Toyota Tacoma vs Nissan Frontier

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

Looking for a smaller truck and these two keep rising to the top.  Curious what comments the Saloon might have. 
 

An F150 short bed is also a possibility, but that’s a jump out of “smaller”.

[Rye Miles #13621]

My son bought a 2023 Tacoma the last year they made  6 cyl. I don’t know about the Nissan but my son absolutely loves his Tacoma. 

[Pat Riot]

The current Tacoma design and engines have been around for a few years. All bugs should be gone. 
 

The new Nissan Frontier engines and design have been around nearly 2 years. 
 

They are both priced similarly. The Nissan was a great deal just before Covid and price gouging. 
 

Toyota and their dealers have not wavered in their pricing from the factory and at their dealerships. I cannot say the same for Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Dodge & Jeep. Look at the MSRPs then look at what the dealerships are charging. 

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

 

We absolutely LOVE our 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner. With over 121,000 miles on it, and regular servicing at the Dealership we purchased it at, we have had absolutely ZERO major issues or repairs.
One of the best things we did was the battery needed replacing, we paid extra cost and got the lifetime battery.
Highly recommend as their resale value tops any other truck of that size.

We would buy another; however, or next vehicle will be an SUV as our hauling stuff is nearing an end.
Time to drive in style.

 

[Yul Lose]

When I had my two way radio sales and service business back in the 80’s and 90’s we drove Toyota Tacomas with utility beds on them and we were very satisfied. We had one major engine problem with one of them and even though it was out of warranty Toyota fixed it for free because it was a factory defect. 
 

I bought my first Nissan Frontier in 2001 and  put nearly 260,000 miles on it before the 4 catalytic converters needed replaced because it wouldn’t pass Kalifornia emissions testing. That was $4,500.00 to do that repair and I turned around and sold it for$8,500.00 and bought my 2016 Frontier. It has the 6 cylinder engine and I tow a Casita travel trailer with it and it has performed flawlessly. If I were in the market for a new truck it would be a Frontier but I only have 118,000 miles on this one so it’s barely broke in.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

Lets just say 9/10  terrorists prefer Toyota  

 

[El Chapo]

I would not want either one, but if forced to choose, it would be the Toyota by a LONG way.  Basically everything people think about the reliability of Japanese cars is attributable to Toyota.  Nissan, being the "performance" brand probably has more issues than any other Japanese manufacturer, and perhaps more than any manufacturer of pickup trucks.  The Nissan would literally be my last choice among the available options.

 

FYI I'm no Ford fan either, but at least two of my friends who would have ordinarily considered the Tacoma in recent years have ended up buying a Ford Ranger.  They told me that the cab design and the 280 horsepower engine was lightyears ahead when they test drove and so they ended up buying something different than where they began.  Another one who drove an F150 for about 15 years bought the gasoline Ford Maverick when they first came out and also seems very happy with his decision.  Another one of my co-workers has two Rangers in the household, wife has a tricked out 4wd one and he has a mid trim level 2wd.

[bgavin]

My close friend just retired after 50 years in the vehicle service business.

When I was shopping for my 2023 Tacoma, I asked about the Nissan.
He strenuously said NO to the Nissan.... nothing but trouble.

The 2023 Tacoma is the last of the Gen 3 model line.
The 2024 year is Gen 4.. all new everything... and all new bugs.

 

2024 Tacoma automatic transmissions are falling out at an alarming rate.
The only fix is a complete replacement, and trannies are out of stock and back-ordered to Japan.
My service friend says all the manufacturers of the new 8, 10 speed trannies are seeing similar problems.
Apparently this is due to the complexity of all the additional clutch packs, etc required.

The 2024 Tacoma has dropped the 3.5l V6 in favor of smaller displacement turbo charged engines.

No doubt to meet gov't mandated mileage requirements.
This means more demand on a smaller engine, and to my ears means "less reliability"

My son-in-law has already had to replace two factory turbos on his F-150 truck, at a cost over $4,000.
Most folks don't know how to drive a turbo, meaning you give them 60 to 90 seconds idle before shutdown to cool the oil.
Otherwise, the oil in the turbo burns into varnish... and bye bye turbo.
Any vehicle that shuts off at a stop light is a deal breaker for me.

 

The 2024 Tacomas are now offered with batteries, and all the problems that go along with batteries.
Everything in 2024 is new:  bigger, taller, wider, heavier, engines, trannies.

In short, the 2024 Tacoma is a version 1.0 product.
And like ALL v1.0 products, it will be fraught with bugs and engineering design changes to fix those bugs.

