Just a Reminder...

"CodyVella" (codyvella) 01/10/2018 at 05:18 • Filed to: None

12

42

That you can’t tell if this truck is a 2005, or a 2017.

I do have a theory though. I believe the current Frontier is the new Ford Ranger of the automotive world. It’ll soldier on with minimal changes for 20+ years (despite being built on a chassis that has been around since the late 70s). Then, one day around 22 years into its model run, Nissan will abruptly discontinue the truck and offer no replacement. Their reasoning will be: “Poor sales. We tried literally everything to boost sales. We gave it an extra 10hp at the expense of 6mpg, we changed the grille, gave it bigger rims. Nothing worked. People just stopped buying it. And for that reason, we believe the small truck market is dead”.

Side note: The year is 2026, the Nissan Frontier is the only vehicle sold in North America without LED lights.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 05:29

0

certainly not a 2017 here

that’s a D40, as we now have the D23

CodyVella > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/10/2018 at 05:33

0

Yeah, we still have the D40 in North America (Canada & US). Nissan hasn’t even so much as hinted at replacing it. And still, people keep buying them.

My citroen won't start > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 05:55

1

We have a new one already.

CodyVella > My citroen won't start 01/10/2018 at 06:20

0

Apparently we might not be getting a new one for the foreseeable future in North America. They made it pretty clear that the D23 Navara would not be coming to North America.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 06:28

2

I like it. It’s handsome and un-fussy. The way a working vehicle should be.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 06:56

2

I had a 2008. Great truck, no complaints, sold it back in 2011 or so. I’ve paid 0 attention to them since then. Last year at the auto show I got in one and was surprised it was exactly the same vehicle 9 years later. My wife got in and asked if they brought this to show how much they improved the new one, lol.

CodyVella > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 01/10/2018 at 07:39

0

Literally the only complaint I’ve ever heard about them is that the fuel economy on the 4.0L is god awful. Apparently it’s worse than my Xterra’s 3.3L Supercharged V6. But I did test drive a 2015 Frontier PRO-4X and loved it. I was a huge fan of how simple the interior was. I also love the feeling of sitting in a brand new truck from 2005, in 2018.

BahamaTodd > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 08:54

1

For something like this its usually some kind of safety or emissions regulation that forces production to end.

Nissan sold 75k last year so the Frontier still sells pretty well. That’s more than double Ridgeline sales (35k). That’s also the reason Nissan is in no rush to come out with something new.

I assume Nissan limits their resources on pickup development, so now that the Titan is out, they can work on the Frontier and we’ll see a new one soon.

A crash tested Navara was spied last year:

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 08:57

0

As a car guy I find it troubling that I’m having trouble differentiating RAM generations. Here’s a 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2015. I’m not telling which is which.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 09:08

0

the fuel economy is awful even in the 4 cylinder. my grandpa has one and it gets maybe maybe 16 mpg and its damn near scary when merging onto a highway cause its so underpowered

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 09:09

0

people keep buying them because they can get them for much cheaper than a comparable tacoma or colorado. even though your sacrificing MPGs and modern amenities

adamftw > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 09:18

0

What kind of MPG were you getting?

Svend > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 09:47

0

I think the world getting a newer and modern version of this pickup while North America still gets the old one, is clearly a sign that getting a new vehicle federalised for North America just isn’t worth the massive cost compared to actual sales.

Just like the new Fiesta, for the number of projected sales, it just simply wasn’t worth getting it certified for North American sales.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 09:47

2

I can tell. But i’m a huge dork for this chassis

Milky > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 01/10/2018 at 10:00

0

#3 - 2003

#1 - 2006, refresh of #3

#2 & 4 are the same gen so its hard to tell. But I’d guess #2 - 2009 / #4 - 2015

Milky > Svend 01/10/2018 at 10:03

1

This. Had a teacher who worked on the old Ranger at Ford. They kept trying to redo it every few years and at a certain point it just couldn’t be made to pass new safety standards. Or at at least not cheap enough. Best to just let it get some sales and die.

Nibbles > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 10:03

1

I can’t speak to the Frontier, but my old 05 XTerra got 17/23 with the 4.0 and 6-speed.

Svend > Milky 01/10/2018 at 10:17

1

It’s another part that got me annoyed with the tangerine tyrant when he went to Germany and saw very few American cars on the road (ignoring the fact that quite a few of those cars were while not American made where made by an American manufacturer in Europe, etc... or the fact a lot of those German cars he sees in America are actually North American made) was that it costs so much for a company to get certified for North American sales it verges on protectionism and that if it was made the same way in reverse there would be uproar.

So the world moves on with it’s cars while North Americans are left feeling short changed because they aren’t able to get or the freedom to chose a vehicle they want.

To a degree it’s the same in the U.K., we don’t get petrol VW Passats because it’s not really worthwhile making a RHD petrol Passat for U.K. and Ireland sales alone, especially when if people really want a petrol VW Passat, they can get a petrol Skoda Superb (same engines and platform, etc...) and cheaper.

it remains to be seen how the Mercedes X-Class goes as it’s based on the Nissan Navara (D23) to see if the U.S. will get the Current world Nissan Navara stateside.

Milky > Svend 01/10/2018 at 10:44

2

I really, really doubt we’ll get this gen. I’m sure Mercedes would like some of that sweet US truck money. But a 25% tariff for importing it makes no sense.

It’d be smart if they pulled a Focus. Keep the old one in the US for a gen, then make the next one a “world car”. Make it in North America and Europe. Kind of crazy that the worlds second largest car market still isn’t big enough to make a profit some times.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 11:13

0

They are not bad looking trucks. The VQ40DE is also great engine aside from fuel economy.

functionoverfashion > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 11:24

0

If I were looking for a small-ish truck right now, I’d absolutely look at the Frontier. I suspect they are far better value than an equivalent Tacoma. And they must have worked out the kinks by now?

