So, dbauer, are you saying you've sold an Altima 2.5S 5-speed Manual Trans with Side Airbags and ABS? Ever driven one? Seen one? No one in the 3 dealers in Orange County that I've been to has. Maybe just my bad luck, huh?
ive sold 2...1 was in our inventory, a 2003, and the other was dealer-traded for, a 2005. the 2003 was polished pewter, and the 2005 was white.
like i said earlier...you didnt order one because the salesman said they dont actually make them that way...sounds like WAAAAY too much trust in a sales jack.
you could have had one back in 2002 if you would have insisted on ordering it.
My problem is that I live in Orange County, CA. Nice warm place, no snow, little rain (usually), so the way I'm told it, Nissan makes 2.5S with ABS as an option on a fairly small percentage of the 2.5S fleet, and none of them get routed here. I had the same problem with VW and their VSC, and now with Toyota Tacoma - no VSC and TRAC on the '05 Tacomas yet. I could have flown to Denver and gotten the Passat 1.8T with VSC 2 years ago, but bought a 4WD CR-V instead. Now, Honda has ABS, VSC and Side Airbags as standard in the CR-V. Toyota has all this plus Traction Control as standard on the Highlander - since 2004. Nissan's newest Pathfinder has all this stuff as well. But it's way too bulky and heavy (over 4000 lbs) for me - so I got the Highlander.
again, the sales jack was trying to get you to take one of the ones in stock, but instead, he made it so you bought from noone.
there are no limitations on regional equipment unless you go outside the US. ordering SAB/ABS pkg. is no different on the allocation list than having fog lights added.
What does "Sales Jack" mean? Sales manager? That's the last guy who passed on my offer of $500 deposit on the Altima. He told me that, in accordance withe California law, he's done this and gotten stuck more than once, with a low-demand (stick shift) - when the car came in and if the client didn't go thru with the deal, he'd have to refund the money. So he refused to accept the order.
Pretty happy with the Highlander so far. Getting about 25mpg with mostly highway driving. And it is a very nice, smooth, quiet ride. I do miss the manual trans though. Ahh, life is full of compromises.
sorry, dbauer - it was a cheap shot. California's weird sometimes, and sometimes we suffer because of it. I have a hard time understanding my Governor, for example...
I gave an initial report on my 05 Frontier a few weeks back. I've had the truck about 3 weeks now. . .
Ride Quality - Really nice - My wife has a 04 Xterra and I find that the Frontier is a smoother ride than the Xterra, but still feel the ride nicely. The bumps are as sharp in the Frontier as in the Xterra.
Gas Mileage - I am just over 19 mpg.
Interior Likes/Dislikes - I don't have any dislikes so far.
Comments from family/strangers - Mother visited 2 weeks ago . . . plans to trade in her Plymouth Voyager for an '05 Frontier CC as soon as the snow has passed in MA.
Power impressions - Excellent and huge improvement over past vehicles (91 Nissan PU, 02 Dakota) as well as my wife's 04 Xterra. The 05 engine mated with the manual transmission is the best package I have ever driven for power, control, ease, etc.
Seat Comfort - First time I have NOT had bench seats in my vehicle. What can I say . . . bucket seats are more comfortable than vinyl bench seats!
Bed Tie down system - The parts are still in the sealed box in the back seat foot well. Seems more complicated that it needs to be, but then again - it may not be complicated at all - How would I know, its still unopened.
Other - The one overall problem I have encountered is that only the driver's side door can be unlocked from the outside. Power package does not include remote keyless entry. It is a real hassle when in a parking lot with 2 kids to have to dance around the truck - first unlock driver's door, then walk to other side to get one kid in the car seat, then walk around to get the other kid in the car seat then get in and drive away. Seems like keyless entry should have been standard (or at least a key lock on both front doors).
My CC is 2WD with the Limited Slip Diff. - I got to drive it in the snow a couple times in the past week. It handles very well, assuming you are not plowing through drifts. No unexpected slipping/sliding and actually drove through 6 inches slushy snow on the streets without ever thinkin, "I need 4WD for this." My past trucks couldn't climb a snow dusted speed bump without going into 4WD.
i understand, but the altima has had the ABS/SAB pkg. available on all models since the redesign in 2002, whether the guy knew it or not. maybe he was new, or didnt do his due diligence, i dont know. i dealt with hondas at the time, and even knew it then.
