I also test drove the Nismo... after i drove the toyota doubecab which i now own... i will admit that the nismo was a nice truck... but i ended up buying the toyota. Gotta weigh out your personal preferance.


which options will be put to better use... which truck looks better in your opinion... ect.. goodluck.

 

but I recently drove my friend's Nismo and I gotta say it was pretty nice....

Help talk me out of it, I'm not sure what to do!

It's your funeral.

Drive the Taco again and see what you think. Maybe try an auto trans. this time.

The mechanics of the Fronty might be OK, but the looks of the interior and exterior is what scared me away from it. :thumbdown

 

was closely looking at both trucks. the nismo is not a bad rig.. handles very well, steering is tight and sensitive. lot of visibility, moonroof was a nice option. BUT, the rear end felt real light to me when going over bumps (whereas the TRD/OR felt like a larger/hearvier truck to me), the interior is hands down lacking in the quality/finish battle (relative to the Taco), and i think the Tacoma looks much meaner (personal pref). extremely happy with my DC PreRunner TRD/OR. wouldnt trade for the world. but the Nismo is a nice vehicle, if you drive both and one just feels better to you, go with it..

 

I agree, they are nice. Just about anything that costs $25,000 or more should be "pretty nice".

A few things that I didn't and still don't like about the Frontier:
1. NISMO might be the gayest name, ever.
2. It is pretty plain looking IMO. Not to be offensive but it looks like something my dad would drive. So I basically think of it as a truck for the 45+ age group. Maybe you are 45, if so, go for it.
3. The dependability is a little scary. It looks like a mini-Titan. If it holds up like the Titan, watch out. Not that the new Tacomas history has been stellar, but...
4. A guy in my apartment complex has an '05 dark blue DC Frontier. It's not very exciting. He comments on how shiny my truck is and I think he's asked me how I like my Tacoma two or three times now, in 5 months. He's definitely in the 45+ age group.

That's my take on it. I priced out both of these trucks last April and May and I have been very happy with my decision. Plus, Nissan doesn't have a forum as good as this one!

 

I'm trying to find the 2005 Tacoma Edmunds review that put all the mid-size trucks head to head. Anyway, the Tacoma was the best in 90% of the catagories. It was faster 0 to 60, stopped the quickest, had more payload, more towing capacity. The only thing it got beat in was torque. The Fronty had 2 more pounds of torque. But the Tacomas power to weight ratio was better, which is what really matters on the road. I think the Taco is longer, wider, and taller too.

 

....

dude, just buy what you WANT. You are the one that will look it every morning in the driveway for the next 18 - 48 months . . . get what you like not what other people like.

I nearly bought a Nissan, but my wife talked me out of it! GREAT THING to, cause I like the taco much more, OH yea, almost bought the Nissan before I saw the new Taco . . glad she told me to wait a a couple of months.

Just consider resale and owner feedback.

 

I'm trying to find the 2005 Tacoma Edmunds review that put all the mid-size trucks head to head. Anyway, the Tacoma was the best in 90% of the catagories. It was faster 0 to 60, stopped the quickest, had more payload, more towing capacity. The only thing it got beat in was torque. The Fronty had 2 more pounds of torque. But the Tacomas power to weight ratio was better, which is what really matters on the road. I think the Taco is longer, wider, and taller too.

http://autos.aol.com/article?id=20051216195709990001

 

I considered one...until I saw one inside and out in person. The taco looks better

 

I to am about to buy either a tacoma access 4x4 or NISMO Frontier 4x4, just test drove a Frontier saturday, wow, decent looks, great handling in the hills on curvy roads, auto tranny shifted great, quiet engine with lots of power, nice ((metal bed)) and heavy duty tailgate, (this bed/tailgate thing is important to me since I use my truck bed and tailgate daily for business). NISMO does looks a little low to the ground in the front bodywise, only thing that really bothers me is the king cab is too small. Could use that room for payload if it was as large as the tacoma access. Jury is still out for me, doing more comparison shopping this week, truth is $$ probably will win out, it appears I can get V6 NISMO for 2500 less than tacoma access TRD 4x4 out the door. Its a fight, I have had 4 tacomas since 79 and its hard to think otherwise!!

