Help me decide....TRD Offload vs Pro4x

This is very true and something I forgot when I owned mine.

 

No argument there.. I imagine that would be a very fun drive

 

OP I was in the exact same predicament except I was buying an automatic.(so my wife can use it also)
Test drove both, and almost bought a fully loaded white pro-4x.
The frontier had/has some crazy discounts available but the dealer I visited was playing too many games.
Like you I really didn't mind the more old school look & feel in a truck, it was definitely functional. (coming from an s10)

The big thing for me was really down to price, to get a fully loaded offroad Taco was going to be around 8-10k more.
It was tempting to save that kind of scratch, but I knew deep down I really wanted the Taco.

The biggest cons for me about the Frontier were the tech-age & the mileage.
If those things don't bother you it may be a great way to save some cash. (if you keep it forever)

The Taco obviously has tons of +'s that others have & will mention here.
I have only 1300 miles on mine, but so far have been very happy with my decision.
On the plus side I love the styling, interior & technology.
On the down side, the powertrain is not very exciting but it is functional.

It really depends on what your priorities are.
I think I could have been satisfied with the pro-4x had I got it for the steal that I wanted.
But in the end I'm glad I ended up with the Taco, either one was going to be a huge upgrade for me.

My advice: Go with your Gut, and don't skimp on options you think are cool... (you may regret it later)
Remember you are buying a NEW vehicle, if we were being 100% logical we would probably be looking used!

 

That is the international version, the US version being released in 2018 will most likely be styled different and catered more towards the American market. I see you are in Germany, so I know nothing about how easy/difficult it is for you to get American market vehicles.

 

Another suggestion I can give you OP is that you have an advantage now that there are used 2016's. The dealer may be more willing to let you drive a used one with a few thousand miles for a longer period. Some dealerships will let you go alone without a salesman there telling you every 2 minutes "Tacoma's are bulletproof." There are a lot of threads here with people posting their issues, some big, some small. Collect a list and look hard for all of them. Ask yourself if they are a big deal to you or not and if they are and show up on your new one, can you live with it every day?

Example:

1. My differential howling drives me nuts, other people just shrug and say it isn't that loud and they just turn up the radio.

2. The passenger side of my dash rattles like a 20+ year old truck before the dash heats up. Other people have noticed this and say it drives them crazy. Although I still feel it isn't acceptable, it isn't the end of the world for me, I just turn on the heater for a few minutes to warm it up. It is better than the other option of the dealer tearing apart the dash.

My point here is that two different people can have wildly different opinions on things and "issues." The best thing you can do is use the posts here on the forum to walk in educated on what to look for so you really know all of the ins and outs of the truck before you even get in it. Walk in skeptical and let the truck completely change your opinion and prove you wrong. If it can do that, then it is probably a safe buy for you.

 

I had a 2011 pro-4x before this new TRDOR. The Nissan was good to me but would only get me 16 mpg no matter what. It was a nice truck and to be honest there was no reason to get rid of it. I'm just a vehicle freak and really like the gen 3. Luckily for me it hasn't had any problems so far and the mpg is much better that my pro-4x. Either way you'll be ok IMO. If you decide on the frontier do it now because I think Nissan is going to change the body style in 2018 and it will look like a cousin to the ridgeline, but maybe you like that. Good luck

 

I test drove both... in manual. The Tacoma I said SOLD I'll take it and I didn't even get out of the parking lot at the dealership yet.

 

I also test drove both in manual. shifter in the Nissan didn't feel nearly as well and it was raining and the taco had no traction control problems. nissan scratched second and traction control killed any fun. boo.

 

After many Toyota trucks over the years I now have a 2010 Pro-4x 6spd. Take them both for a drive and decide what you like, they are very different trucks.

Some things I'll point out:

-Forward gearing is spot on but reverse is abnormally tall
-The OEM shifter leaves some to be desired but an aftermarket short throw is available
-The OEM clutch is said to be weak but I've seen how some people drive, Mine feels new
-The rear axle vent is still the same poor design but easily upgraded
-Pro4x tires are 265/75R16, the gearing is corrected to turn them. I've seen 255/85R16 tires on stock suspension and wheels.
-Traction/Stability control can be shut off with one button.
-Fuel economy with the 6spd is better than the automatic.
-Power from the 4.0L is very good, It will pull grades in 5th at 2000rpm with ease.

I feel like the aftermarket support is quite good, The D40 was sold worldwide. Beyond that there's a number of upgrades that can be done with OEM Titan, 350z and V8 Pathfinder parts like long travel suspension, bigger brakes, stronger differentials etc.

In the end it's what you prefer.

 

If you are even thinking about the frontier you need more than this forum . Start a new one Asking whats wrong with my Brain

 

I've driven a lot of Frontiers for work. They're a little bouncier than the Taco, and definitely noisier and all around less refined. They also don't hold value as well. You definitely have to weigh all the pros and cons. I could've gotten a Pro4x Frontier for a lot less than I paid for my Tacoma but I just couldn't justify it.

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the Ford Ranger has been coming back for years and some how never actually does. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.

 

my frontier-owning brother calls it the poor mans Tacoma

 

I dont understand the people who complain about the drum brakes. To me they are just brakes and when i push the brake peddle my truck stops just like it is supposed to do.

 

Not sure if mentioned. But dare gasp if you ever had too. Resell value of Tacoma > frontier

 

i was DDin' this weekend and ended up driving a friends frontier (cause their older and I'm not 21 yet) any ways; it was a real smooth ride at high way speed. BUT- turning radius was god awful, handling was not stiff enough and my 3rd gen def has more power. I know a lot of people think the 2016+'s are slugs but i found when i learned how the use the pedal it'll through your head back a little (in my opinion).

 

Thats the global ranger, the US version will look nothing like that, guarantee it.

 

and i'm with ya on pricing, my tacoma hurts my pocket but i wouldn't trade it for a frontier even if it meant my payments were 200 bucks less a month. just my 2 cents though good luck with purchase!

 

Nissan sucks. Just look at all their fails.

Fucked up the Pathfinder.
Killed the XTerra.
Cloned the Titan with a Ford F-150.
The Frontier is fugly.

The list goes on.

Buy the Tacoma or a 4Runner.

 

I am in the same boat as the OP. I have had three Tacomas (2000, 2009, 2012) and still have a 1995 4Runner, plus had a '70 FJ40, so I am a Toyota truck fan. That being said I appreciate the honesty of the last of the current Frontiers. Solid, durable, nothing fancy. I do have a 2010 Xterra as well, which has been faultless to date, but I really need a p/u, plus manual trans is a must-have. It will come down to OTD price, not resale value, and a Pro4X is about 31K whereas a TRD OR is about 33K (both are best pricing I can get). 2K is not an issue, but long-term reliability is key. Old reliable vs. newfangled and shiny.