The third-generation Nissan Pathfinder is designed to offer the best balance in its segment of off-road capabilities and on-road utility. True to its roots as a powerful, authentic family adventure-enhancing sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2006 Pathfinder continues to feature a large interior, standard three-row seating and a 4.0-liter V6 built on the F-Alpha platform based on the full-size Armada and full-size Titan pickup platforms.
Pathfinder’s performance credentials include its rugged independent double-wishbone front and rear suspension, and standard 4.0-liter engine rated at 270 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. Pathfinder is available as a 4x2, or 4x4 with available advanced off-road traction systems such as Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) and offers a maximum towing capacity, when properly equipped, of 6,000 pounds. Pathfinder receives minor changes for 2006.
Enhancements to the 2006 Pathfinder include:
· SE Comfort Package adds a 6-disc autochanger
· Desert Leather is now available on Off-Road trim
· Available leather seats on SE trim
· Available satellite radio
· New exterior color – Majestic Blue
==> Quote from another member on another forum (not sure if this forums will allow me to mention or link to it) <==
Quote:
W00t!!! No Bluetooth!!! No Rearview monitor or park sensing!!! Go Nissan - way to stay competitive with your brand-new designed SUV!!!
:roll_eyes:
The Maxima gets Bluetooth... the Quest gets Rearview monitor, although I would have settled for just the little beep sensors. Considering the market... I think the engineers give too much credit to North American drivers... Nuf said.
Of course, this is preliminary information, and I hope I end up wrong.
Enter my comments
Well that did it!!
Too bad Nissan refuses to add (what should be fairly cheap features) to the Pathfinder that most others have.
Reverse sensors!! jeez, the Armada has it and it's not like you have to walk far, cost THAT much or order THAT many more than you are for the Armada. The Quest is lower than the PF and has a reverse system...
I have ordered a 2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V8 4x4
Reverse sensor, a V8, more power similar mileage etc...
Time will tell, but disappointing that Nissan "Adds Leather to the SE (you could get that mid-year of the 05's). a New color... whoopie (thou i would like a bright blue).
Disappointed as Nissan has a very good SUV, that just needs a little more polishing.
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2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Luxury package V8 4x4
~Considered 2006 Pathfinder SE OFF-ROAD 4x4~
Nissan should add the reverse sensors coz I feel a bit of difficulty when backing up in underground garage (well, I accidentally hit the rear hitch receiver to the wall when backing up in an underground garage, but thanks god there is no damage).
They should also add HID headlights as standard equipment in SE and LE trim and make that optional in XE.
Nissan should add the reverse sensors coz I feel a bit of difficulty when backing up in underground garage (well, I accidentally hit the rear hitch receiver to the wall when backing up in an underground garage, but thanks god there is no damage).
They should also add HID headlights as standard equipment in SE and LE trim and make that optional in XE.
Better yet, they should make potential buyers pass a driver's test.
(sorry, but I couldn't resist)
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Life is too short to take it too seriously
I would also agree that now at model year #2 for th PF that bring an Infiniti is a little late. Nissan could also try introducing the nice 30+mpg diesel available in Europe in the 2007 year as the US will have the "new" diesel (reduced sulphur content) fuels available and this could also open the door to other options for the PF, but i doubt they will.
Nissan, you make nice products, but listen to what your customers (or potential customers) are asking for. We aren't asking for the world, just reverse sensors, HID lighting (already available in Europe...) etc.
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2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Luxury package V8 4x4
~Considered 2006 Pathfinder SE OFF-ROAD 4x4~
The 2006 T-spec european editions do come with bluetooth standard and a rear parking camera option if the model is equiped with DVD nav.
As I stated earlier, they also have Xenon headlamps. It is essentially a xenon bulb in the stock headlight unit that is available in the United States. One reason there is no xenon option in the U.S. is because there is no projector in the Pathfinder and the glare would be outrageous.
For those that are upset about bluetooth...go buy the motorola handsfree car kit for $79.00. Lets be honest, if it was available to the U.S., it would probably be part of a $2,000 or $3,000 option package...LOL, and the Xenon lights would add another $1000.
Its an SUV, if you want to drive a luxury sedan feeling SUV, go drop $40,000 to $50,000 grand on a Touareg, MDX, Jeep (i mean mercedes/dodge) or Bimmer...and let the Pathfinder owners pull you out of the mud.
Enjoy your Ford and have fun trying to resell it in 5 years. Guess what, all those bells and whistles like bluetooth and rear parking sensors dont do a whole heck of a lot on resale value.
