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Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier
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Comments
Both the nissan frontier NISMO, and Tacomo TRD models have these as options packages.. im just wondering what would be more advantagous in an offroad/snow/ or even towing situation.
** ONLY the frontier NISMO comes w/ locking rear diff., the crewcab 6spd i want only comes in an SE model which is not equipped w/ a locking rear diff**
** the tacoma TRD offroad package includes a locking rear diff.. where as the sport package is equipped w/ a limited slip**
were just about $30,000 or more. Not practical for Surf Fishing & running the beaches.
Critter in the Surf!
and again why would you buy a 26k midsized truck while most domestics v8 fullsize trucks get better mpg then the new frontier. :P
link title
if you want true life tests look on cardomain
But, how do these pics relate to the 2005 Tacoma or Frontier?
Anyway, I now have a 2005 Frontier 4x4. Trust me, it is definitely a truck, and I know it when I drive it. It is, however, little more refined than the Tacoma. That doesn't mean that the Tacoma is a bad truck. It is just a matter of preference.
I have not taken my truck off road, but I suspect it'd be more than adequate, as compared to any other stock 4x4 in this class of vehicles.
I average about 20.5 MPG. I don't think that is too bad, for a truck in this class.
Furthermore, have you seen the latest Edmunds truck comparison?
Have you noticed that Edmunds recently chose the :surprise: '06 Tacoma as "Editor's Most Wanted"?
I think they're both great trucks... My last truck was a Nissan, the one before that was a Toyota, and my new truck is a Toyota.
I purchased a 2005 Nissan Frontier on 5/18/2005. Shortly thereafter, I experienced the transmission popping out of second gear on four occasions. Once on a bumpy road, twice on washboard roads, and once at a traffic light on dry pavement. All roads frequently used by passenger vehicles and traveling at low speeds under 20 mph.
Nissan has attempted to correct the problem by adding wheel weights to the shifter assembly to dampen the shifter vibration and then replace the transmission. Both times I was able to reproduce the problem on washboard road used by passenger vehicles. Nissan then gave me a 2005 SE CC Frontier off the lot and I was able to pop it out of second gear.
I now find myself driving the vehicle knowing that I must be careful when using second gear. The excessive shifter vibration and popping out of gear will cause abnormal wear and tear. I also consider it dangerous for a vehicle to pop into neutral when turning into traffic at an intersection as occurred shortly after the purchase. This issue has never happened while using 4-wheel drive, but doing so could also create a dangerous situation depending on the road being traversed such as exposure to drops and/or the incline on narrow mountain roads. This is a Frontier NISMO, advertised as being able to traverse some rather interesting terrain, yet every time the transmission pops out of 2nd gear, and only second gear, I have been on passenger car roads.
Through a lawyer, I was told Nissan said they would not fix the transmission, but would give me $3000 for my time and inconvenience. I refused. I still must drive this transmission and as it gets worse, I would then have to decide when to use the $3000 to replace it and then the cycle starts over. A letter has been sent certified mail to Nissan (cc: Colorado Attorney General) stating these facts and I have asked them to fix it or buy the vehicle back. Nissan have a design issue that is now in the '05 and '06 Frontiers.
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P.S. Love those pictures, toykick. Damn if I'd try that with a Nissan Frontier...
That's never happened to me, and I've never heard of any other 2005 Frontier owner with this problem.
Don't believe everything you read, regardless of its origin.
I do appreciate you trying to help out potential buyers, though.
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If you tried what was done in those pictures with a Nissan Frontier, you'd do it, but in a little more comfort.
(I'm just picking on you - enjoy your Tacoma)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER, I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH. GAS WAS POURING ON THE GROUND FROM ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT GAS WAS SPRAYING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK, EVEN ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE AMOUNT OF GAS SPRAYING WAS ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL TANK HIT A ROCK ON A RECENT TRIP. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SMASH AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND CREATE THIS PROBLEM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL, TO 3/4 FULL, ANY IMPACT ON THE CENTER OF THE FUEL TANK, WILL RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO THE FUEL PUMP LIKE I EXPERIENCED. IMPACT TO THE FUEL TANK IS ALMOST UNAVOIDABLE IN ANY OFF ROAD SITUATION. THE FUEL TANK IS THE LOWEST COMPONENT UNDER THE TRUCK, AND THE MAIN POWER WHEEL IN 4WD IS THE WHEEL DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS PROBLEM WILL RESULT IN FIERY DEATH, AND/OR FOREST FIRES. THERE IS NO SKID PLATE KIT AVAILABLE TO PROTECT THE GAS TANK AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANTY THIS ITEM THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED. A NEW FUEL PUMP COST IS IN EXCESS OF $600.00 THIS IS A POOR DESIGN, AND TRULY WILL RESULT IN DEATH.
By the way, in August I took a week off to 4x4, fish, camp, hike in the Telluride, Silverton, Lake City area of Colorado. I have found that my Frontier NISMO did all right on your average pure crap Colorado 4x4 mountain roads. I then did Ophir, Cinnamon, and Tincup Passes. Because of the way the Frontier responded, I decided NOT to do Mosquito Pass. No way in Hell was I going to destroy this truck there...even though I've done all these passes and many more in the past in a Ranger. Bottom line, for the pure fun the best Colorado mountain passes have to offer, Ford Ranger can take more punishment than Nissan Frontier.
Everything is documented on invoices, including the fact that the second transmission popped out and the one off the lot popped out too. I had a sales person with me. Sorry, my 1989 Honda Civic with 210,000 miles has been on these very same roads at same speed and in 2nd gear...many times. ...And so were my '86 Montero and '94 Ranger.
