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Nissan Frontier 2005+

2122 messages,  Last post on Feb 19, 2013 at 10:34 AM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Frontier, Truck

Messages Page 35 of 213

#339 of 2122 Bought Mine Fri. 1/7/05 by jasong2

Jan 10, 2005 (7:13 am)

I bought my Frontier Crew Cab SE-V6 on Friday. Got exactly what I wanted (which wasn't much):
 
Crew Cab, SE-V6
2-Wheel Drive
Manual Transmission
Power Package
ABLS
Microfilter
Storm Gray w/ Charcoal Interior
 
Sticker price was $22,360. Since no one had invoice pricing on any of the internet sites, I was kind of "flying blind" when it came to negotiating the price. I chose to negotiate most on the trade-in, since they said their would be no negotiating on the MSRP. Furthermore, the dealer could have had a "take it or leave it" stance, since there were only 2 trucks in MD, VA, PA, and DE in the configuration I wanted.
 
Four hours after arriving at the dealership, I ended up getting $1100 above Edmunds value for my trade in (and $1000 more than any other dealer had offered).
 
I did try negotiating on the MSRP and managed to get $300 off the MSRP, floor mats, and a voucher to order the bed extender for $150. At this point, the dealer said take it or leave it. With the trade in and small concessions on the MSRP, I figure I saved about $1500. Financing was through my credit union, so the dealer couldn't make money there and offer more off the MSRP.
 
Others will probably do better as the trucks start showing up on the lots. However, I am pretty happy with the deal. My truck needed new tires and a tune up (about $500 combined), so I figured that into my savings and decision to take the deal.
 
So far, I really like this truck. The power is great and the manual transmission really lets you take advantage of it. I have never owned an automatic and I didn't drive an automatic Frontier to test it, so others may be able to draw a comparison of the two on the Frontier.
 
Seats are comfortable and the ride is very smooth. It is the most quiet truck I have ever owned. I am accustomed to knowing my speed buy the wind/engine noise. First time I was on the highway with the Frontier, I was startled to find I was driving 90mph!
 
A couple reviews have noted that the turning circle on the Frontier is a disadvantage along with the steering ratio when compared to other crew cabs. Coming from a regular cab to the Frontier, it certainly is noticeable, especially in parking lots or turning right at intersections. I figure this is only a "problem" until I get used to the truck. Soon enough, I will be whizzing in and out of parking spaces without any problem.
 
So far, with one fill up after 50/50 highway-city driving, I am very pleased to note my gas mileage was 20.1 mpg!!!
 
All I can say is that I am very happy I wasn't persuaded to buy a 2004 because of the rebates. The 2005 really is superior.
 
FYI - When I arrived at the dealership, the entire sales force was there because Nissan Corporate was doing "2005 Frontier Training." I nosed around a bit of it and was surprised by the honesty. Nissan brought in Frontier, Tacoma, and Dakota crew cabs for everyone to drive and compare. When the test drives were over the execs went over the advantages of the Tacoma over the Frontier and vice-versa. Frontier does have a slight edge for some things, but they admitted that it will really come down to price and whether customers are "Toyota" or "Nissan" people.
 
Nissan expects that unless customers are "Dodge" loyalists, the Dakota won't have much impact. The "redesigned" Dakota is the same as the last few years with more chrome, and there are noticeable quality and workmanship issues that makes a comparison of the two trucks heavily weighted toward Frontier.
 
Nissan also is betting that the new Frontier styling my draw people away from the more "dated" styling of the Tacoma and Dakota.
 
Jason

#340 of 2122 Great report Jason - SJ auto show impressions by jjpeter

Jan 10, 2005 (10:44 am)

Thanks for the nice review. I went the San Jose Auto Show over the weekend to look over a number of segments. Nissan had one Frontier there, a CC SE, black. I spent a lot of time checking it out and my impressions have not changed much since I wrote my review of it here, earlier in December. I was disappointed they did not have the King Cab, because I wanted to check that model out also. Oh well.
 
It was interesting to see the various efforts expended by the different makes at the show. I have to say, Nissan basically just put the cars on the floor and let the looky loos crawl through them. There were zero knowlegable people at their display, and this was on a Saturday afternoon. Just hot babes walking around trying to get people's personal data into their table PC's.
 
There was an 05 Xterra on display, and it must have been shipped right off the factory floor because they are just now starting production.
 
Interestingly, I looked at the floor placard for the Frontier that sits by all the vehicles, to read what it said. I could not believe my eyes. The data on it was for the old Frontier, talking about that this was a long bed CC, with the 3.3 liter V6. God Nissan! Wake up!!! Its on 05 on display.
 
In contrast, Toyota had an ongoing talking babe telling whoever wanted to hear alllll about the Tacoma, how it won MT's truck of the year honors, blah blah blah. Honestly, the Frontier IMHO, is a far more attractive truck, just that Nissan's marketing division is "out to lunch."
 
My wife and I were also looking at the small SUV segment, and Hyundai's Tucson is a really attractive unit, and loaded for the price. And, they had at least 5 knowledable people at their display. Well done.

