Anyone have a Nissan Frontier 4x4??

[Rule3]

Looking at midsize 4x4 trucks.
Toyota
Nissan
Colorado


Toyota TRD Off Road, is more expensive. probably better truck but ,on regular pavement it is awful and why do they still use rear DRUM brakes??

The Nissan (Pro 4X) is considered "old school" but is proven technology. It handles better has better visibility, less money and I kinda like the simple look

Chevy ZR2 is just to aggressive looking and it's a Chevy and expensive. The Z1 even 4x4 is not really off road due to no lockers and front air dam

No, I do not want a Jeep (well I would but not for what daily driver, I want a truck.)Plus the one I would want is way to expensive!

Ford is bringing back the Ranger sometime.

Not looking for a brand war here, just any ownership of the Nissan, Good bad, so so whatever


Thanks

 

[BAM-BAM]

Have a 2016 Frontier Pro 4x 4 door Crew Cab with matching ARE cap. I like the look...... a bit more SUV than truck.

The boys (16&19 at the time) didn't complain about the back seats on the last trip to OBX

About 14,000 (had less than 2000 when I got it) miles mostly road trips (OBX 1,100 round trip) and cabin on the weekends.......20-21 highway at 70-75..... 15-18 around town

I like it ......mine was a Dealer Demo w/ everything..... MSRP was about $38,000.

5ft bed...... is great for our use (road trips) about 100 cu/ft of cargo space + fold down back seats if needed ; beds a bit short for a utility vehicle (mine has the sliding rack which take up about 6" when all the way forward but nice for securing smaller loads.... the roof rack is too high ( IIRC 76") to get the kayaks on and off easily.( it needs side rail steps) Good in W. Pa. snow and muddy mountain roads......4 wheel drive easy on off. Sunroof is nice.... can crack it open in summer to limit heat buildup and it's too high for most folks to see that it's open.....

As this is the S&W forum; a cased long gun can fit behind the rear seat backs..... and storage under the passenger side rear seat for a small Get home bag of stuff.

Been 30 years since my last truck..... a lot has changed!!!!!!!!!!!

Questions?????

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the review.
So no problems just maintenance stuff?


We just came back from looking at some used ones and the Tacoma. I prefer the "feeling" inside the Frontier better than the Toyota, Plus the Pro 4X with the super package has powder seat. leather and the "moon" roof. I can live without the Sun roof. I have cars with them and never use them down here.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Thanks for the review.
So no problems just maintenance stuff?

No issues...... now you've jinxed it


We just came back from looking at some used ones and the Tacoma. I prefer the "feeling" inside the Frontier better than the Toyota, Plus the Pro 4X with the super package has powder seat. leather and the "moon" roof. I can live without the Sun roof. I have cars with them and never use them down here.

Sun , moon ..... stars..... mine works for all three.........I keep it closed for rain and snow


LOL tend to put the AC on then open the "roof" for a couple of minutes....... then close..... mine also has the inside sun screen!

 

[BAM-BAM]

More electronics than I'd like; but the Frontier is/was still a bit of an old school truck ....IIRC built on a truck frame w/ minor changes 'upgrades" over about 8-10 years...... new model in 2017 IIRC.

Some research I did indicated folks liked them and kept them long term......

 

[ExRanger714]

For 13 years I've been the third owner of a '98 Frontier four-cylinder five-speed 4wd with a six-foot bed now with 150 k on the clock.

20 mpg on regular gas and it will climb a tree if shod correctly. Carries 2 guys and 1,000 pounds of gravel just fine.

An axe, a pick and shovel, a come-along and a high-lift jack and you're loaded for bear!

Not so tall you have to climb up to get in and tall enough to crawl over eight inch logs.

Newer models with the six cylinder and automatic only get 17-18 mpg highway. All the roof racks do is add drag and cut mileage,

 

[LVSteve]

I have a 2005 Xterra Off Road which is an SUV on a similar frame with identical mechanicals. The frame is a shortened version of the fullsize Titan frame so these little guys are stiff in that department. Probably explains why they weigh more than the Toyotas and handle better.


