Froniter Nismo 4x4 Comparison

Yeah.. The disks in the back are all exposed.. Drums are almost a sealed unit. Not to mention how much rear brakes actually brake.
Then there is the emergency brake on disks.. pain in the a%$..

 

the sticker price on the fronty was 25k....i bought it when they were offering an additional 5k hidden rebate to the dealers. I needed better gas mileage and 4wd...you can't get a frontier in 4cyl / 4wd configurations so off to toyota i went.

 

I work at a Nissan store and can buy the Frontier at way below cost - but, I bought a new Tacoma! What does that tell ya! The Frontier is a good truck, but the overall look of the Tacoma is way, way better. The look of the Frontier just doesn't do much for me. The option of a sunroof would be nice though!

 

Perhaps the Suzuki clone that is being sold has taken away from their reserve of extra vehicles. Another reason to not have a new Nissan, people will be asking 'how do you like your new Suzuki?'

 

maybe a conspiracy! no more Frontiers...just that Suzuki! That was the rumor, Nissan is getting out of the truck market. So maybe this is where Suzuki comes in. Interesting.

I have to admit I was surprised at how unwilling Nissan was to deal. Toyo dealers are desperate to move Tacos off the lot yet Nissan could care less yet some sucker bought that Pro4x. Why would they be in demand? Will they be discontinued come 2011?

 

had an 06 frontier just traded it in for the tacoma double 09
nisaan motor had to be replaced at 42,000 ,cats, fuel sending units
brakes suck over heat....

pros nissan
interior amazing, bed lights,miles to empty comp, programable door opener on mirror, auto lights, radio controls

tacoma cons
interior door panels suck too low......
radio is broken for the start
no sunroof
no roof racks

 

I looked at the Frontier when I bought my 08 Tacoma Access Cab.
The Frontier was a nice truck, I liked the trip computer (although I have put a ScanGauge in my Tacoma).
In 08 the Frontier had a better Audio Package (MP3, BlueTooth etc.) I couldn't beleive that Toyota waited until 09 to upgrade the Tacoma.

What drew me to the Tacoma (although I admit I was a bit biased as I had a 96 Tacoma) was that the rear seats on the access cab could be folded flat, making the loading area flat. The Nissan's seats where jump seats and the floor was not flat making it hard to load Coolers etc.
Another thing I didn't like about the Nissan was that the Access Cab door hings could be seen from the outside, the Toyota's lines look smoother (although I have a Cap now so I guess it's a moot point).

I personally like haveing drum brakes in the rear. They last forever, no brake dust, and the amount of stopping that is done by the rear brakes (espicially on a truck) I don't see the benefits of discs. Every car that I have had that has had disc brakes in the rear have been more trouble then there worth.
I agree that disc brakes are more efficient, I just don't agree that there a benefit on a light pick-up.

My uncle has a Frontier, and he likes it. I'm sure there good trucks, I just liked the Tacoma better.

Shawn

 

I had no idea Nissan used plastic/nylon guides on their timing chain nor did I know it was an eventual problem. I also traded a 2006 Frontier 6 speed 4x4 on my 09 Taco and must say I miss that truck at times. I had zero problems with the actual truck with the exception of that damn fuel gauge.

My truck developed a problem at 37k where the guage always read zero and the fuel light stayed on. I found it was a low fuel sensor and Nissan wanted 500 dollars to repair it saying they had to drop the tank to do so. I also found out that almost 100 percent of Nissans had this issue however they never issued a TSB nor a recall. When I questioned them on it they said the sensor was simply attatched to the fuel pump and not considered drivetrain (warranty).....The Nissan forums I researched showed thousands with the same issue however Nissan kept using the sub standard sensors years after knowing of the problem.

I salvaged one from a used wreck and replaced it my damn self. When the truck hit 60k I traded it quickly. I actually liked that truck and with the exception of the sensor had zero issues....however I refuse to drive a Nissan simply due to the makers BS and refusal to help a customer with an issue they should have handled years before.

As far as the Nissan was concerned the 6 speed matched with the big V6 was indeed a beast. It shifted smooth and in spite of what people say to me it still seems a little faster than my Taco. I believe the Nissan is heavier than the Taco so it most likely is slower in spite of more power. I loved the seats as they seemed to be more comfortable and did not show wear at all after 60k. When you shut the doors on my Nissan you could feel a vacuum and it sounded more solid. Many times I have to re-shut my Tacoma door as it often does not latch completely....seems a little flimsy.

I love my Taco and still have my old 99 Tacoma as well. The biggest issues with me and my new Taco are small, picky things. The stereo on my new Taco is simply shit....no way around it I hate this factory set up with that goofy ass sub box thing. The cloth section on the door is horrible and seems to attract dirt from nowhere. The factory seat material looks cheap and also attracts dirt from no where. No illumination on the 4x4 controls is piss poor I believe and just annoying. I hate the way the tailgate feels weak and flimsy and why do the access cab windows not flip out anymore??

On the other hand I believe when it comes to 4x4 performance the Taco is set up better. Better ground clearance, gearing, and just better suspension make it a solid truck when compared to Nissan. Plus thus far I have had no issues with Toyota as far as service goes. They did try to repair my stock stereo under the TSB however even now working correctly it is still shit.....at least they tried. They also replaced the suspension with TRD parts also under the TSB and it was all free....bravo I say and something Nissan should take note of. My Taco rides better and now I do feel a little better about the new cost of the Taco and miss my Nissan a little less each day.

