ok, im working on a piece of elasticized fabric to cover it. However, that is the only thing that needs to be addressed so far on the interior. Ok, add in the fact that you spend money on a 30k vehicle and Nissan doesn't have the common sense to throw in a set of floor mats...$65 for the loss.
Well, I wont hold you up with my likes or dislikes, or try to explain what some of you truck guys might see as common things or nuances that don't matter. Let me move onto the mechanical aspect of this grunt. Well, it turns on, its loud, its a 4.0 liter. Its punchy, its aggressive and its exactly what you'd want out of a VQ series engine in a truck. Its a heralded motor, its in a lot of Nissan vehicles, its a tried and tested and award winning powertrain. I wont complain. The Interior is very forgiving of this motor's sounds. Its a very smooth riding motor. I drove from central NJ up to Connecticut to fetch this beast with its color bearing the name, Night Armor. I had the pleasure of driving it back, through the not-so trafficy CT roads, to the Cross Bronx Expressway which is purgatory on pavement, to NJ which is just every man for himself, make sure your guns loaded.
It drove exceptionally well. I drove it in 2wd, it hugged the road, it drove very smoothly and it was quiet. It was more than I expected. It accelerated rapidly with minimal time lag between pushing the pedal and hearing the roar from the motor. I think when braking, the brake pedal could use a little less travel, but im talking perhaps an inch here, not all that much for someone who is 76 inches tall. It is smooth, the gears are indifferent even with the air conditioner on. I wont complain, it drives the highway just like all of these other built-for commuters. Don't mind the fact its labelled an Off-Road edition.
The ride was smooth, it was entertaining, even my daughter didn't mind it, the air conditioner on low was plentiful to keep the largesque cabin quite cool and my little one happy, who is the ultimate judge of whether or not the vehicle is a quality ride.
My overall observation is this. Its a good amount of truck. One of my pre-requisites for buying this was its 5k tow capacity. The Pilot couldn't touch it, off by 500 pounds or more, and I didn't want to go domestic even though so many people directed me to do so. I think that for the person who purchases the identical item that I have, they will be content. Its big, its form meets its function and it does what you want it to, without being a sissy. Its reliable, has a very projected look to it, you can look at it and think you're driving a beast. It accelerates with smoothness and still packs a roar to it that will have your adjacent lane looking twice.
My only recommendation with this would be, when it comes time to change the tires 2 or 3 years down the road, get a better set of tires. They look good, but then, that doesn't mean much in the tire world. Out of a rating of ten, I'd give this truck a 7, which is modest based on what I wanted. It has a 22 gallon tank, runs on regular gas and gives 14/20 city/highway. Driving home, I did in the neighborhood of 110 miles, and it didn't even drink a quarter tank of gas. Not horrible. Its an SUV, that's its charm, at the pump you can look like a baller when you pull out $100 and get a ten spot in return.
It fits my needs, and looks the part.
A quick pic for those of you who were patient enough to read my garble!
Modified by Conflicted at 12:02 PM 7/6/2008
Modified by Conflicted at 12:04 PM 7/6/2008
After walking around the truck there were a few cool things I noticed, a pocket here, a pocket there, you know, the normal things you try to shoe them off with and try to discover yourself. Of course, I had my daughter with me, so I wasn't trying to not pay attention to her, she will start to weep if I am out of sight for more than a minute...(daddy's girl). Well, the outside is interesting, very utilitarian, very aggressively styled and the materials they use reflect this philosophy. I like to stand and stare for a moment so I can capture a mental image of whats mine, kind of like the man who stands over the bed after he's conquered his woman!
Anyhow, so I climb in the truck, and it was fairly easy, of course im north of 6'4" so it wouldn't be too tough, however, the handle you'd use to climb in is right where it should be, kind of in the natural place you're hand would be when you would reach up to grab something, so they used their noggin there. The seat, although it looks very spartan, actually grabs you, its a sit in, not a sit on. The material, as i ran my hand over the passenger seat was a little different to that of the driver seat, and I asked the gentleman who was showing me different things and he said most of the new Nissan vehicles are that way, there will be small differences in the driver seat aimed at keeping the driver in their comfort zone while driving. Odd, but, okay.
So the material aside, the seats are quite comfortable and very huggish, I like that. So as i adjusted my seat, its not power, it is 8-way, but not power. It uses the aid of ***** which is fine. I think they might have engineered this while keeping the door open because when you try to squeeze your arm down to the ***** with the door closed, the door panel itself juts out and doesn't allow you enough room to reach down, therefore, if you aren't at a complete stop with your door swung open, forget it. In the name of safety, hoorah.
So sitting and covering all of the vehicles available options in my mind, I thought, uhm, the bluetooth hands free, lets give it a whirl. So after trying to navigate windows mobile on my t-mobile dash, and getting to the settings, 5 minutes of lag and 3 minutes of frustrating settings, I managed to set it up so the bluetooth is on permanently and it worked just fine through the vehicle, you can adjust the volume etc...that was a battle getting that thing to work. I can say though, once it was done, it was excellent.