As for the more powerful Ford V8. I will take the Nissan VQ engine over any small american V8 anyday. The only way Ford can even get sales is deep discounts and by selling the buyers on the optional bells and whistles and not on performance.
All vehicles are suffering the resale blues, all (almost) have and will offer rebates and the used market is so soft due to those "employee" sales so I understand your point, but one can not go on resale value alone...
I assume most want to enjoy their time with their vehicles?
Both are good vehicles, i just chose as to which i wanted to spend the next unknown # of years with, based on what they offered, how they drove, incentives, ergonomics, usability etc...
You really can't go wrong with either one..
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2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Luxury package V8 4x4
~Considered 2006 Pathfinder SE OFF-ROAD 4x4~
Sorry if I sounded a little harsh on you man. I am just tired of people in my area and friends complaining about how this SUV or that SUV doesn't have bluetooth or heated leather back seats, or this or that and how terrible the gas mileage is. I am mainly talking about family "dads" that are used to driving their Acura's, Infinitis and Lexus's (premuim fuel vehicles) around and want all the creature comforts of the Sedan and won't be caught dead in a Mini-van.
They come up with Tons of excuses not to buy even though for them, with 2 or three kids, a jetski or boat and a need to haul large items it makes sense.
They then end up talking themselves into buying a vehicle based on the salesman creature comforts comparison and not on the merits of the vehicle. I will be honest, had I wanted the creature comforts, I would have gotten the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it actually drove a little smoother as well, but it had less room and no third row...with a 9 year old an and 11 year...they each need their own row on long trips and they are short enough that they can handle the smaller leg room in the third row...and its good to get 5 kids to a soccer game as well.
As for the Ford Explorer...resale value did play a big decision in not going that route. My brother has a two year old explorer with low mileage and he was offered 40% original MSRP on trade on a new Ford Explorer none-the less. He had a 2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer with 15 K and the highest trade offer was like $13,000. To me that seems way low for a 2 year old low mileage vehicle that stickered out over $30k. And before anyone says well it is 3 years old, this was back in June and July when the discounts were running rampant
The SUV market is seeing a correction. For 10 years they were the hot item and they could get away with a larger mark-up...Fuel costs are setting that correction and the "employee" programs created an influx of used vehicles on the used car market and drove down new car and used car prices.
Oddly enough, I read an article online (can't find the link) but it basically said the annual gasoline cost difference between an 06 Explorer and an 06 Fusion was only like $300 to $400 for basic driving (12k). And between a Maxima and a Pathfinder was like $400 to $500. With the deals that are going around, you can save more than that off sales prices, with similarily equipped models and the SUV is far more useful for a larger family.
As for the Ford Explorer...resale value did play a big decision in not going that route. My brother has a two year old explorer with low mileage and he was offered 40% original MSRP on trade on a new Ford Explorer none-the less. He had a 2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer with 15 K and the highest trade offer was like $13,000. To me that seems way low for a 2 year old low mileage vehicle that stickered out over $30k. And before anyone says well it is 3 years old, this was back in June and July when the discounts were running rampant
You can add me to the list of loyal Nissan customers who are leaning towards the new Ford Explorer. I've purchased 2 Nissan Maxima's and am currently driving a 2005 Infiniti G35 that I'm going to have to unload because my wife and I are expecting twins. While I agree with your point on the resale value of the Ford Explorer, there are other factors to consider. In our case, resale isn't going to be an issue. I'm going to purchase what I consider to be the best (bang for buck) midsize SUV. I'll also keep the darn thing at least 7 years before getting rid of it. Resale value "normally" only matters if you get rid of your vehicles every 2-4 years. That's where the Honda's, Toyota's, and Nissan's have an advantage over the domestics. Not only are they traditionally more reliable, but there are significantly fewer of them on the road. That gives them a decided edge in resale for the first 2-4 years. After 5 years, things begin to plateau for all car makes. I'm not suggesting that you don't understand that, as it's clear that you, but it's one of the many things to consider.
As for the vehicles, I'm not at all pleased with what Nissan has done (or hasn't done) with the Pathfinder. It's been the same freaking car, with the same freaking VQ engine for seemingly a decade. I know, not literally, but you get my drift. At least Ford has stepped up to the plate and tried to make significant improvments to a vehicle that is already the top selling SUV for 15 consecutive years. What's Nissan doing? It pisses me off that a Ford V8 gets 2MPG better gas mileage than the Nissan V6. That should not be happening. Nissan continues to make the Pathfinder bigger with every redesign, yet they aren't keeping up with horsepower and torque. It's also not exactly drawing rave reviews in the in the reliability department either.
