Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab vs Nissan Frontier Crew Cab: Opinions?

[TrooperFarva]

In the next few months, I'm going to trade my car in for a mid-size truck. I drove a Dodge Dakots Quad Cab in college, and loved it. I got my current car, a Pontiac G6, when I graduated, because the job I got was 55 miles each way, and while I loved that truck, gas mileage was less than spectactular.

But I miss having a truck, and I don't like the look of the newer Dakotas, so I'm basically looking at the Tacoma DoubleCab and Frontier Crew Cab from 2005-2007, because

1) I want a midsize truck with decent gas mileage
2) I want 4 wheel drive
3) I want a 6 speed manual
4) I'd prefer to buy a used truck, just to save some cash. The used vehicles I've purchased in the past have been no more troublesome than the new ones

I prefer the look of the Frontier, and it definitely seems to be a lot cheaper, for the same feaures. But the Frontier only offers a manual on the base model, so if I want a factory roofrack or nerf bars, I'll have to forego the manual, which kind of sucks.

It's taken me a good many months to narrow the choices down to these 2. Does anyone have any experience with either of these vehicles, or perhaps experience with the same situation I'm in right now?

[FL Knifemaker]

Don't trade in your car. The dealer will be raking you over the coals on both ends of the deal. Sell your car yourself, you will be MUCH better off!!

Oh.........and go with the Toyota, much better resale value when the the time comes to SELL it

[Barkless Dog]

Looking at the consumer reports reliability caparison, the Nissan seems to have some issues, rated black, (being the worst), with climate systems, paint & trim, squeaks & rattles, but still has above average reliability the same as the Toyota overall.

The Frontier shares a platform with the Pathfinder, Xterra, and larger Titan pickup. It is a big step forward compared with the old version. We found the Frontier quick and nimble, with a stiff, though tolerable ride. The strong 4.0-liter V6 revs smoothly and feels like a V8. Base models are powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. Nissan has made the optional stability control widely available. Only crew- and extended-cab body styles are offered, but rear-seat room is tight in the crew cab. The tailgate is very heavy. A longer bed is available. Reliability has been above average for the V6 model.

CR gas milage at 11 / 21

They do not list the same issues with the Toyota-

The Tacoma is less utilitarian than the previous model, with an improved powertrain, steering system, and interior trim. Fuel economy is competitive and overall handling is sound. The 4.0-liter V6 provides strong performance. The ride is not as comfortable as that of some competitors, and the driving position is too low. Our tested Tacoma was an off-road ace with its optional suspension, but the trade-off is a very stiff ride. Payload capacity is relatively small. We recommend the Tacoma with the optional electronic stability control, although it can be very hard to find. Reliability has been above average for all versions of late.

CR's milage tested 13 / 21

[joeyl]

if you wait long enough, with the price of gas going up, you may score some very good deals from the dealer. I would say somewhere in the middle of summer would be when the dealers will be giving them away

[Mon Rominee]

I actually test drove each of the trucks listed (both used, 2 frontiers, 1 toyota) and I personally found the toyota to be a more sound vehicle. The Frontiers were no dogs, but honestly, bother were no more than 4 years old, each with about 60-80K on the clock, and they had rust all over the engine bays and in the wheel wells and underneath, and the toyota comparatively was clean as a whistle, just some undercarraige wear item rust.

That and the engine just felt a bit more assured. The Nissans were nice if very truck-driving trucks...kinda harsh.

In the end, I didn't pick either and got another Cherokee, as regardless of me buying a trailer, I felt the Jeep would have no problem in the towing dept. with the inline 6.

But yeah. Both nice trucks, the Tacoma just that much nicer.

[TrooperFarva]

Originally Posted by joeyl

if you wait long enough, with the price of gas going up, you may score some very good deals from the dealer. I would say somewhere in the middle of summer would be when the dealers will be giving them away

I've started to see that with the full size trucks. I can get a Titan Crew Cab or Ram 1500 Crew Cab, used, with the same mileage, for the same price as the Frontier, cheaper than the Tacoma, because very few people are buying them, and I'm sure gas prices are a large factor in that. I'm avoiding full size trucks because of gas prices, insurance costs, and I sometimes drive in the city, and driving, and more specifically parking, in the city with a full size truck just isn't fun.

[Kruton]

Buy an older Tacoma that is rusted, let Toyota buy it back, and they will give you money for the truck and an incentive to buy another toyota.

[NJL]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Don't trade in your car. The dealer will be raking you over the coals on both ends of the deal. Sell your car yourself, you will be MUCH better off!!