I will also add that my Nissan was bought new in 06 and I paid a little extra with each payment. When I traded in 09 I owed 13k on it however the best book value I could find was 11k.....holy smoke that truck lost value quick even with me adding in a little extra each payment. The dealer did give me 500 dollars more than blue book as the trade was in mint condition. I still lost 1500 dollars and if not for factory cash back incentives would have been upside down in the deal. You will not see Toyotas losing that much value so again one more reason to miss that Nissan less.

 

so is there any truth to Nissan getting out of the truck business? Letting Suzuki take the Frontier design?

I heard the Titan was a failure. I know 2 guys at work that own a Pro4x, one as a Frontier and one as a Titan. Both claim no issues, awesome truck, and they were both Toyota Tacoma owners before who went to the dark side they had a lot of reasons for changing to the Nissan.

I admit I test drove a Frontier Pro4x fully loaded and was quite impressed, took it on their off road track behind the dealership. It wasn't a "real" off road track but they set it up for fun I guess (its actually a construction site). It was nice. Just waaaaaaaaay too expensive coming in at $35k and no deals. So I ran away from that. You think Nissan can not hold a value on any car, $35k, forget it!

 

I grew up with my dad owning a 70-something F150. I wished he kept it, I wanted it as a first vehicle

 

I'm not sure what the concern is on the plastic/nylon guides on the timing chains are.
Toyota did use them, and as far as I know they still do on their chain equiped vehicles.

The guides do wear, but by that time it's usually time for a new chain anyways.

Shawn

 

Last I heard was that Nissan was teaming up with Dodge and the titans were going to now be built in Mexico, instead of Tenn (or whereever that new plant was) But after the Bankruptcy everything was on hold....so I would guess the titan is dead but the Fonty will survive as MPG and diesel trucks make their way to the headlines in a couple of years.

 

All overhead cam chain timing system engines use nylon faces on either plastic, aluminum or steel guides. In the case of the Nissan cam-cam drive, it is a plastic face attached to a steel piston. It isn't unusual. What is not usually done is have the toes of an inverted tooth ('silent') chain run on that face.

 

I don't have a Nissan so I'll go for the Toyota part...

You can reduce significantly the valve noise (it's not valve noise by the way), there is a small mod where you put two o-rings for a sensor.

In canada we can get the leather interior, and the looks is way better IMO. For the button, you can always place some of the elsewhere.. A little bit of work but I plan on doing so.

I think the electric locker should be more protected from water and debris. Aside from that I think it's great.

unless you tow, you don't really need rear discs. off road the drum is easy to clean and it's protected. But yes I would have preferred discs too.

I think the exhaust routing is bad where it goes across. it's the lowest point on the truck and off road you bang it everywhere. I bought a skid plate for it, but I still think it should cross more towards the back.

 

I just came from an 03 Xterra, don't get me wrong, I loved that thing. It was tuff, I could go wheelin' in that thing all day long and never have to worry. With that said, that damn thing was not made for highways. It took way too much effort to get up to speed on the highways, I only got 12mpg at best, then again it was chipped with exhaust, intake and lift and tires, but still, a v-6 getting 12? It would be one thing if it was a power house but it was so poorly underpowered there was no excuse for that kind of mileage. Plus the front suspension was a joke. The idler arm and potman arm were shit, not to mention an exteremly weak center link. Sure I could flip a U-turn tighter than most Honda Civics but the steering was junk.
Coming to the Tacoma was a dream come true. the ride quality, the mileage, the power and not to mention, I bought a 2WD Taco and it has handled everything I have thrown at it when it comes to off-roading. I've heard the complaints of the PreRunners getting stuck all the time and I don't know, maybe it's just the driver and their ability to pick an approach angle, but I've done stuff in my Taco with 2WD that my Xterra could barely do in 4WD, and it was built for that crap.
I just went camping with a little pop-up trailer that I couldn't tow with my Xterra. My Tacoma not only pulled it just fine, but I was passing people going up the canyon! For the size, these things can tow!
All that said, I am a Tacoma man for life, unless I get a raise, then I may become a Tundra man...
I once heard that if the world ever comes to a nuclear war, all that will be left is cockroaches and Toyota engines!

 

I did a search, but can't find anything on this. Can you elaborate?

 

My truck gets a bath in salt every winter. My 2004 Dakota had a black interior and it did show the salt every winter. When clean, it looked sharp!

I absolutely like having a cigarette lighter. I use it to start fires (camp not forest) and cigarettes when I'm without a lighter. I don't smoke in the vehicle but I use when standing near it.

That is why I HATE the brake assist in the 09. Why downshift when going down a hill? It always does it at the wrong time. That drives me absolutely crazy! It makes the ride seem rougher and like I don't know how to brake - to unaware passengers it feels like you just slammed on the brakes halfway down a hill. Living in Western PA with a lot of hills, I experience this daily.

It also waits too long to shift when accelerating down a hill. If you let off the gas, the truck engine brakes and you can hear the revs. This is the one and only thing I hate about this truck. I wish it was something that can be fixed but I don't see that happening.

 

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/how-technical-articles/41859-tapping-idle-fix-w-pics.html

 

That's too much!

 

Just guessing, but it may have something to do with electronic stability if it's standard on the Nissans?