Topic: 2006 Nissan Frontier NISMo edition

[spidey]

Hello.  New user here.  Have been thiking about upgrading my car the last few months to a mid-size truck.  Have had my 1993 Golf since new and although I still love my car, I find it not as useful as I need it to be.  With a family of 5 I find it only being used myself, while the minivan is used for all the family stuff.

Anyways, I have recently been looking at this model.  Test drove it Friday and liked it.  The reviews seem good on it.

Anyone have experience with these.  Need all the help I can get.  Havent bought a new vehicle since 1993.  And the minivan we bought 5 years ago.

Any news on this would be appreciated.  Good things, bad things, etc.

[mrthompson]

Welcome Spidey.  I don't believe there are any regular members who own that particular truck, so you may not get any first-hand owner feeback.

It's a nice looking truck, with that wonderful 4.0L V6.  If I were in the market for a new truck, I would definitely consider the Frontier 4x4 as an option.

[Drivesideways]

Welcome, Spidey.  I'm not really a truck guy either...don't own one anyway.  But the Frontier always catches my eye.  Nissan has done a nice job on their trucks, from what I hear.

BTW...I expect moderator Wing will move this thread over to the truck section.

[spidey]

Ive been meaning to buy a truck for a few years now. Just with us going camping and having to haul things when doing projects for the house it would be nice.  Lots of people are telling my "why do you need a truck"  You wont use it everyday.  I agree, but when I need it I have it.  Ive also quit hunting since I left home becaue I dont have a truck any more. 

Its got lots of power to haul my small 16" trailer and the ability to haul stuff for landscaping, etc is another benefit.

The $40,000 price tag hurts though.  Most Ive ever spent ona vehicle is $23000 for the van in 2001. 

Ive always paid cash for my vehciles, but this is the first time I will have to worry about payments

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I would compare Frontier-Tacoma-RidgeLine-Dakota.

The RidgeLine is actually reasonably priced and has a much wider interior, along with a great car-like feel and that unique in-bed trunk.

The Tacoma looks great inside, has a super-strong engine, long box availability, great resale, etc. Supposedly vague steering, and an odd seating position.

Frontier is similar to the Tacoma in power, but feels a little more raw and truckish I believe. Probably could get a slightly better deal, although in Canada Toyota seems to be getting more serious about trucks in this market so that may not hold true.

Dakota's gotta be a great value which a choice of brute engines, and some people I know just love their previous generation Dakota's. With discounting, would be a good option to look at too.

Of all, I'm a huge fan of Tacoma and RidgeLine. Frontier has a nice look too.

[smainville]

Nissan does have a beautiful line of trucks and suv's, judging by all the awards from autopacific.com, people like them.  Initially they apparently stumbled a bit with some brake problems on the Titan and Armada, but it has been looked after since.  I rode in a new Pathfinder and that was very nice, I think the Frontier shares a lot parts with this model.  The Tacoma is also very nice, although to me it does not offer the mean looks of the Frontier.  Ridgeline is a different beast in my view, well thought out though.  Dakota does nothing for me.

[spidey]

Well all the reviews and test I have ran all seem to say very good things.  The Honda Ridgeline beat it out on the car and drievr website, but Im not interested in the Ridgeline.  I want to stick to the mid-size, just do to the size of it.  The Nismo edition gives me the things I think a truck you want to sue off road needs.  I plan on going hhunting again and some of the places I do go you need a trucks truck

[Crow44]

 Hey spidey, I just bought a Frontier LE KC 4x4. I looked at the NISMO too. I opted for the LE as it matched the NISMO in such aspects as offroad Vehicle Dynamic Control, Airbag package, and ground clearance. The price difference of the NISMO varies from the KC to the CC. The NISMO is $2300 less for the KC, the NISMO is $900 more for the CC. On the NISMO KC, the auto trans. with VDC is a $2000. option
 The NISMO gets skid plates, Bilstein shocks, 6 spd manual and BFG offroad tires.
 The KC LE gets 17" wheels, fog lights, step rails, 6 CD/MP3 audio with 6 speakers, auto. trans with VDC.
 So for the extra $300, I felt confident in my LE being capable of the tasks I would perform in my rural environment, and it will pull my 18' fibreglass bass boat up or down any hills I have encountered so far. 
 I can't wait till the spring to try pulling out some huge tree stumps.
 The VDC consists of Hill start assist, and hill descent control. 

[Bekay]

 I have a 03 Dakota 2 WD 4.7 ,Had it for 2 years ,get 18mpg at -35..24mpg at -0 ,and 26 at22c.
Wanted a Tacoma but just couldn't make a deal on one ,all they ever had on the lot were fully loaded trucks.
The upside to the Dakota is that it has lots of after-market stuff and is cheaper to fix than most.
The new Dakotas are the same except for body work and a high-output 4.7 ,that takes #1 gas.

