Not Bad for a Brand New 12-year-old Truck

"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
03/14/2016 at 14:00 • Filed to: frontier, leather

I mean, the ‘16 Frontier is at least 8 years behind the competition in the midsize truck segment but it’s adequate as long as you get it at the right price.

I honestly like the Dimensions leather that we use. If the interior were black it’d be a better match but as it is, it still looks pretty good. Also, that’s exactly what the customer wanted.

DISCUSSION (28)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/14/2016 at 14:03

Just by sitting in one at the autoshow this year, I honestly can’t understand how it didn’t outsell the Tacoma. It just feels so much more solid.

I can only imagine that it’s much, MUCH worse to drive or something.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 14:04

Worse to drive, worse tow capacity, worse hp, worse resale, worse mpg..... I could go on. Do I need to?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 14:05

It’s only had minor updates since 2005. That probably has something to do with it. Also, having driven both, the vast majority of pickup drivers here in the states use them as commuters with the occasional run to the hardware store or lumber yard for “truck stuff.” The Toyota’s ride is much smoother and more compliant.

For Sweden > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/14/2016 at 14:11

If lots of people bought the Frontier, it wouldn’t be the Frontier. It would be the Settled.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > For Sweden
03/14/2016 at 14:13

To be honest, I think the Settled is a good name for it. “Toyota wanted $37,000 for this Tacoma, but I could get a Frontier with the same equipment for $28,000 so I just settled.”

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/14/2016 at 14:16

Worse to drive—that’s what I figured must be the big one.

Worse tow capacity—like what? The stats I find on autobytel say it’s about 2500lb MORE that the Taco, so that’s not right. In any case, it should be able to tug a little over 6000lbs, which is plenty. In a small truck, bigger loads just shove you around.

Worse HP, better torque.

Worse resale I don’t give a shit about. But I see why that would matter.

I currently drive a Colorado V8, so I don’t really give too many shits over MPG either, though I do keep track of it. And I can see it being a big deal depending on who you are.

I maintain my point though... first impressions (at a standstill) are the Nissan feels more solid and that, once again at FIRST IMPRESSIONS it’s hard to see why the Taco sells more. I think the only things on there that would sway me from PERSONALLY buying the Taco instead (though if I changed right now I’d grab a Duramax Colorado) would be if I actually cared about resale and had a longer commute that would make MPG matter more. But I get your point.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/14/2016 at 14:18

Gotcha. I haven’t driven either myself.

E92M3 > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/14/2016 at 14:18

You forgot perhaps the most important.. less reliable. If you want your transmission to last 100k miles better forget about the Frontier. The price difference will almost equal out when you spend $6-7k to get a new trans in 6 years.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/14/2016 at 14:34

This was my primary reasoning for getting a ‘15 xterra over a 4runner. That and a manual trans.

HammerheadFistpunch > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 15:18

Can’t we all just get along?

Kinja'd!!!

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/14/2016 at 15:20

I would absolutely take a new Frontier over a new Colorado.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch
03/14/2016 at 15:25

Sure. Actually I have no choice, in a Colorado I have to play nice :)

Except between the lights. Then I’ll eat you both.

HammerheadFistpunch > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 15:30

The lights aren’t much fun a truck, I try to find a place where the only lights are mine. That being said, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Colorado on the trails here, current gen or previous.

Its what I’ve been saying all along re: Canyorado v Tacoma et al.: If you want a silverado light, get a Colorado...it will tow and haul better and be more like the current crop of very refined urban trucks. If you want a lifestyle truck get the Tacoma, its got the right factory parts and aftermarket support to do the deed better than anything else. If you want a Tacoma but can’t afford one, get a frontier, they are solid dependable trucks that get the job done

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch
03/14/2016 at 15:34

I’m not sure I get what you mean for the first part.

For the second, having no experience with the others I can’t back up or dispute anything. It sounds like a fair summary.