 

It's your funeral.

Drive the Taco again and see what you think. Maybe try an auto trans. this time.

The mechanics of the Fronty might be OK, but the looks of the interior and exterior is what scared me away from it. :thumbdown

Def. getting a 6 speed

That's my take on it. I priced out both of these trucks last April and May and I have been very happy with my decision. Plus, Nissan doesn't have a forum as good as this one!

This is true!!

A guy in my apartment complex has an '05 dark blue DC Frontier. It's not very exciting. He comments on how shiny my truck is and I think he's asked me how I like my Tacoma two or three times now, in 5 months. He's definitely in the 45+ age group.

I'm 23, so def. fit into the younger crowd.

This is also a truck that i plan to keep for 8+ years. I'm not so sure about Nissan reliability, but Toyota has the bulletproof reputation.

Thanks alot for the imput guys, I really appreciate it.

Was anyone else in this tough spot as I am??

BostonTRD

 

Here's a good reason, all other things aside... A tacoma has its own look. All these Nissan trucks look the same. Frontier and a Pathfinder are the exactly same from head on. Also looks the same as a Titan, which is the same as the Armada. The frontier lacks a unique face, a personality, like the tacoma.

There are alot of different looks of the Tacoma, the XR, the SR5 gray fender wells, to the chromed Offroad pgk, to the hoodscopped, color keyed Sport Pgk. Lot of tacomas out there but all look different.

 

Here's a good reason, all other things aside... A tacoma has its own look. All these Nissan trucks look the same. Frontier and a Pathfinder are the exactly same from head on. Also looks the same as a Titan, which is the same as the Armada. The frontier lacks a unique face, a personality, like the tacoma.

There are alot of different looks of the Tacoma, the XR, the SR5 gray fender wells, to the chromed Offroad pgk, to the hoodscopped, color keyed Sport Pgk. Lot of tacomas out there but all look different.

great point! :thumbup:

 

One thing that i like about the Nismo that you can't get on the TRD is LSD AND the locker... that's the biggest plus IMO...

 

It's your funeral.

Drive the Taco again and see what you think. Maybe try an auto trans. this time.

The mechanics of the Fronty might be OK, but the looks of the interior and exterior is what scared me away from it. :thumbdown

Not trying to change the subject here PB but I noticed you have " unemployed" by your screen name. I remember you mentioning something about a strike the other day is that what happened?

 

Look in the local paper at 3-5 year old used trucks. What you will find may shock you! These Tacomas have a resale value that so high you would think that Toyota is building instant classics! Also take into consideration the Tacoma is a slightly larger truck. Toyota's have a "Fanatical" following, not to say that there are no Nismo fanatics out there....God that does sound gay....Go with your gut on your truck choice.

 

I'm surprised no one has brought up gas mileage yet in this thread. I have the V6 auto, and get around 18-19 mgp. My buddy has a 4x4 crew cab frontier (auto) and tells me he only gets about 12-15 mpg. He told me he is jealous of the gas mileage I'm pulling in my Taco. For a while there he really taking a hit from gas prices and had to stop driving it as a daily driver.
I figure the amount in gas you'll save might make the difference in price between the Frontier and the Taco.

 

I looked at the double-cab Frontiers. The thing that helped me decide was the lack of room in the back seat. It felt like I was sitting on a park bench. Very upright seating position. And, the interior had no "character", IMO.

I know you're comparing access cab trucks... but, that's what swayed my decision.

 

I looked at the double-cab Frontiers. The thing that helped me decide was the lack of room in the back seat. It felt like I was sitting on a park bench. Very upright seating position. And, the interior had no "character", IMO.

I know you're comparing access cab trucks... but, that's what swayed my decision.

I was thinking about getting a double cab. But for the extra price, do i really WANT to carry extra people around in my new truck??

 

I have a 05 Tacoma and my friend has a new Nissan. I really like the bed and rail system the Nissan has compared to the Tacoma. Heavy tracks on the rails and the floor with steel cleats. Looks very strong and you can have tie downs almost anywhere. Also he has a TracRac system since his bed can handle it. If the bed and what and how you put in it is important, I can see why someone would consider the Nissan.

