Taco versus Frontier

I had my Toyota blinders on when I bought my '14 but looking around and seeing how nice other trucks have gotten while toyota has basically just changed the front bumper and added a touch screen since 2005 I kinda feel some buyers remorse.

 

Please validate that point.

 

interesting that u dont feel as tho mitsubishi is the chrysler of the jap market since they share a great deal of components and appear to have similar models i.e. dodge stealth and 3000 and the dakota and raider. nevertheless i feel as nissan does have a leg up on mitsubishi and that would make mitsubishi the gm of japanese vehicles i suppose

 

Define what you and your friends call a "real truck" and also put prices with it.

This

 

When I was shopping for my Tacoma, I drove a new Frontier and a Tacoma back-to-back. I loved the Frontier and was VERY close to going that route instead of with the Tacoma. The Frontier felt more powerful (not by a lot, but enough to be noticeable), the fit/finish of the interior seemed a little nicer, there were a bit more creature comforts standard on the Nissan (heated seats/mirrors, power seats, better stereo), and I could get a brand new Frontier for less than a used Tacoma.

In the end I went with the Tacoma for a few reasons:
1) I like the styling better
2) Resale value
3) Aftermarket support
4) Though the interior doesn't feel as high of quality, the ergonomics are a lot better (to me)

 

I notice the same thing, but also on the highway. The Frontier had to downshift on grades at highway speeds that my Tacoma stays in 5th on. I assume that this has to be related to the 3.36 vs 3.73 gears and the extra weight the Frontier has to tote around. (and for what? The gas mileage I saw with that Frontier for the week I had it was identical to what my Tacoma gets)

It just felt weaker in every situation to me.

 

I had an 08 Frontier AC for 2 years and I hated it! It could the fact that it was an I4 but the interior to me was pretty basic, it had a stiff ride, the I4 compared to the Taco's I4 lacked in power, and the turning radius was absolutley horrid. As for the price, the Frontier was bought in 2010 for $17,500 with 38k miles on it. I got rid of it for an 08 Tacoma TRD O/R DCSB with 34k miles on it for $22k out the door. So for me the price of the Tacoma for what it was was a lot better compared to the Frontier. I've had the Tacoma for 2 years now and maybe I'm just biased towards it because I love it but after having a Frontier I don't think I'll ever get another Nissan truck. If I need a full size truck I'll probably just spend a little more for a Tundra compared to a Titan. Like I said though, I love my Tacoma and plan on keeping it forever so I could just be biased towards Toyota's in general. When my wife wants to get rid of her Rav4 I'm hoping that she'll want a 4Runner and not another Jeep, lol

 

The prices keep going up, or is it just that the value of the U.S. dollar is crap?

I love my new '14 Tacoma. Even if the body style is old, I still like the look over the Nissan.

 

I had Titan Pro 4X I bought new and it was in the shop 13 times in about a 2 year period. So i dumped it. I have sat in both and I personally like the Tacoma better myself but everybody has there own preference so buy what you like.

They are cheaper though because they are not as popular and do not hold their value like the Tacoma.

Also check out the problem they have or used to have with the coolant leaking in to the radiator.

Good Luck on your purchase!

 

I got to say though, when you compare the Pro-4X (equivalent to TRD/OR) Nissan goes further with making the enterior look a little nicer. However I'm not sure if Nissan offered something like the A-Trac feature in the Tacoma?

Also one really, really annoying feature I did not like on my '08 Frontier, was Nissan's (non-defeateble Four-Wheel Brake Limited Slip in models below (Pro-4X or Nismo Off Road) My '08 was a middle of the road SE (I think it's called SV now) but equiv to Toyota SR5, was 4x4 but if you got stuck or started to you could not turn off the four wheel electric limited slip.

So the effect in snow or sand, was that you floor it and the ABS would kick in and keep tires from digging. Absolutely the worst feature when you are near getting stuck. You could however turn it off if you had a Nismo or the later Pro-4X.

 

I'm not crazy over my '13 Tacoma nor am I looking at replacing it anytime soon. Time will tell. I'm not a brand loyal. Show me better bang for my bucks and I'll not hesitate doing business with whoever.

 

Also forgot the Frontier owners manual strongly recommended the use of Premium fuel. I tried both and felt no performance gain from it, but it did ping like a SOB when on 87 octane.

 

The Frontier has not had any changes since '05 either except minor cosmetic. I had an '06 Frontier. That thing was a pig. The gearing sucked especially around 45 mph. Not to mention turning radius sucks but not as bad as resale value. I paid around $24K for it, when I traded it for the Tacoma in '12, I got $10K for it with around 65,000 miles on it. That truck was nothing like my '96 Hardbody....wish I still had the '96.

 

I'm a Nissan guy, have been for 20+ years. My last truck was a Titan crew cab Offroad. the only reason I went with a Tacoma was resale. Frontier and Tacoma are equals.

 

Get your flame suit on.

 

I also looked at the Frontier, that's about all I did.
My wife tried to get me to buy one, no doing.
I wanted the taco and that's what I got, had to order it, worth the wait.

 

next spring you will see them. that is now certain.

 

Can only speak in generalities - both from experience, but mostly from being friends with a mechanic who specializes in Japanese cars - the Nissans simply do not hold up as well - hit 100Kish and the Nissan's TEND TO have problems... again, not sure how this works with these specific models. Found it to be true with an xterra and a pathfinder.

 

You might see pics of a final product, but I wouldn't expect the '16 to hit showrooms until a traditional fall release.