Friend has one, tows well enough for what I would ever need. Crew cab comfortably fits 4 adults.
Common problems, or things to be prepared for?
I'm constantly running into stuff I can't get done because I don't have a truck, so the Speed 3 has to go.
Suggestions?
Paging Pseudosport....
He just bought a King Cab with the useless back "seat"
, but the rest of the truck is nice. It could be geared better, but it's not bad. It's comfortable, rides nice, quiet to ride in, and returns decent mileage for a truck.
To OP buy a beater 2g S10 or Dakota all are out there in 2wd reg cab long bed configurations for less than $2000. Keep your toy my truck has been out of comission for a few months now and I dont really miss it
Let's stay on track here, the real toy is being built in the garage.
I don't need a 500hp E30, Speed 3 and a truck. I want two vehicles, one that will do all utility type things, while still going to work/lake/camping. One toy.
I like them, and the Tacomas as well. Alas I didn't have the $$$ to buy either, and ended up with a 1 year used Ranger (at the time) that does what I need, including dollying the XR4 or Fiat for about 60% the price of a used Frontier or Tacoma, just sayin...
Unfortunately due to gas prices being what they are, Ranger values have held up well given their mileage (I average 20MPG 50/50 city/hwy in my 3.0 4x2 with a 5spd but get as high as 24, and 18 when towing).
The one thing I like about the smaller trucks is given modern houses and garage sizes, mine still fits like a car in a normal size garage...
EDIT: you got me with your ninja edit!
^Does the ranger have 4wd and a 6500lb towing capacity? How does it stack up long term in durability and reliability to the Frontier/Tacoma?
I'm open, but crew cab, 4wd and 5500-6500lb towing capacity will not be compromised. And I'm not willing to drive a full-size truck on a regular basis.
I am interested in these as well. What is the towing capacity of a V6 2wd 6-speed crew cab long bed? I can't seem to find it.
Chris
You could also wait for the new Dodge Adventurer to come out. It's a Ram 1500 short bed 2 or 4wd with the Hemi, and it starts at around $22k.
I'm considering one myself to replace my WRX. I really don't need the WRX, 2 2nd gen Trans Ams (one is for sale, btw), and a Shelby CSX. I also need a truck for doing homeowner stuff, and am in between ditching the WRX for a new one or just adding an older truck to the fleet. Doing the latter has been a tough sell with SWMBO, unless it's a brown El Camino. 
^I have absolutely no interest in any Dodge/Chrysler products, and I'd like to stay used and save a little cash.
Same here, tons of homeowner stuff/projects and just in general, I constantly see the need for a pickup.
In reply to Mazdax605:
I can't think of any reason the long bed would make a difference?
Well I guess my question is more on the V6 2wd 6-speed,but I thought I would include the long bed as that is the way the one I found online is configured.
2011 Frontier has been a great truck. My last 3 tanks I’ve been getting 21 mpg. Only things I don’t like about the truck is that its 3.7 feet between the rear wheel wells and I can’t fit a sheet of plywood unless I go above them, (easy enough) and I wish it was geared better. I think it only has 3.11’s and likes to stay in 5th gear as much as possible.
z31maniac wrote: In reply to Mazdax605: I can't think of any reason the long bed would make a difference?
A short bed is usually 6.4 feet, the long bed being 8 feet. If you're hauling lumber on a daily basis, the normal 8' long sheet will lay down in the bed.
z31maniac wrote: EDIT: you got me with your ninja edit! ^Does the ranger have 4wd and a 6500lb towing capacity? How does it stack up long term in durability and reliability to the Frontier/Tacoma? I'm open, but crew cab, 4wd and 5500-6500lb towing capacity will not be compromised. And I'm not willing to drive a full-size truck on a regular basis.
You can get 4wd, and 5500-5900lbs w/4.0 v6...(http://www.ford.com/assets/pdf/towing/10FLMrvRANGERsep09.pdf) They are pretty bulletproof, I say that because the mechanicals have more or less not changed since 1998, and most parts are so common or readily available it's cheap and easy to fix if stuff has gone wrong. My 4 year old truck has gone through one set of brake pads and the tailgate handle broke (cheap plastic $8 and 5 minutes to fix).
You should see the difference in size between the Tacoma/Frontier and the Ranger. Ranger is still a small truck, the Tacoma/Frontiers are as big or bigger than 10 year old full sized pickups, full sized pickups are gargantuan today...
In the compact/midsized truck world the 6' bed is the long bed,and the 4'-something is the regular bed. It really is my only gripe with the compact/midsized trucks as the beds are really not too useful. At least with the 6' bed you get a little utility out of them. I think the depth of the beds are pretty lame as well.
^I'll have to go sit in one and see what I think.
In reply to DoctorBlade:
I think he was more concerned with towing capacity vs bed length.
Mazdax605 wrote: In the compact/midsized truck world the 6' bed is the long bed,and the 4'-something is the regular bed. It really is my only gripe with the compact/midsized trucks as the beds are really not too useful. At least with the 6' bed you get a little utility out of them. I think the depth of the beds are pretty lame as well.
My 'regular bed' Ranger is a 6' bed, 7' is the longbed...
Computers like to break requireing a tow and a new computer. Rearend "clunks" under light load at 40 mph. If you get the suicide door version, the rear latches get corroded and need maintenance.
Other than that, A GREAT TRUCK! I love mine and regularly get 21 mph!
Rob
^Are there enough of them out there, that a new ECU can be grabbed from a junkyard/salvage?
Raze wrote:Mazdax605 wrote: In the compact/midsized truck world the 6' bed is the long bed,and the 4'-something is the regular bed. It really is my only gripe with the compact/midsized trucks as the beds are really not too useful. At least with the 6' bed you get a little utility out of them. I think the depth of the beds are pretty lame as well.My 'regular bed' Ranger is a 6' bed, 7' is the longbed...
I should have specified that I meant in the compact/midsized crew cab world. Sorry about that.
Friend of mine is a Nissan tech. He says to stay away from most 2002+ Nissans. This includes the Frontier. I forgot his whole list of negatives on the Frontier but I know it started with, "they eat brakes up real quick without towing.."
My Dad has owned a few generations of Nissan pickups, and all three have been good trucks.
The first was a 97 Hardbody, then a 00 Frontier, and now a 05 Frontier.
His truck is a 4.0L, AT, 4x4 with about 70k. The brakes a little weak on the truck but better pads solved that issue. The radiator also has an issue with the internal transmission cooler failing, but that was remedied with an aftermarket cooler before it had a chance to break. He regularly gets 18-19mpg in mixed driving.
I've used it a few times to tow vehicles home and didn't run into any problems, but then again a rx7 and saturn sl aren't the heaviest cars around.
wait a minute, I thought we were talking about the newer ones. I ave an 08. It is the newer body style. (is this the same as the 05?)
On mine 08 newer body style, I do NOT go through brakes. I have towed my 3000# malibu on a 2000# trailer without trailre brakes and aven;t gone through brakes.
I have replaced the front pads once and the rear pads once. I just turned over 100,000 miles on my truck that I bought brand new in September of 08.
The Tacoma's seats are too short anyway! They give me a back ache after about 45 minutes (no thigh support).
I paid 17,000$ for mine with 4 miles on it brand new! It has 4wd and the 4.0L V6. It is an xtended cab also. The only downside: No power locks, windows or cruise control. (I will save 7 to 8,000$ for sacrificing these items).
Hope this helps!
Rob
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