I'm new here. Have owned a pathfinder for the last 4 years (97 Pathfinder, bought used in 2000). I have loved it so much. I used to live in Denver, and went off road in the mountains most weekends and loved it to bits. So much so that last weekend I traded it in for a brand new one at the my local dealership, here in Kentucky. So I am now the proud owner of a Silver '05 Pathfinder LE....and very lovely it is too. I would have posted earlier, but I was away most of this week, so haven't had much chance. But now I'm back, if anyone is interested I'll post as I find out things about the new one in my life.
Things I have discovered so far.
Generally, I feel that Nissan have done a super job on the re-design. The car handles so much better than the old one...maybe due to the new suspension? It feels rock solid going round corneres, with no alarming wobbles....also in winds it seems to be much more stable to drive.
The rear 3rd row seats are very clever and useful. However, it's not the most comfortable place for adults as there is not really any footwell to speak of, so your knees are quite high up if you are tall. Also, there is not a lot of room between the 3rd row and the 2nd row, so you kind of have to sit sideways if you are tall (I'm 6'4"). It would be perfect for smaller adults and children though...which may well have been the idea.
The trip computer is kind of odd, as to change it, you have to use the little odometer push thingy that sticks out from the odometer. I minor issue, but it would have been really nice to have had the controls on the end of the wiper stalk or something so you don't have to reach through the steering wheel.
On my old Pathfinder, I had the leather/plastic cover that could be pulled across the trunk, between the rea seats and the tailgate. That was with my Pathfinder when I bought it, so don't know if it was standard or an extra from the previous owner. The new one doesn't have one though, and I can't see an after market option yet. There are mouldings (I think for it to fit). I hope one comes out soon.
The layout of the instruments is great. Very clear and easy to view everything. The seat memories work well, and also control the power assisted foot pedals, and wing mirrors to...very cool.
The sound system though is terrible.....It has the Bose 6 cd changer unit, with 9 speakers in it. I am no fan of Bose systems, and this is no exception. The speakers are ghastly...probably cheap paper ones again. The subwoofer is located in a well in the trunk, on the drivers side. Sonically, it's horrid and booms something awful....it's obtrusive in its sound and does not produce a tight base at all...there seems to be no way of truning it off either, which is a real problem. I am a bit of an audiophile, so can't wait to rip the whole system out before and fit something decent...so if you were thinking of buying this car for it's audio, then don't!
If anyone has any questions about the new beast, then let me know and I'll do my best to answer. I am not very mechanically minded (engine-wise etc...) but am on the audio side of life and from a usability point of view.
that's awesome... it's gonna be a tough decision for me... i'm thinking about ditching my plans of trading up to a titan in favor of the new pathfinder or frontier crew (essentially a pathfinder with a bed for 05). Did you get another 4x4... my main Question is going to be gas mileage.. i know that new 4.0 is rated at pretty impressive highway mileage esp. in 2wd. That is going to be the main factor for me seeing as how gas is now $2/gal where i'm at. Keep us posted!!!
Later,
__________________
Black Knight - 2004 Crew Cab XE-V6 4x4
"...God made men the way they are because we desperately need them to be the way they are. Yes, a man is a dangerous thing, but so is a scalpel. You don't make it safe by making it dull, but instead you put it in the hands of someone who knows what he's doing." - John Eldridge
Yes - I would be interested in the mileage that you are seeing, as well as how it climbs hills (both on the freeway and maybe some offroad)? Does it search for gears or high revs on the freeway uphills? Also - does the 2nd row of seats moves back/forth? I haven't seen the new Pathy upclose, so I don't know that little details.
MotorTrend just announced SUV of the Year. LR3 won. The Pathfinder was competing for the honors, but they couldn't get it to climb this loose dirt hill. Infiniti QX56, Grand Cherokee, and LR3 were able to climb. QX barely made it, but the the Jeep and Land Rover just sneezed at it.
MotorTrend just announced SUV of the Year. LR3 won. The Pathfinder was competing for the honors, but they couldn't get it to climb this loose dirt hill. Infiniti QX56, Grand Cherokee, and LR3 were able to climb. QX barely made it, but the the Jeep and Land Rover just sneezed at it.
2FastDre.
Did see a Motor trend program where they took the new Pathy on some decent trails and it looked like it did good that was aired around 2-3weeks ago.
Still think it looks like a mini Armada.
QX barely made it, but the the Jeep and Land Rover just sneezed at it.
Not to take this off course, so to speak, but I've never seen an obstacle that one stock vehicle could cover that a Jeep couldn't. They're quite simply some of the most capable vehicles you can buy. Maybe the Frontier could have hung with it? Or maybe they tested a Pathfinder with street tires? Too bad it couldn't keep up.
Yeah was reading that article too... I find it odd that it couldn't make it up the hill. Motor Trend said that it did not have traction control and it had open front and rear diff's, but all the pictures show the SE Off-Road Model! if you go to the nissan website or look at a brochure, it states that the SE off-road comes with VDC, Traction Control and ABLS (Active Break Limited Slip) all standard... there shouln't have been any reason theirs didn't make it up the hill. Maybe theirs was a fluke premie w/o everything it was supposed to have.
Later,
__________________
Black Knight - 2004 Crew Cab XE-V6 4x4
"...God made men the way they are because we desperately need them to be the way they are. Yes, a man is a dangerous thing, but so is a scalpel. You don't make it safe by making it dull, but instead you put it in the hands of someone who knows what he's doing." - John Eldridge
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