Toyota's long engine history shows proof of this.
Those that live on the sharp bleeding edge of technology are often sacrificed to that bleeding edge.

 

[Texas Maverick]

5 hours ago, Charlie Harley, #14153 said:

Looking for a smaller truck and these two keep rising to the top.  Curious what comments the Saloon might have. 
 

An F150 short bed is also a possibility, but that’s a jump out of “smaller”.

Ford also has the Maverick which is a smaller truck.

 

TM

[July Smith]

46 minutes ago, PowderRiverCowboy said:

Lets just say 9/10  terrorists prefer Toyota  

 

Pretty sure that is a Hilux.  Very tough trucks.  Can't get the new ones here because dealerships know that would be the last truck you would ever need to buy. 

[PowderRiverCowboy]

17 minutes ago, July Smith said:

Pretty sure that is a Hilux.  Very tough trucks.  Can't get the new ones here because dealerships know that would be the last truck you would ever need to buy. 

 

Same same just different name plate  No Tacomas there . No Hilux's here 

 

 

[JP McLintock]

Definitely no to a nissan, todays toyota isn't the toyota from the past, lots of oil consumption and engine issues, 

 

I like ford trucks, so maybe the f150, but not one with all the electronic gadgets, they can cause all kinds of problems,  like the driver assist systems freaking out because the cameras became covered in mud......

[Dantankerous]

Toyota is best money spent on a vehicle.  Read BGavin's post on the 2024 Tacoma however. I'd find a slightly used Tacoma or 4Runner and whistle Dixie for about 400,000 miles.

[Rye Miles #13621]

55 minutes ago, July Smith said:

Pretty sure that is a Hilux.  Very tough trucks.  Can't get the new ones here because dealerships know that would be the last truck you would ever need to buy. 

At my age any vehicle I buy may be the last !!😂😂

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

I test drove both twice. 2024 models. I bought the Nissan 2024 Frontier. Many factors went into my buy. One I didn't want a Turbo. Wanted comfort, easy to see displays and what was displayed what I was getting for my money and comparing both. I was offered 350.00 more in trade in for my vehicle then Toyota offered. I got all the bells and whistles, some which were optional on the Tacoma at Dealers. I'm getting 22 MPG in town and 28MPG on highway. 21  gallon tank. Dealer threw in rear truck hard lock cover. only had to finance 5200.00.

We both felt the Toyota Dealer was pushing to hard and left after 2nd test drive.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I have regretted selling my 2009 Tacoma from the moment I turn the keys over to the new owner.

 

It had nine years and only 29,000 miles on it and the only problem I had with it involved driving through a keg of roofing nails that fell off a truck at the two year mark: all four tires, two rims, and a bunch of dings and scratches along the lower right side.  The truck owners paid to have it brought back to new condition.

 

They also paid for the two cars behind mine, both with more damage than my truck. 

[Sawhorse Kid]

Watch out for the Nissan Frontier, their tailgates are very heavy....despite their size.

If you are not prepared, it will come down fast and hard.

 

Seems that most people prefer the Toyota Tacoma.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

4 hours ago, Sawhorse Kid said:

Watch out for the Nissan Frontier, their tailgates are very heavy....despite their size.

If you are not prepared, it will come down fast and hard.

 

Seems that most people prefer the Toyota Tacoma.

Odd, I open my tailgate and it slowly eases down and can close it with one hand easily. Be glad to make a video for you if you want.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

1 hour ago, Marshal Dan Troop 70448 said:

Odd, I open my tailgate and it slowly eases down and can close it with one hand easily. Be glad to make a video for you if you want.

Went to a Nissan dealer last night.  Their 2024 tailgates have a damper and spring assist.  Very easy to operate.

[bgavin]

I am told the Hilux still exists everywhere in the world... except here in the U.S.
It also comes standard with a manual transmission, unlike here in the U.S.

Evidently, American buyers demand large "lifestyle" trucks with all the tech doo-dads and fluff.

Myself, I have a 1991 Hilux 5-speed, and would have gladly bought another one as same.
I didn't want the big Tacoma, and especially did not want the automatic transmission.
But I got what was available.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

If going Toyota, as mentioned, look at a 2023. 

 

[Pat Riot]

On 8/1/2024 at 8:29 AM, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

 

We absolutely LOVE our 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner. With over 121,000 miles on it, and regular servicing at the Dealership we purchased it at, we have had absolutely ZERO major issues or repairs.
One of the best things we did was the battery needed replacing, we paid extra cost and got the lifetime battery.
Highly recommend as their resale value tops any other truck of that size.