I drove a 05 Nismo cc 4wd this past weekend. I was impressed with the power. The ride was stiff but not harsh. I currently have a full size F150 w/ a v8 and I would say the power is pretty close. Fit and finish is good. I had a 90 Nissan p/u. The interior quality has improved quite a bit since then. I have driven the 05 Tacoma and it is also a nice truck. I have owned both Nissan and Toyota's in the past.
I like them both but I like the Nissan more. The back seat does have less room than the taco but it should still comfy for kids and small adults. Now I just need to wait for a dealer who is willing to deal.
Great update on your Frontier ownership experiences so far.
Huh - the remote only opens the drivers side eh? That can't be right. Usually a second press on the "Unlock" icon on the key fob opens the rest of the doors after the first press pops the drivers side.
I'd ask the dealer about that one.
Good description of driving the manual tranny. I like the flexibility of a stick, being able to hold the vehicle in its power band to extract the most performance from the engine. Automatics have their appeal too... I will probably go with the auto, simply because I've been driving a stick for over 30 years and with the manualmatics now, one can "sort" of enjoy the benefits of both transmissions.
jjpeter, I think what Jason meant was that his truck does not have keyless entry, and there is no key hole in the passenger side door to unlock it with a key. Since he doesn't have keyless entry, he has to rely on using the key to unlock the doors. I've noticed that several new cars now only have a key hole on the driver's side door. I'm not sure if thats a money saving stunt or if it's actually for "security." I do agree that it's an inconvenience. Makes you definitely want the keyless entry.
hey can you let us know how you like it when you get it,need some impute on How the 4wD frontier ,down the road when you get,need too know if it has any BUGS in it.Or dose any one have any bugs in you 4WD Frontier Niss. or King Le.
Thanks,hope all of you who own them have good luck!!!
Yes, I met only one key hole on the driver's side door and no keyless entry. Keyless entry is not available on the SE with power package (literature in Fall 2004 indicated it would be, though). I am not sure what option you need to get keyless entry, but I think you need to step up to the LE for it.
I believe there are after market alarm, door release kits available at installers. You may want to investigate that route for your SE.
Surprised though, that a truck in this price range SHOULD have keyless entry - having to go to the loaded up LE (loaded up with with not very useful gadgets, IMHO) just to get keyless entry is a rip.
Please read my posts #405 and 416 for the point. Your last post, and the ones before it, missed the sole point of those two posts. There's a big difference between available in Detroit vs. what's available according to the brochures, vs. what what you can actually get in California.
I looked at new frontiers yesterday. Very nice. I look forward to driving one. Prices, compared to the Tacoma seemed good. Re: remote door locks, as stated above, from what I gathered you have to get an LE. I think the NISMO has them also(?). Crazy, SE's with power package all should have it. The bed with the coating was nice, and the tailgate felt heavy and substantial. My jury is still out on whether I like the exterior styling of the Frontier more than the Tacoma. Actually, I am leaning toward the Tacoma for exterior styling, but the price and the problems being reported on the Taco are problematic.
"There's a big difference between available in Detroit vs. what's available according to the brochures, vs. what what you can actually get in California."
no, there isnt. there is only 1 factory (2 now) that makes accords. if you order it, it will come.
I got my truck last Thursday just in time for a snow storm. Its a Nismo CC 4x4 with side curtain airbags, moonroof, & RF package.
Buying Experience:
Excellent. Sales guy put up with my wishy-washy decision making, and was working to get the right vehicle for me, not just push current inventory. Almost ordered an LE, but the NISMO with my must-haves was available at another dealer, so I got that instead of waiting. This was my choice, the dealer's attitude was "either way is fine with us." Final price was 500 over invoice. Not stellar, but not bad. I did not purchase an extended warranty: $1600??!!?!!?!!? I'll take my chances since my brother in law is a mechanic.
Ride Quality:
Stiff. The LE has a much softer ride, so if that's important, don't get a Nismo. I kind of like the stiff ride, which is why I got the Nismo, even though I was going to order an LE. To compare, it rides just slightly more stiff than my Ranger, and feels like a caddy compared to my dad's Dodge 3500 dually. However, there will be no mistaking that you are riding in a truck.
