Which is a better buy

[Nathan]

A Toyota Tacoma 95-00 4x4 or a 98-00 Nissan Frontier 4x4.
In hauling, handling, comfort and off road abilities.
Also standard and automatic.

Any info will help thanks.

[350HP930]

Unless you will actually take that thing off roads or you have to climb steep icey or snow covered roads I say stay away from a 4X4.

Depite most people never using it there are many disadvantages to a 4X4 versus the 2WD.

Lower gas mileage and higher maintenance and insurance costs.

Either way, I say Toyota. Have you seen the top gear thread here on off topic yet?

[pwd72s]

Toyota vote here as well...and I agree, unless you really need the 4 wheel drive, it's a waste to buy. The Toyota vote is based on comments made to me by a guy who switched from Toyota to Nissan, and regreted the switch. He had quite a list of Nissan complaints...

[RickM]

Toyota

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Yota.

[cstreit]

Toyo. Love ours! 100K miles of hard duty and other than a diff, no problems. (Diff from towing at highest capacity for 3 years)

[JavaBrewer]

Back in the 80's my 77 Datsun truck was nearly unstoppable - 275K "the hard way" Easily outlived my friend's 78 Toyota which died @ 189K miles. That said, I think Toyota is the better of the two in the years you list. Why only import trucks on your list?

You mentioned "off road abilities" so I assume you really need the 4x4 - though a good driver can take a 4x2 in some extreme places.

I just bought a 00 F-150 4x2 with the 5.4. Four fillups so far and I'm averaging 16 mpg - with an easy right foot. Not bad compaired to the 6 cyl mini and fullsize trucks that seem to average 18-19mpg.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Wonder why it's called a 4x2 or a 4x4. I mean, I don't know any 4-wheel drive trucks with less (or more) than 4 wheels. That extra "4" seems redundant.

[vash]

toyota. hands down. those things are indestructable. and yes, without the 4by4 if you dont absolutely need it. you will save a gas with just the 2by. i have a 4wheeler (chevy), and a few times a year, i go into the wild so i can justify the extra expense. toy as better resale i think.

[turbo6bar]

Toyota is in a class of its own. Does the Tacoma have the 2.4L engine? The 2.4L engine is tough.

[chibone_914]

Toyota, only because of the great service we've gotten for my wife's car. But for me personally, Dodge Ram 3500 w/Cummins turbo-diesel will the next vehicle.

[cegerer]

Gonna have to disagree on the 4x4 thing. Have owned 4WD or AWD on every vehicle for the past 16-17 years (Subarus, Jeeps, Isuzus, GMCs, Porsche). If you drive in snow/ice/slippery conditions - even in the flatlands - there is simply no comparison in handling to 2WD and/or FrontWD (remember the Audi Quattros that cleaned house in the TransAm??). Even in the wet, it's a huge difference - no hydroplaning with AWD. Is it going to stop faster? No. Does it have a higher COG? Yes. Hell, I got in my wife's Pontiac Montana (frontWD with Traction Control) the other day and was white-knuckled by the time I got home - don't know how anybody drives a 2WD vehicle in the snow!!! )

[Nathan]

Thanks for info guys


pwd72s What types of complaints with the Nissan?

cstreit What year is your toyota tacoma and is standard of auto?

dmoolenaar

Why only import truck on your list?

Well I'm not really into american compact trucks because of resale value and reliability issues.

I know that the tacoma has either a v6 3.4 I think or 2.4 and 2.7.

I have search the net for toyota tacoma engine problems and have found several cases with knocking (rod bearings) on the newer models 00-03 models 2.7 liter at start up,but nothing on the v6.
I did the same search for nissan though ,but not as much engine problems as toyota.

I am keeping an open mind on the trucks.
Nathan

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My wife's V6 PreRunner has been bulletproof (knock on wood). She drives a 50 mile round trip every morning and evening through hideous road construction in 116 degree heat.