Oppopinions solicited: Pre-2005 Nissan Frontier

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 03/24/2018 at 14:30 • Filed to: in case you didn't know 2005+ Frontiers and Xterras have grenading transmissions due to radiator failure... look it up it's crazy

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I’m window shopping for a small, automatic pickup. After scrolling through ever iteration of potential Toyotas (shocking, I know), I remembered that Nissan also made a small pickup. And then I remembered they’re like half the price of a Toyota.

It’s not a stretch to gather that it’s not as handsome, fast, reliable, or comfortable as a comparable Tacoma. But I’m not looking to break the bank for this one. Just something affordable, disposable, but reliable and straight.

The interior maybe a step down from even the base 2014 Tacoma I drive now. But it might have less rattles.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/2002-nissan-frontier-se-king/6541290780.html

Here’s a dubious fully-loaded one with what I believe is mold everywhere:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/2002-nissan-frontier-v6/6517388388.html

Anyway... Is this a viable solution? What do you think of the pre-2005 Frontier? Any known issues?

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:43

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as far as i Know, it’s still basically a Datsun 620 under all that. can see it in the narrow track. why auto?

leicester > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:44

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Had a 2001 m/t. No issues other than o&m for an older vehicle (timing, clutch, etc).

Also decided against the small truck price surcharge associated with the Toyota tag.

Go for it.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:44

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yeah that second one looks like it was pulled from a lake

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:44

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Or

https://skagit.craigslist.org/cto/d/97-toyota-t100-extra-cab-4x4/6538843971.html

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:45

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What’s wrong with your old-school Taco? I thought that truck was forever.

You’ve changed, Zoidberg. I don’t even recognize you anymore...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 03/24/2018 at 14:45

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But if you pulled a Tacoma from the lake it would still be 9 grand

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 03/24/2018 at 14:45

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Potential work truck. I work almost exclusively in Seattle and Eastside

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spaceball-Two 03/24/2018 at 14:46

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Scam, bro

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 03/24/2018 at 14:47

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That’s not going anywhere

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:48

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Boooooo

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 14:54

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I was going to suggest a Ridgeline but holy crap those are holding value as well

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:00

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Seems like you could get a 2007+ frontier for cheep too so why bother with the 13 year old truck.

Nibbles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:01

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Had a friend with a crew cab 3.3. Good truck, pretty much a D21 Hardbody with new looks. The VG33 was anemic, I can only imagine the KA24 is worse. But it got me back into Nissans and led me to purchase an 05 XTerra, so it has that going for it, which is nice

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/24/2018 at 15:11

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Because the difference between 4.5k and 11k is bigly

Under_Score > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:14

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Isn’t your newer Taco a company truck that they bought? If so, why aren’t they just buying you a new Tacoma SR extended cab?

Wacko > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:25

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Looks more like dust from having the windows open on gravel roads

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:25

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Yeah, that’s a lot. My bathroom remodel quote came in at $9.5k vs 5k what I originally estimated, might not be having the contractor do everything now.... So yes 6K is a big amount for a 3rd or 4th vehicle.

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 15:26

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A friend of mine replaced his stolen D21 with a 2004? crew cab 2wd 3.3/mt Frontier. He likes it a lot, hasn’t had any issues I know of other than aftermarket alarm bullshit

sony1492 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 16:09

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My father owned one when I was younger, it was a 4x4 v6 manual. The trans needed replacing after not very long, the radiator broke, it had a coolant leaking from somewhere in the motor. It did not look easy to work on at all(motor wise)

It was slow and handled poorly, but the motor was silky smooth and although things broke it never stranded anyone, it lived the life of a ranch truck receiving maintance only once things stopped working. Also the driver seat broke pretty early on.

Gear changes would be described as fishing.

ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 16:25

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The non-supercharged pre-2005 ones are quite solid. Between 2005 and 2009 you run into the constellation of plastic timing chain guides, bad fuel pumps, and radiators leaking into the transmission (if automatic).

E92M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/24/2018 at 21:15

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My mom has a 2004 with 120k miles. It still looks good (because it’s been garaged since new), but it feels like it has 220k miles on it. It’s slow, the transmission is jerky, the engine vibrates. I’ll probably inherit it, and I won’t hesitate to sell it to the first day-laborer with $2500.

WilliamsSW > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/25/2018 at 12:51

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Can’t comment on the pre-2005 cars, but for the post 2005 Frontiers, you just need to either a) find a manual trans or b) install an external trans cooler. Then they’re dead reliable, albeit gas hogs.

Source: I own a 2005 Pathfinder (same mechanicals) with 168k on it.

Good luck!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/25/2018 at 16:11

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We had one of these, though completely base, where I work before I started. They retired it a 300k miles, and my boss’s dad still drives it. It had more problems than our Tacoma, but it was still solid. We also bought the generation after that when we got our Tacoma. It had the shortest run out of any vehicle at where I work. It was garbage.