Nissan Frontier?

[cliffsta]

So I just sold my '81 Chevy and I'm trying to sell my '99 Honda Accord... I really like the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X. I narrowed my choices down to the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X and the Toyota Tacoma TRD. The Frontier makes more power, has 4-wheel disc, and looks meaner, but the Toyota is def. more popular around town. Prices (according to manufacturer's websites) are pretty much comparable..

What's y'alls opinions? I'm leary of the 'yota with all their recent problems, though I know they used to be great trucks. I've been talking to the truck salesman at the Nissan dealership, but I plan to swing by the Toyota dealership as well.

[rwolf9653]

My opinion is that this is a six of one and a half dozen of the other. Both have a long history of reliability so for me it would come down to the creature comforts like options and overall comfort of the interior, and warranty. My father in law has a frontier and the orange guage lights really bother me for some reason.

[Otsa580]

I really dig the Tacoma's.

[old Rusty C10]

i drove one recently and didnt like it. I felt the seats were too hard and the cab wasnt ergonomic. That being said, its only my particular opinion... id see which one you prefer... Personally i think a toyota is better than a nissan any day..If youre looking for a good reliable small truck, how about a ranger... I love mine

[Stocker]

It's been 5 years since I compared them (we bought a 2005 Tacoma) but here's what I remember about double cab trucklets.

Tacoma's rear seat much bigger & more comfortable, rear windows roll all the way down -- not so in Frontier. Tacoma's headlamps more powerful than Frontier. IIRC, Frontier's frame is more fully boxed than Tacoma. Also, Frontier has a real tailgate, where Tacoma's is a thin skin that buckles easily with too much weight on it. It's light & easy to open/close, though.

Dunno about Frontier's suspension, but Tacoma's rear springs are notoriously weak -- OK if you never carry weight, but there have been TSBs, and a lot of guys replace them with aftermarket springs. Many Tacomas have cruise control that is so sensitive they'll drive you crazy. I rarely use mine.

If you are looking at new trucks, the rear springs and tailgate issues may be a thing of the past....

I think they are both good trucks, and if Tacoma hadn't existed, I'm sure we would have bought a Frontier. rwolf9653 mentioned orange dash lights, and Tacoma has them too. I thought I would hate them, but just the opposite -- they are very easy to read at night (turned down low) and are not distracting or hard on the eyes.

[cliffsta]

Well I'm getting the King Cab which is the cab and a half (as opposed to the full crew cab) cause I'm only 22, I don't have any children (I hope). Figures-wise the Frontier has more cabin space, though my friend has a 2010 Tacoma with the full double cab and it was VERY roomy. I have read the interior pieces in the Nissan are pretty cheasy as with all compacts but I'm very gentle on interiors so that shouldn't be a problem.

I don't care for the Ranger. Too small and too old. My dad had one as a work truck and if I was simply buying a work truck they're ok, but I like the larger size of the Japo trucks.

After driving with the brighter-than-day stereo in my Honda, I don't mind bright interior lights, so long as daytime visibility doesn't suffer. Only hauling I plan to do is dirt bikes in the bed or a small trailer for the bikes.

My uncle had a Titan a few years ago and it was beautiful.

Thanks for y'alls opinions, please keep them coming with real-world experience.

[jb1016]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

I have read the interior pieces in the Nissan are pretty cheasy

^What I was gonna say. Feels cheap inside.

[vectorit]

I have run around in the yoda 4x4 PU's since my first 83, then 87, then 96, and now an '02 extra cab TRD 4x4.

The 2nd gen '02 is a solid reliable little truck! Mine is a 5 speed with a manual low/high T case shift, and being a TRD it has an electric rear locker in the axle. The engine is the FI v6 all stock, and it does great as far as power and mileage.

The new 3rd gen Taco's are to big IMO, and they are full of silly gadgets and too much plastic through out the truck.

If I were you, I would hunt down a cherry 2nd gen Taco. You won't be disappointed you got one over the 3rd gen, since they are smaller and IMO it's more reliable.

Go onto a Taco forum, and it will seem like all the 3rd gen guys do is wine about all the stupid issues they go through with them. While the 1st and 2nd gen owners revel in the well known reliable toughness these trucks are known for.

I purchased mine new, and have never had to do anything to it except for change the oil. (Still on the same plugs, battery, and tires).

On the Nissan, I don't have much to say bout them. Though I did rent a Pathfinder once, and though it was cushy it was a pig on gas (v6)

Oh FWIW, I just had to get mine smog tested to renew the registration. It passed easily, and the tech went over the diagnostic report my truck produced through his equipment. He said that my truck is still well below the limit the EPA regulates on, and he went on to say that he see's these trucks all the time and that they are always an easy pass. Though he did tell me that I should plan on replacing the plugs, and I told him they were still the originals - He just laughed, and said that just proves his point that he told me that they are solid performers when it comes to passing the smog test.

[oldblue1968chevy]

toyota ftw definitely! GREAT cars! Or trucks..They are gettin' a bad rep right now with the pedels...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Owned a 2005 Double cab tiny bed prerunner for almost 5 years. Won't own another one. They stopped making a good truck in 2004.

[cliffsta]

I used to LOVE the early 2000s Toyotas. My uncle had a Tundra back then, TRD, it was super nice. I just don't want to go from a 99 car to a 2000 truck. I'd rather get new since I'm about to graduate college and tackle the world. The plastics don't bother me too bad cause everything in my Accord has held up great. Tinting the windows first off and keeping it clean seem to make plastic last a good while.

Anyone else have experience with the Frontiers and Toyotas? The Frontier makes more power... anyone driven one or both of the new V6 trucks?

