So we've had a few tow vehicle threads recently, and I've been following with interest, but one truck never comes up, the Nissan Frontier (also sold as the Suzuki Equator for at least a few years).
Now, I've driven the old Frontier (almost bought one in '04 or '05) and I liked it. I thought it seemed like a much better DD truck than the Tacoma. I also saw on the Nissan website that the truck has a +6k lbs. towing capacity. And, anecdotally, the prices seem more reasonable than used Toyota truck prices. So, what say the GRM hive mind?
I am looking at one of these (Tacoma and Frontier), but found the Tacoma to have a bit bigger back seat. I have three kids, so thats important to me.
As I love small trucks color me interested, I don't have to worry about the kids but I do have a quad to haul around (have a trailer that the P5 could tow I think....)
I honestly remember both trucks having small back seats, but it seemed like the driving position and ergos in the Tacoma were weird, like I just couldn't get comfortable behind the wheel.
My dad has a crew cab long bed (6 ft i think?) manual frontier, 2011. He likes it alot, and with the manual he is pulling down 20-22 mpg pretty regularly. Not 4wd though, I'd imagine that would affect things a bit. The back seats aren't super roomy, but they aren't horrible either.
Its fun to drive with the manual and that engine, and I don't think he has had anything break on it yet. He probably has 30k miles on it though so not much time to really tell.
I know the early years of the new body design had issues with the automatic transmission cooler leaking coolant into the ATF and vice versa. Something to look out for, but if it looks clean install an aftermarket one and call it good.
As far as I can tell its a slightly different Tacoma without the Toyota tax.
In reply to Datsun1500:
Yea, most of the ones I see have the midgety 4.5 foot bed or whatever it is. Still, most tacomas I see are the same haha.
Also, with the crew cab long bed the turning radius is HUGE. Our old expedition had a better turning radius than the frontier has.
I had a 2011 Frontier extended cab 4x4 4.0L auto for a little while. Nice truck but my 3 complaints were the blind spots, turning radius, and the gearing (3.36).
My dad has an 08 I think has about 70k on it now. No problems mpg aren't that much better than a fullsize, with the auto I think he gets like 16-18 mixed. I do love that engine though.
Yeah, I actually like the short bed. I can tie a red t-shirt to anything too long for the bed but not long enough to warrant using a trailer. No big deal.
They come in a 6-speed manual, anyone have any experience with that? The Crew Cab, V6, 6spd, probably 4x2, in the lowest possible trim level is what I would be most interested in.
My dads is the six speed manual, its fun to drive! decent shifter feel for a truck, though I think he installed a shifter knob from something else to make it feel like a shorter throw. The 4.0 in them is a nice engine with good power, and the manual makes it fun.
He got one of the lower trims (power windows and locks with cruise control and AC but thats about it), and bought some leather power seats from someone else to swap in for the front.
