Testing the "competition"

The new Frontier is a really nice truck. Too bad Nissan hasn't been able to make a reliable AT in at least 15 years.

 

That is true, however that mostly applies to the CVT transmissions they have used in their cars or suvs.

I am optimistic about the transmission for the Frontier, apparently this 9 speed has been used in a lot of Mercedes products with no reliability issues and well the previous frontier didn't really have any of those issues either.

 

Thanks! I’m also 6’1” so it might work well for me too. The Tacoma is so damn uncomfortable.

 

I factory ordered one of the last RAM 3500 diesel dually with the manual. Was a top of the line (at the time) Laramie: Every option but I went with the manual rather than the auto and didn't get navigation. Pulled my 32' Jayco trailer w/slide out like it literally was not there. Didn't have to add a single "upgrade" to the truck other than the Prodigy brake controller. Simply dropped the Jayco's hitch onto the ball and went. Pulled it all over the east coast.

When I sold it a gentleman flew in from Kentucky (I'm in the North East) and met me at work. On my lunch break we closed the deal and he headed back to Kentucky. I asked him why the heck come all the way out here to buy. He said he had been looking for a loaded manual diesel but most were work truck types and he wanted luxury. I missed that truck as soon as he drove off and couldn't afford one now anyway ;-)

 

Thank you for the time and effort you took to post this.

 

Honestly most Tacoma’s I see are filled with mountain bikes, towing dirt bikes, built for camping and on a trail somewhere. Maybe it depends on where you live but the Tacoma’s I see are usually owned by GenX and millennials out living their life.

They are used for what they are, a compact general purpose truck. Now if you said full size then I agree. How many full size trucks do you see not towing something.

 

Yeah. It’s where you live.

When we moved out of the Bay Area and into southern Utah, we also noticed more people using their vehicles for recreation.

 

I'd give it more consideration then after some research. Dahmler designed autos are usually pretty solid. The fwd 9 speed being one exceptions, thus the need for a little research.

 

2022 Frontier looks great, I'm looking forward to taking one for a drive. My 2010 Pro-4x 6spd has been an absolute gem.

Love the design language of the the Santa Cruz but... it falls short in a few areas for me.
-Bed, 4ft just isn't useful to me. A wagon or SUV seems more practical.
-Packaging, it's only offered with the 2.5T and DCT in Canada. The base price is rather high.
-A DCT is pretty well my last choice for mild off-road use.

I'd much sooner buy something like a nice used Touareg 3.6L with the Aisin 8AT.

 

May not have the reliability? They break down just like all makes do, the biggest difference is the warranty covers the drive train 10yrs

 

Their trucks have had great transmissions with the exception of the 05-09 model years of the Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder. The cooler is housed in the radiator (common in most newer vehicles). They had a bad run of radiators that could fail internally and allow the coolant to mix with the ATF. The transmission itself was very stout though, same unit used in the Titan, Armada and NV vans behind the 5.6L V8. My parent's have a '19 Pro-4x with the 5AT and it shifts super nicely.

The next thing Nissan gets a bad rap for is the X-Tronic CVT. The early models were prone to issues. But... at this point there's millions of Nissan vehicles with CVTs out there now that have no issues. Every Rogue you see has a CVT and that's one of the most popular vehicles around.

I guess we'll see how that new 9AT fares. It's a Mercedes-Benz 9G-Tronic built under license by Jatco. Same unit as the Titan and will also be used in the up coming Z, Armada and QX80.

 

And there in lies the problem...built under license by Jatco.

 

With in the next 20yrs all midsize trucks or what ever respective class of vehicle. Will probably be riding on the same running gear, no matter what the branding on the vehicles says it is.

 

Yeah, and I like the fact that they were brave enough to offer an "unorthodox" design. Every other truck on the market looks more or less similar, Santa Cruz, better or worse, at least looks different.

It does not directly compete with Tacoma, but competes more with the Ridgeline. But based on a lot of post we get here, some Taco owner would have definitely be happier with the Ridgeline, only if it looked better. There are a lot of people out there who needs "smaller" midsize truck that drives like a SUV, has basic off-road capabilities, has a larger interior and a comparatively small open bed to carry oversized items. Santa Cruz fills all of these boxes. It kind of is like a modern Chevy El Camino.

If they ever offer a hybrid drivetrain, it could become a very popular vehicle for the urban setting.

I agree that they could just extended the light across, and the middle portion could have acted like a OEM LED bar. I am sure someone will do it.

 

Unfortunately the only choice today is the Gladiator and Tacoma

 

The 4x4 SV king cab with tri coat red paint upgrade, alloy wheels, towing package and factory fog lights MSRP is $37,300. Still wouldn't have a rear locker or LED headlight. I don't need LEDs, also have to get push to start to get the fog lights.

Ford Ranger 4x4 STX with the locker still comes in under $37,000 MSRP.

 

That sounds commensurate in price and features as my SR5, which I'm picking up tomorrow. I did get the long bed.

I didn't look at Ford because I needed both the crew cab plus long bed...not an option at Ford.

 

Pretty much me, though I'm 47 haha..I bought my 2010 when I was 38 because I use the bed for fall cleanup, doing house projects, and running around with my bikes. I don't need towing like your situation though I could pull something basic I suspect.

Since I'm 2WD I think that it will never have lift etc speaks for itself. I added stereo stuff but that's any vehicle I have. I am fine with a single cab as a married guy with no kids. I did drive to the office for a few years with it and it was fine.

 

I had a 2019 or 2020 (I forget) Frontier DCSB for about 2 months earlier this year while my frame was being replaced.

From the driving of it, I'd consider buying one though I'd go access cab (ideally single but I don't think anyone currently has one in midsize). The DC is just not something I even occasionally have need of and if so my wife has a Rav4. Turning radius kinda sucked compared to mine but I don't feel it's a fair comparison since I have a SCLB.

Mine didn't have much for addons but that's okay, my truck doesn't either. I'm a minimalist in terms of power toys etc.

I liked the V6, was actually a little more than I need..though working from home the past 18 months is a factor.

Maybe because it was a rental, but it did seem a little "rattley" for 1-2 years old with about 30k inside.

I'm not a Toyota fanboy..though I do have some loyalty as they did right by my family between my wife's 96 buyback and my 10 reframe, versus GM lying and cheating me about a warranty job and not even giving help on substitute vehicle of any kind.

 

But in the end it appears you’re a friendly curmudgeon, those are the worst kind.