Help me decide....TRD Offload vs Pro4x

I understand this is a tacoma forum. I get it. But I am looking for help in deciding between these two trucks:



and



I used to have the frontier in automatic (2007). Loved the truck but it wasn't offered in manual back then. Now I am back in the mid size truck market and want a manual.

I used to have a Toyo SR5 V6 (1994). Manual. Awesome truck.

So I have known both companies and can be swayed either way.

I really like the tacoma and its styling.

Tacoma Pros:
- Look and styling
- Toyota Reliability
- After market options
- Maintains value

Tacoma Cons:
- I am not very excited about its engine.
- Drum brakes
- Cost

Frontier Pros:
- I actually like the styling and interior. I like that old school look and feel
- Engine
- Price

Frontier Cons:
- Bigger tires don't fit unless you get lift.
- Aftermarket is limited

Just looking for any ideas from Taco members.....

 

Buy the Tacoma.

 

Frontier clutches tend not to be the most durable.

 

I have an OffRoad with MT- I feel the engine with the MT is a great combo, once I learned how they work together. I enjoy driving it under all conditions, except for traffic.

 

Wait another year for the Ford Ranger return.

 

How does the rear passenger window open? side to side? That vertical strip would annoy the hell out of me over time I think

 

I'm not familiar with the offload model. Isn't that what you do when you trade it in?

 

If you can accept that this engine makes power in a higher rpm band, it's really got plenty of power.

 

Don't understand why you think rear drum brakes are a disadvantage.

 

You mention there is a price difference. How much cheaper is the Nissan compared to Toyota?

 

I didn't test drive a frontier because I'm not a huge fan of how it looks and the fact that it hasn't been updated in forever and I was buying new.

But for the tacoma, I have the offroad, 4x4 manual transmission. The engine is definitely sluggish at lower RPM'S, you absolutely need to keep them at 2.2-2.5k+. if you pull out of a driveway and shift into second leaving you at say 1.5k RPM (which is what the automatic likes to be at) you will be a snail even with the gas mashed to the floor, it feels as if you go nowhere for a good couple of seconds. The engine management in the truck seems a little quirky, but it's manageable with the manual transmission.

With the engine management and some other common nuisance issues, I'm not completely impressed with the Tacoma for day to day driving, especially for the price. I know others are happy with theirs but I notice a lot of small "what the hell, really?" issues in mine. Wind noise, dash rattles like crazy when cold, howling differential (that has already been replaced once), etc.

Now, with that said, the tacoma drives great offroad. I have loved all of my offroad driving with it and it handles really well. So, it's a definite positive there.

I see one of your cons is drum brakes in the rear. That isn't a con, there is no reason to have disc brakes on this truck.

If I knew now what I knew when I bought the truck, I would hesitate to buy it again. I am neutral, more on the satisfied side with it, but not thrilled.

You really, really need to test drive one for a very long time in a variety of situations before pulling the trigger if you are already on the fence. It can be nearly impossible to find a manual transmission on the lot here, but if you can find one by you test drive it and ask if you can do an extended test drive. Unfortunately, as I'm sure with many vehicles, you just start to notice more and more as you put some miles on it and the initial excitement wears off.

 

Spot on summary from @aero90

 

Have you seen the new ford ranger? ugliest plastic eyesore on the road. I loved my ranger. I ran her for over a decade. The only reason I shifted to a Tacoma is because of the butcher job they did on the new model. Still sad about that.

 

Frontiers aren't bad trucks and the new ones don't have many issues since they've been around so long. You can also get them pretty cheap with the Pro4x package and things like leather etc. What really kills me on the Frontier is the turning radius. The amount of room it takes for that truck to turn is absolutely awful.

 

There is no comparison. I drove both back to back and the Nissan is dated tech wise, looks dated, drives dated and is overall less capable. Not to mention resale between the two isn't even in the same ballpark.

The engine definitely has more torque but you're also guaranteed to never see more than 16 mpg unless you're a hypermile God.

 

As someone who traded in that era Frontier for the Tacoma, I find this question almost laughable. I mean, the Frontier was very good to me, but there is a night and day difference between the two. The Frontier is dated beyond belief. I mean, heck, I was a senior in high school the year the current Frontier came out. lol

 

Aero90 absolutely correct. I drove the Nissan and the Toyota prior to pulling the trigger. Unfortunately I could only drive auto versions of both; no manual Tacomas were available in Iowa or Northern Missouri for me to drive. There was a manual Frontier in Northern MO that I could have driven but it was 90 miles away from me; but in hindsight I should have made the trip and driven it. I actually liked the styling of the dual cab SB Nissan a bit better but the interior had a more "plastic" feel to me. I also think the aftermarket support for the Toyota is a bit stronger. Unless you can get an extended test drive (rather hard with the Tacoma at the time, perhaps it is better now) you kinda have to go with your gut. I felt the build quality of the Toyota was a bit better and the interior had a better layout so I went that direction. Both of the trucks I was looking at were very similar in terms of options, however, the Nissan dealer was really quoting me a good deal, I could get the Nissan out the door for $27K (it was a holdover 2015) whereas the Toyota was $32K out the door. A big consideration at that point was the resale value.

Did I make the right decision? Only time will tell, I really wish I would have driven both a bit more than a couple of test drives. I think both are fine vehicles. If you trade more often then the Toyota with it's better resale is the wiser choice. I really have not put enough miles on my Tacoma in the past year for any of it's quirks to really get on my nerves yet. I think the only real downside is the seating position is not great for long distances. But, again, that is not something that comes out in a 20-30 minute test drive when the excitement of new vehicle can cloud your otherwise good judgment. I am happy with the Toyota and do not regret buying it (yet).

 

Two words....value retention. Stick with the Taco and you'll be good.

 

Agreed. Wouldn't even consider a ranger. Now.... a manual Bronco with that ecoboost on the other hand would be something I would wait for....