Advice on Trading Xterra for a Frontier
TLDR: Should I replace my '06 Xterra with 320K miles for a '19 Frontier with ~100K miles
Hey yall, been running into a dilemma here. I have had my '06 Xterra since about 2018 and love it but it recently hit 320K miles with~250 on the engine, it blew the first year I had it so I replaced it with a used engine. There are some issues coming up however and I’ve been looking at newer Frontiers specifically in the 2015-2019 range. Basically I am debating between dropping $3k on a down payment for a Frontier or putting it into fixing the X. Just looking to hear some recommendations and advice from the community on what might be the smartest move. I also have a very cheap ($20/month) lease on a '25 Leaf at the moment but that sweet sweet deal ends this September.
My Xterra Cons
· The suspension needs an overhaul
· Rust. Frame is ok but the bumper and body have a good deal of rust throughout
· Throwing a code for the Cat. Worried about emissions which I need to get done soon or sell the car
· Engine has $250K miles
· Transmission has ~150-200k miles on it. Previous owner replaced it due to SMOD but I lost the paperwork for it so I cant remember where it sits
· A few HVAC parts starting to fail including AC compressor
· Maybe other problems. Planning on taking to a mechanic to get a rundown on what needs to be replaced
Xterra Pros
· Despite the mileage the engine and transmission are running great. I can feel any loss in power
· No car payment
· Got a lot of memories with the car
· I can do most of the work on my own to fix it up
Frontier Pros
· Much newer with a reliable engine and drive train
· Can have better storage which would be nice for long camping trips
· Nice to change it up a little (even though theyre nearly the same)
· Easy to find a lower mileage one that isn’t beat up around me
Frontier Cons
· I don’t really like having car payments. Budget is under 20K
· Always a chance that it ends up being a lemon
· I will be shunned by the Xterra community
Secret third option is to keep the X and buy a cheap miata/equivalent as my daily.