Hey, I live in Northeast Pa, and I drive a 2006 mazda3, great car for what it is, but not for what I want.

I'm looking into getting an SUV, and I've always loved Xterras.

The limited knowledge I have about 4wd, truck suspensions and off-roading comes from a friend of mine with a Izusu Rodeo.

I am definately going to modify my car, so i want an SUv that will take easily to ECU flashes, lift kits, bull-bars, etc.

Basically my plan for whatever suv i buy is to have..

-skid-plates all over the underside,
-A bull-bar/bush guard on the front that Is somehow welded/bolted directly to the frame, or whatever the most sturdy way would be to mount it.
-a 4-6" lift kit.
-tires > 33"
-Rhino lining on the back of the rear seats and all over the trunk
-Maybe a safari Rack
-Intake, Exhaust, ECU Re-flash

I like the Xterra because from what I've heard it's very capable off-road and the 6-speed + 265bhp 4.0L combo, and it looks pretty badass :)

So with all that in mind...

Do you think the xterra is a good choice for me? I need to have a manual (I hatttteee autos) and am fairly reluctant to buy a domestic.

Thanks in advance!

sounds like the X is right for you.... just dont buy a brush guard go shrock for the bumper and the skids..... welcome to the club

i just got a new one a few months ago, and so far i love it. i drove a camaro for a few years, and wanted a reliable suv for the winter, so i got an 07 xterra.

the only reservation i had about getting on was that a friend of mine said that they have been known for havin trans problems down the line, but i did some reasearch on my own, and i couldnt find anything that would confirm that, so i got one.

iv also been looking for ways to upgrade for the last few weeks, and so far iv found tons of stuff. im working on a billett grill, and custom head lights and taillights, and after that im probably gonna work on the tires and maybe a lift kit. so far its been great and i definitly recommend it.

co ngrats on the new purchase.... i dont have alot of knowledge on the 2nd gen but i havent heard anything bad about them.....

I too second the Shrockbumpers for your X. I have a Manik brushguard on mine that, as soon as I can, I will be parting ways with. Shrockworks can handle all of your armor needs and from every review I've read, nobody does it better.:thumbsup-big:

And for whoever commented that X's have tranny problems... he must be a Grand Cherokee owner. :nana: The only people that make unfounded comments about other vehicles are those that wish they had bought one themselves. Xterras have no more mechanical failures than any other vehicle on the road but a tranny is not one of the problems I've seen or heard about.