Handling/Power:
I had no trouble in the snow even in 2wd. Power output is predictable, so fishtaling wasn't a problem even with 6" of white stuff under the wheels. I did put it in 4wd to explore the used car lot to see what they were listing my ranger for and it was a smooth engagement, and it got me through the 4' drift with very little additional power or head of steam. I'll admit I won't use 4x4 often, but its a nice to have here in the frozen north. I can't give a detaling of how the 4x4 lo or the locking differential work since I haven't used them. Power has been pleasant, and I haven't felt like I had to punch it to move steadily through the traffic lights. When you want it, its there, especially at lower speeds. At higher speeds, it takes a bit until it kicks down, but I haven't pushed it too hard since its still a new engine.
Bed/Tiedowns:
So far I haven't used the bed system and the tiedowns are in the cargo bin under the back seat.
One issue of initial quality: There is a bolt in the tailgate that is stripped. This is one of the bolts that holds protects the gate when its down. Other than that I haven't had any quality issues, and the dealer says they will fix this when I bring it in for the first oil change unless I want to come in sooner.
Mileage/Range:
I've only done city driving and haven't gone through a tank yet. I'm at just over 1/4 of a tank left with 220 miles of city driving. I'm guessing this puts me somewhere around 16 mpg. Not bad since my '01 ranger 4x4 4.0l got 13 in similar driving.
Interior:
I like the dead pedal and love the stereo. Noise is not a problem. Everything is pretty simple to use, and all the dials etc are usable even while wearing winter gloves. My dislikes are the auto window (only auto down. Our Maxima has auto up and down and I've been spoiled.). This is a minor gripe. Also, I don't like that the center console is to low, and I want something to use as an arm-rest for my right arm. Another minor gripe. The cupholders work well with bottles, cans and med size fast food drinks, and the liter bottle holder in the door is perfectly sized for my water bottle. The back seats are too upright and the seatroom is a bit cramped for adults my size (5'11") but my wife thinks legroom is fine, even sitting behind me as the driver. This didn't matter to me when buying though, since the back seat passengers will be coworkers for a trip to lunch or kids who ride in car/booster seats for at least another 6-7 years.
Keyless entry: My Nismo has Keyless entry. Lock/unlock driver door, unlock all doors (2 clicks). The tailgate is independent of the keyless entry, so you must use the key. Kind of a bummer, but no big deal.
I have no buyers remorse, and am still glad I bought this truck rather than a tacoma/dodge or even waiting for an LE. The only thing I would have rather had was a Titan, but the wife and the garage both said that a Titan is too big.
After I put a few more miles on it, I'll give better mpg details and give updates on any issues I have.
Has anyone seen any XE Frontiers out yet? I'd like to see a write up on the entry level model. Even though it does not have that wonderful V6, still the in-line 4 is no slouch (would have to have a stick though).
Man you put everyone too shame on Giving everyone a report on whats good and bad,thanks so much,you made my choice for me kinda,but I'm going for the Le,stoped at a dealer today and seen a Mac truck with a ton of frontiers and so I went too chex them out ,but when I steped on the truck I heard the horn so my looking was over for me,but from what I seen was a sharp looking truck!!!
Nice evaluation, Valance2, and similar to my experience. I just took delivery of a 2005 King Cab LE 4x2, having traded in my Ranger Edge. I would have liked to have the Crew Cab seating, but I use the truck on my ranch and really need at least a 6' bed. I bought the Nissan for 2 reasons-- 1)I wanted side-curtain airbags, and 2)I own a 2002 Pathfinder and am in love with the VQ engine.
