robdbell

Hi,

The wife and I test drove a 2005 Pathfinder today. It is a really nice vehicle. We've currently got an Aviator and have also been looking at Grand Cherokees and 4Runners and the Pathfinder stacks up really well against the others. Very nice interior layout and ride. The only thing setting it back from contention is the lack of a V8. I do a lot of towing and I have always liked peppy vehicles so a solid V8 is a must for me. Also drove the Armada today and that thing's V8 really feels good.

So, does anyone have any idea if Nissan will pop their V8 into the Pathfinder in 2006? I found some reviews that say that Nissan made the Pathfinder's engine bay large enough to accomodate the V8 with relative ease. Hope that is true! With a V8 the Pathfinder would be an exceptional vehicle.

Thanks!
Rob

05pathy

Don't get hung up on the number of cylinders.

It's a 270 hp 291 ft/lb torque engine. That's 35 more horsepower than the 04 4runner and equal to the 05 4runner.

Also, look at the middle size V8 of the Ford F150, beats it in horsepower and torque.

If you need 9000+ lbs of towing capacity, then get an Armada, but the V6 in the Pathfinder beats most (all?) of the V8s out there in midsize SUVs.

robdbell

I'm not hung up on cylinder count. It is the power and 'feel' of driving the vehicle that counts to me. As I said, we drove the V6 Pathfinder (270HP) today along with the '04 V8 4Runner (235HP) and of course our V8 Aviator (302HP). The Pathfinder just seemed underpowered and working too hard when you got into the throttle. Even with much less power (but also less weight) the 4Runner really had a responsive engine and felt good. Neither felt as strong as our Aviator's 32 valve engine, but that one is a derivative of the Mustang Cobra 4.6L modular engine so it is expected to be sportier in feel.

When I'm driving, especially when towing a trailer, I like to be able to step on the gas and have some noticable accelleration. The V6 in the Pathfinder doesn't seem to have that ability. Though I didn't tow anything on our test drive I got the impression that if I was towing a medium-sized trailer with the Pathfinder there wouldn't be much happening when you step on the gas except some loud noises from under the hood. I'm not slamming the engine, mind you, I just think the truck would be much better with a V8.

Rob

05pathy

Well I just replaced a 285 hp Chevy Tahoe (~8300 lb towing capacity) with the Pathfinder (6000 lb towing capacity).

I tow a 25' travel trailer and 22' pleasure boat (not at the same time). The travel trailer weighs about 5000 lbs and the boat weighs about 3500 lbs.

So far I've only towed an 1100 lb Seadoo with it and you can't tell its back there, but of course its only 1100 lbs.

I don't expect the pathfinder to tow like the Tahoe did, but I'm OK with that. Also keep in mind the Pathfinder requires 91 octane to give you those 270 horses, so maybe that was affecting your butt dyno?

robdbell

I'd be really interested in hearing your impression of the towing capabilities after a few pulls of your heavier trailers with the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is obviously in a different class of towing capability than the Tahoe so if handles those trailers well then that would be impressive. While your Tahoe didn't have much more HP than the Pathfinder I bet the gearing was different enough to make those 285HP feel a lot stronger even with its extra weight. Speaking of that, what is your 'seat of the pants' comparison of the Tahoe and the Pathfinder as far as passing power goes?

Thanks,
Rob

abmobil

My experience wih nissans is that motor will pull significantly harder once it has some miles on it and some break in time.
How many miles were on the pathfinder you drove?
The pathfinders peak torque is 291 ft lbs at 4000rpm and the aviator makes it peak 300ft lbs at 3250 rpm.
The aviators peak comes in sooner but i think the pathfinders power delivery will be very similar to the aviators once it breaks in.

Kojo62

If, for whatever reason, you really feel you must have those extra 2 pistons, then you might want to wait for the upcoming release of the Infinti version of this vehicle (formerly named the QX4). The press scuttlebut is that it may have a V8 to futher differentiate it from the Nissan version. I think it's due out around mid-year sometime.

My guess is if they go that route with the Infiniti, then they probably would not drop a V8 into the Pathfinder, since that would only blur the marketing distinction between the two. That's just a guess, though.

