Talk me out of a Frontier

Looking at buying a used Frontier or Tacoma with a budget of 26k with 28k really pushing what I want to spend. Looking for short bed, auto, v6, crew cab.

Problem is I can find great deals on Frontiers:

2016 Certified Frontier PRO4X 30k miles for around $25k. PRO4X versionis loaded with rear locker, sun roof, upgraded sound, etc.

Looking at Tacoma’s I am lucky to find an SR5 2012-2014 under 60k miles in my price range. Forget certified or TRD Off Road which I would love.

Seems easy to go for the Frontier but what am I missing? I think I like the Tacoma a bit better but dollar for dollar the Frontier is a ton more truck.

Any insight in this would be great, I am sure some of you looked at both trucks when you were buying, thanks.

 

Both can take you to 300k miles.

Get what you like.

 

You can talk anyone out of a Frontier as long as the cellphone signal stays strong. GPS is handy too.

 

I sold a 2007 Frontier I bought new after 150k - I have a Taco sr5 dblcsb 2013 that I have put 20k on.

Frontier that year anyway more spartan interior, but roomier Cab, bigger back seat, lockable gate, stronger gate, better bed tiedowns. Imho a better bed hauler than the Taco.

Happy with taco but frontier is a good truck. I expect taco to be more durable -

 

My 09 Tacoma has more room than any truck I have ever owned. I am 6' 6" and still can stretch my legs straight If you are off roading there is no better truck in the world-period. I have have driven them all off road since 1975 in southwestern colorado. Also mine rides like a lexus on the highway. Toyota the most dependable and reliable trucks in the world.

 

I just had a Frontier as a rental last week in LA. It’s not a bad truck by any means, but it was one of the most uninteresting driving experiences I’ve ever had. Simple interiors, not a lot of features.

It’s a decent truck, but it’s not a Tacoma.

 

I had the same issue in 2005 when looking at both. Ended up going with Frontier NISMO (same as current Pro 4) for way less. The interior wasnt terrible, in fact my 13 Taco isnt remarkably better.

It was a great truck only sold it becuse i needed a full 4 door instead of the extended cab. It handled great, was comfortable, and the VQ engine is a rocket.

Id rock another Frontier.

Drive both and buy what you like better.

 

As said above ... drive em both.

I was in the same boat... looking at a Tacoma or a frontier to replace my 01 Tacoma. I drove a frontier and hated it. Didn't like the power delivery or the ride (too soft).

Drove the Tacoma and felt right at home

 

Frontier is boring - true fact.

 

It's a Sneezeon, Get a Taco

 

Buy it! If you have to be talked out of it, you deserve it

 

Its a truck.

*I* don't need the frills in my truck. It's why I have a 5 lug. And if I needed 4wd, it would be an SR.

Had a late 90's Nissan that was a bit more 'unrefined' than their Toyota peers, but it was just as functional and durable. Much more so than a '98 Sonoma LS (that had lots of fancy for the day/price) that I picked up around '05 @75k when I passed the Nissan to a family member.

So it might depend some on what you use it for and expect out of it.

But if I found a Nissan that was like I wanted a truck to be (meeting my functional needs) I'd certainly not be reluctant to buy it.

And that's regardless of the crowd that will show up and start talking about being dated looking, etc.

I'm the guy with silver spare wheels on the ground, along with stainless beauty rings, not black rock stars. So not everyone has the same taste in vehicles.

If you like the looks, that's all that matters.

 

I’ve had three Nissan trucks and every one was fantastic. Plain and simple ain’t a bad thing and you won’t feel so bad when two days after you buy it you watch a dude plunge cut a hole for a sunroof into it

 

The front end is just ugly for me to ever consider

 

Frontiers are fine and I'm not gonna knock em too hard, however I don't know anyone with a Tacoma saying "Damn, I wish I had a Frontier!"

 

I think the real shame here is that there’s no longer Isuzu USA, proudly made in Indiana. Not as luxurious but it was always way lower in cost, tough and dependable.

 

Tacoma’s are terrible. Too expensive.
They hold value too well. Too reliable.
Buy a Nissan.
Also California is terrible.
Don’t come here.

 

Had a 98 Nissan base model, and it never gave me any issues. G-pa had an 04 Nissan 4wd crew cab with the supercharged 3.3L V6. Had a ton of power, but mpg sucked. He only put 80k or so on it, and only issue he had was the MAF sensor went bad on a highway trip, had to get towed to a shop. He got rid of it in 2011.

 

I considered a Frontier when I was looking for my Tacoma. I was looking for extended cab, stick shift and had a budget similar to yours (a little lower). I was playing the waiting game trying to find a decent one without a ton of miles. I sometimes think it would have been the better value, a more basic truck. I could have gotten something newer, too. Nissan gets overlooked in the compact/midsize game. It's a slightly smaller truck, still more closely aligned with the trucks Nissan offers around the world. It's boring in the same way the 79-95 trucks and the 1st gen Tacoma were, which is a good thing IMO.

 

I test drove both about 8 yrs ago. Went with the taco. Good luck OP. That was even before my tacomaworld-itis developed.