2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser vs. 2006 Nissan Xterra Off-Road

[DBS311]

The '07 Wrangler Unlimited is one of the few vehicles these days that really interests me. Four full doors, removable top, solid axles, possible diesel or Hemi. I don't want to argue build quality because for a vehicle that would be that fun, I would put up with the annoyances. It's almost like being able to take the top off my 62. I can only dream. I think an '07 diesel Unlimited Rubicon would be a great expedition vehicle.

Even if things did start to break on me I would just throw in an NV4500, Atlas II (or Stak), 9" with 35 spline, etc. This leads me to another point. Kits with the parts I just mentioned will eventually be available for the Wrangler. You'll never see anything like that available for a new Toyota vehicle. Part of the fun of owning a J33P is being able to build the piss out of it. Sure, you can SAS an FJC eventually, but it will be so much more involved and require a lot more fab work than getting a kit that will drop in.

I could take the drivetrain out of my Bronco and throw it in the Unlimited. At least then I would have an excuse to finally get some Mog 404's for the Bronco.

Sorry, this is an FJC forum, I forgot.

Vive Toyota!!!

 

[Hulk]

Here in Colorado, most of the dealers don't even list the 4x2 as an option. If someone bought one, it would be by accident, and then they would angrily come back to the dealership saying they'd been ripped off. I'm sure you can get the 4x2, but it's not on the dealer option sheet!

 

[Sporin]

I've seen stock Xterra's doing everything I've seen stock FJC's doing, Rubicon included (I'll try to find the pics online).

While I too would personally choose the FJC, you HAVE to see that they are both *about* equally capable offroad and are selling to the same basic audience who will never use 50% of their capabilities. If you think only poseurs buy Xterras and only true, real offroading manly men buy FJC's you have serious blinders on.

Hardcore offroaders make up a teensy-tiny percentage of new truck buyers.

The FJC takes a slight edge in the things that only the tinyest percentage of owners will ever notice or need (lower crawl, thicker skid plates, stonger axles).

My 2 cents.

 

[warpedone]

The news said that the Xterra rolls over
more than any other vehicle, not good!

 

[desertguy]

I'd go with the fjc. better relliability, clutch-cancel button, crawl ratio owns, seats waterproof, all leather, lockers, 239hp v6, etc...

 

[Commando]

speaking of roll overs, does the FJ feel like it rolls a bit on quick turns? i've heard about jeeps being very tipsy. reminds me of how someone i know once tried to convince me that a redisgned wrangler has a "lower rollover ratio than a hummer H1"... no, i did not keep a straight face. if he had shown me actual data maybe i'd beleived, but if i'm not mistaken a hummer is absurdly wide, and alot of the weight of the car is low to the ground, well as low as it can be and still ahve 15-16in of ground clearance depending on the year

 

[Riad]

Yeah, the 2nd gen Xterra has significant engine and drive train improvements/upgrades but the body design killed it all, I think. Yes, it is more prone to rolling, both 1st and 2nd gens. I think FJ and Xterra are 2 different animals. Xterra is more like a Navigator with rear locker. But it can be built, just like the FJ. However, I am willing to bet a SASed FJ will outperform the X in pucker factor and offcamber. I am dying to see that test .

 

[j7addict]

For the people that wont to hike, bike, and all that stuff (or atleast the people who think they wont to) the Xterra will be great for getting them to the trail head, so will the FJC, but If I'm stairing Moab in the face and I'm not there to bike I'll definelty take the FJC over the Xterra...

 

[TexasBadlands]

Jfonz, as soon as you mentioned the marketing, it all made sense to me. I understand where you are coming from and I completely understand your last post. I have issues with IFS and I feel Jeep is the only company still producing a true hardcore offroad design, but the FJC has certainly taken IFS to the next level.

Jeep? Do you know how many times I have pulled Jeeps out with my almost stock FJ-40? Modified Jeeps, regular Jeeps... Name it, I've pulled em out. Jeeps stuck to their axles in goo when I backed up to them in the same goo and drug em right out. Sorry but Jeep doesn't hold much weight with me.

 

[clax]

nissan va. toyota

After owning an 85 toy pu and a 75 landcruiser (and loved both) I desided to buy a brand new 2002 turbo charged X-terra when I came home from Afghanistan. THe reviews were good and the vehicle "looked" good.

I had problems with the s***-TERRA from day one and it was the biggest piece of s*** vehicle I have ever owned. I had to threaten to sue Nissan before they finaly fixed the problems I had with it 1 1/2 years after buying it. It needed a completely new engine and supercharger. As soon as the repairs were completed I traded it on on a new 2004 Tacoma TRD at a huge loss of course.

Needless to say, I didnt have any problems with the Tacoma and now I have a 76 Landcruiser again. It runs better than a brand new xterra from what Ive seen.

I should also mention I once got the exterra stuck in about 2 inches of snow. That just doesnt happen with a landcruiser.

Just my observations : )

 

[FJCruiserOwnersGroup]

Yeah, the 2nd gen Xterra has significant engine and drive train improvements/upgrades but the body design killed it all, I think. Yes, it is more prone to rolling

...Compared to what?

 

[jfonz]

Jeep? Do you know how many times I have pulled Jeeps out with my almost stock FJ-40? Modified Jeeps, regular Jeeps... Name it, I've pulled em out. Jeeps stuck to their axles in goo when I backed up to them in the same goo and drug em right out. Sorry but Jeep doesn't hold much weight with me.

