Cost of ownership, 4 cylinder vs 6 4wd

N5506J said:

Another cost to think about. If you have to put a timing chain in that V6 you are talking some major bucks.

Click to expand...

Is that a issue with the v6? I've been looking for issues with them and most what I can find is the radiator/transmissions thing but I'm sticking with a manual so that's no issue

I figured mpg would be the main cost of ownership difference. Was trying to account for any others.

Mpg is somewhat important to me as I use the truck for work and put 20k+ miles a year on it. Trying to figure out if it's going to be 1 or 2 mph difference or 5 or 6. At 20k a year that is $700-1000 a year if gas stays in the $2.5 to $3 range.

May not seem like much to someone paying $30k for a new truck but I'm looking at older ones around $10k or less.

shift_RUSH said:

Maintenance of front diff & transfer case fluids.

My smaller/lighter '00 XE 4-banger 21-22 mpg // high of 26 mpg
VS
'15 SV V6 6-sp at 16-18 mpg // high so far of 21.7 mpg

Are you planning to tow or haul? Towing/cargo capacity of V6 Frontiers exceeds I4 by a fair margin.

Click to expand...

No plans on towing but nice to know I could. I mostly want the 4wd and a little more muscle for going up hills and passing power.

I had a 01 2.4 frontier manual before this one and got 23-24mpg no matter how I drove it. Second generation is much heavier and get worse milage, although a much nicer more refined truck.

I do have larger heavier tires on my current 07 4 banger. It definitely doesn't help the mpg but is great on fire roads for weekend fun.