Mine had the original radiator/transmission cooler vulnerability that was fixed after 2008-2010 timeframe. I fixed mine with an aftermarket rad. Xterras and Frontiers are typically thirstier than their Toyota equivalents, but that 4 litre V6 really puts out. The latest Xterras have Bluetooth and stuff mine does not have. Can't comment on the Frontiers.

 

[mtgianni]

Two friends have three between them. One is an early 90's and has been used for everything. His grand daughters argue about who will get it when he gives it up. He also has a newer one he won't part with.
Second friend inherited his fathers when he passed. He let his 3 boys use it as their first car and it is still going strong.
Dad had one my brother ran for a while. Only problems were from a 4 car pile up and being the 3rd car in.
All have/had 4 cylinders and worked well.

 

[WardenRoss]

My son sold Nissans and we have a new Rogue that is great. Love Nissans.

However, I went to buy a Frontier (I love that size truck and my son sells them) with the off road package. Turns out that I got a new Ford F150 regular cab with the off road package with the V8 for less money. And it gets better fuel mileage.

Just throwing that out there for comparison. Good truck hunting!

 

[daddio202]

I have a 2010 Frontier though it's not 4 wheel drive I just wanted to report that it has given me 8 trouble free years with 90 thousand miles with never a single problem. Only maintenance wear items such as battery, tires, brakes, oil etc. The 4.0 lite motor is strong and reliable!! Plenty of power on tap. I would recommend a Frontier in any model configuration as a tested proven reliable truck.

 

[Inusuit]

I owned two Nissan Xterras, which as LVSteve notes, is the SUV version on the same frame, same mechanicals. I had a 2009 and a 2011. The 2009 was better. In the 2011, interior "chrome" began peeling from the plastic parts and there were other minor but annoying faults with fit and finish inside.

The worst Nissan experience involved a flat tire on the 2009 when a fishing buddy and I were on a dirt road 60 miles from anywhere. We're both in our 70s, and it was the last week in July in Central Wyoming. Dug out the jack, read the instructions for the jacking point, unslung the full sized spare from underneath the vehicle.

We soon discovered that the jack (OEM) that came with the truck would not lift the vehicle high enough to remove the tire. Fortunately I had some 2x6s we'd taken along for firewood, and the blocks allowed us to remove the tire.

I went back to the dealership. They said "Sir, you must not have used the jack correctly." Operator error is always a possibility in my case, so I asked them the show me how. In a few minutes, they said "The jack won't lift it high enough to get the tire off."

The same jack came with the 2011. Internet research revealed Nissan knew about the problem since about 2003.

I traded the 2011 on a GMC Canyon. Great truck.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Ive owned seven Toyota pickups once the mid 90s. Last year it was time for a new truck, but the Tacoma’s are just too expensive. So I went looking for a Frontier. I like the engine, good power, at least with the 4.0. And the price was much better than the Taco.

But the mileage is terrible, turning radius is about the same as a school bus, and the 4x4 front axle is reportedly weak. The salesman at the Nissan dealer convinced me to test drive a Titan. For about $2K more than a V6 Frontier, I bought a Titan with 390 hp, lots of bells answers whistles even on my base model truck, and it gets better mileage than a Frontier.

I’ve had the Titan about 18 months and 35K miles, and have no complaints.

 

[LVSteve]

When you guys discuss the gas mileage of the bigger trucks, are you talking observed mileage based on filling the tank, or the dubious numbers from the EPA? Or are you going the third route, relying on the trip meter mileage. Recent experience with two modern SUVs suggest to me that the trip meter mileage gadgets were programmed by Pinocchio.

My Xterra was rated 17/21 by the EPA in 2005. I haven't seen 17 mpg around the city too much lately but that is because I'm due for a fuel injection and plenum cleaning. 21 mpg is possible on the highway at the EPA mandated 65 mph. It ain't happening at 75 mph. You may guess how I know.