HammerheadFistpunch > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 15:38

Yeah, me either...Not sure if its too little or too much caffeine. What I mean is that no truck is “fun” where there are lights, they are most fun where the stars are the best lights. I say this coming from previously driving around a supercharger 454 suburban for a few years. Sure the thrill is there, but I wouldn’t do it again, not when I can go faster, more stealthily for less gas money with something else like an old legacy with a turbo swap or something.

I can see the appeal of a truck for people who don’t venture off the beaten path, but I don’t see me ever buying a truck that wasn’t ideally suited to that task.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch
03/14/2016 at 15:56

OK, I get you now.

The only real appeal to it is that you have something that is not only fun offroad, but can be decent fun on the road and is downright amusing when you blow the doors off people who would never expect it. Since the truck will spend 90% of it’s life on the road (in my case), that becomes a nice feature no matter how many things would do the same job more economically.

On that note, I had a lot of fun (as a passenger) in a 3500 Express van with the 6.0 V8. That thing had a ton of balls. We “timed” it once, using the flashing light on the dash clock, came somewhere in the high 7 second range. bearing in mind how ridiculously inaccurate this would have been I’d put it to mid 8's. Not fast, but who the actual f*ck would expect a full size van to keep pace with them off the lights? Oh, and this was the passenger version—more weight. Not to mention the thing was a drift monster.

If I lived as close as you to good off roading, I’m pretty sure I’d feel the same :)

HammerheadFistpunch > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 16:04

Its fun to have a sleeper in something as big as a van, the gmt400 burb was putting out 400 hp and close to 600 lbs-ft and it was fun to cream just about anyone I wanted because the 33 inch tires and weight meant it hooked up like a champ. but...it was horrible in every other way to drive.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/14/2016 at 16:38

Who cares about “worse resale” when you make that all back on the purchase?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 17:47

Put it this way, my company bought a Tacoma and a Frontier at around the same time. After two transmissions and an engine, the Frontier is gone, and the Tacoma still is around with 278k miles. Even with 278k miles, it is by far the most solid feeling truck in our fleet.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/14/2016 at 18:44

So basically as soon as it moves it’s much worse. Got it.

Like I said I only sat in one of each, and I still maintain that at a standstill the Frontier feels more solid, but of course there had to be some reason it doesn’t sell...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/14/2016 at 18:52

It may have felt better, but other than the carpet being destroyed, you can’t tell the Tacoma has nearly 300k miles on it. The dash isn’t cracked, all the buttons work, and there aren’t even tears on the seat. It’s sad about the Frontier though, work had a Hardbody before the Frontier, and my boss liked it so much that he bought. He sold it to his Dad when he bought his Tacoma, and it’s still kicking with over 300k miles.

The Snowman > HammerheadFistpunch
03/14/2016 at 22:29

I want to get my Colorado out in southern Utah this spring not sure where to go though. I’ve got a locker and 31's so I imagine I could do anything a stock taco or frontier could do. Any suggestions?

HammerheadFistpunch > The Snowman
03/14/2016 at 22:59

SOOO many suggestions. how long will you be here and whats your tolerance for potential damage? also, skids and or rock sliders?

The Snowman > HammerheadFistpunch
03/14/2016 at 23:37

I live in Slc now, so duration is not a problem. No sliders yet, can’t find any for a first gen Colorado(need to make some) I would prefer there be no potential for damage or at least a way to puss out on harder obstacles.

HammerheadFistpunch > The Snowman
03/15/2016 at 00:30

Did i know you were in slc? Im in sandy. Man alive, its hard to know where to begin lots of places in and around moab are great, or the san rafeal swell, or near escalante, or on the aquqarious plateua near captiol reef. I guess it depends on how long a drive, what you want to see and how much technical challenge you want

Future next gen S2000 owner > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/16/2016 at 10:06

Because you don’t make that all back on the purchase, not when you buy new at least.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/16/2016 at 10:58

10k is a pretty big savings. If you’re financing with interest, that's even more money. Are their resale values over 10k different after 5 years?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/16/2016 at 11:26

Buying new they aren’t quite 10K difference, closer to 6 than ten but yes, their resales do reflect that. There are several Tacomas listed for 30K while the highest Frontier is about 24K.

In my local market at least.