Power: Are you kidding? After flogging that Ranger 3.0, I feel like I'm driving a AA fuel dragster! I don't tow anything other than a motorcycle trailer with this truck, but for my driving style it has more than adequate torque and a very smooth power delivery. A+
Driveability: I'm a little disappointed in the low-speed steering effort--it's really heavy. At speed the steering effort is just fine, but in parking lots and on pasture roads it takes a little muscle to maneuver. Highway driving is great in the SE--if I don't watch my speed I'll look down and see that I'm cruising at 80-90. Smooth as silk. B+
Utility--I use this truck for hauling stuff around the ranch, and the Utili-track system is great. I like the spray-in bed liner and rail caps. Storage room inside the King Cab is just adequate, but I really like all the storage compartments and cup holders. A
Accessories: I'm not an audiophile, so the stock radio/single CD works for me, and I like the fact that it is placed high on the dash and is easy to see and operate. A/C and heater controls are simple and easy to use, as are the cruise control buttons. Windshield wiper controls took a bit of getting used to. A-
Service: I do all of my own maintenance, so I crawled under the truck to check out accessibility. I was pleased to see the undercab design--everything was tucked up into the frame rails, leaving no parts hanging down. That clearance is important when you're driving in pastures. The oil drain plug is easy to reach, but the filter is a little tougher--you have to remove a small cover plate to access it. It is located right on the front of the engine, though, and is easy to reach from below. Under the hood, all of the service items (fluids, battery, etc) are very accessible. I'm not wild about the dipstick placement, as it is low and hard to see. B-
Mileage: On the first couple of tanks I'm getting about the same as I did in my Pathfinder, which is very close to the 15/20 EPA estimate. I am using 87 octane now and am experiencing no problems. B+
Quality: Initial impressions have been very good, and I have found zero defects. I hope that it is as reliable as my Pathfinder, which is three years old and has NEVER been back to the dealership. A+
Great review, and probably putting the truck through very tough conditions. Any rattles? The gas mileage is great for that type of driving. How is the armrest (too far back or OK)?
"Great review, and probably putting the truck through very tough conditions. Any rattles? The gas mileage is great for that type of driving. How is the armrest (too far back or OK)?"
Nary a rattle or squeak thus far--I'm amazed at how far truck quality has come since I owned an old '65 Ford "Twin I-Beam". When I say that I managed 20MPG highway, please take into account that it was driving on Texas county roads at 65-70 MPH with no traffic. Stop-and-go city traffic will probably net me 13-14 MPG. The center console doesn't extend as far forward as I would like, but I do use it as an armrest and it works fine for me.
I have created a page for my 2005 K/C LE, and will do reviews of any modofications I make. Aftermarket goodies are scarce as of now, but I really wanted to get a set of Nissan splash guards installed. To see a review, together with pics, check this link:
Nice pics of your Frontier and great contribution to the board. You have exactly the model I'd order, same paint etc. Thanks for those photos, because they are the first I've seen that weren't the official marketing ones from Nissan. They were downloaded into my 05-Frontier pix folder!
my dealer's web site says they have a 4 cylinder XE in stock now even though i thought they weren't coming out until march. anyone driven one yet? i drove the 2004 4 cylinder and found it horribly underpowered.
I have a 2005 CC LE 4x4. Have had it about two weeks and love it so far. However, the last couple of days I have noticed a knocking or rattling sound in the engine. It occurs at about 20 mph while accelerating up thru about 40 or so (maybe around 2500 rpm's). Smooths out after that and is fine. Anybody else notice anything like this?
Great website. I saw with interest your splash guards. Are they hard plastic? How far down to they go?
I've got a Mazda B4000 4X4 which came with hard plastic mud flaps, which I could not understand. I've already trashed the two front ones going off road. No, I am not a recreational rock crawler either, I was just looking at property for work. I see more and more SUVs and 4x4 pickups with hard plastic mud flaps, and it makes no sense to me.
Sorry, I guess I need to get off my soap box. I love your truck.
The splash guards are made of a flexible plastic--not as flexible as rubber, but certainly not brittle. It appears that they would bend quite a bit before breaking off when caught in a bind.
Thanks for the reply Jack. Along with being more flexible, it looks like they do not extend down as far as the ones I broke on my truck. I hope you enjoy your ride, Reverend.
According to the Nissan sales brochures, the spray in liner and sliding tie-down assembly are not available as options on the XE & SE King Cabs. They offer a dealer installed, plastic liner instead.
I'd love to be wrong about this, and if the brochure has been up-dated, I'd be very happy.
