Comments on: Dogmobiles: Road-testing the Nissan Xterra

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:25:20 +0000

Gosh, you sound like my dad, who won’t let a Japanese car park in his driveway (but doesn’t have problems with German ones, strangely enough!)

“I don’t know why my kids insist on buying foreign cars!” he said when we all met for breakfast recently and I was talking about the Xterra.

We looked at him as if he were crazy. For the last nine years I’ve been driving a Plymouth Voyager. One brother drives a Ford T-bird, which replaced a Ford Mustang, which replaced a Pontiac something, which replaced a Jeep Wrangler. The other brother drives a Ford F-150, which replaced a Ford Explorer.

I mean … huh?

If you think only the Japanese cars are getting good reviews, you need to keep reading. I loved the Jeep Compass, Chrysler Town and Country, and the Ford Explorer. I hated the Nissan Murano as a dogmobile, and didn’t really enjoy it that much as a driver.

Now, I’ll grant you my favorite dogmobile is a Honda Element, but it’s a quirky vehicle that’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.
I look at each vehicle for its merits hauling the pups, and leave such things as price, reliability and your own sense of national pride for you to evaluate on your own.

By: Bubba Compass

Bubba Compass — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:31:38 +0000

One would think by reading this article that the only country building “dogmobiles” is Japan. When the currency manipulation ceases, and the Japanese companies allow labor unions into their plants, then maybe I will consider a vehicle from “Japan Inc.” Till then no way…

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:19:13 +0000

I have owned a Nissan Xterra since it first came out in 2000. The truck has treated us well. I compete in hunt tests, agility, earth dog, and obedience with my 5 dogs and am a full time professional trainer.

There are two things abotu my DOGTRUK (that is how my licence plate reads) That I HATE!:

1) You can not fit two crates big enough to accomidate my labs side by side for easy rear loading and un-loading. The space between the wheel wells is about 42” and it is just too narrow.

2) The back seats have to be removed and stored - STILL leaving an awkward angle not alowing the complete flat surface I would like to have for additional crates for back door loading and uloading of dogs.

I needed to be creative and have had to make platforms out of wood to level and fit all my crates. its a pain.

If I didn’t need 4 wheel drive I would be all aboutthe Honda Element. :)

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:52:19 +0000

Me and my 7 1/2 month old German Shepherd Dog have been drooling over the Xterra for quite some time. Well, OK.. I’ve been drooling over the Xterra since it came out, and I’ve trained Sasha well. LOL Went and test drove one the other day and fell in love all over. They’ve gotten quite refined in the past couple years and the ride is excellent. I last drove one about 5 year models ago and they were a bit bouncy and “SUV-feeling” then. I took the test vehicle around an Interstate on-ramp (cloverleaf) at 40 MPH with very minimal body-roll and sure traction on a freshly wet road. I’m just not able to convince myself of the price yet. So I’m back to looking at other options. My MIL has a Hyundai Santa Fe which they love. But they don’t carry dogs around. The cargo area (carpeted) is a bit smaller.. and while the Hyundai is supposed to be cheaper a comparably equipped Santa Fe (according to manufacturer website) is actually $200 MORE than the Xterra!? LOL So much for cheaper.