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If you had it to do over again, would you still buy a Frontier?

530K views 368 replies 243 participants last post by  greenbelt  
#1 · (Edited)
didn't want this to be a poll but, more of a responce thread. alot of people includeing myself come here to see the reviews frontier owners give to their trucks.

i'll start:

i have had my truck for 19 months now. haveing come from two previous toyotas a 95 4x4 x- cab and a 2005 tundra 4x4 cc. decided to give nissan a try. mainly price reason. more truck less money.

the frontier had big shoes to fill. so far it hasn't dissapointed one bit. i was looking to get back into something more compact after the tundra. i really liked my 95 better then the 2005 because it was more nimble in tight spots. though the 2005 was more refined and drove better with the 4.7 v8 over the 3.0 v6.

i choose the kc v6 4x4 to meet all my needs but, i do miss the occasional full 4-doors. the truck has superb power and handleing. it was adequate stock but, i felt the personal need to do some basic modifications. i like it just how it is now. gas mileage pre lift was close to 20mpg. i'm getting about 16mpg combined hw and city. its a truck. i didn't expect a gas miser. i like the sitting position and the seats are comfortable to me. has just enough options with my SE package that i'm happy. i would have liked a locker but, rarely if ever need one, so i did with out. my biggest complaint is, i get a certain amount of wind noise when i'm at about 65mph. also, i feel the windows are slow , motor maybe ? also the wiper motor on mine has annoyed me in the winter months, with lack of power to move light amounts of snow and ice. i guess if this is the worst i see ,i'll be a happy camper.

bottom line... YES.. at this moment i would buy another one in a heart beat.

lets hear your bottom line and why ?
 
#2 ·
I've had my NISMO since November 06. I am and always will be a die hard Jeep fan and came from a 89 Cherokee w\3in lift and 31in mud tires. I waited a long time to see if Jeep would ever come out with the Gladiator concept but it always got pushed back.

I needed a truck but not a full size so I did what a lot of guys did and test drove all the midsizes that met my requirements.

Ford Ranger FX4 level 2
Chevy colorado z71?
Toyota Tacoma TRD offroad
Dodge dakota 4x4 v8

I was sold the second I sat in the Nissan (even though I only went to test drive it because I was in town at the time, nearest Nissan dealership is 90+miles) It had more room inside than the others and the seats were higher that the Toyota. Once I got it on the highway, I told the salesman that I was taking it home today. Took it on a 20 mile test drive first, lol!

The only things I would have done different would have been to find a green one-hold out for a long bed (didn't own the house when I bought the truck) and maybe waited and bought a used one to miss that depreciation hit.

I have no complaints about my truck. I have driven it across country, 'wheeled it stock in places my lifted Jeep couldn't have made it and worked the pee out of it and it just keeps ticking right along.
 
#3 ·
ive been through many cars, two trucks, and two bikes.

i would keep my frontier over all of them. my windows roll up a little slow, i dont like thats its not a v-8 most nissan service sucks *** but i love my truck, 4x4 crewcab its an awesome truck and i would buy it over many others.

bottom line, its my dream truck and its staying that way
 
#4 · (Edited)
If I had to do it again, I would have prob went with another Titan. I sold my Titan once it started getting a little hard to pay for school and the Titan with all my other bills. Since then, I have gotten a nice pay raise and the newer Titans have gone down a lot with economy.

But besides the Titan, yes I would stay with the Frontier. Its no comparison to the other mid size trucks on the market and Im loving it more everyday. Coming from the Titan, I thought the frontier front end looked weird cause it was all crushed in together, but the more I look at it, it looks more aggressive.

As far as mods, I would have done the titan swap instead of getting spacers, I would have gotten the full leaf pack instead of buying the blocks,aal, I would have got the shrockwork bumper instead of the bull bar, and I would have saved other money for the m226 swap...
 
#5 ·
I would get the Frontier again in a heartbeat! I had a Toyota T100 and an H3, but the Frontier is my favorite by far. Things i would have done differently would be to do muffler/y-pipe swap (instead of nismo s-tune) and titan swap/swayaways as my first lift (rather than spacer/adjustable bilsteins).
 
#6 ·
Yep, I'd do it again no question.

Top three things I like about it:
1) Engine/HP
2) Exterior body styling
3) Sunroof (I know, I'm easily pleased)

Top three things I dis-like about it:
1) Fit and finish (annoying rattles etc., found and fixed most)
2) Plastics in the interior easily scratch (just have to live with that).
3) 600 pound tailgate with weak hinges (ez-down tailgate damper helped that).
 
#7 ·
Knowing what I know now, since hindsight is 20/20, I wouldn't buy the Frontier. I've had mine since Oct 2005. If I could go back and do it again, I would have gotten a VW Jetta TDI wagon, or a Subaru Baja. Reason being, I have used my truck as a truck all of once, to haul a pallet of shingles (about 1500Lbs), which could have been delivered for free. Everything else I've hauled in it has been light enough to not have been a problem in one of the other two vehicles I mentioned. And I would be getting better mileage, MUCH better in the case of the TDI.
 