Look, I love Nissan. They've always been my anti-Honda/Toyota, but I think they're letting the Pathfinder model fade away by ignoring it. The Ford may have a significantly worse resale value, but right now, the 2006 has more power, better MPG, better accessories, a far superior 4x4 configuration, and is several thousand dollars cheaper out the door. I have a hard time believing that in 7 years the resale value of Ford will be that much worse than the Pathfinder. Hell, you're only going to get $10-12K maximum for them anyway. My thought is purchase the SUV that you WANT and drive the SOB into the ground. That's the only way you truly get your money's worth.
Though I do agree with some of your points, there are some that I do disagree with.
Nissan is still using the VQ engine, but it is by most accounts one of the most reliable engines that any manufacturer has ever produced...so why change to something new. They have made constant revisions to it and keep tuning it better and tuning it to the application or vehicle needs. I mean lets look at GM for a second, they came out with the Northstar V8 in the late 70's and they are still using a derivative of it in their current cars. Audi has had the quattro system for 25 years and it has only seen minor changes...The lesson my friend is if it ain't broke...don't go fixin it.
As for changes, the new body style was a big step in the right direction, the fact that it is based off a full size truck frame is huge. Ford has made a lot of sheet metal changes to the explorer to freshen it up, but its undersides have not seen the drastic changes that the Pathy has. According to dimensional changes over the years...the Explorer has grown more in size than the Pathy...The Pathy has only had two real changes and the last in 05 was the only signifigant change.
You speak about reliability, most of the initial issues with the Pathy have been corrected and as you state, there are far fewer available used pathy's than explorers which means owners are happy with them and not trading them in as much.
You are right on resale value, but a problem is I do have with Ford and GM for that matter is pricing, An identicly equiped 2006 Explorer XLT V8 is $4,000 less on the sticker than the 2005. No more employee discounts, just more honest pricing. From what I hear out of Detroit, between dealerships and corporate, there is still around $8k to play with in price. If you take out employee pricing from 2005, identicly equiped models from ford and Nissan (putting a V8 in the ford to equal towing, HP and torque) the Nissan had a target selling price of $3k less than the Ford, in 2006 they are identicle according to intellichoic. (target selling price is the price expected to find in the market place).
As for the fuel mileage, I cannot speak to that. I know that on my 2005 Pathy SE-OR 4wd, I get 24 on the Highway and 16 in the city. Since I do mostly city driving, I have an average of about 18.
Also remember that Nissan didn't tune their engines to compete with Ford and GM, they were going after one target...the 4-runner...and the Nissan V6 out performs the Toyota V8. In terms of HP and Torque, the VQ nissan and the Ford V8 are very close in numbers. Considering the reliability problems I have had in my corporate cars with Ford V8's and V6's, I will take the Nissan engine anyday. My maxima has over 250,000 miles and all I have done is regular oil changes. Runs like the day I bought it. I expect the pathy will hold up the same.
You say you are getting a good bang for your buck, but put options to options head to head (i know you wont be able to do bluetooth and rear parking assist) and then ask for some quotes from dealerships. I think you will be pleasantly pleased at how comparable prices are. The explorer is the leading SUV in America, other than the Jeep Cherokee, it was also the first mass produced midsize SUV that got major media and corporate backing. Its stripped models are also less expensive and those sales numbers include fleet leases that Nissan and Toyota don't participate as much in. Hertz, Avis and etc have a lot of Explorers on top of the fact that most Pharmaceutical companies and major sales companies place their employees in either Explorers or Envoy/Trail Blazers if they live north of the Mason Dixon line.
Once that is done, then I agree....you need to go on what vehicle is most comfortable for you the driver and meets your specific needs.
speaking of safety items - is it true the day time running lights are only on the candian models? WHY? Our SUBIE has it and I love it.
I just traded my 6 year old explorer - it wasn't worth CRAP. GOod luck trading that thing in (or selling it - which I could not do).
I am not a fan of DRL's, i mean i am an adult and i can turn on lights when i feel the need, but i do like my auto headlights.
I know i am chimin' in on a Pathy forum and don't expect support, but after 3500 miles, things seem to be fine (as they should) and both are good vehicles and will both do most of what anyone that is in the market for them, will do.
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2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Luxury package V8 4x4
~Considered 2006 Pathfinder SE OFF-ROAD 4x4~
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