My next endeavor (and remember, its an xterra so there are only few) was the audio system. With the Technology package you get the Rockford Fosgate audio system, rear-view auto-dim mirror, bluetooth and some other nick nacks I don't remember. However, first impressions last, and having only had either Bose or Harman Kardon as stock vehicle audio systems, ****, the Rockford literally rocks. Its really loud, really clear and just excellent for a cabin this size. I listen to a pretty well balanced variety of music, from hip hop, to trance, to classic Indian music to classical music to rock, and so on, and it just heeded the call every time, I changed the track and the system stood at attention, what more could you ask for?
I'm glad you asked, the ability and functionality of the radio was maxed out, its appreciated especially being this might be the first time I've driven something so spartan. It allows you every control you need to tweak the audio system without giving you a 9 band parametric. I wont complain. Well, from there, you look around, you check out the different buttons, different little options they throw in, and I can say this much, there are enough power points in the vehicle for your cell phone charger, laptop, curling iron and any other contraption you might need on your carpooled way to work!
One thing about the Off-Road edition is that it boasts a few features the rest don't, such as hill descent assist, the ability to shift from 2wd, to 4lo and 4high, it also has Vehicle Dynamics Control, i suppose more of a stability control, which I hope I never have to find out where it stops and instability starts. It boast some cool features. I think some things to take into account here are the price you pay for all you get, they want 32k as the MSRP, I paid 24,674 OTD. Their current rebates are a lottery for SUV shoppers and damn, if you want to step up in size, try a 9k rebate on the Nissan Armada.
Anyhow, back to the truck. So as you sit in the driver seat, you look around, the rear-view mirrors on both your left and right are huge, literally big enough to take in any landscape, and of course functionally so, cant get enough blind spot huh? Well, the center rear-view mirror isn't huge, but not small, I think for my taste its the smallest I could bare. It has its integrated compass which is a cool gimmick, especially while trekking the concrete jungle, and of course, its dim feature which I thought was kind of pointless because of the tinted privacy windows. Its a feature none-the-less, would I be a typical consumer and complain because it didn't come with it? Dayum right.
As your eyes venture beyond the driver seat and its controls, you see the glove compartment which is big, it fits enough of your stuff, more than you would probably need to put in there, I can see where people would be stuffing dozens of unpaid parking tickets and other such useless items. The interior itself is a lot of hard plastic, and until I had actually laid eyes on it, I had read a lot about it and thought, oh no, not the same old shitty plastic interior you find in those entry level 2wd pickup trucks built in el Salvador by Ford. It actually isn't all that bad, its hard plastic, almost on purpose, they've made it so these panels don't get damaged, and if they do ever, they can be easily replaced with a cheaply molded piece of plastic. Form fits function.
Well, take into consideration this truck is a pure 5 seater. There is no room for a 3rd row, well, there is, but its cargo space, more the reason you buy this hoplite of a vehicle. Its interesting because the more you observe and scrutinize its every feature, the more personalized you become with it and the more you expect it to be more car-like, well, its not. Its a truck through and through, the rear seat isn't the type that can recline, its not heated, its nothing but a scotch-guard wrapped bench seat. Its claim to fame, if there were fame involved, would be the fact its material is easy to clean, and that's it.
The cargo area is interesting. Its the part of the truck that puzzles me. There are hooks everywhere. I mean, a dozen or so, all over. There are 3 cargo nets back there too. Not bad, but, wtf? I have one rear cargo net, so far I've only managed to latch the two top I-hooks onto something with the lower connection points either hidden so well that they don't exist, or purely, they just don't exist. I'm working on that, I'll have to get back to you on that one. The cargo area is large, and with this Off-Road edition all of the seats fold flat, with this model being the only version where the front passenger seat can fold flat. I know I got this one for a reason.
Its utility is excellent, its well thought out, the cabin is very spartan, but very aggressive and it can handle a beating. The controls are well placed, the radio is set forward because well, you know you touch that more than most other controls, and the HVAC controls are below it, set in a bit. Everything lights up at night, even the window controls, so go figure, someone thought about these things. I have to say, of all the interior pieces, there might be only one that I don't like, and I'm a picky bastard, just ask my mother.
The center armrest. its big, its functional, it has room in it for a taxidermists tools, however, the outside cover, man, they missed with that. Its rubber, and it has a texture to it also. I don't know about you but I have a little bit of hair on my arm, man, talk about the common enemy to a man who's arm gets rubbed against it, eh...its ok, im working on a piece of elasticized fabric to cover it. However, that is the only thing that needs to be addressed so far on the interior. Ok, add in the fact that you spend money on a 30k vehicle and Nissan doesn't have the common sense to throw in a set of floor mats...$65 for the loss.
