why?

[NissanTy]

why didn't nissan put in the vq35 from the 01-04 pathfinders in the 01-04 frontiers? i have always wondered about this but never figured it out, even the s/c engine isn't as good as the vq35 in the pathys. if nissan just threw in the vq35 everyone wouldn't complain about how slow these trucks are. just thought i'd ask because i never knew why. im not sure if this is off topic or not if so mods feel free to move this post.

[joefrontier2]

I've always wondered this too. But here are some possible reasons. Not sure what MPG the pathy gets compared to the fronty

1. Engine/transmission - Possible that the transmission is different enough that the frontier would have had to have some major redesigns to get it to work.

2. Reusable parts - As you know xterra/frontier are on the same platform and so part re usability is much easier.

3. MPG ratings - As you may not know auto makers need to make MPG ratings for their cars. Meaning that a group of vehicles need to be under a federal set standard. That is to prevent car companies from just selling all gas guzzlers. This is why the Chevy Colorado engine SUCKS. GM made too many gas guzzlers so they need to make up for it in other models. The Colorado has great MPG but the engine lacks in power so much it gives the truck another black eye. Not saying the GM couldn't have put good MPG and good power into the Colorado it is that they probably wanted to save engineering costs and build an inline 5 similar to their inline 6.

4. Maybe they had a good idea that didn't quite fly well. I think that the frontier has power (hidden away deep inside). Maybe they wanted the enthusiast to dig deep and find it. Maybe the idea was to have the NISMO parts or the NISMO group figure it out. Hence the CAI & the CAT BACK. Maybe there was suppose to more NISMO parts that never happened. I mean it's a good idea in that they could sell their OEM parts for it that would unleash better performance.

Unless someone from Nissan tells us we may never know.

[NissanTy]

yeah but the pathfinder and frontier could of used similar parts same with the xerra if they put the vq35 in it also, i wish they would of done this instead of slapping a troublesome blower ontop of the vg33, the vg33 is a good engine but the vq35 would of been much better, 240 hp, and 265 tq. you may be right no one will ever know except the designers at nissan.

[Inyourface1650]

The official Nissan party line is it didnt fit.

Transmission is the same or close enough.
Fuel mileage theory is bunk because the VQ equipped trucks get better mileage then VG powered trucks, especially SC ones.

[joefrontier2]

Also it didn't really matter too much in terms of competing with other small trucks in 01-04

1. Ford - Yeah Right, not even close
2. Chevy - Close in power but lacks in quality and options, size, safety, length, etc
3. Dodge - More power but super crappy MPG you may as well buy the gas station.
4. Toyota - super close / toss up.

So when there is not much to compete with why over engineer it? IMO Nissan did engineer it very well, could have had some more ponies but you have to give it to them for making this truck full of options on many different platforms.

[NissanTy]

i heard somewhere that the vq didn't fit in the nose of the frontier, but in 01 they did a face lift i don't see why they didn't spend a little to shove a vq in there. the vq's in the 01-04 pathys got i think 15 or 16 MPG not better than the vg but the vq had better throttle response. i think of nissan worked the vg a little better like made the n/a engine with about 9.5:1 compression with better gearing the vg wouldn't be a bad engine. if nissan shoved a vq in the 1.2 gen i think the sales on them would of been awesome and they would of maybe outsold the tacoma, instead they put a s/c on an engine that don't like s/c's to begin with. i don't know but i guess it is what it is.

[ScottXGTR]

because nissan had been using the vg30 since the late 80s in the d21 pickups. so when they started the frontier(d22) they used a lot of the same parts. the hardbody and the first gen frontier are very very similar. they upped the displacement on the 3.0 like they always do when a motor is getting old. the supercharger was a marketing gimmick that got sales, but proved disappointing in the lack of power and lack thereof of fuel economy.

adding the 3.5 wouldve taken a slight redesign, that nissan did not feel was worth it when they had a half decent v6 available already.

thats my thoughts anyway.

[isx_frontier]

i think its a marketing strategy of nissan. they predict that consumer will like midsize trucks in the future. and thats why they didn't put it out yet specially with the frontiers. likr toyota, they've waited for the right time for consumers to look for bigger midsize truck but with full size power.

and anyways, 1st gen frontiers are just pullers. at lease we have 5000 lbs towing capacity, and compare it with ridgeline, 1st gen has decent towing power. and 2nd gen has more of a fullsize power.

dang nissan ty, you are so lusting with extra power on your fronty....

[NissanTy]

after driving a vq35 maxima for years (my moms ride) i've been always finding ways to increase power, im perfectly fine with the vg33, gets the job done fine but i was just wondering why nissan never shoved the vq35 in thw 01-04 frontiers, it makes sinse why they should of did this instead of using an engine that was 20+ years old. i know they probably wanted to wait to see what other manufaturers did to see if they would produce midsize trucks like toyota and instead of blowing money on R&D they just used the hardbody platform and did a restyle and named it frontier, which is way they increased the displacement on the vg engine. even the vq35 is nothing to the vq40 thats in the trucks now, IMO alot more people would be happier with a vq35 planted under the hood then the vg33, but... i guess nissan didn't wanna waste money.

[ScottXGTR]

Originally Posted by NissanTy

but... i guess nissan didn't wanna waste money.

exactly. remember, they are out to sell trucks, not spend money.

unfortunately, a large percentage of buyers go by looks and not internal components.

****, my pops never wouldve bought his oldsmobile if he knew it had a frickin plastic intake manifold. (which later in life melted when the engine overheated)