Soon as my car is sold I pretty much need to get one then LOL

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

The Frontier makes more power... anyone driven one or both of the new V6 trucks?

I have heard -- dunno if it's true -- that in spite of claimed HP, Tacomas are at least as quick as Frontiers. When we test drove both trucks back in 2005, I could not detect any noticeable difference in power between them. I can say for sure that Toyota's 4.0L V6 makes plenty of power. I have also read that in real-world driving (comparing V6 trucks), Tacomas typically get better fuel mileage, something on the order of 2 to 3 mpg.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Our biggest dissapointment with our truck (it was supposed to be my wife's, but I put about 80% of the miles on it) was the fuel mileage. The original EPA sticker was 18/22, but the revised rating (from the 2008 revisions) is 16/21. We were honestly hoping to average at least 19mpg or so with it. Not even close. With driving around our area which is pretty much city-ish stop and go, the best it could do was the low 15's. For the exact same driving my Z71 4x4 gets 13.5-14. We took a lot of highway trips with it. We went to FL twice, Charleston, and NC a bunch of times. It ranged from the low 19's to around 20.5. All 100% highway. Again, my Z71 can get 18 easy on the highway. I used to own 3 different old yota trucks (all 1986) and all 22R 5spd trucks. They all easily got low 20's city and high 20's highway. I know it's completely different trucks, with 4 bangers, from a different era, but I had hoped Toyota had the fuel mileage thing figured out.

The truck was a DC prerunner (4x2) with the 4.0L V6 5spd auto. If you look at cost/size/power/fuel economy, if you want a mid-size crew or ext cab V6, your not too much "worse off" by buying a 2wd Full size truck. The only place these trucks shine in price and economy are the base model 4 cyl reg cab/ex cab versions, IMO.

BTW, I think the Nissan is a much better looking truck

[cliffsta]

I agree, the Frontier looks more truck-like than the new Tacoma. I want 4x4 since we go to the woods alot riding dirt bikes and just playing around. I'd love a fullsize 4x4 but the pricing just gets too out of hand. I can get a loaded midsize 4x4 (yota or NewDatsun) for the same price as a very basic fullsize of any brand, plus fuel economy. Yeah the V8s make massive power again, but 260hp and 280ft/lbs is mooore than enough to haul the dirt bikes and merge into traffic, or pull out another midsize truck.

Plus its kinda a vanity thing, too. There's 293874832974 Tacoma TRD trucks around town, and I have yet to see a PRO-4X or even a 4WD Frontier period. Only ones I see are work trucks, or the glorified-car luxury LE models. Though I have gotten up close with one at the mall parking lot, and it looked like a solid truck, bed and whatnot.

Thanks so much for these real-world opinions, guys. That's why I love this website and still come back 7 years after joining, even when I don't own a classic anymore.

[big_al_71]

TOYOTA are still the best and no problems have been determined so far. We have had over 5k vehicle go thru our service dept and we have yet found one with any issues. The drivers are issues...just like that prius scammer.....
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...NewsCollection

best resale value/ best quality nobody builds anything remotely close to what toyota offers in every class...good luck with your descision. If you need any help buying one let me know and my sales manager can help you out with a brand new one if you decide thats the route you would like to go.

[djinva]

I am a GM guy, I would go with a Colorado. My next door neighor has one, over 200k and it looks and runs good. He uses it around the coal mines and it has been used on some rough roads. I have 2 S-10s and I love them, one zR2 x cab and one 4cy 5sp with 205k on it.

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by djinva

I am a GM guy, I would go with a Colorado. My next door neighor has one, over 200k and it looks and runs good. He uses it around the coal mines and it has been used on some rough roads. I have 2 S-10s and I love them, one zR2 x cab and one 4cy 5sp with 205k on it.

x2 but the early 2000's yota tacomas are pretty good.

[cliffsta]

The 4x4 Colorado is a better looking truck than the Tacoma IMHO but unless you spring for the V8 the power isn't there, and my dad doesn't care much for his Colorado work truck (his new truck after the Ranger). The way I had the small trucks ranked initially was 1. Frontier 2. Tacoma 3. Colorado 4. Ranger 5. Dakota...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Knowing more what you're looking for... NISMO ex cab 4x4 gets my vote.

[screwballl]

With a father in law that has a Frontier with more issues than usual vehicles should... and a brother in law with the same type of Toyota with more issues than usual, I tend to believe that we as consumers are better off finding a classic 4x4 1500 truck with something like a 302 to 383 and enjoy the same gas mileage and more power then either the Nissan or Toyota can provide.
As an owner of a 04 Dodge Durango myself, maybe a newer Dakota with the 4.7L V8 would fit in that budget as well. Also the Dakota has for the past 10 years outranked most (not all) other mid size trucks LINK to JD Power site

[cliffsta]

Well, whichever I decide to get, I'll be sure and post pics here in GD. I've been watching Youtube vids of people wheeling and mudding in stock PRO-4Xs and demolishing fullsize trucks in hillclimbs

[jay_shy]

I have a 09 tacoma TRD sport. Had it for a year and a half. It is the 4.0 V6 automatic. I get just under 21 MPG on a regular basis. I drive 60 miles a day to work. Check out www.tacomaworld.com and www.toyotanation.com Alot of useful info on those sites.

I checked out both the tacoma and the nissan and even consumer report rates them about the same. The Tacoma was more appealing to me. I am very pleased with my decesion and would buy another tacoma.

One last note, I have hauled plenty in my truck and it handles it great. For instance I hauled 1450 lbs of top soil home today with no problems.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Jason