I'd like to take a look.
Thanks!
Let me know...
http://www.mycarstats.com
I also think they're both great trucks!
Thanks all the same.
Model: TACOMA
Type: PASSENGER CAR
Year: 2005
Complaint Number: 10116155
Summary:
2005 TACOMA PRERUNNER. AUTOMATIC-PACKAGE 2. HAD NEW VEHICLE SURGE 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AFTER PURCHASE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH. LAST TIME SENT ME INTO MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION. THIS WAS TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2005. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. ALL PEOPLE AT DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN VERY NICE, BUT SAY THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOUND OUT LAST WEEK, THAT A LADY ON A TEST DRIVE HAD A CAR SURGE THROUGH THE SHOWROOM WINDOW AT SAME DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NO FAITH THAT THE VEHICLE WON'T DO THIS AGAIN. I AM REFUSING TO PICK VEHICLE UP AT DEALERSHIP, EVEN THOUGH I PAID CASH.
Actually, I didn't look at them.
The point is that there is going to be a lemon, or spotty problems with pretty much any vehicle.
Sorry you have had difficulty with your Frontier. I've had good luck with mine, fortunately. I did drive it on a really bad gravel road that had serious wash-board, and it never came out of any gear, and I was in 2nd for quite a while.
may I add...I read this site and all I see is "mine is bigger than yours". I don't care...all I want is the best I can buy for my money from a manufacturer that cares..? Just like politics..I don't care if they are Republicans or Democrats. If they lie/screw up...get rid of them/try them/convict them/put them away.
Nissan has a poor design and sooner or later you and others will notice it. Sorry, look at the fine print...you are not covered for "normal wear and tear" under your warranty. If you want that coverage get an extended warrenty fron Warrenty Direct.
Gee..maybe qwert13 doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission. My 1989 Civic is on its original transmission. It's on its second clutch...I only got 170,000 miles on the first one (documented). Quess that proves I don't know how to drive a manual...?
The last time my Civic was on a road that the Frontier pooped out of gear..?...yesterday, today, and tomorrow......
Seems you're more of the objective type vs woodman who would rather die than admit that maybe there is an issue with a vehicle he loves..? Never, never "love" a piece of metal/plastic/components. You love you wife, kids, parents, family, friends, pets (especially dogs).
I can take any Frontier ('05 or '06) with a manual transmission and pop it out of gear. I "learned" how to do it after the dealership asked me if I could reproduce it.
Take your Frontier to washboard, go 20 mpg in 2nd gear and accelerate on the washboard. Watch the excessive vibration of the gear shift. Will it happen every time...no...but with practice, yes, as I found out. But realize that what you are doing creates "abnormal wear and tear". You have ball bearings/springs that are meant to hold the transmission in gear. They don't, allowing the transmission to pop out. This creates wear and tear on those components, meaning that the next time it will be easier to pop out of gear. I'm full of fececs..? Go talk to a transmission mechanic.
...And..if I'm full of feces, why did Nissan offer me $3000?
kcram - Pickups Host
but I will get 20-21 rd.trip from High way to city,not bad.
IT seems as It breaks in it getts better I've noticed, I have 5.000 on my truck,I baby the heck out of it ,slow take offs and and easy breaking, the General tires aren't that bad either.
This did not happen for me on either the Frontier nor the Tacoma.
OkieScot
This includes all body and drivetrain styles. The sources I Googled didn't break things out by door count, engines, etc...
November saw aproximately 13,500 Tacomas, 6,000 Frontiers, and 5,700 Honda Ridgelines (a record) leave the lot.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=107904/pageId=66419
Edmunds response is below.
Thanks for your question. The Frontier beat the Tacoma to win our 2005 Tough Truck Shootout, but the Tacoma topped the Frontier to take the crown in our 2005 Midsize Truck Comparison Test.
What's the difference between these two tests? Well, the Midsize Truck Comparison was designed to single out the pickups best suited for the average consumer. The Tough Truck Shootout was designed to select the truck best suited for a consumer with a more extreme set of needs. As we mentioned in its introduction, the Shootout wasn't concerned with "calculating price points and comparing features lists;" instead, the aim of this test was to "see how these trucks tow up hills, run on the sand and race over washboard fire roads."
The Frontier won top prize in the Shootout on the strength of its ruggedness. But overall, we think the Tacoma is a stronger choice for most consumers. This is why it won the Midsize Truck Comparison, and why it was our pick for 2006 Editors' Most Wanted.
Warren Clarke
Content Editor
Edmunds.com
I'm quite please with my 05 Nismo. I certainly push it to the limits and it does fine. Waiting to see how it does in the snow we may get this weekend.
81 Trekker
For many people, money is an issue when buying a first vehicle. If that is the case for you, and if the Frontier suits you, you may be able to get more features for the $ with one of those.
"This made choosing a winner difficult, but the Nissans take the win. If we were buying a truck that would spend its entire life in the dirt, one of the Tacomas might get the nod, but before you play in the mud on the weekend, you have to get through the week first. While equally as tough and capable off-road as the Tacomas, the Nissan Frontiers are simply more refined and more comfortable. Bottom line, had we been forced to endure another few days in the desert we would have wanted to be driving one of the Nissan Frontiers"
"More refined and more comfortable" I like both trucks a lot, but I drive a Frontier because when you are behind the wheel and driving down the road, the Frontier is more comfortable.
Both are great trucks IMO, it just depends on what features/characteristics are more important to you.
I don't know for sure what the 2TR-FE I4 uses but believe it is also a chain, not a belt.
Wayne