Looking To Buy My first X

I was in the market for something that had a large cargo area, available 4X4, 4 doors, and rugged enough to go offroading while still retaining good manners on the pavement. Manual transmission was preferred. The trucks I shopped for were the Xterra, Jeep Liberty and Cherokee, Land Rover LR3, and the Toyota 4-Runner and FJ. Liberty way too small; Cherokee way too expensive and no MT; LR3 too $$$ and no MT; FJ piss poor visibility fore, aft, and laterally (don't know how you could wheel w/o having a full time spotter), crazy doors, giant blind spots, back seat doesn't fold flat, Toyota not selling these w/ much discount yet; the 4-Runner was really the only other vehicle in the running w/ the X. Unfortuanately, no MT available, the V-6 has less power than the X, yet the V-8 didn't have much more, interior not very durable, no on demand 4X4 available w/ V-8 (full time AWD), no locker available, priced much higher than equivalent X. When it got right down to it, the X had everything I needed and nothing I didn't (to paraphrase the ad campaign) at a good price. The interior is basically bullet proof, yet comfortable. Visibility all around is good. Unarguably, this engine is a beast, and w/ MT and VDC off, the thing will really haul ass (if this appeals to the Boy Racer in you). I've been very satisfied w/ my decision, but again, it is the right truck for me because it satisfied most of my wants/needs. You may be different, but the X certainly deserves to be included when shopping for an SUV.

Teneo said:

I would like to hear from others on how they came to buy an X and if they are still happy with their choice.

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I bought mine on September 2nd and I'm still happy with it. Even more so because in the last few days I was able for the first time to see what it would do in the snow.

To replace my Pathfinder, I wanted:

• 
  - 4WD, so that I could go off-road (to get to places, rather than off-roading as a sport)
  - manual transmission
  - a 'proper' SUV, not a car-based unibody construction
  - to be able to sleep in the back, which meant that the cargo area had to fold flat

I started with a copy of a 2006 Consumer Reports buying guide, and made a list of everything they categorized as "SUV", and that was available with a manual transmission. This list of over 20 vehicles did include some vehicles that I figured I probably wouldn't consider (e.g. too small, too expensive, etc.).

By going to a local Auto Mall, and driving to a few other local dealerships, I was able to take a look at the over 20 vehicles on my list in 2 days.

It was very easy to eliminate some of the vehicles from consideration, simply by having the salesperson show me how the rear seat folded down. If it didn't fold completely flat with the cargo area, I stopped looking at that vehicle. That's how the Hummer and FJ (and others) quickly dropped off my list.

After that 2-day triage, I wasn't left with a lot of choices, and the only remaining choice that 'stood out' was the Xterra, so my choice was made.