I actually wish manufacturers wouldn’t refresh their vehicles so often. Or that they could offer old models even after new ones came out. I mean, I know, sales, and also it’s completely impractical, the old ones don’t meet new standards and regulations... but that’s why I say “I wish” not, “Why don’t they?”

I’d buy a brand-new E46 wagon and a 1999 Suburban (with the 5.7) tomorrow if they still made them. Different is not always better.

HammerheadFistpunch > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 11:36

1

These are really great trucks and frankly the truck the old holdouts who hate the new trucks really want. That being said it IS being replaced soon.

HammerheadFistpunch > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 11:37

0

nope. Its coming.

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-announces-canton-plant-to-build-next-generation-nissan-frontier?query=frontier

Svend > Milky 01/10/2018 at 12:48

1

I think it’s more crazy that a country so large and has such a strong economy is so restrictive to certifying cars for import when most states have no form of annual inspection and those that do is only on emissions or certain other things (have a look at U.K. M.O.T. or German similar requirements that have to be carried out annually that would have some Americans shout, ‘Martha, get me my gun, I’m gonna go see out congressman’, has a 25 year law (thanks Mercedes) and still has the ‘chicken tax’ that was put in place after the second world war when Europe was trying to protect it’s economy from way cheaper chickens.

Under_Score > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 15:23

0

There are lots of subtle changes. Certain wheels and colors determine old from new; trim badges do, too. If it has an SE or XE badge, it’s older, but if it has an SV badge, it’s newer.

gawdzillla > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 16:36

0

i say the same thing about the G37, and the Fx-35 (and whatever Q they are now)

Scott > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 18:28

0

I get 19-20 with my ‘15 4.0L. I wish theyd do a small turbo V6. Try to help out the mpg but still have the power of the 4.0L.

Spasoje > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 01/10/2018 at 19:18

0

2006, 2009, 2003, 2015!

CodyVella > HammerheadFistpunch 01/10/2018 at 23:09

0

I’m skeptical whenever Nissan announces a new model. I’m with most people in thinking that Nissan will totally skip the D23 Navara, and sell the D40 in North America until a new platform is unveiled around 2020ish. Then the new platform will form the basis for a global truck, which will replace the D23 Navara and the D40 Frontier. It’ll also most likely replace the current NV200, which would create a truly global truck.

CodyVella > Svend 01/10/2018 at 23:13

1

I mean, the flipside to the “outdated” argument is the following: People are still buying the thing, and in measurable numbers to boot. Also, Nissan has had 13 years to perfect the truck (despite neglecting the VQ40 motor beyond all reasonable measure) so it must be good at this point.

CodyVella > Nibbles 01/10/2018 at 23:14

0

Far better than I’m getting out of my ‘03 Xterra SE/SC’s VG33ER.

CodyVella > Nibbles 01/10/2018 at 23:14

1

Far better than I’m getting out of my ‘03 Xterra SE/SC’s VG33ER.

Svend > CodyVella 01/10/2018 at 23:22

1

Ye’, but surely it won’t meet the new present day vehicle standards, the ones a new import would have to jump through. It’s ironic.

ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. > Under_Score 01/11/2018 at 00:24

1

*Pushes nerd glasses, cracks knuckles*

Major revisions occurred in 2009 (mild facelift, new wheels for all trims) and 2014 (slight fog hole revision and another new set of wheels for all trims). The OP image must be a 2014+ based on its wheels. So, we can tell if it’s an 05 or 17. Ya rube.

Under_Score > ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. 01/11/2018 at 07:30

0

I remember the 2014 refresh! Thank you for this info!

Nibbles > CodyVella 01/11/2018 at 08:52

0

That’s what I’d expect and I can’t imagine the Fronty being too far off from those numbers

I loved that XTerra. The 4.0 was hella stout for 05, the trans shifted wonderfully and the overall fit and finish was quite good for a $22k SUV. I don’t, however, believe any of those 2005 specs are remotely competitive 13 years later

Milky > Svend 01/11/2018 at 09:25

1

Oh yea, we dumb. My state doesn’t care what I drive or how close to death it is. As long as it was originally sold here.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Svend 01/11/2018 at 23:02

1

one would think insurance companies would want to know the risk factor of shitty maintained/rusted out vehicles.

Svend > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/12/2018 at 00:30

0

Here we have MOTs, a yearly inspection, if you drive without a valid MOT, you’ll get your car taken off you and fined, also your insurance would be invalid should you get into an accident. So there is that.

CodyVella > Nibbles 01/12/2018 at 01:23

0

Not sure what they’re like nowadays, but I was always a fan of just how good the fit and finish was on Nissan products up until the late 00s. My 2000 R50 Pathfinder was honestly second to none in the fit and finish department. It was the little things like how all the HVAC controls had a nice solid “thunk” to them as you adjusted the settings, and how some of the rocker switches felt stiff, but in a solid, mechanical way. My WD22 Xterra feels similar, but in a more utilitarian over luxury kinda way.

Nibby > Svend 01/14/2018 at 10:37

0

Australia gets the Navara

http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/overview

Svend > Nibby 01/14/2018 at 13:05

0

Ye’, Australia is North America.

Getting type approval for Australia is the same pretty much as Asia on the whole and most of that is the same for E.U. approval.

The thing is manufacturers can crash test a car and it be approved for 190 countries of the world, but for North America, ‘nope, do them all again but do them for every body type and every engine options.