__________________
'05 Pathfinder LE 4X4 - Red Braun/Desert, Nav
'03 G35C 6MT - Diamond Graphite/Graphite, Premium, Nav

robdbell

Thanks for the info. I hope they don't do that (V8 only in the Infiniti). I've got an Aviator right now and I'm trying to get away from the fluffy luxury and back to something more mundane and rugged so I would not buy an Infiniti. Ford does put a V8 in the Explorer and then sells a Lincoln Aviator with a V8 too, so it can be done with differentiation. Granted, the Explorer V8 only has about 240HP and the Aviator has 302HP so there is some definite differentiation still - just not in cylinder count.

As you can see, coming from a vehicle with a sporty, high-powered V8 it is tough to move 'down the chain' in power. I always like my next vehicle to have as much ooomph as my prior one. And please don't tell me that the P-finder's V6 is 'almost as powerful' as my V8 just because of the ratings. Power specs don't tell the whole story when it comes to driving experience and I have yet to see a V6 equipped vehicle that drives like a V8. When I'm pulling my snowmobile trailer and move over to pass someone on a 2-lane road I like to be able to put my foot into it and have some real acceleration instead of just a lot of noise.

So I'll keep waiting for that V8...

Thanks,
Rob

abmobil

The pathfinder may not feel quite as strong as the aviator but it blows the explore away which makes due with a sohc 4.6 that makes less horsepower and torque the nissans 4.0.
Most of the latest nissan motors seem to be underated and i dont think the 4.0 numbers are inflated at all.
If anyones numbers are overated its fords 5.4 in the 04 and newer f150s.

05pathy

You've also got to look at the technology in the Nissan V6 vs. the American V8's. DOHC - variable valve timing - variable intake. That's why a 4.0 liter V6 outpowers most of the American pushrod V8's

robdbell

You're probably right. That must be why I'm so critical of engines... I'm used to the 4.6L 32-valve DOHC V8 in the Aviator which is just a derivative of the Mustang Cobra engine and has tons of grunt. More and more I seem to be convincing myself that I don't want to trade.

Rob

black_knight

Even though the Pathfinder is an awesome rig and very powerful in it's class... and we are nissan guys that are going to tell you to buy the nissan... If the Aviator works for you and you like it just keep it. Unless it's giving you problems I wouldn't worry about it. The Explorer may have a v8 but that 4.6 is a gutless wonder. I won't feel nearly as sprightly as the Aviator. Two completely different animals. If you want real v8 power in a midsize go snag an 05 Grand Cherokee with the 330hp hemi! that thing will scoot, tow and do some major off-roading.... granted it doesn't have a 3rd row, but you win some you lose some!

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

abmobil

I wanna see the endurance 5.6 with variable timing
That motor is already a beast in its current state!
Robdbell your probably are not considering the fx45 because of its luxury content but its v8 would probably satisfiy you.

robdbell

Black_knight: You are right-on with your statements. The Explorer's V8 is a weakling compared to the Aviator's DOHC V8. And yes, keeping the Aviator is definitely a potential. It does have a design flaw with the climate control system that makes cold-weather driving a pain (and I'm from MN) so that is why we are considering a change. The Grand Cherokee with the Hemi is also on our short list. We don't need the 3rd row anymore so that isn't a problem. But the Jeep has it's own drawbacks too.

abmobil: You're correct, I wouldn't get the FX45 because it is too 'luxury' and expensive. The Aviator is 'luxury' too but we only have it because back in '03 it was the only vehicle that met our needs (solid V8 power, good towing capabilities, truck-based SUV, 3rd row seat, mid-size). I wouldn't have purchased a Lincoln (or any type of Ford) if I had another choice. Getting rid of the Aviator would also be driven by the desire to get back into something cheaper that didn't cost as much for insurance, maintenance, repairs, etc. and to get away from Ford.

Rob

black_knight

Yeah Jeep doesn't have the best history for reliability but this new one should be a good one. My mom has the new Dodge durango and although it has a few drawbacks (lots of hard plastic, awkward 3rd row seat, horrible gas mileage) it continues to impress. she already has 16,000 miles on it and it has not had one problem, not one! That reliability can't be touched by previous chrysler products in the family. That and it was very affordable as far as full size SUV's go. The Jeep Grand Cherokee would definitely be on my list if I was in your shoes. I'd also be checking out the 4Runner v8 (the 05 with 270 hp 4.7 Liter can haul and is smooth) I like SUV's where the shifter is on the console and not up on the steering column so that would rule out most of them!

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