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Free minder
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Help me pick my next used SUV
Guys,
My 2000 Nissan Xterra with 169,000 miles is showing its age, started to run like crap lately. I put in a new distributor that did nothing. Computer OBDII codes are not telling me what the problem is...long story short, it is time to let it go. Tomorrow I am going to the dealership, and I have to come back with something. I have been using my 911 for commuting lately, but just messed up the exhaust system with backdate exhaust, and another long story short, I need another car to get to work on tuesday. My budget is, well, as low as possible, but let us say $15k max. We have sports car (1978SC), a sedan (2001 lexus ES300), and we need a replacement SUV for week-end trips to home despot, bad weather commute and vacation trips. The dealership I am going to has a 2005 Nissan Xterra, a 2003 MB ML320 and a 2001 MB ML 320. The specifics are below. I will come back with one of these three. Which would you pick? 2005 Nissan Xterra Off-Road - MB Motorsports 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 - MB Motorsports 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML320 - MB Motorsports
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
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05-30-2010, 06:11 PM
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Certified Pre-Owned
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Nanny State
Posts: 3,132
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Either the '01 Merc or the 05' Nissan. I would probably avoid the 03' Merc just based on price.
The Nissan at first glance looks to be in nice shape.
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'84 Carrera Coupe |
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05-30-2010, 07:01 PM
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I see you
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 29,919
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Ford Explorer...I got 150K out of mine before I got a smokin' deal on a Taco
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Si non potes inimicum tuum vincere, habeas eum amicum and ride a big blue trike. "'Bipartisan' usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out." |
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05-30-2010, 07:04 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hamburg & Vancouver
Posts: 7,693
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Do yourself a favour and do NOT buy the first series Merc. They were full of teething problems and nothing but trouble. You can't give them away in Europe.
I have read that Mercedes management absolutely threw the book at their engineers and told them the next series (new body—introduced 2005/2006) had to be perfect, and the new series is pretty damn good as a result.
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_____________________ These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx |
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05-31-2010, 12:46 AM
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Free minder
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Thanks guys. It is going to be the Nissan. More recent, more reliable and more practical.
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
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05-31-2010, 01:12 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Not much for shopping around? Of the three I'd take the Nissan, but the same money would buy you a nice 4Runner which is superior to all three.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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05-31-2010, 04:19 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,494
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The Xterra looks nice, but I don't see anywhere in the ad where it says it is a 4X4. They do make 2 wheel drive Xterras.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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05-31-2010, 05:19 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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They do make 2wd Xterras. The one linked is, however, a 4WD, but it's not an 'Off Road', it's an 'S'. That's not a horrible price for that particular Xterra, but hopefully they will still work with you. You'd pay a couple grand more for a comparable 2005 4Runner, fwiw.
Have you tried new injectors in your old Xterra? That engine (shared with other Nissans of the era) was known for going through them. E |
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05-31-2010, 06:15 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: los angeles, CA.
Posts: 41,257
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Quote:
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05-31-2010, 08:27 AM
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Unregistered
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: a wretched hive of scum and villainy
Posts: 55,652
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minivans make allot more sense than SUVs. better ride, better mileage, more room, usually a little less expensive, etc.
A Toyota sienna is a really good vehicle. |
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05-31-2010, 09:17 AM
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Free minder
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I went to the dealer, took a test drive, and really liked it. Even if I fixed my old one, it would remain a clumsy piece of junk that I don't like driving anymore. But that one, with the 4.0L V6 and 265 hp is a whole different animal. They gave me $1,500 trade-in for the old one. The new truck is now sitting on my driveway
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
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05-31-2010, 09:25 AM
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Free minder
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Quote:
 . Plus, we do get snow here in New Jersey, so the 4WD feature is not just for show off. I have sometimes commuted in the middle of a snowstorm, and the Xterra did great.
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) Last edited by Aurel; 05-31-2010 at 09:52 AM.. |
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05-31-2010, 09:28 AM
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Free minder
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Quote:
PCMSCAN - Palmer Performance Engineering, Inc.
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
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05-31-2010, 09:39 AM
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