Any Nissan Frontier owners?

[Alienwho]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Although it's not a "Frontier" I have a 93 Nissan truck, 4 cyl 5 spd, that I have not maintained very well and beat the hell out of, and it just keeps on going... Best car money I've ever spent.

QFT, we used to have a '94 and we just couldn't kill the damn thing! Nothing breaks, nothing malfunctions no matter how hard you try.

 

[coomarlin]

I spent this morning plowing through some fo the snow drifts here in the mid atlantic. This truck is fun. Snow is not a problem even with my LE's 265-65-17's.

Demon I'm 33 but I wouldn't consider myself ancient , the 6-speed standard on the Fronty is very smooth and everyone is raving about it. The Auto on the LE is also silky smooth and gets high warks all around. You can't go wrong with either.

Anyone interested in Nissan's should check out The Unofficial Nissan Frontier site. There is a lot of posting in their second gen Frontier forum and also forums for other Nissan vehicles. Lots of smart people over there that offer a lot of help.

 

[MX2]

I rented a Frontier 2 years ago for a week. The entire truck had an overall cheap and plastic feel to it. I guess maybe I expected more out of it because of its aggressive "baja' sort of look.

 

[coomarlin]

Anyone interested in seeing some cool pictures of my buddies '05 Nismo Crew Cab check this link

Check out the top picture. It's incredible. I told him he should send it to Nissan and have them use it in their advertising. Funny how he had to pull that old beater chevy out of those messes.

I'd like to take some pictures like those of my Frontier but I haven't been anywhere that cool yet

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
I spent this morning plowing through some fo the snow drifts here in the mid atlantic. This truck is fun. Snow is not a problem even with my LE's 265-65-17's.

Demon I'm 33 but I wouldn't consider myself ancient , the 6-speed standard on the Fronty is very smooth and everyone is raving about it. The Auto on the LE is also silky smooth and gets high warks all around. You can't go wrong with either.

Anyone interested in Nissan's should check out The Unofficial Nissan Frontier site. There is a lot of posting in their second gen Frontier forum and also forums for other Nissan vehicles. Lots of smart people over there that offer a lot of help.

Ok, new update! Bought an 05 Automatic Super Black SE Crew Cab 4X4 with Sunroof, power and tow packages, bed extender/bed divider, and aftermarket leather seats (they didn't have any 05's within a 100 mile radius with factory leather). Dealership also agreed to take care of my rental car, which was probably a nice $150 fee since I was out of state. Total was 25.6K before TTL.

Yeah, 33 isn't ancient by any means Coo. I eventually went with the automatic because it had a few extra's that the stick didn't have, like the tow package/aftermarket leather (they have an independant company put it in), and the automatic holds its value better. The 4% financing from Nissan for people with great credit was just icing on the cake...

On a sidenote, my truck didn't come with the keyless entry/alarm package. I'm glad it didn't, b/c I'm going to put an aftermarket one in there (not sure yet, but will be voice activated + remote starter). Also putting an aftermarket sound system in there that will make the Rockford Fosgate on the LE weep. I didn't get the foglights either, I may opt for that later or just put in an aftermarket if I decide it's really necessary.

I'll check out that link for the boards, coo, thanks. I'm sure it'll have some good aftermarket suggestions as well. Truck search finally done!

 

[desy]

Sticks are fun but when your dead tired heading into town after a long day and looking at that long stretch of lights on every corner till you get home. . . .
You'll be happy with an auto.

 

[wasssup]

I'd still prefer the stick

I honestly would have a hard time going back to strictly driving automatics.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: wasssup
I'd still prefer the stick

I honestly would have a hard time going back to strictly driving automatics.

I really wanted the stick b/c it's SO much fun to drive. But I'm driving to Atlanta from the DC area for New Year's and I know that Atlanta will be a btch to drive in, stuck in traffic. Especially in a city I don't know! Also, I'm probably going to move to a city sometime in the next 5 years and I heard it's a pita to drive stick there. But either way, you can't go wrong with either! One is much more fun to drive in non urban environments, the other will hold its value better/easier to sell and trade in.

 

[vi edit]

A little miata or a high reving 4 banger is fun with a stick because you can wind it up and fling it around.

A truck is simply not like that. If you intend to tow, you are better off with an auto. The gear boxes are anything but what I would call "fun", and the clutch is usually very stiff and a long uptake making for very tiring driving.

