Test Drove a new Frontier...

Waited for a windy day for the test drive as I wanted to compare how the Frontier handled crosswinds on the interstate. The Frontier is much better than the Tacoma and I have installed a rear sway bar on mine!

Most everything else about the Frontier I don't like as well as the Tacoma. I do like the factory coated bed and the rail system.

1. The steering feels very heavy and numb.
2. Even though the Fronty has more HP is seems sluggish
3. The Taco is more fun to drive...feels more nimble.
4. The armrest is too far back

 

one of my coworkers just got an 06 or 07 Frontier and kept going on about how our trucks were pretty much the same. I said "no, i drive a tacoma"

and that is the end of my post.

 

Was the Frontier the Pro 4X package? My Nismo 4x4 did feel better planted than the Tacoma. For some reason I always think that the steering feels looser (squirrlyt) and I feel a little less confident on pavement. I think a lot of it has to do with the Frontier's fully boxed frame.

I'm surprised that you said the Frontier felt sluggish. Mine was a beast and would break the tires loose at a 20 mph roll. It did have a lot less top end though, the Tacoma seems to have more pick-up at the upper end.

I also liked the spray-in but it faded and there was at least one spot where rust was growing underneath and it seperated from the bed.

 

mine was pepy as well

hell my tailgate was 80lbs heavier than the taco's

 

Trying to park a Frontier is like turning a semi.

 

Much heavier. Their added HP does not really make up for it.

 

fuly boxed frame.....

 

I test drove a Frontier before buying my Yota and I wasn't that impressed. First thing I really didn't like was the seats. I drove the SL, they didn't have the Pro X which was what I wanted to test drive and the SL I drove wasn't even a 4x4 which is what I told them I wanted right off the bat. Didn't even notice until we got back from the test drive and was checking out the guages and dash when I noticed there was no 4x4 switch. When I mentioned this the salesman stated they didn't have a 4x4 on the lot. Anyway, the other things I noticed was that the truck seemed small, the Taco to me feels a bit bigger. Not sure about demention differences. The seats really bugged me as I felt like I was sliding all over the place and unlike the Taco's bucket seats, I felt like the opposite as if the edges dropped down instead of giving support. Of course they were leather. As far as power it did feel peppy but not enough so to sway me to the Nissan. The ultimate factors with the Taco were mpg's, size, liked the way it drives better, and it just felt like more of a truck. Nissan positves were more for the money as I could have got leather and a sunroof for around the same price as the Taco. I am happy with my decission, just wish that Toyota offered leather/sunroof. I know you can get leather but never found one with it and are hard to find.

 

^and a metal bed where we have a composite bed

 

only good thing about nissan..the frontys sit on the lot with superchargers on them..tacomas, i havent seen one.

 

I like the H.P. and the inside of the nissan but the outside is dog do. Pal got a new one in 08 he still loves it. The inside trim is starting to fade from the Fla. sun but overall no trouble to talk about. He likes our tacos but thinks they are overpriced and the dealers wont come down. Hes right!!

 

I test drove a Frontier and I liked it a lot actually. It was a nice truck. Now, maybe I would feel differently 100k miles down the road, but I would have felt comfortable buying the one I test drove.

 

What years did Tacoma's have fully boxed frames? Just wondering.

 

That's right -and 9 x-members it's a tank!
EDIT-excuse me, 8 x-members..but still a tank!

 

My old man swears by the frontier. He had a 1988 Nissan hardbody pickup and now a 1999 frontier. He hasn't had to replace any parts on either and the hardbody was over 200k when he sold it.

 

If I dont die before I need a new one Im going to a least Look at and drive a nissan. Will have to look alot better then the ones now. Looks are what kept my from looking in 07-08. Taco and frontier are up for much needed makeover in a year or two... Jim

 

I had an 08 Frontier Long Bed. I had the TBS, Hypertech programmed and CAI.
That thing would haul and I was getting around 24 MPG but I still love my Tacoma more.
I do miss the MPG though.

 

Ok, ok, so you have dabbled on the Nissan dark side. Keep it on the dl, for crying out loud, this is a Tacoma (Toyota) forum Well, ok, my wife has owned nothing but Infiniti (Nissan). No problems to speak of, but I have owned nothing but Toyotas. And trucks only, I don't really like cars. They carry people, and I don't like people