jerrymax 
2000 Nissan Xterra SUV SE 4dr SUV 4WD
My 2000 Xterra SE 3.3 liter V6
 I bought this car almost two years ago and have put 15,000 miles on it.It is great in snow and ice in 4 wheel drive mode.Easy to shift from 2 to 4 wheel drive system. The 3.3 liter V6 is adequate, not fast, but you don't get an SUV for speed.Valve gaskets had to be replaced at 154K.Only complaints; no dashboard clock and dashboard instruments are very dark. On a sunny day if you're wearing sunglasses you can't read them unless dashboard lights are turned on.Vehicle is very rugged.I actually think this 1st generation Xterra looks nicer than the 2nd generation.4 full doors and great visibility make it more practical than the FJ Cruiser.I would highly recommend this vehicle.Since last posting my review I had engine overheating repeatedly and thought the vehicle needed a new thermastat.  Turned out there was a crack in the head gasket.  I was given alternatives of a $2000 repair job or "we can put in some sealant and half the time that works."  For thirty dollars I had them put in the sealant and ever since then, about six months ago, the car runs perfectly and no longer overheats.  Not sure how long since my last review update but the vehicle now has 177,000 miles on odometer and is still running just fine.  Even after several trips to upstate New York (round trips of 700 miles) the vehicle runs very well.  Always starts right up when I turn the key.  Only small problem that has developed is that the dashboard light setting sometimes goes bad and the dash lights disappear at night.  I fiddle with it for a minute, find the sweet spot, and it's good for another few weeks.  I don't put a lot of miles on my Xterra because I also own two sedans and mostly use the Xterra in the winter.  All things considered, if you are looking for a modest sized SUV that's a good work horse to get you over any terrain or through any bad weather conditions, this is a great vehicle to own.