~2008 Mid-size Trucks. Frontier or Tacoma?

[Pancor]

I'm losing my passion for my little Ford Ranger and am about to buy a new-to-me truck.    I'm after a 4-door, manual trans 4wd, and basically have it narrowed down to these two models.   Which one would Carspin choose?

[Tave]

I'm not a huge fan of the Taco's reskin, and I've always liked the looks of the Frontier.


Although I have a lot of experience with Toyota's midsize truck line, and I like them immensely, I have hardly any experience with Nissan's offerings, and I can't offer you a qualified opinion on their utility.

[ifcar]

The Tacoma has insanely high resale value. You can probably get a better deal on the Nissan.

[GoCougs]

Have you driven the Tacoma with the 2.7L? I had the (much smaller) first gen with the 2.7L I4 in regular cab and 4WD. It was an insanely slow vehicle. I can't imagine that engine, with only an additional 9 hp, lugging around the far bigger truck that is the crew cab second gen Tacoma.

[Pancor]

Have you driven the Tacoma with the 2.7L? I had the (much smaller) first gen with the 2.7L I4 in regular cab and 4WD. It was an insanely slow vehicle. I can't imagine that engine, with only an additional 9 hp, lugging around the far bigger truck that is the crew cab second gen Tacoma.

Yeah, they're not really "compact" trucks, especially when coming from a Ranger.   I'll definitely be getting the respective  V6's.

[Pancor]

The Tacoma has insanely high resale value. You can probably get a better deal on the Nissan.

This is something I'm noticing!

[Tave]

Yeah, they're not really "compact" trucks, especially when coming from a Ranger.   I'll definitely be getting the respective  V6's.

Even the older, smaller models were painfully slow w/ the I4s. The 22R-E in my 4runner was a great engine in a lot of respects--bulletproof, economical, and it really shined off-pavement in the mountain--but my God was it ever an absolute slug on the highway, and downright scary in certain situations on busy freeways.

[the Teuton]

I like the Frontier. For the money, it's probably a better truck (not a huge fan of the interior, to be honest). But if you had a budget to be able to fit in a Taco, it'd be worth a strong look.

[68_427]

I really like the Looks of the Frontier and recently took a road trip in the back seat of the four door model.  I've never been in a Tocoma so I can't really compare quality but from my experience the Frontier is a good little truck. The only thing the owner doesn't like is the mileage and passing power while towing his 18ft boat.  I can really only recommend trying to get a test drive in both.

EDIT:  What about the Suzuki Equator?  IIRC it's just a re-skinned Frontier and may be cheaper still than the Frontier.

[ifcar]

EDIT:  What about the Suzuki Equator?  IIRC it's just a re-skinned Frontier and may be cheaper still than the Frontier.

Great suggestion, especially if Suzuki has the 7 year /100k mile fully-transferable warranty in Canada.

[93JC]

They don't, and the likelihood of even seeing a Suzuki Equator is on par with Stephen Hawking taking a stroll.

[Rupert]

Yeah, they're not really "compact" trucks, especially when coming from a Ranger.   I'll definitely be getting the respective  V6's.

The 4 cylinder 5 speed Taco of that generation that I've driven had plenty of power.

[S204STi]

Man, this is a tough choice for me.  I have a ton of respect for the 05+ Frontier (the previous gen did nothing for me), and the engine is clearly superior in terms of overall power.  Overall I'd still give the nod to Toyota though for having a proven track record with this truck going back a couple of decades.

[MaxPower]

If this was a comparison of extended cabs and not 4 doors then I'd probably vote Taco.  But something about the 4 doors on the Taco just doesn't work.  The long proportions become awkward.  The Nissan, on the other hand, pulls it off well.  I'd take a Nismo.

[MX793]

Do they salt the roads in winter where you live?  Given the Tacoma's history of rust issues, I'd be hesitant to get one if I drove on salty roads in the winter.

[BimmerM3]

I'd probably just go for whichever one I could get a better deal one, which would probably be the Frontier.

[SVT32V]

Did you consider one of these?


With the V8 it would be nice, resale is probably makes them affordable.

With the Taco you have to deal with the frame rust issue. Of the two you mentioned, I would go with the Nissan.

[Minpin]

I'd probably just go for whichever one I could get a better deal one, which would probably be the Frontier.

They look pretty identical, to me.

[GoCougs]

Tacoma by a landslide for pretty much all reasons - performance, reliability, durability, resale, etc. The only downside being that it'll likely cost quite a bit more on the used market.

I agree with MaxPower that the crew cab does look ungainly and the Frontier not quite so much. ('d personally go extended cab.)

[Minpin]

Interesting. I think the crew cab Tacoma looks the best, with the others looking misshaped.

[CALL_911]

The VQ is awesome, but I think I'd go Taco.

[GoCougs]

Interestingly enough, in pretty much all comparison tests the Tacoma has better acceleration and towing despite being down on power. It's the age-old problem of the VQ not living up to its peak HP number.

[SVT666]

Interestingly enough, in pretty much all comparison tests the Tacoma has better acceleration and towing despite being down on power. It's the age-old problem of the VQ not living up to its peak HP number.

Or it could be gearing.

[CJ]

I would really buy the Taco.  I like tacos and the Tacoma's nick name is Taco, so Tacoma.

[Pancor]

Thanks, Clay!...



I should have mentioned I have driven both of these, quite a bit.  My old man has an '07 Frontier and I was to buy my buddy's '06 Tacoma, but he backed out, starting this whole mess.   The Equators look nice, but are really rare up here, and the Sport-Trac just doesn't do it for me.   The Toyotas are easy to find with a 6 speed, probably more capable off-road and look better with a mild lift, but have a strange seating position that I just can't get too used to.  The Nissan has gobs more power, a better overall look, and are car-comfortable, but fuck me, its impossible to find one used with a manual transmission!   With all this being said, I've been a Nissan guy since age 16 and I'm going to get a Frontier, as soon as I find one. 

Thanks guys!

[the Teuton]

Go to Uhmurricah!

[MX793]

Interestingly enough, in pretty much all comparison tests the Tacoma has better acceleration and towing despite being down on power. It's the age-old problem of the VQ not living up to its peak HP number.

Tow rating doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with horsepower.  It comes down to the transmission (cooling capacity), differential (again, cooling), brakes, and how much weight the tow hitch can safely support (a function of spring rates and if it has any anti-sway features, not to mention just the strength of the structure).

[GoCougs]

Tow rating doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with horsepower.  It comes down to the transmission (cooling capacity), differential (again, cooling), brakes, and how much weight the tow hitch can safely support (a function of spring rates and if it has any anti-sway features, not to mention just the strength of the structure).

Acceleration while towing, not tow rating, was my meaning.

[MaxPower]

Is frame rust a problem on the 05+ tacos, or just the up to -04s?

[r0tor]

Frontier certainly looks better