Thats probobly becuase you've never wheeled one and don't know there capabilities... And I'm not talking about old CJ's or YJ's... I'm talking TJ's... IMO if your going to go back and compare stock CJ vs Stock FJ40, the FJ is the only way to go. I would take a 40 from the 70's over a CJ from the 80's and in many instances a 40 over a YJ, but when it comes to the TJ its a totally different story.... I think what he/we where originally refearing to wasn't just the jeeps in general but the more recent models. The 07's that are coming out in the fall are going to be amazing. they will have a 4dr option, solid front axle, and of course a rubicon model that includes not only front and rear selectable lockers & 4to1 low range, but also an incab swaybar diconnect....

 

[jfonz]

yep they can be wheeled I'm not arguing that, and if you won't I could probobly get a hold of very similar pictures of Xterra's, jeeps, fj80s, and samari's but like I said between the Xterra and the FJC stock for stock, I'll stick with the FJC....

 

[Zack1978]

After owning an 85 toy pu and a 75 landcruiser (and loved both) I desided to buy a brand new 2002 turbo charged X-terra when I came home from Afghanistan. THe reviews were good and the vehicle "looked" good.

I had problems with the s***-TERRA from day one and it was the biggest piece of s*** vehicle I have ever owned. I had to threaten to sue Nissan before they finaly fixed the problems I had with it 1 1/2 years after buying it. It needed a completely new engine and supercharger. As soon as the repairs were completed I traded it on on a new 2004 Tacoma TRD at a huge loss of course.

Needless to say, I didnt have any problems with the Tacoma and now I have a 76 Landcruiser again. It runs better than a brand new xterra from what Ive seen.

I should also mention I once got the exterra stuck in about 2 inches of snow. That just doesnt happen with a landcruiser.

Just my observations : )

But I think the bottom line is that you CAN NOT compare a 2002 with the new X-Terra. The are totally different trucks, with the exception of the body design.

Zack

 

[saskdiesel]

After owning an 85 toy pu and a 75 landcruiser (and loved both) I desided to buy a brand new 2002 turbo charged X-terra when I came home from Afghanistan. THe reviews were good and the vehicle "looked" good.

I had problems with the s***-TERRA from day one and it was the biggest piece of s*** vehicle I have ever owned. I had to threaten to sue Nissan before they finaly fixed the problems I had with it 1 1/2 years after buying it. It needed a completely new engine and supercharger. As soon as the repairs were completed I traded it on on a new 2004 Tacoma TRD at a huge loss of course.

Needless to say, I didnt have any problems with the Tacoma and now I have a 76 Landcruiser again. It runs better than a brand new xterra from what Ive seen.

I should also mention I once got the exterra stuck in about 2 inches of snow. That just doesnt happen with a landcruiser.

Just my observations : )

I had an 03 Xterra SC and never had a single problem. Besides gulping lots of fuel it was a great truck and I would buy another.
Would I pick it over the FJ Cruiser?
Yes. Because it suits my family needs better.
But since I bought a V10 ext cab 4x4 Superduty to tow my FJ40 and travel trailer, neither one suits what I need for an all round vehicle.
But I do like both the FJ Cruiser and Xterra for a D/D that doesn't need to tow anything heavy.

 

[DBS311]

Texasbadlands, when I mentioned that Jeep was the only company currently producing a true hardcore offroad vehicle, I wasn't arguing that Jeeps never get stuck. Every vehicle on this planet can get stuck. As much as I love Toyota, I don't believe they sprinkle fairy dust on them before they leave the factory making them less prone to getting stuck. Your comment about pulling Jeeps out has no relevance to my statement.

Aside from high speed desert environments, any vehicle built for high level trails will end up with a solid axle in the front. IFS can get you pretty far these days, but you will eventually hit a trail you cannot finish because of the IFS. That is why people do SAS when they hit that limit. Can an FJC do a lot of the trails out there? Yep. What if you hit the harder trails at Tellico, Farmington, Moab, etc.? You either stop there and stick to the moderate trails, or you SAS. I am not a huge Jeep fan, but I admire them for sticking to the solid front axle with the Wrangler. You could buy one from the factory, throw a lift on, and walk up trails the FJC can't. Whether or not a Jeep will hold up in the long run is a whole different ballgame.

 

[Tapage]

To compare apples with apples .. you need to compare an 2006 TJ Rubicon with a 2006 FZJ-71 Land Cruiser .. ha .. huge diferent !

 

[jfonz]

If only they were that simple to get....

 

[007-FJC]

If only they were that simple to get....

WOW SEXY! I just made a mess all over the keyboard!

Obviously, the Xterrible has very bad axle articulation. I've seen the new Xterras offroad, and easily, i'd take the old one over the new one. That thing lifted tires all day.

Now, as for the SFA vs IFS, I've seen people chew their own words. I've driven my 4Runner where Jeep owners said that my IFS 4Runner wont make it, and they'll be ready with a winch to pull me up. Little do they know, traction control pulled me all the way up on street pressure. Took me alil longer than expected cuz of the 35psi filled tires, but I still made it and they chewed their own words. Though, my skid plate didn't come out of it happy lol.

 

[JimmyK]

What about Xterra reliability compared to Toyota over 100K miles? any input?