Frontier quality vs. Toyota

[g775]

I had a 99 frontier and it ran flawlessly only thing that ever had to be done was the timing belt replace. It was an awesome truck sounds someones got a lemon

[stapler]

The Tacoma is more powerful, more efficient, and more reliable than the Frontier, but not by enough for the 4k -5k dollar premium they were fetching over the Frontier I found last year.

It's 11 years old and had over 90k on it. Yeah I had to replace some things, douse most of it in lithium grease, and fix everything previous owners had done (wiring rats nest), but if this was my old BMW I would have had to replace the entire cooling system (including the o-rings on the tubes that run under the intake manifold), front suspension, and do a sacrifice. Compared to an actual unreliable car pitting one Japanese truck vs another is just splitting hairs.

[redv6]

lol just grow up, everything with ages breaks, just like my career, plane mechanic.... crap breaks and wears our all the time. its just what happens. like seriously just freakin grow up at this point...

[Mhannis]

^this. everything breaks. its all a matter of when.

[joefrontier2]

Originally Posted by Matt16

Wheel bearing started screeching yesterday. Also, the truck makes grinding noises when I'm rocking the truck back and forth in 4wd to get unstuck in snow, feels like the hub is momentarily unlocking...

Also, my truck started throwing a knock sensor core on bank 1 and a lean fuel code on bank 2.

Every time I drive this stupid truck, something goes wrong with it.



Whats innovative about it? How is the '03-04 best? I'm not feeling it. My gut feeling is that the Frontier might be a a more stylish alternative to the Ranger but that it isn't built with hard use in mind. Too bad.. the Nissan frame looks as beefy as the Toyota trucks (pre 95) and more so than the Tacoma. Might have made more sense to lighten the frame to increase mpg because I don't feel the rest of the components are up to hard use.

Yes, your trucks auto hubs were probably coming undone when you rock the truck back and forth. And if you take some time to understand the mechanics of auto hubs then you would know that you can't just be pounding on the gas and expecting them to stay locked. Auto hubs unlock when you gone from one direction to the next. This is exactly why the rock crawler guys and heavy off roaders change them to manual hubs. Plus if you are in the snow you should be using something like 4LO. You don't need 4HI this slows your wheel spin down and give more time for tire grip. This may stop you from noticing that the hubs are locking and relocking when rocking.
BTW: Rocking the truck back in forth is not a debatable quality. Getting stuck sucks and it's no better if you are in a truck with 4WD or a monster truck. There is no 4WD truck better than another truck at getting unstuck by itself. Usually the driver makes all the difference.

Nissan was the first to go CC on small truck and go CC LB next. They then came out with a Super Charger. The decked out the insides with 6 disc changer and nine speakers with a sub. They also added a bed extender. 2003 they pretty much fixed the earlier problems with the Frontier, gave the VG33E 1mpg more and 10HP more (though debatable). If you can name another truck that had this on their truck in 2003 & 2004 then I'd like to see it. They also pretty much made a change in each year of production to the truck with a exterior redesign in 2001 and interior redesign in 2002.

The Ranger never really changed and neither did the S10. Chevy was junk and Ford was just a ho hum truck. Dodge was more on par with style and power but MPGs sucked and so did quality. Toyota's interior was not refined and their rides was stiff, their frames have all rotted out and they did not have a CC LB until 2005. Though Toyota was my second choice as the TRD package had style.

Last but not least the Toyota and Nissan all have kept their value. Again my 2003 still could snag 9k - 10k and I am sure an equv Toy could come close.

[Matt16]

Originally Posted by joefrontier2

Yes, your trucks auto hubs were probably coming undone when you rock the truck back and forth. And if you take some time to understand the mechanics of auto hubs then you would know that you can't just be pounding on the gas and expecting them to stay locked. Auto hubs unlock when you gone from one direction to the next. This is exactly why the rock crawler guys and heavy off roaders change them to manual hubs. Plus if you are in the snow you should be using something like 4LO. You don't need 4HI this slows your wheel spin down and give more time for tire grip. This may stop you from noticing that the hubs are locking and relocking when rocking.

Respectfully disagree with low-range only for snow. Not be pedantic, but being in 4low vs 4hi is more complex than snow vs no snow. Spend a lot of time driving in deep snow, for work, for fun etc. Being in too low a gear (ie: 1st low) leaves a very narrow range of speeds the truck be driven at. Changing gears going forward often looses the momentum necessary to keep forward motion and you get stuck. Also very easy to break traction in 1st low... perhaps you remember how your drivers ed class told you to start in 2nd gear on ice.