#8 ·
Yes, I would definitely do it again, but hope this one still lasts a few more years. The only change I'd make is next one will have a locker.
 
#10 ·
definetly not!


reasons:

#1) this thing has been in the shop in the last 3 years more than all my other vehicles combined (i think 9 times). nothing major...but everytime you bring it into nissan service, its gone for a day or more.

#2) to add to this truck constantly breaking, nissan customer service is probably the worst in the industry.

#3) squeaks and noises... for the love of god, the squeaking in this truck is horrendous. there is no driving w/o the radio...its just not possible.

#4) 6x4.5 wheel pattern. seriously nissan????

#5) no aftermarket support

#6) #3 worst vehicle on the market for crash testing (i think JD has the list)

#7) plastic interior. just touching it makes it scratch. this is a off-road edition..how about a durable interior

#8) gas mileage. yeah yeah its a truck... when it says 16-20 on the sticker and its more like 14/17... that pisses me off. sorry.


why i like my truck:

#1) power

#2) exterior looks


if i wouldnt take a bath on it by selling it right now, it would already be gone.
 
#14 ·
definetly not!


reasons:

#1) this thing has been in the shop in the last 3 years more than all my other vehicles combined (i think 9 times). nothing major...but everytime you bring it into nissan service, its gone for a day or more.
Mine has been in like Once, and it was minor

#2) to add to this truck constantly breaking, nissan customer service is probably the worst in the industry.
you are correct on this one but still a great truck

#3) squeaks and noises... for the love of god, the squeaking in this truck is horrendous. there is no driving w/o the radio...its just not possible.
Mine does too but its my fault for not lubing my full leaf pack.

#4) 6x4.5 wheel pattern. seriously nissan????
This does suck but enough to make you not want to buy another frontier?

#5) no aftermarket support
Um...we have a lot more now..what do you want that we do not have?

#6) #3 worst vehicle on the market for crash testing (i think JD has the list)
I want proof...I thought the Frontier did pretty well but I could be wrong.

#7) plastic interior. just touching it makes it scratch. this is a off-road edition..how about a durable interior
Plastic does suck and scratches pretty easy so I give you this one.

#8) gas mileage. yeah yeah its a truck... when it says 16-20 on the sticker and its more like 14/17... that pisses me off. sorry.
Im getting approx 16/20 and im lifted 7" and 33" tires...If you aint doing that good, your doing something wrong.


why i like my truck:

#1) power

#2) exterior looks


if i wouldnt take a bath on it by selling it right now, it would already be gone.
I put my comments in red.
 
#12 ·
I actually would have bought the Toyota Xrunner if I had to do it over again. Just because I like the "street truck" design and better "fitment" of the interior stuff. having said that, I still love my truck. I just hate the rattles and squeaks.
 
#13 ·
I've already have had 2, so yes I would buy one again! I had a white 06' Nismo 4X2 for about 6 months. I then decided I HAD to have 4x4... and a sunroof, roof rack and a rockford fosgate system. So I went and traded it in on my beautiful red Nismo 4x4 I have now. I went and test drove a Tacoma before I got my second one just to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and I wasn't. I love my truck. Aside from the odd squeak and rattle here and there it has been great. Only thing that I would buy over a Frontier is a Land Rover Defender, which I plan on importing in a few years anyway. I'll most likely keep my Frontier forever.
 
#15 ·
I had my 08 CC 4x4 SE for about 7 months and I would not do it again.

What I like: Power, styling, utility system in the bed, the fact that not many people drive the new Frontiers which makes me feel special.

What I dont like: Rattles!!! and more rattles, plastic scratches easily, turning radius sucks, Nissan service is horrible and the dealerships are horrible. The head room, I am 6'3 and I bang my head on the roof part near the door every time I get in or out. Transmission shifts are weird may be me I dont know. I find myself ALWAYS readjusting the steering while driving sorta like it drifts to the right or left. Did I mention rattles?

Honestly, it is good value for the money but next time I will spend my 22K somewhere else.
 
#61 ·
I find myself ALWAYS readjusting the steering while driving sorta like it drifts to the right or left. Did I mention rattles?
Hey... I found the same issue with my steering on my 08. That damn thing drifts right and left constantly... yet there are only a few people that have seemed to notice this.
My old 04 did not do this at all. If anything the steering was always steady and neutral.

I wonder what the hell that is all about.
 
#16 ·
Much like I say about my Jack Russell Terrier, I am glad that I bought one but one is enough.

While I like my truck for what it is, I bought it for reasons that have since changed (i.e. wanted a truck that I could DD and take to the trails whenever I wanted). Now that I have a trail rig, I won't be using the truck for offroading and have hardly used it as a truck. The squeeks and rattles could be due to me offroading it but there are too many people here that don't offroad and have similar problems, so I doubt it is all my fault. This, plus the absolute horrible customer service at the dealerships, is what did it for me.