Absolutely. Your description is right on target with mine. It is a knocking/rattling of sorts that happens then goes away once I'm in 5th gear which is usually once I hit around 40+ MPH. Sounds like it's coming from the front passender side under the hood. I took to my dealer and he didn't want to start tearing it down yet. Thought it might be something in the exhaust as opposed to the engine itself. I"m frustrated because they want to wait until some other history builds up on the truck. For now driving my truck has become frustrating because I hear this sound and I keep thinking maybe I should have waited before purcashing, or worse maybe I should have bought the Tacoma. Anyway, let me know what you find out at your dealer.
Hopefully it is nothing. Judging by the fact there is no reports of this to Nissan is a good thing. Also, I wouldn't be too excited about buying a Taco, read their forum and you will see they are having a lot of problems. A lot of people are reporting an engine tic which the dealer is telling them is normal, or in other words "Get used to to it, we aren't fixing it".
I was wondering if the King Cab XE & SE models have the necessary mounting points (holes or threads) to mount a Nissan Utilitrac if purchased from Nissan. I haven't viewed an XE or SE yet,
so I don't know how their beds are set up, especially what mounting points they have instead of the Utilitrac.
I am hearing the same thing I think???? It happens when I am accelerating a little harder than normal. The RPM's are about 2500-3500 and i hear a rattle in the engine. It sounds like something vibrating or something has come loose. I also had the ABS and SLIP lights come on at 600 miles. I plan on taking it to the dealer in the morning will update everyone.
If you'd ever lived or worked in California, I might be tempted to believe you. Would you believe someone in California telling you how things are in Detroit, when you're own experience is different?
i have a 2005 se v6 1200 miles noise at 2100 rpm & oversounds like marbles in motor took to dealer says plenum needs replaced. defect waiting for part to come in.
i have a 2005 se v6 1200 miles noise at 2100 rpm & oversounds like marbles in motor took to dealer says plenum needs replaced. defect waiting for part to come in.
i dont need to live or work in cali to know the difference. the only way they manufacture cars differently than in the rest of the country is in the emissions area. ABS and SAB are not emissions standards...lol.
Comments
Do Nissan pickups have a quick-release mechanism on their gates?
like i said earlier...you didnt order one because the salesman said they dont actually make them that way...sounds like WAAAAY too much trust in a sales jack.
you could have had one back in 2002 if you would have insisted on ordering it.
there are no limitations on regional equipment unless you go outside the US. ordering SAB/ABS pkg. is no different on the allocation list than having fog lights added.
Pretty happy with the Highlander so far. Getting about 25mpg with mostly highway driving. And it is a very nice, smooth, quiet ride. I do miss the manual trans though. Ahh, life is full of compromises.
I'd like to see the following details:
-Ride quality
-Gas milage
-Interior likes/dislikes
-Comments from family, strangers
-Power impressions
-Seat comfort
-Bed tiedown system usefullness
-Other
Anyone care to comment for us still waiting in the wings?
I gave an initial report on my 05 Frontier a few weeks back. I've had the truck about 3 weeks now. . .
Ride Quality - Really nice - My wife has a 04 Xterra and I find that the Frontier is a smoother ride than the Xterra, but still feel the ride nicely. The bumps are as sharp in the Frontier as in the Xterra.
Gas Mileage - I am just over 19 mpg.
Interior Likes/Dislikes - I don't have any dislikes so far.
Comments from family/strangers - Mother visited 2 weeks ago . . . plans to trade in her Plymouth Voyager for an '05 Frontier CC as soon as the snow has passed in MA.
Power impressions - Excellent and huge improvement over past vehicles (91 Nissan PU, 02 Dakota) as well as my wife's 04 Xterra. The 05 engine mated with the manual transmission is the best package I have ever driven for power, control, ease, etc.
Seat Comfort - First time I have NOT had bench seats in my vehicle. What can I say . . . bucket seats are more comfortable than vinyl bench seats!
Bed Tie down system - The parts are still in the sealed box in the back seat foot well. Seems more complicated that it needs to be, but then again - it may not be complicated at all - How would I know, its still unopened.
Other - The one overall problem I have encountered is that only the driver's side door can be unlocked from the outside. Power package does not include remote keyless entry. It is a real hassle when in a parking lot with 2 kids to have to dance around the truck - first unlock driver's door, then walk to other side to get one kid in the car seat, then walk around to get the other kid in the car seat then get in and drive away. Seems like keyless entry should have been standard (or at least a key lock on both front doors).