And owners are actually getting worse milage with the 6 speed than the automatic owners.

If you want a "stick for fun", don't buy truck. Buy a miata.

 

[marvdmartian]

Heh.....I love the 5 speed in my 98 Frontier, but will likely buy an automatic in my next vehicle, no matter what it is.

Being close to the mid 40's like I am, and having a left knee that's seen better days, it's getting to be a must. Most days, normal driving, no problems. But get into heavy stop & go traffic, it gets uncomfortable.

Got into construction stop & go a few years ago, and spent an hour in traffic......darn knee ached for 3 days after that! :frown:

Oh yeah, enjoy your new truck!!

 

[coomarlin]

Hey Demon, have you thought about getting the Eclipse navigation system that fits our trucks double DIN. I've heard nothing but great things about it.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
Hey Demon, have you thought about getting the Eclipse navigation system that fits our trucks double DIN. I've heard nothing but great things about it.

No, haven't had time to read up on it? Sounds neat though... I'll definitely look into it. Still looking into aftermarket alarm systems and hoping for a last minute holiday deal BTW did you put any window rainguards on yours? Also, I was thinking of getting darker than factory tint, it's rather light I've noticed...

Marvdmartian: thanks, enjoying it a lot! I have bad knees as well, and maybe a stick would make it worse... hmm

vi_edit: Didn't know that the manuals were getting worse mileage, interesting. An auto is probably the best way to go since I'll be towing some of my dad's stuff for his store (boxes of merchandise).

 

[coomarlin]

Check out the Eclipse AVN5435 at crutchfield. IT's a direct replacement for the OEM audio in the Frontier and has navigation, plays DVD's, MP3's, etc.

The Eclipse AVN5495 adds a 30 GB hard drive.

You can get the Pioneer AVIC-D1 cheaper, but I've heard the navigation isn't nearly as good as the eclipse.

 

[DCFife]

I have a 2001 Frontier SE-V6 Crew Cab 2WD with AT. It has about 35k miles on it (it spent 3 years with me Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) and it's been a good truck to me so far. I recently got tired of getting 16mpg during my work commute and went out and bought a 2006 Civic LX (got 32mpg on my first tank so I'm happy!) but I kept the truck. After driving the car for the last 10 days I now realize that the only perceived problem with my truck is that the steering has LOTS of play in it that I need to get checked out. Other than that, it's been reliable and a joy.

Enjoy!

EDIT: Not a Frontier, but I also owned an '87 Hardbody that never had a major issue. It finally got killed in 1999 when a deer ran into it (literally) and destroyed the entire drivers side of the cab, broke the motor mounts, radiator, etc. It had 167k miles on it, original clutch, only brakes and tires were replaced at that point.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: DCFife
I have a 2001 Frontier SE-V6 Crew Cab 2WD with AT. It has about 35k miles on it (it spent 3 years with me Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) and it's been a good truck to me so far. I recently got tired of getting 16mpg during my work commute and went out and bought a 2006 Civic LX (got 32mpg on my first tank so I'm happy!) but I kept the truck. After driving the car for the last 10 days I now realize that the only perceived problem with my truck is that the steering has LOTS of play in it that I need to get checked out. Other than that, it's been reliable and a joy.

Enjoy!

EDIT: Not a Frontier, but I also owned an '87 Hardbody that never had a major issue. It finally got killed in 1999 when a deer ran into it (literally) and destroyed the entire drivers side of the cab, broke the motor mounts, radiator, etc. It had 167k miles on it, original clutch, only brakes and tires were replaced at that point.

Sucks about your 87 hardbody! But glad to hear you're still enjoying your 01 Frontier... The 05's seem to have the opposite problem, the steering is super tight in parking lots and what not. I don't mind, though.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
Check out the Eclipse AVN5435 at crutchfield. IT's a direct replacement for the OEM audio in the Frontier and has navigation, plays DVD's, MP3's, etc.

The Eclipse AVN5495 adds a 30 GB hard drive.

You can get the Pioneer AVIC-D1 cheaper, but I've heard the navigation isn't nearly as good as the eclipse.

Ah, neat stuff coo. I may have to save up for that! Pretty slick. Got a quote from a local truck shop, and they want $500 for starter, keyless, and alarm. Sounds like a decent price, I'm going to shop around some more though.