When this one dies or gets too unbearable, I will buy a car for getting back and forth to work and use my Scout for offroading and general truck duties.
 
#17 ·
Wow.. think Im the only 1st gen on here.... I love my truck and would get a 2nd gen cc if I had to replace it. That being said, I HATE the rattles and squeeks, noisy valve rattle at startup And yes even the mpg... If I drive like a grandpa I get 17mpg....
 
#18 ·
I would buy it again and I have had bad service but in the end nissan put a new motor in my truck at 47k and now has 67k .Not sure where all of the rattles are in the above trucks because I sure dont have them.Truck was bought 6/7/06 I waited a day to buy it after the test drive so I wasnt buying on 6/6/06 just seemed like the wrong day.
All in all its been a great truck
 
#22 ·
Not sure where all of the rattles are in the above trucks because I sure dont have them.

X2 I live on 8 miles of rough gravel roads and the only squeaks or rattles I have are from those dang poly bushings on the Total Chaos arms-a little grease it goes away.
 
#19 ·
In a heartbeat, the only thing I'd do differently is get the CC...maybe a Nismo.

My last truck was a '98 4cyl single cab Gen I, I beat the crap out of that thing when I was younger. It still kept ticking. It had squeeks and rattles, wind noise was awful, rough ride, horrible mileage but, I still loved that truck. I would have kept it but, getting it back into top condition wasn't worth the cash. Still ran like a champ, just an old and battered champ.

Now considering what I came from, the noises and mileage on this truck are nothing. They don't even bother me, just used to it I guess. I got way more truck for the money when compared to any other truck in this segment. I don't even think I could get the SR5 package on a Taco for what I payed out the door. Now that the aftermarket is gaining speed, I love this truck even more. There is way more available for this truck than the Gen Is.

One other thing I would have done differently, I would have waited to buy the truck. If I had waited a year I could get a screaming deal on a CC 4wd Nismo.
 
#20 ·
would I buy a Frontier again...no. I wanted a truck with good power and decent fuel mileage(for a truck). I love the look of it, and I got a great deal on it. It has been in for repairs about 6 times, each time it took them 3 times to fix. Next truck up is a Titan, basically the same mileage as our trucks, V8, fullsize, for about 3 Gs more(now that they dropped the price)
 
#21 ·
I would buy one another Frontier in a heart beat. I agree with everyone about the easily scratched interior but I haven't had a rattle yet in the 18000 miles I have put on the truck.

I love the HP, the styling, the towing power and the full boxed frame. I get compliments on the truck all the time and from people that could go out and buy 6 digit cars and pay cash. I still come out of stores to find someone walking around the truck checking it out and its a year old.

The only things I wish I had are the heated rear view mirrors, a flip up tray for my Tom Tom in place of the tray on the dash and sliders. None of these things are imposable and may happen when the cash and time are available.

Now I just have to get another dirt bike to haul behind it. :thumbup:
 
#23 ·
I love my 4x2, 4 cylinder, XE frontier. Great gas mileage (23-24mpg), no squeaks or rattles yet (5,000miles), great service at the local nissan dealership here in Cedar Rapids, Ia, (just routine service visits so far i.e. oil change), smooth ride, quiet, and easy shifter and clutch. I 've been riding in my buddies 08 Tacoma recently and it does not ride half as comfortable as the Frontier does (seats are way too low for me---knees are up in my face). I'd buy another one in a heart beat.
 
#24 ·
i'll chime in with XEKING, i love my gen 1, only 3 gripes i have about this truck is the lack of decent power, and the sqeeks and rattles, and lack of aftermarket support other than that i LOVE this truck, i get 18.4 city driving (not bad for a 20+ year old engine design), has plenty of low end tq. and its fun to drive, though my next frontier will be a 2nd gen possibly a new pro4x i have no problems with my gen 1 and yes i'll deff buy a frontier anyday over a tacoma, and the rest of the crappy american mid size trucks.
 
#26 ·
I love my Frontier. However fuel economy and the environment is such a concern for me that I don't know if I would buy one again. I do love my truck but the fuel bill and pollution do bother me.
 
#27 ·
my complaint
*1. Turning radius.. this thing turns like my dad's POS chevy..but it doesnt bother me too much now, ive become accustomed to it since its a truck (came from 91' Exploder, turned on a dime)
2. These things need REAL bumpers.. smacked a deer doing 40-50mph and caused $3k dmg..
3. Wish I got the 6sp :/ hahaha
 
#28 ·
probably not. if I had the chance to go back in time to when I bought my nismo in 2005, i would have just kept my Mustang GT and paid it off by now. Gas mileage is horrendous. I got this kind of mileage in my lightly modded GT driving aggressively.....after I had my 4.10 gears installed. I think that's a bit much. I know the truck is heavy, but why couldn't nissan manage better mileage than this? I could pick up a V8 domestic and get better mileage....sadly enough.

I like the truck itself, but no, I wouldn't do it again. It just didn't turn out to be a good financial decision for me.