 

PDXJoe makes a most vivid point about gas mileage!! I know for a fact the Nissans get lousy mileage, my son had a double cab for a couple yrs, ended up selling it due to lousy mileage,etc. They discontinued the 4x4 4 cyl also I guess after 04??, which was a mileage champ at around 24mpg, a friend had one of those for yrs.

I guess I will drag my butt down to some Toyota dealers wed and see what surfaces on a good deal. Need to keep out the door w/tax/lic cost down so I can afford a decent shell for the back once I buy. Darn shells are 1399 and up these days!!! I want the V6 TRD auto but don't want the payments for it, so I keep going back to the 4 cyl 5 spd. Will have to see what happens. Maybe I can find a dealer loan backout vehicle in V6 TRD auto that has low miles I can slide into for a decent price out the door.

 

I'm in the middle of the same debate...though having not yet driven the Frontier, the strongest argument seems to be price.

The Frontier also adds larger stock tires on the off-road package so an immediate upgrade isn't necessarily a must...though I'm sure the larger tires play a role in the crappier gas mileage I've read about.

Run some nubmers, depending on how many miles you drive...1-2 mpg doesn't matter all that much, but if you're getting 3-4 mpg worse and driving 12k+ miles per year, then you're talking over $500 per year in savings. A couple mpg isn't THAT big of a deal, it's more psychological than anything, but 3-5 mpg does start to add up over time.

Then again...no truck out there looks better than a lifted Tacoma with some big tires!!

It's worth a fair amount of money to know that you're driving the truck you WANT to drive...not the one you settled for to save a little money (yeah, I know a couple thousand is not necessarily a "little" money...you'll get it back in resale!)

 

In the reliability theme, check consumer reports. Usually, Nissans show up as good for the first year's report, but when you look at the reliability charts that go back 8 years, they are usually well below Toyota.

Don't know if its true with the Frontier, but it has been a general trend for CR reports to say a vehicle will be reliable, then it fails down the road (like audi and others). Toyotas don't usually go down that path, and please let these Tacomas continue that trend.

 

You will see a 3-5 mpg difference between Nissan and Tacoma for sure in V6. So that will matter. I use my truck for work and drive 15-20K yrly, and have a 1988 4x4 reg cab 5spd 7ft longbed now, sure hate giving up that long bed, but 225K on the clock, 75K on a rebuild, and things are just getting old, smog is getting harder to pass each yr, really wish toyota had kept a 7ft bed going in their downsized truck line. 6ft just doesn't cut it when you need cargo area. At least the Access in the tacoma is fairly big so it can be used. Frontier has barely some room back of the seats. I would buy a 4x4 tundra in V6 w/8ft bed but they only make v6 in reg cab 2wd so that is a bust. I fish and tow a boat, so use the 4x4 to get around sometimes in the hills. Tacoma has that mickey mouse tailgate, one will have to take care with it or break it. We did test that tailgate on a lot recently, hehe, one guy at 240 and one at 175 both on it at same time, it seemed ok with our weight. So goes the battle!!! Hehe. I am gonna buy in the next couple weeks.

 

I'm trying to find the 2005 Tacoma Edmunds review that put all the mid-size trucks head to head. Anyway, the Tacoma was the best in 90% of the catagories. It was faster 0 to 60, stopped the quickest, had more payload, more towing capacity. The only thing it got beat in was torque. The Fronty had 2 more pounds of torque. But the Tacomas power to weight ratio was better, which is what really matters on the road. I think the Taco is longer, wider, and taller too.

Wow. The Tacomas stopped the quickest??? I wonder if the others even stopped at all!! :lol:

Frontier exterior is not that bad.

The interior is plain as HELL. My 1993 Honda has a nicer interior!

There are more parts available for the Tacoma.

Frontier Forum = Not available!


Frontier = $$$ Cheap Truck = You get what you pay for!

 

Frontier Positives

1. Cheaper
2. Comes in charcoal grey
3. Sunroof
4. Side curtain air bags MUCH easier to find

Tacoma Positives

1. Better gas mileage
2. Better looking (just wish they had a dark grey)
3. MUCH nicer interior
4. Better overall fit and finish
5. Toyota quality (I hope...)

My $.02.

TL