Well, I wont hold you up with my likes or dislikes, or try to explain what some of you truck guys might see as common things or nuances that don't matter. Let me move onto the mechanical aspect of this grunt. Well, it turns on, its loud, its a 4.0 liter. Its punchy, its aggressive and its exactly what you'd want out of a VQ series engine in a truck. Its a heralded motor, its in a lot of Nissan vehicles, its a tried and tested and award winning powertrain. I wont complain. The Interior is very forgiving of this motor's sounds. Its a very smooth riding motor. I drove from central NJ up to Connecticut to fetch this beast with its color bearing the name, Night Armor. I had the pleasure of driving it back, through the not-so trafficy CT roads, to the Cross Bronx Expressway which is purgatory on pavement, to NJ which is just every man for himself, make sure your guns loaded.
It drove exceptionally well. I drove it in 2wd, it hugged the road, it drove very smoothly and it was quiet. It was more than I expected. It accelerated rapidly with minimal time lag between pushing the pedal and hearing the roar from the motor. I think when braking, the brake pedal could use a little less travel, but im talking perhaps an inch here, not all that much for someone who is 76 inches tall. It is smooth, the gears are indifferent even with the air conditioner on. I wont complain, it drives the highway just like all of these other built-for commuters. Don't mind the fact its labelled an Off-Road edition.
The ride was smooth, it was entertaining, even my daughter didn't mind it, the air conditioner on low was plentiful to keep the largesque cabin quite cool and my little one happy, who is the ultimate judge of whether or not the vehicle is a quality ride.
My overall observation is this. Its a good amount of truck. One of my pre-requisites for buying this was its 5k tow capacity. The Pilot couldn't touch it, off by 500 pounds or more, and I didn't want to go domestic even though so many people directed me to do so. I think that for the person who purchases the identical item that I have, they will be content. Its big, its form meets its function and it does what you want it to, without being a sissy. Its reliable, has a very projected look to it, you can look at it and think you're driving a beast. It accelerates with smoothness and still packs a roar to it that will have your adjacent lane looking twice.
My only recommendation with this would be, when it comes time to change the tires 2 or 3 years down the road, get a better set of tires. They look good, but then, that doesn't mean much in the tire world. Out of a rating of ten, I'd give this truck a 7, which is modest based on what I wanted. It has a 22 gallon tank, runs on regular gas and gives 14/20 city/highway. Driving home, I did in the neighborhood of 110 miles, and it didn't even drink a quarter tank of gas. Not horrible. Its an SUV, that's its charm, at the pump you can look like a baller when you pull out $100 and get a ten spot in return.
It fits my needs, and looks the part.
A quick pic for those of you who were patient enough to read my garble!
Modified by Conflicted at 12:02 PM 7/6/2008
Modified by Conflicted at 12:04 PM 7/6/2008
Grace Under Pressure
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,519
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From: The Fugitive Motel
Re: 2008 Nissan Xterra Off-Road... (Conflicted)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Conflicted »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I figured I'd give all of you guys who're interested a quick write-up on my first impression. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Christ on a bike, i'd have to set aside a whole week to read one of your detailed reports...
Only messin', nice write up and a pretty cool truck.
Christ on a bike, i'd have to set aside a whole week to read one of your detailed reports...
Only messin', nice write up and a pretty cool truck.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 840
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From: NJ
lol, my achilles heel is that one of my majors in college was English composition with a concentration on journalistic writing...
Although my career is nothing of that sort, its my deep down hidden love!
Although my career is nothing of that sort, its my deep down hidden love!
Grace Under Pressure
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 0
From: The Fugitive Motel
Re: (Conflicted)
You can tell, it's very well written.
It makes a change to read something on HT with proper spelling, grammar and sentence structure as opposed to something that makes your eyes bleed due to it being so poorly worded - which tends to be the usual fare on this site.
It makes a change to read something on HT with proper spelling, grammar and sentence structure as opposed to something that makes your eyes bleed due to it being so poorly worded - which tends to be the usual fare on this site.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,300
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From: georgia
I only read the last part sorry. I do agree about those tires. They come on the TRD off road package for Tacomas and they are garbage!! They get greasy when they're heated up and perform like *** in dirt....Nice truck though!!
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Thread Starter
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From: NJ
Re: (Type_RS_59)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Type_RS_59 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Congratulations and good write up. I just picked up a new Frontier Nismo Off Road myself and I love it so far, but I haven't even used up a whole tank of gas yet!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Haha, the same for me too. I am surprised, they get decent mileage. I wont complain, yet, until I get to the pump. $3.85 for regular. 21 gallons. FTL.
Haha, the same for me too. I am surprised, they get decent mileage. I wont complain, yet, until I get to the pump. $3.85 for regular. 21 gallons. FTL.
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