Oh.........and go with the Toyota, much better resale value when the the time comes to SELL it

+100

[eedre]

Wouldn't expect great gas mileage from the Tacoma double cab. Was interested in it myself until I saw 17mpg city Now, add the optional 17inch wheels and tires...

[Mon Rominee]

Originally Posted by Kruton

Buy an older Tacoma that is rusted, let Toyota buy it back, and they will give you money for the truck and an incentive to buy another toyota.

Yeah, you heard about that too huh? Pretty stand-up of them.

[Kruton]

Yep. Something I really wouldn't expect of a corporation that big. BTW I would go with the Frontier out of those. I, however, am actually getting an older TRD Tacoma in about a month or so.

[jwbassman]

I had a Toyota Tacoma for 8 years, bought it used with 44,000 and dove it 'till it had almost 200,000 on it. Sold it to my step sister and got a 4 Runner. I have nothing but good things to say about the Tacoma. It never failed me. It never broke down and left me stranded once. It wasn't the Double cab version but it was a damn' good truck. The 4Runner is sweet too. Basically the same motor and powertrain.

Go for the Tacoma.

[hey]

Anything that Toyota makes is top-of-the-line. I'd take the Toyota, no question. Not to mention the crazy resale value they seem to have AND the fact that they will never ever break (unless you do it yourself of course).

[Rusty Chainsaw]

I say go for the Tacoma. It's closely related to the rest of the world's Toyota Hilux, which is renowned for being almost indestructible...

The Hilux was the first vehicle ever to drive to the North Pole, and, when its indestructibility was tested on Top Gear, they just couldn't kill it, even by driving it into the sea, dropping a caravan/trailer on it, then putting it on top of a 25-floor tower block and demolishing it! (search for "Top Gear Hilux" on Youtube).

Now that's a rugged truck! If only Toyota would fit the 3-litre D4-D diesel engine that the Hilux gets, you could have all that ruggedness and 30mpg too...

[ryco]

I'm enjoying my Tacoma dbl cab. V6 4 liter gets a little better than 20 mpg.
The bed in the dbl is a little short - about 5 ft. I put an ARE cap on it.
Mine is a 5 sp manual, 4wd.
Had it built as I guess a manual 5 tranny w/ 4wd are hard to find.
Fortunately for me there is a Toyota chop shop in this little town.
Drives like a truck, sits kind of high, but goes right along. Gets from A to B well.
Not very punchy, but once it gets up to speed will pass whatever I need it to.
Had it a little over a year. Me happy.

[eedre]

Is it just me or do these import truck manufacturers make their beds extremely shallow? I just looked at the Frontier - with the crew cab, the bed looks extremely shallow.

[ehque]

Well, i chanced upon this a while back. Toyotas are so reliable they now have a war named after them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_War

Apparently the ubiquity of the toyota technicals was instrumental in deciding the direction of the war.

[Chad Michael]

FWIW-

We (me and my 5 y.o. son) are a Nissan family. 1995 Pathfinder V6 auto 4wd, 2000 Frontier 5 sp. 2wd.

95 Pathfinder: as per consumer reports, it has a few electrical quirks, but the drivetrain is going strong after 170k miles. About 155 horsepower from the 3.0 V6, so it's no rocket ship but I love it. I have a feather foot and I get 18 mpg. If I had to replace it, I'd get another Pathfinder (with the 4.0 V6 ) no question.

00 Frontier: after 125k, it still runs and drives like new. This is our "economy car" @ 26 mpg city, 29 mpg hiway. Only 2 problems... 1) wipers had a mechanical failure, $90 dealer fix. 2) engine quit running, fuel filter, $18 fix by me (preventive maint. is priceless).

We love our Nissans and I'd likely replace with a Nissan product if either one were stolen or totaled. However, I have never met a dissatisfied Toyota owner. I only see two problems with the Toyota: 1) cost of admission 2) no offense to anyone, but the Tacoma doesn't look as cool as the Niss... not by a longshot

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

I sometimes drive in the city, and driving, and more specifically parking, in the city with a full size truck just isn't fun.

I used to drive in downtown NO with a truck, and it is basically living your life in reverse. Reverse into tight spots, reverse because the turn is too tight, reverse because you can go down that narrow road where people are parked on both sides.

Re: Nissans. I never had problems with them either, usually the powertrain holds up pretty well, they do have other problems like interior fit and finish. Compared to Toyotas the interior is super cheap and will rattle loose after a couple of years.