#341 of 2122 Re: Great report Jason - SJ auto show impressions [jjpeter] by jasong2

Jan 10, 2005 (11:40 am)

Replying to: jjpeter (Jan 10, 2005 10:44 am)
I did look at the NISMO king cab on the show room floor while all the paperwork was being done (I was at the dealership 4 hours!). I think the King Cab's proportions make it look very nice . . .nicer than the crew cab. However, the rear seats are absolutely useless. The seat rests about 4 inches off the floor and from seat back to front seat, there is just 25 inches of room. I measured my sitting position and figured this would provide 1" of extra leg room! Not that it really mattered, I tried to get in the rear seats on the show room model and failed. I think it would work if you stacked you friends horizontally, though.
 
Jason

#342 of 2122 NISMO king cab by jjpeter

Jan 10, 2005 (1:06 pm)

Yes, I agree the KC's rear seating arrangement (if you can call it that) are pretty useless. It is not designed for adults. The seats look almost like an afterthought. I primarily would haul tools and packages back there though, and for that its a very usable space. My 99 KC Ranger has the swing out rear doors also, but the seats are raised up a bit more so they are tolerable for adults on a short ride.
 
Jason - how is the ride on your CC? Reports and reviews mention "choppiness or minor bucking" over some pavements. Have you experienced this?
 
Also, what are the RPM's in sixth gear at 70mph?

#343 of 2122 Re: NISMO king cab [jjpeter] by badness

Jan 10, 2005 (3:09 pm)

Replying to: jjpeter (Jan 10, 2005 1:06 pm)
How is the gas Mi. ??
what color did you get?and what price did you pay?

#344 of 2122 badness - read the posts by jjpeter

Jan 10, 2005 (3:37 pm)

Who are you asking? Jason posted all the answers to your questions earlier.
 
Joker posted 14.6 mpg earlier ( have a feeling he's enjoying that V6 )
 
Jason said in his post; "So far, with one fill up after 50/50 highway-city driving, I am very pleased to note my gas mileage was 20.1 mpg!!!"

#345 of 2122 re: badness - read the posts by jjpeter

Jan 10, 2005 (4:35 pm)

This is getting bad, replying to my own posts...
 
Anyway -
 
Badness, I have not purchased any Frontier yet, if that is what you were asking. I did go by the local dealer at lunch today, had a King Cab LE 4x4 out front. They were asking MSRP + $3000 dealer mark up. No way! It was black with the Charcoal interior. Man is that interior gorgeous! Soon, baby, Soon.

#346 of 2122 tint windows and viper 350 alarm installed today by sigsauer

Jan 10, 2005 (4:41 pm)

since on my 05 se c/c 6 spd, there isn't a factory keyless entry alarm option available so i got the viper 350 alarm w/ keyless entry installed today. the local installer took a while since there isn't a wiring schematic for this new truck (or even the 05 pathfinder) yet. i also got the 2 front windows tinted w/ the lightest color. it looks great now; very blending to the factory rear windows tint. plus now my truck auto locks when i shift into 1st gear and auto unlocks when i remove the ignition key. very nice feature especially when you hauling kids in the back. alarm + tint only $230 installed !!

#347 of 2122 Re: NISMO king cab [jjpeter] by jasong2

Jan 10, 2005 (7:33 pm)

Replying to: jjpeter (Jan 10, 2005 1:06 pm)
The ride is excellent. Very smooth but still enough stiffness and road feel to know you are in a truck. Also great highway handling (onramp acceleration and at highway speeds.
 
Also, part of the smoothness has to do with the manual transmission. I had a 91 Nissan and a 2002 Dakota previously. On those, the manual could get a little "jerky" if you were in stop and go traffic. The 05 Frontier has a much smoother transmission, so stop and go is really smooth. It may not make a difference, but the 05 uses the same transmission (manual at least) as the 350Z. So in answer to your question, there is no choppinesess or bucking. In fact, it is the smoothest manual/clutch I have ever driven.
 
Regarding the RPMs in 6th gear. I haven't been in 6th much. 70mph seems to be at the threshold for shifting between 5th and 6th. At 70mph in 6th, the RPMs are just about 2250. In fifth gear at the same speed, its just about 2500-2750. I am accustomed to my Dakota being at 3000 RPMs at 70mph, so I have to figure out what works best with the Nissan and 6 gears.
 
Badness - I forgot to deduct the test drive miles from my calculations for the mpg. When I factored that in, I am at 18.7 mpg for the first fill up.
 
Color is Storm Gray. The brochure and online color charts do not do any of the colors justice. Really need to see them in person. The Storm Gray is a greenish charcoal color. Also saw the canteen (lighter in person) and the Aztec Red (clown nose red). My interior is Charcoal.
 
I had to bring the check into the dealer this afternoon and took another look at the NISMO king cab. They are asking MSRP and no plans to budge on it. They also included bed extender, divider, and tool box and expect a 100% mark up. It has been in the showroom for 4 weeks and no buyer yet at that price.
 
I looked again at the rear seats. They are higher than 4" . . . probably 8 inches. They rest on a web covered storage bin (similar to that under he CC rear seats). Still impossible for adults to get in and out. Given the room, I doubt the size of the kids fitting back there comfortably would legally be allowed to sit there without booster seats (which seems impossible). Still it is great cargo area and the hinged suicide doors make accessing the area nice.
 
Good luck with your purchase - Jason

#348 of 2122 re: badness - read the posts [jjpeter] by badness

Jan 10, 2005 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: jjpeter (Jan 10, 2005 4:35 pm)
thats way too much 3G's mark up,dude your the man,thanks again,.good luck with the Baby!!!

Messages Page 35 of 213

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