A thing has been done.

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 05/16/2019 at 16:09 • Filed to: None

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But it’s not my thing. Rather, my youngest brother turned 16 today (learner’s permit age in MA) and has received a 2005 Pathfinder as a gift, with a catch. My mom found it for half book value because it needs a new starter, fan, and cats.

The condition is, my brother has to get his first real job to pay for the parts, and me and my mom’s boyfriend will help him fix it in time to get his license. She has done something similar for all three of us older kids as we got our permits.

It has the 4.0 VQ, 3rd row, 174k miles, and... not much else to report. It’s a base model with lotsa blank buttons. The 4WD and power accessories all work fine and the interior is quite clean. Fun fact: instead of a telescoping wheel, Nissan fitted it with electrically adjusting pedals. Huh.

Not really my cuppa tea for a DD, and I personally feel like it’s too much vehicle for a first car. My mom agrees but says it was in the best condition of anything she looked at in the same price range.

She’s actually decided she likes it and is toying with the notion of keeping it for herself. If that ends up being the case she’ll help my brother pick out a car he wants to replace it.

boredalways > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:16

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Noice

vicali > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:16

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Is that emblem derped or is it missing?

Also SMOD

https://agradetools.com/smod/

WilliamsSW > vicali 05/16/2019 at 16:18

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^^^^^^^^

lone_liberal > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:19

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It has come to this. My DD is one year newer than the cars kids are getting when they turn 16. Sigh, one more year, one more year, one more year.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > lone_liberal 05/16/2019 at 16:21

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I mean, my first car was a ‘96. I’m a ‘94 model, so my first car was almost as old as I am. It’s the same here , he was born in 2003 and gets a 2005 car.

Kid’s aren’t getting newer cars, you’re just getting older.

WilliamsSW > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:22

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Echoing Vicali here because I own one of these myself.

If it has not been done already you MUST install a separate trans cooler. They’re prone to failure which leads to coolant and trans fluid mixing - aka strawberry milkshake of death.

This failure would send the truck to the junkyard in all likelihood.

Otherwise they’re very reliable, and handle/brake like shit.

I’ve put about 168k on mine, it’s been solid.  Good luck!

lone_liberal > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:24

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My first car was a ‘72 while I was a ‘65 but that needed a new engine and cars didn’t last as long then.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > vicali 05/16/2019 at 16:24

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The emblem is spray- painted flat black by a PO, along with the entire grille.

We researched common issues before buying. This one shows no sign of SMOD.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:26

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how much did it cost? as we all know i am on the first car hunt

vicali > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:30

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Painting the grille shows a modicum of interest, hopefully it extended to taking care of it. I love the theater seating in the Xterras - I think Nissan pulled that off very well.

They can look great with a few bits;

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 05/16/2019 at 16:30

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$2,500

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:31

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interesting. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 16:54

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How much will it cost to fix up you think?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/16/2019 at 16:56

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Cats are just over $100/ea, starter and fan clutch are  < $100

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > vicali 05/16/2019 at 17:12

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Isn’t that an xterra?

vicali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/16/2019 at 17:15

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Ha - it is.. had to double take at the OP.. I thought I saw the bump..

Oh well, Pathfinders can still jam-

Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 17:42

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I think I like her strategy.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove 05/16/2019 at 18:24

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You mean using a birthday car as an incentive to get her kids to go out and learn to be adults? Y eah. It seems to work well.

Tristan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 18:26

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Fun fact: These have a MAJOR problem...

The internal trans cooler in the radiator will leak and allow coolant into the transmission which destroys the TCU inside the transmission. Of course you can’t simply replace the TCU if this happens...  You’ll have to replace or rebuild the transmission!

A co-worker bought a really cherry Pathfinder with 80k ish miles last fall and the transmission went kaput after about a week of ownership because of this. After a transmission rebuild, it’s a perfectly nice vehicle.

Replace the radiator ASAP and make sure it hasn’t leaked yet.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tristan 05/16/2019 at 18:26

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Two others have already pointed that out, yes, and it’s an issue we researched before buying the car.

Tristan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 18:38

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Excellent. I just don’t want to see that happen to anyone else- he was so happy to have a vehicle that could carry the whole family comfortably and was taking a family trip to the beach that weekend to celebrate... Then his wallet was shot in the face.

fhrblig > Tristan 05/16/2019 at 21:14

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I had a Nissan NV1500 SMOD itself to death at my last job. Then I had the added pleasure of waiting forever for parts because Nissan has no damn clue how to give adequate parts support for work vehicles. I’ll stop now before I get on  my soap box.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 21:22

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I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s too much car (I’m on record as saying everyone’s first car should be a manual RWD full- size single-cab pickup ), but it’s too many seats. He’ll be able to pack too many people in there. That’s how you get into zany adventures... I mean trouble.

I had a Celebrity sedan and I had 7 or more people in it sometimes. Granted, the one guy was like 87 pounds soaking wet, but still. I didn’t even have a front bench.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 05/16/2019 at 21:39

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In MA you can only have immediate family in your car until you’re 17, so he’s got some time to mature before he’s even able to get up to shenanigans .

It’s too much car in the sense that it’s big, heavy,  and has 270hp. Too much risk of an accident due to unfamiliarity with controlling a large vehicle.

I think first cars should be small crapcans because you wear them like a glove and it’s easier to be in touch with the car and the road.

My part of the gift is that I’ll be hooking him up with a decent sound system.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 22:03

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I’m not sure that law would have made me any more mature, but I think it’s probably not a bad idea anyway.

Mine had a V6, but a V6 made in 1983. I think it was rated at like 110 hp or something, and by the time I got it a few of the ponies had escaped the corral. But it did have holes in the exhaust so it sounded kinda cool. I don’t know what I’d have done with 270 hp.

I can understand the rationale behind the crapcan idea. I think you can learn valuable driving techniques from them too.

That’s cool that you're going to upgrade the stereo. What are you going to get him?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 05/16/2019 at 22:05

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I ordered him Sony head unit that he can stream onto via Bluetooth, and it has support for the steering wheel controls. I might upgrade the speakers too.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 22:08

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Ha! My first aftermarket stereo was a Sony cassette player. It was badass for 1992.

Under_Score > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/16/2019 at 22:23

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As others have said, the transmission in the 2005-2007 models is kind of bad. Otherwise, that’s a cool first car! If he’s “frat” at all, this would be a perfect machine to put big tires on, add a light bar, etc. A lot of people would love to have a first car like that, especially with the 4WD.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 05/16/2019 at 22:38

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I tell yah, aftermarket audio is just stupid. Trying to find a head unit that met all my criteria without looking like ass was a pain. 90% of them look like an xtreeeeme gamer’s fever dream. Wanted something with bluetooth, an actual volume KNOB, real buttons instead of capacitive  junk , and could color match the car’s interior lighting. Ended up with this for $99: