Jealous much? (taco hunting frontiersman)

^ i've never seen that abortion either.

 

Wouldn't bad if he took off the wrap.the shit is way to busy and those stops don't really fit the "offroad" theme.

 

Long term Frontier King Cab 4X4 VS Tacoma Accescab 4X4 test


Having owned both new models of truck, and seeing all the Frontier vs. Tacoma topics I thought I would post a long term comparison of the two vehicles. Both are extremely refined tucks. Gone are the days when a truck was a utilitarian vehicle primarily used to haul cargo from jobsite to jobsite. Having owned the two trucks I have learned how differently refined they are. It seems to me that Nissan spent their time and effort on the engine and handling while Toyota put theirs into the ride, interior comfort and features.

The Frontiers engine is smoother and quieter at all rpm than the Tacomas fast revving 4 liter mill. Driving the Frontier particularly on the highway makes this trait very evident. My first highway drive in the Tacoma I found its 4.0L engine sounded a bit loud and somewhat crude at cruising speeds compared to the VQ engine in the Nissan.

The refined shoe goes on the other foot though immediately once you climb into the cabin of the Tacoma. The Toyota has a far more refined interior and a better ride. The seating position in the Tacoma although lower I find more comfortable and the extra leg room is appreciated. Also appreciated is the telescopic wheel,and a console arm rest that is long enough for short arms to use comfortably on the highway. On the topic of arm comfort the Toyota has much more comfortable arm rests and console. I found the Nissans interior scratched up quite easily,far too easily actually. The stereo in the Toyota sounds noticably better to that in the Frontier, the cruise control and stereo controls on the Tacomas leather wrapped steering wheel are a bit nicer to use than that in the Nissan. I prefer the action of the shift gate and leather wrapped shifter on Toyotas automatic transmission. The Tacoma just has a nicer more featured interior. The Frontier does offer a leather interior, and sunroof not offered by toyota,and it has heated mirrors and a oil pressure guage too.

Both my Frontier and Tacoma are/were extended cab models and I find the extra rear room in the Tacoma an asset. The rear seating in the Tacoma is roomier, an adult would be far more comfortable in the back of the Access cab than the Frontier King Cab. The Toyotas storage bins built into the bottom of the seat trump the little box the Nissan has under the rear seats.

The Tacoma's plusher interior is cavernous compared to the spartan interior the Frontier offers


The Tacoma is a nicer riding vehicle, it has a nicer ride than the Frontier, it feels almost carlike compared to the ride of the Nissan.While the Tacoma has a nicer ride the Frontier is a better handling truck. Run them both down a twisty road and the Nissans superior handling is evident. The Frontier is no sports car but it feels well planted in corners and is more confident at speed and has better manners than the Toyota exhibits in the corners

Regardless of what Edmunds test said the Tacoma does not tow as well as the Frontier, the extra torque from Nissans very refined 4.0 liter engine makes it a better tow unit. Despite giving up some power to the Nissan I find the Tacoma accelerates faster, most noticeably from a dead stop. The Tacoma engine seems to rev faster and stay in the sweet spot of its power band better than the Frontier does and it's tranmission seems to shift a bit quicker too. Fuel mileage is about the same with both having 4.0 liter engines. Both trucks have more than enough power to rip up any hill and neither trucks tranmission hunts around on grades.

Once you are moving you have to stop, the Frontiers 4 wheel discs have better feel than the front disc/rear drum set up the Tacoma comes with. The Toyota brakes feel soft in comparison to the set up in the Frontier.Don't miss read this the Tacomas brakes work well, they just lack the feel the Frontier has.

Off road is a pursuit I do not take too seriously, however I do go off road a bit and really do not find one truck to be any better than the other. Both have gone through anything muddy or rough I have pointed them at with equal ability. In sand however the lighter weight of the Tacoma makes it a bit easier to wheel. While the Nissan may have more ground clearance, the Toyota offers better approach and departure angles. Six of one....
pictures of both my trucks, both with 2 1/2 inch leveling kits and 18 inch tires and wheels


I prefer the composite bed in the Tacoma, that said I am certain its tailgate will not support much of a load . I think the Frontiers utilitrack system is superior to the sliding plastic hooks Toyota provides. I would feel more confident about a motorcycle tied down in the bed of the Nissan than the Toyota. I do like the Toyotas in-bed storage compartments they are great for storing tie downs or small items. The in-bed power converter the Tacoma has is a feature every truck and SUV should come standard with, having power at the tailgate for a tool or charger is very handy .

The airbox on the Nissan is easier to service and easier to modify if you are looking to cut it open to gain a bit more power or mileage than Toyotas . On the other hand the dipstick and oil filter on the Tacoma are easier to access than the Nissan. Whom ever designed the dipstick and oil filter on the Nissan was obviousy a sadist. There is better aftermarket support for the Tacoma than the Frontier, and for what it's worth my butt dyno says the Tacoma responded better to an AFE intake than the Frontier did.

I think this covers the differences on these two fine trucks, every test has to have a winner and a loser and in my opinion the Nissan Frontier is the winner. The Toyota is far more comfortable as a daily driver,has more features and is a bit quicker,but Nissan holds the winning hand with its better handling, braking, towing and loading capabilities,they are trucks and IMO the Nissan has the stronger cards in this area.

Final score

Nissan 100
Toyota 99

 

Didn't expect that on a Tacoma forum. I agree with some valid points, the Tacoma is a nicer inside and more creature comforts. We have a 00'' Tacoma (350k miles on it), 08' Frontier, and an 10'' Tacoma.

I feel not only is the utility track better in a Nissan, there are also 2 more tracks (on the bed floor), and metal clets/tracks. think the Nissan bed liner is more durable of the 2. I agree, I don't like strapping my stuff down to the plastic tracks/clets. They may be strong as hell, but its just a weird feeling.

Run them both down a twisty road and the Nissans superior handling is evident. The Frontier is no sports car but it feels well planted in corners and is more confident at speed and has better manners than the Toyota exhibits in the corners

Thats the box frame I think all the way. Nissan is more of a truck ride vs the comfy Tacoma.

I also like the Tacoma's rear back up camera, its plug in the bed, the under the seat compartments are better. Nissan does have the 2 glove boxes though. I think TRD exhaust also sounds a little meaner. Braking is more solid in the Nissan. Stereo is better in the TRD, but I'm comparing my TRD vs non TRD version of a Nissan, so I know Nissan offers better stereo's in LE trim line.

Each are great trucks. Its tuff to beat a Nissan at the price they go for. Put 10k down on the Tacoma and its just a little less per month as 100% financed Nissan. (also a TRD vs standard Nissan)This is our 1st Nissan and we'll see if it will last like the 00'' Tacoma, heck even if the 10'' Tacoma lasts like the 00''.

 

I have to agree %100 on the utilitrac statement. The track system in the Titan (same as frontier) was far far far more solid and the two tracks on the bed floor are sweet.

 

lol who needs track systems and railings? My bed has no railings, no track systems, no tail gate, and my bed is cut for reay long travel, and I still hauled a full size side-by-side fridge, washer and stove in one trip

 

^owned

 

You also look like you just left Tijuana.

 

Your tails aren't really taped in?that is pretty bad.maybe start a build thread just on the tail. Lol

 

tails as in tail lights? If gone thru 4 tail lights just from breaking the mounts. If you ever go off roading with LT guys, you will notice they always take their tail lights off when off roading.

Its not that I dont have them mounted right, its that they are broken from off roading and, instead of buying new ones just because the mounts are broken, I tape them on.

 

Oooooooohhhhhhhhhh i see.

 

yea, i actually broke my driver side tail light lower mount during the wheeling trip on saturday. Not its only hanging on by the top mount. Oh well, time for some clear packing tape to hold it on

Some LT guys actually fiberglass over their tail light onto their bedsides so its all one piece. I want to read into that some more.

 

I was going to say mold them or epoxy they in

 

Don't you ever see those trucks on the 5 heading south with like 50 washer and dryers in their beds?

Why don't you fab them into a bumper?

 

the tail lights? Im going to, along with a tire carrier, but I ran out of money

 

Yeah this hobby will do that to ya!

 

this one of yalls?

 

lol that looks silly, a massive front end with a little square cab and then a fat ass

 

Not familiar to me. There are only 2 1st gen prerunners that I know of. Could be an older member though, but I don't frequent the 1st gen section that much.