[JD]

Well all the reviews and test I have ran all seem to say very good things.  The Honda Ridgeline beat it out on the car and drievr website, but Im not interested in the Ridgeline.  I want to stick to the mid-size, just do to the size of it.  The Nismo edition gives me the things I think a truck you want to sue off road needs.  I plan on going hhunting again and some of the places I do go you need a trucks truck

The Ridgeline is classified as a midsize, I think. 

[spidey]

Hey spidey, I just bought a Frontier LE KC 4x4. I looked at the NISMO too. I opted for the LE as it matched the NISMO in such aspects as offroad Vehicle Dynamic Control, Airbag package, and ground clearance. The price difference of the NISMO varies from the KC to the CC. The NISMO is $2300 less for the KC, the NISMO is $900 more for the CC. On the NISMO KC, the auto trans. with VDC is a $2000. option
 The NISMO gets skid plates, Bilstein shocks, 6 spd manual and BFG offroad tires.
 The KC LE gets 17" wheels, fog lights, step rails, 6 CD/MP3 audio with 6 speakers, auto. trans with VDC.
 So for the extra $300, I felt confident in my LE being capable of the tasks I would perform in my rural environment, and it will pull my 18' fibreglass bass boat up or down any hills I have encountered so far. 
 I can't wait till the spring to try pulling out some huge tree stumps.
 The VDC consists of Hill start assist, and hill descent control. 

So the model you got is the top of the line one then.  Does it have the leather seats??


Thats what Im debating, weather to spend the same amount of money and get a bit more luxury and creature comforts, or to get the offroad advantage

[spidey]

Well after some research, etc I think Im goign to go with ther SE model instead.  Its still a full time 4 x 4 as the Nismo, just doesnt have a lot of the off rading pakcgae like the Nism.  I thought I will use the 4 x 4, but will I use it to the extent I need and extra offroad package.  Plsu I can get into a fully loaded SE taxes in for about $2000-$3000 less than a NISMO or LE with no taxes.

Thoguth people.  Ive got every dealer in Alberta calling me.  Ive already saved $1000 so far from dealers beating prices.

[mrthompson]

The SE probably offers enough offroad capability for most situations you may encounter.  If you need to improve, you can always buy aftermarket offroad goodies. 

Thanks for keeping us in the loop.   

[spidey]

My thoughts exaclty.  and while I will use it for hunting and going to some places that do require a definite 4 x 4, it wont be all that often.  A few times a year.

The SE does have the same horsepower and towing capacticty as the Nismo, just not some of the bells and whistles like power sunroof, better stereo, etc.

[spidey]

Had a local dealer call me. They have a 2005 SE edition that just came in with only 12,000 kms.  Person wanted to upgrade to a Titan.  $29,000.  Almost $6000 less than new.

Decisions, decsisions.  Do i pounce on this deal before I check all around.  I havent been able to find a 2005 anywhere

[spidey]

Test drive the truck on Dec 31.  Awesome truck.  Dual exhaust makes for more horse power, and the extra bush guard, chrome package and hitch make the truck look good.  Plus the hitch is something I want on it anywhere..

Anyone think $29,000 too much.  What bargainig power do I have, its the only used 2005 I can find in Alberta

[06frontierLE]

I just bought a 06 Frontier Crew LE (hence my login name).  I test drove all the competitors and the North Americans all lost right up-front on resale value.  The final 3 (Frontier, Tacoma, Ridgeline) (no mazda since i needed a Crew) were all great trucks.  The Ridgeline is a truly original, great carlike truck for the those yuppie types. I needed more towing capacity (boat) and I felt it didn't compare to the Frontier and the Tacoma.  The Frontier won me over on price vs options which included the sun roof.  I like the engine better too although many Toyota purists would argue the dependability issue.  I spent 6 months in south west Africa where Toyota and Nissan "backies" rule and both were remarkable, reliable and downright tough vehicles that survived that sub-sahara climate. 

The Nissan dealer I dealt with was also the most helpful and accomodating.  The Toyota guys are a little stuck-up.

I love my new truck.     

(Dying poor is sad - dying rich is stupid)

[spidey]

Need some advice.

I have my eye on 2 Frontiers.  One used (2005) and one brand new.

Now the 2005 has low kms, lots of add-ons (bush guard, hitch, chrome package, dual exhaust, command star, under biody spray and fabric guard - liftetime warranty and a few other minor touches) and a lower price of course.  Disadvantage is higher interest rate to buy and not exactly the colour I wanted.

The 2006 has everything I want, the colour I want.  Disadvantage is of course the higher price, and no add ons.  But the interest rate is 2 percent lower.

Both are the same models, so Im comparing basically the same vehicle minus the add ons.

Opinions people, Im having a hard time making this decsiion

[davidy]

I think that members here would want the numbers (approximate prices and interest terms including amount to be owed, interest rate and length of term) for a proper comparison.

Dave

[spidey]

Sorry

Used - $29, 500 - 6.9% over 60 months

new - $34, 5000 - 4.9 over 60 months

Five or take a few hundred either way with haggling