Warning, long post! This is a collection of random thoughts, primarily on this topic.

I'll admit the primary reason I bought my X is because I think they look cool as heck. To that, I don't think there are many here who would disagree, or we'd all probably be on some other board extolling the virtues of our other desired brand of truck.

I obviously did not buy it for the gas mileage. That's a pretty well worn subject on here, so I'll leave it at that.

I did buy it because, even in 4x2 form, it has superb ground clearance and pretty good approach and departure angles. I did intend, when I purchased the X, to take it off-road some, but realize that with only two driven wheels, there would be many limitations.

For example, living in Alabama, our clay-based soil dries pretty quickly to a fairly firm, if not rock-hard, consistency. Once it rains good, though, look out. When they were building our house, I drove into what is now my back yard with my old F-150 (4x2) and immediately sunk it to the diff in mud. Lots of rocking and wheelspin eventually got it out, but lesson learned.

A similar lesson was learned in the same F-150 when I was doing a turnaround in some loose sand and immediately dug down in about six inches in and got stuck on LEVEL ground. Second lesson learned. (Funny side note - I dug myself out of that situation with a plastic oil funnel!)

Now I'll admit, I love looking at the pictures of the 4x4 guys climbing over rock strewn paths, plowing through foot deep mud and two foot deep water holes, climbing steep inclines, balancing on rutted surfaces with one wheel hanging freely in the air.

I'll also be the first to admit that my 4x2 would be hopelessly stuck in all of those situations. There is simply the sheer physics of turning (most of the time) all four wheels with power that makes those applications possible for a 4x4 and improbable with a 4x2.

Sure, I could probably take my 4x2 and clamber up a muddy incline, but only by utilizing momentum and sheer luck (and terribly damaging the trail in the process, and possibly bits of undercarriage).

On the other hand, there is a certain challenge of taking my 4x2 and finding it's limits, in the same manner that others with 4x4's attempt to find the limits of their vehicles and/or the modifications to their vehicles.

I'll never pretend that I could ever keep up with any 4x4 vehicle in particularly rough terrain for which only the 4x4 vehicle should be traversing.

By the same token, I'll never try to be a wannabee by throwing good money at items intended more for a 4x4 rig, such as lifting my rig, throwing on 31" or 32" mud tires all around and so forth. (I have, admittedly, considered having an air locker installed, since the factory LSD fairly sucks).

Anyways, bottom line is that some folks buy a 4x2 Xterra solely on looks. Others on room (if you look at some of the other similar sized SUV's on the market, they either have a much smaller cargo area, less rear seat room, or both).

Many buy a 4x4 Xterra to go off-road, and I applaud those that do. Get out there and get 'em dirty - you're getting the most bang for the buck, in my opionion. On the other hand, I wonder how many mall cruisers are running around with a front diff idly wasting away.

A final note. I took my X in last week to get a faulty power window switch assembly replaced (and my diff fluid changed). While waiting for my wife to pick me up, I browsed the lot and looked at the new '03 X's. Out of about a dozen X's on the lot, one (1) of them was a 4x4.

That's somewhat of a sad commentary in and of itself. On the other hand, that means there will be eleven new X owners in our area not wasting good front diff hardware running to Lowes and the mall.

By the way, I'd trade up to a 4x4 if it were economically feasible for me to do so. I've been pricing used 4x4's, and they're still about $3k to $4k more than what I paid for my 4x2 ($15k to $16k vs. the $12k I paid for mine), with more miles on them.

Maybe when mine turns over 60k miles and drops completely out of warranty, I'll look into it again. Until then, I'm having fun, and that's what counts, in my opinion. (It also doesn't hurt that my X is completely paid for).

Whether you bought your X for carrying the family around on paved roads, or for rock-crawling through the North Carolina forests or squeezing through impossibly tight squeezes in Utah or Colorado, have fun, stick around, enjoy the pics, ask some questions (use the search function first, though), share your experiences and knowledge with others and try to get along.