“Do you have water? Do you have food? Do you have something warm to wear? Do you have a spare?” Those were the questions I was asked at the Corn Creek Visitor’s Center when I stopped for a map of Mormon Well Road, the road that runs roughly 45 miles across the Mojave Desert, North of Las Vegas, NV. “If you get stuck the price for a tow? $100 per hour”, said the couple who run the visitor’s center. $100 per hour from when they leave the garage, to when they find your poor face, to when they get you going again or back on paved road. Foreshadowing? Maybe.
My mighty steed on this day was a 2008 Nissan Xterra 4×4. It was dark gray, clean, blemish-free even with
70,000 miles on the odo, and ready to party. This was to be my 2nd foray on this particular road less traveled. This time, as opposed to last time, I was going to punch all the way through the 45 miles. Visitor Center husband and wife tag team told me the last person who punched all the way through with a report to the ranger station said the road was rough, but totally passable. It took him 5 hours. Seriously? Insufficient. I had quickly decided that I was not going to average nine miles per-hour through this trail and if it was so rough that sloth mode was physically mandated, I would stop periodically, step out of the Xterra and throw a temper tantrum to mediate the snail’s pace.
The 2008 Nissan Xterra is Nissan’s answer for the young, active buyer. A typical Xterra purchaser would be in his 20’s or 30’s. She would own mountain bikes. He would love to go kayaking on the weekends. She probably climbs big rocks. He probably dates people who climb big rocks. She probably dates people in their 20’s or 30’s. They work hard cause they have to in order to afford a $25,000+ SUV that doesn’t quite guzzle the gas, but isn’t shy about putting some petrol away at a party. They play hard cause there’s a tray on the roof for them to put their wet, muddy things into when they’re done (at the expense of EVER having a sunroof…REALLY?). So when I stole this truck from my parents who are in their 50’s and 60’s, respectively, I laughed just a bit. My dad really wanted an FJ Cruiser from Toyota, but the lack of 4 real doors threw him off, and the Wrangler wasn’t even on his radar (as it would be for the typical Xterra demographic). And While the Hummer H3 is way out of production, you can find lots of them pre-owned full of off-roading goodies including an available V8 engine. But pull up to your yuppie downtown condo in a Hummer and the neighbors will egg it. But it remains a not-so-known alternative to all the active 20 and 30somethingmobiles mentioned above.
Dad loves his truck cause it’s a truck. It has real 4-wheel drive with locking differentials and low range gear. It has a live axle in the back and lots of ground clearance. And it’s fast. The 261 horsepower motor, with 281 lb-ft of torque, powers this 5,400 pound beast to 60mph in a smidge over 7 seconds. If you’re at the beach and discover a baby blue whale that needs to be relocated, no problem! Xterra is capable of lugging around 5000lbs behind the hitch although a boat or Sea Doo or pop-up camper are more likely candidates. The 5 speed automatic transmission never acted or felt like someone who relied on iPhone’s new maps, lost. This truck feels quick and it’s okay on the road but delivers off the road. The BF Goodrich’s give up easily on asphalt, but what do you expect from an all-terrain tire? Squeal away!
Off-road, the Xterra does amazing things to one’s confidence. First of all, I blew through the 45 miles in a little less than 5 hours and that was after spending a contemplative hour looking at a mountain range, eating Nutter Butters, drinking chocolate milk (the food I told Husband and Wife would get me through the night if I got stuck) while decompressing from the harrowing 1 hour ordeal I just had when I got a flat going up and over a small mountain range. I was probably going faster than I should have, but alas, I committed the cardinal off-roading sin, a rookie mistake if I say so myself: I failed to deflate my tires so as to not have overstuffed balloons waiting to find a sharp rock. And Daddy likes to over-fill them anyway, so I was in for it no matter what. Nevertheless, I changed the flat myself and circumvented the 100/hour tow fee. On the even ground, the tires and shocks and 4×4 components combine to make 50 or 60 mph come up with the quickness. The brakes did their job well to bring the truck down to a reasonable speed for taking blind corners, blind rises, and double blind 4 wheel drifts around blind bends. Okay, so I didn’t drift for real, but if I wanted to, I would have to turn off the nanny (Vehicle Skid Control), although, like all good nannies should, she allows a bit of tomfoolery.
I wish I could gush all day long but this driver has some gripes about the Xterra that simply would keep me from owning one (And it’s just me. Friends with Xterras don’t be offended!). First, the interior just seemed uninspired. But when you’re a 20 or 30 something that would rather spend a week in Yosemite backcountry vs. Park Avenue, that’s not a problem. I could do both. My SUV interior needs to do both. There was a lot of plastic inside. A lot. And lots of panels where switches and buttons would be if Mommy and Daddy upgraded to the Off Road trim, where the haughty taughty active 20s and 30s dwell. Upgrade and things like hill descent control, hill climb assist and fog lamps become part of your life. Off Road trim also gives you a fold flat front passenger seat for when you want to throw your wet muddy surf/snow board in the cabin (verses those wonderful roof racks?). But the lack of a sunroof option is a deal breaker for me. I’m addicted to them as I am a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which actually is standard on the Off-Road trim.
The gripes list isn’t too long. It concludes with things pertaining to the un-sprung. The tires are darty on grooved pavement (read Interstate 15 alongside the Las Vegas Strip), but that’s really a BF-Goodrich problem. Only thing is these tires were standard on 4×4 models so be prepared to say “No officer. I haven’t been drinking”. When the dirt gets really rough the back end tends to step out with or without provocation especially if you’re in mid turn. Attribute this to the live rear axle sitting under 70,000 miles worth of shocks. They will need to be replaced soon. The seats are beginning to look worn out, and honestly I had back pain after driving the car for the weekend. That’s a very personal gripe, but a gripe nonetheless. And while this SUV seems looming and wonderfully intimidating on the outside the back seat is snug and hard to get into due to the small door openings. But 20 and 30somethings won’t be putting much back there. They tend to sneak off to far away places in pairs verses parties of 4 or 5. The fronts are roomy and sufficient enough by far and this 6’ 2” frame never felt cramped while going through yonder. Speaking of Yonder…
The country tunes from Spotify colored my atmosphere while the blooming desert flowers colored a beautiful meadow towards the highest point of my drive (nearly 7000 feet). This is a great place to TAKE YOUR 4×4 OFF ROAD! You start in desert, ascend to a juvenile forest desperately trying to play with the big boy forests but not quite making it. From there a slight descent into meadows containing plants rare to the desert southwest, and back all the way down to desert floor, a short trip where the Xterra barely blinked. The dirt is its element and the dirtier it gets, the more it flat out shines.
– Fidz
(Photos of the drive on Photobucket soon!)
The Voice of a Novice Automobile Aficionado 