Sounds to me like the automatic hubs have a major design flaw. No wonder Toyota phased them out to automatic disconnecting differential. Hubs that unlock on their own in normal (4wd) driving conditions is pretty short sighted...

BTW: Rocking the truck back in forth is not a debatable quality. Getting stuck sucks and it's no better if you are in a truck with 4WD or a monster truck. There is no 4WD truck better than another truck at getting unstuck by itself. Usually the driver makes all the difference.

Getting the truck "stuck" in terms of needing to back up to try again happens whenever it goes into 4wd pretty much. Its just what happens when you operate on rough roads, often with snow and or mud. Putting hubs on a 4wd truck that were designed for soccer mom use, indicates to me the Nissn isn't meant for the hard use I need a truck for. Not much the driver can do about a flawed 4wd system like that.


Nissan was the first to go CC on small truck and go CC LB next. They then came out with a Super Charger. The decked out the insides with 6 disc changer and nine speakers with a sub. They also added a bed extender. I wish Nissan had worked on more material improvements, like that focussed on reliability and durability instead of optional CD players2003 they pretty much fixed the earlier problems with the Frontier, gave the VG33E 1mpg more and 10HP more (though debatable). If you can name another truck that had this on their truck in 2003 & 2004 then I'd like to see it. With the exception of the long bed/CC option, the Toyota motor feels more refined, produces more horsepower and most importantly torque and has an optional TRD supercharger. Disc changer? No idea, who cares. Toyota has better mpg, more ground clearance, optional rear locker, better suspension travelThey also pretty much made a change in each year of production to the truck with a exterior redesign in 2001 and interior redesign in 2002.

The Ranger never really changed and neither did the S10. Chevy was junk and Ford was just a ho hum truck. Dodge was more on par with style and power but MPGs sucked and so did quality. Toyota's interior was not refined and their rides was stiff, their frames have all rotted out and they did not have a CC LB until 2005. Though Toyota was my second choice as the TRD package had style.

Not all Toyota frames rotted, just a certain batch made is some american factory. Pre 1995.5 had no frame rust issues other than it needed to be rinsed like any other frame. The frame on my 2003 Nissan Frontier isn't in as good shape as the frame on my 1990 Toyota pickup. Granted the Nissan probably saw more salt, I'd put them on par for rust, and a slight advantage to the Toyota for strength. Both are much better than Rangers in terms of strength, but with the exception of poor offroad recoveries, I'v not heard of a Ranger frame failure.

Last but not least the Toyota and Nissan all have kept their value. Again my 2003 still could snag 9k - 10k and I am sure an equv Toy could come close.

Not around here. NIssan doesnt hold value near as well here. I couldn't trade my 2003 even if it were in perfect condition for a 1996+ Tacoma without offering cash as well. Its a little better than Ford, but not by much. Ford might be a better truck though. Undecided.

My opinion in red.

[zoomzoom]

[joeseabee]

I have been reading this and was really trying to keep out of it, but I just cant any longer. when purchasing my 03 cc auto frontier I looked at the tacoma as the altenative. I could not touch a tacoma of equal age and options. at least $2,000 more.

I also own a 2003 ranger 3.0. granted it has a m/t, when it comes to get up I would take the ranger over the frontier any day. And mpg's the ranger gets 20mpg's all day. Im lucky to get 16 out of my frontier.

The only reason i looked at the nissan or toyota was for the 4 doors.If ford had brought the 4door ranger to the US your damn right i would have that in my driveway instead.

[joefrontier2]

Matt16 - I just wanted to point out one thing. 4LO is better used when stuck or pulling heavy load to get started. I never said use 4LO while driving. Also, the frame rot I was talking about was in the time frame of the 1st gen not prior. I guess you clearly need to move up to 2nd gen Nissan as most of your wants are already there or move back to a pre 1998 Toyota and build your own.

[malleusdei321]

I know the OP was talking bout his 1st gen frontier but the frontier itself is pretty solid. I have a 06 SE 4x4 that I've beaten the snot out of and it's still going. Obviously with time and abuse things break and when that happens it sometimes feels like everything breaks at the same time. Sure the Tacoma is more popular and more aftermarket support but I'm glad of my decision to purchase my fronty. As stated all other small pickups are not on par with nissan or Toyota in quality, reliability, or price value and that's why I never considered looking at American. By the way Frontiers have a selectable locker if you get the pro4x4 kinda like Toyota and the TRD package.


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