My CC is 2WD with the Limited Slip Diff. - I got to drive it in the snow a couple times in the past week. It handles very well, assuming you are not plowing through drifts. No unexpected slipping/sliding and actually drove through 6 inches slushy snow on the streets without ever thinkin, "I need 4WD for this." My past trucks couldn't climb a snow dusted speed bump without going into 4WD.
Jason
I like them both but I like the Nissan more. The back seat does have less room than the taco but it should still comfy for kids and small adults. Now I just need to wait for a dealer who is willing to deal.
Great update on your Frontier ownership experiences so far.
Huh - the remote only opens the drivers side eh? That can't be right. Usually a second press on the "Unlock" icon on the key fob opens the rest of the doors after the first press pops the drivers side.
I'd ask the dealer about that one.
Good description of driving the manual tranny. I like the flexibility of a stick, being able to hold the vehicle in its power band to extract the most performance from the engine. Automatics have their appeal too... I will probably go with the auto, simply because I've been driving a stick for over 30 years and with the manualmatics now, one can "sort" of enjoy the benefits of both transmissions.
Thanks,hope all of you who own them have good luck!!!
Thanks for clarifying.
Jason
Surprised though, that a truck in this price range SHOULD have keyless entry - having to go to the loaded up LE (loaded up with with not very useful gadgets, IMHO) just to get keyless entry is a rip.
no, there isnt. there is only 1 factory (2 now) that makes accords. if you order it, it will come.
Buying Experience:
Excellent. Sales guy put up with my wishy-washy decision making, and was working to get the right vehicle for me, not just push current inventory. Almost ordered an LE, but the NISMO with my must-haves was available at another dealer, so I got that instead of waiting. This was my choice, the dealer's attitude was "either way is fine with us." Final price was 500 over invoice. Not stellar, but not bad. I did not purchase an extended warranty: $1600??!!?!!?!!? I'll take my chances since my brother in law is a mechanic.
Ride Quality:
Stiff. The LE has a much softer ride, so if that's important, don't get a Nismo. I kind of like the stiff ride, which is why I got the Nismo, even though I was going to order an LE. To compare, it rides just slightly more stiff than my Ranger, and feels like a caddy compared to my dad's Dodge 3500 dually. However, there will be no mistaking that you are riding in a truck.
Handling/Power:
I had no trouble in the snow even in 2wd. Power output is predictable, so fishtaling wasn't a problem even with 6" of white stuff under the wheels. I did put it in 4wd to explore the used car lot to see what they were listing my ranger for and it was a smooth engagement, and it got me through the 4' drift with very little additional power or head of steam. I'll admit I won't use 4x4 often, but its a nice to have here in the frozen north. I can't give a detaling of how the 4x4 lo or the locking differential work since I haven't used them. Power has been pleasant, and I haven't felt like I had to punch it to move steadily through the traffic lights. When you want it, its there, especially at lower speeds. At higher speeds, it takes a bit until it kicks down, but I haven't pushed it too hard since its still a new engine.
Bed/Tiedowns:
So far I haven't used the bed system and the tiedowns are in the cargo bin under the back seat.
One issue of initial quality: There is a bolt in the tailgate that is stripped. This is one of the bolts that holds protects the gate when its down. Other than that I haven't had any quality issues, and the dealer says they will fix this when I bring it in for the first oil change unless I want to come in sooner.
Mileage/Range:
I've only done city driving and haven't gone through a tank yet. I'm at just over 1/4 of a tank left with 220 miles of city driving. I'm guessing this puts me somewhere around 16 mpg. Not bad since my '01 ranger 4x4 4.0l got 13 in similar driving.
Interior:
I like the dead pedal and love the stereo. Noise is not a problem. Everything is pretty simple to use, and all the dials etc are usable even while wearing winter gloves. My dislikes are the auto window (only auto down. Our Maxima has auto up and down and I've been spoiled.). This is a minor gripe. Also, I don't like that the center console is to low, and I want something to use as an arm-rest for my right arm. Another minor gripe. The cupholders work well with bottles, cans and med size fast food drinks, and the liter bottle holder in the door is perfectly sized for my water bottle. The back seats are too upright and the seatroom is a bit cramped for adults my size (5'11") but my wife thinks legroom is fine, even sitting behind me as the driver. This didn't matter to me when buying though, since the back seat passengers will be coworkers for a trip to lunch or kids who ride in car/booster seats for at least another 6-7 years.