I've noticed that Edmunds, Car and Driver and several other publications that have had long-term fullsize trucks cannot get anywhere near the EPA numbers even when doing highway only tests using the cruise control. Suggests to me that some gaming of the EPA tests is going on.

 

[Breakaway500]

Tacoma hands down is the best "mid" sized truck made today. Not really a compact truck like they use to be. Shame because that size was ideal. I would not own a modern GM truck if it was given to me. Just too many of my customers Chevy/GMC trucks towed in every week. Great for business..lousy for owners.
I use to be a Ford truck guy but not since 2003. Over-engineered nightmares. Dodge and Nissan are OK...but miles per dollar...Toyota has them all beat.Even though they may cost more..they are worth it. Most go 300k miles with NO major issues. No engines exploding..no transmissions slipping. Nothing but dependability. Their resale/residual values tell the rest of the story.
I had a Nissan 4x4 Hardbody for many years. One of my favorite trucks.Rust finally broke it in half.
If the EPA allowed Toyota to sell their diesel motor trucks in this country, the other truck companies would be in HUGE trouble...

 

[OLDSTER]

Can't speak for the Frontier; but we're on our 2nd Murano crossover. First one in 2008;traded our Toyota Highlander. Then a 2014. IMO the finest crossover under $50K on the market .We also have a 2011 Jeep GC, which the Murano surpasses in all respects. I am a huge fan of the Nissan product.

 

[Farmer17]

I'm a big fan of Nissan products owning several of them and the Nissan Titan I had went 10 years and 260K miles with very minor problems until the end when I blew the engine, which was my fault. I own a small construction company and don't want or need a full size truck because I do a lot of parallel parking downtown getting building permits and I visit a lot of crowded parking lots. It's also nice to park in my garage but the full size trucks are so much more refined and comfortable plus get better gas mileage I will probably be buying a full size soon even though I don't really prefer one. I wish Toyota made a Tundra like the old, smaller first generation V8. You can also include me as not being a fan of GM products. My wife's Buick LaCrosse that we just sold had about the worst reliability and repair costs of any vehicle I've owned in 25 years.

 

[charles_the_hammer]

turning radius is about the same as a school bus

Used to sell Nissans. The biggest "truck person" issue with the Frontier and XTerra was the turning radius.

I owned a 1994 Pathfinder - bought used - and put two transmissions in it. The 3rd one was on its way out when I traded it for a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer this thing was in immaculate condition - appeared to be collector grade with only 60K miles. I drove it for a month, then it promptly dropped its transmission. Right after I got it back it blew the motor. I got a brand new 360ci long block crate motor from Leggett Motors out of Decatur, GA. Finally had it running right and my mother in-law decided to back her minivan into it when it was parked in her driveway at Christmas. I got rid of it right after that. Seemed cursed. That was a terrible period of my life in regards to automobiles.

 

[charles_the_hammer]

Tacoma hands down is the best "mid" sized truck made today. Not really a compact truck like they use to be. Shame because that size was ideal.

Where I worked, Tacomas were in such high demand that when we got one in on trade you could turn around and sell it before the customer who had traded it in got through signing the paperwork on the new vehicle.

 

[Rule3]

There is a 3 foot better turning radius for the Tacoma vs the Frontier. 40 vs 43. The Honda Ridgeline is even more.
The Tacoma on pavement rides like a tank



The Frontier can tow more, has more skid plates, has more HP and Torque and has DISC rear brakes, the Tacoma has Drum. The Nissan fully loaded is much less money.


Such are the trade offs in life.


Always buy a Dillon reloading machine.

 

[LVSteve]

Used to sell Nissans. The biggest "truck person" issue with the Frontier and XTerra was the turning radius.

My '05 Xterra turns on a dime compared to the '01 Tahoe it replaced.