Keyless entry: My Nismo has Keyless entry. Lock/unlock driver door, unlock all doors (2 clicks). The tailgate is independent of the keyless entry, so you must use the key. Kind of a bummer, but no big deal.
I have no buyers remorse, and am still glad I bought this truck rather than a tacoma/dodge or even waiting for an LE. The only thing I would have rather had was a Titan, but the wife and the garage both said that a Titan is too big.
After I put a few more miles on it, I'll give better mpg details and give updates on any issues I have.
Thanks from all us.
Has anyone seen any XE Frontiers out yet? I'd like to see a write up on the entry level model. Even though it does not have that wonderful V6, still the in-line 4 is no slouch (would have to have a stick though).
Good luck Man!!
Power: Are you kidding? After flogging that Ranger 3.0, I feel like I'm driving a AA fuel dragster! I don't tow anything other than a motorcycle trailer with this truck, but for my driving style it has more than adequate torque and a very smooth power delivery. A+
Driveability: I'm a little disappointed in the low-speed steering effort--it's really heavy. At speed the steering effort is just fine, but in parking lots and on pasture roads it takes a little muscle to maneuver. Highway driving is great in the SE--if I don't watch my speed I'll look down and see that I'm cruising at 80-90. Smooth as silk. B+
Utility--I use this truck for hauling stuff around the ranch, and the Utili-track system is great. I like the spray-in bed liner and rail caps. Storage room inside the King Cab is just adequate, but I really like all the storage compartments and cup holders. A
Accessories: I'm not an audiophile, so the stock radio/single CD works for me, and I like the fact that it is placed high on the dash and is easy to see and operate. A/C and heater controls are simple and easy to use, as are the cruise control buttons. Windshield wiper controls took a bit of getting used to. A-
Service: I do all of my own maintenance, so I crawled under the truck to check out accessibility. I was pleased to see the undercab design--everything was tucked up into the frame rails, leaving no parts hanging down. That clearance is important when you're driving in pastures. The oil drain plug is easy to reach, but the filter is a little tougher--you have to remove a small cover plate to access it. It is located right on the front of the engine, though, and is easy to reach from below. Under the hood, all of the service items (fluids, battery, etc) are very accessible. I'm not wild about the dipstick placement, as it is low and hard to see. B-
Mileage: On the first couple of tanks I'm getting about the same as I did in my Pathfinder, which is very close to the 15/20 EPA estimate. I am using 87 octane now and am experiencing no problems. B+
Quality: Initial impressions have been very good, and I have found zero defects. I hope that it is as reliable as my Pathfinder, which is three years old and has NEVER been back to the dealership. A+
Nary a rattle or squeak thus far--I'm amazed at how far truck quality has come since I owned an old '65 Ford "Twin I-Beam". When I say that I managed 20MPG highway, please take into account that it was driving on Texas county roads at 65-70 MPH with no traffic. Stop-and-go city traffic will probably net me 13-14 MPG. The center console doesn't extend as far forward as I would like, but I do use it as an armrest and it works fine for me.
Need some ifo still.
THanks
Badness,NJ
http://www.reverendbiker.com/frontier/splash%20guards.htm
God Bless
I've got a Mazda B4000 4X4 which came with hard plastic mud flaps, which I could not understand. I've already trashed the two front ones going off road. No, I am not a recreational rock crawler either, I was just looking at property for work. I see more and more SUVs and 4x4 pickups with hard plastic mud flaps, and it makes no sense to me.
Sorry, I guess I need to get off my soap box. I love your truck.
jack <>< http://www.reverendbiker.com/frontier/frontier.htm
spray in liner/sliding tie down package in place. My question is, what type of tie hooks are there in the standard SE/XE bed? Are there mounting
holes along the bed sides and front for the sliding hook package if one were to purchase it
later? Thanks in advance!
Jason
I'd love to be wrong about this, and if the brochure has been up-dated, I'd be very happy.
Thanks.
if you want the same-as-factory liner, have it done by line-x.
so I don't know how their beds are set up, especially what mounting points they have instead of the Utilitrac.
I suspect no one would.