We would buy another; however, or next vehicle will be an SUV as our hauling stuff is nearing an end.
Time to drive in style.

 

If you ever decide to sell that 2010 please let me know. I would be interested. 

[Pat Riot]

@bgavin Thank you for that info on the 2024 Tacomas. I did not know that. 

[bgavin]

I agree entirely with their observations about the 2024.
And no mention was made of Tacoma transmission failures.
One would have to deep dive into the Tundra A/T failures to see if this is the same model used in the Tacomas.

Barring some unforseen circumstance, my 2023 is my last truck.
I've owned my 1991 for 32 years, and I won't live long enough to outlive my 2023.

I plan to install an OTT Tune on my 2023, now that those tunes are 100% CARB legal.

This will smooth out the chronic A/T hunting, as well as moving the torque peak down a wee bit, and putting more meat under the torque curve in the low range where I want it.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

There are a lot of videos on youtube on transmission failures, 4 wheel drive problems, and going from a steel to aluminum drive shaft.

[Sawhorse Kid]

14 hours ago, Charlie Harley, #14153 said:

Went to a Nissan dealer last night.  Their 2024 tailgates have a damper and spring assist.  Very easy to operate.

So they did not fix the weight issue and just added one more thing to go wrong?

Well, at least they did something.

Their tailgate is half the size of a full size tailgate and weighs twice as much.

[Sedalia Dave]

Invest in a subscription to Consumer Reports.  They do an outstanding job collecting reliability data on used vehicles as well as predicting the potential reliability of new ones.

 

BTW I have had a subscription for years. Use it as part of my research when making major purchases.

 

[Blackwater 53393]

19 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

Invest in a subscription to Consumer Reports.  They do an outstanding job collecting reliability data on used vehicles as well as predicting the potential reliability of new ones.

 

BTW I have had a subscription for years. Use it as part of my research when making major purchases.

 

Canceled my subscription to Consumer Reports when they listed the Corvette as having “average” body rust through! 
 

 

[Doc Shapiro]

I've had Tacoma's for years, and am looking at trading in wife's car to get another next year.  For me, Toyota products.  I have no experience with Nissan.

[Pat Riot]

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

16 hours ago, Sawhorse Kid said:

So they did not fix the weight issue and just added one more thing to go wrong?

Well, at least they did something.

Their tailgate is half the size of a full size tailgate and weighs twice as much.

Start going to the gym and pump some iron so you can close those tailgates you have problems lifting.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

3 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

We supplied them with more durable transportation and other supplies we abandoned there.

[bgavin]

For clarification, the Hilux and the Tacoma are not the same vehicle with a different name.
Hilux is far smaller, and most come standard with a manual transmission.
They are sold around the world, everywhere except in America.

The legendary quality reputation of Toyota in the past, is gone.
They have endless problems with every aspect of the vehicle.
My 3.5l V6 went through numerous engineering change iterations before they fixed the VVT-i problems.

As of this final model year, the timing cover still leaks.
This is a precision metal-to-metal surface with an adhesive sealant applied.
This was found to be superior to gaskets that fail and leak.
Repair is an expensive proposition... if it only weeps, then leave it alone.

Toyota paint, especially Ice Cap 040 is a chronic failure.
It peels off everywhere, to the point there is a recall "in the works", but no action as of this writing.
Mine is Ice Cap 040 white.

In addition to paint, there are battery hold-down recalls, and Tacomas have loose retaining nuts on the rear axle flange due to welding spatter.
It widely documented that automatic transmissions arrive from the factory half to a full quart low. 
Same for differentials.

A/T levels MUST be checked from below, preferably up on a lift, engine running, transmission oil temp between 95F and 113F.
Apparently every auto manufacturer, and not just Toyota, has adopted this asinine procedure.
You can rest assured, the stealership will NOT go through this temperature range process, but will simply pull the inspection plug.
This a 15 minute procedure at the very best, and Time = Money in a stealership.

The 24mm fill plug torque spec is 29 ft-lbs, and only 15 ft-lbs for the inspection plug.
Both of which can be easily over torqued by a rack monkey working on flat rate time and using an impact gun.
Same as they did with my 12mm skid plate bolts.
All of which, is why my 73 year old stiff body is back under the truck doing service again.
 

 

Transmission Fluid Check.pdf

[Texas Joker]

On 8/2/2024 at 9:33 AM, bgavin said:

I am told the Hilux still exists everywhere in the world... except here in the U.S.
It also comes standard with a manual transmission, unlike here in the U.S.

Evidently, American buyers demand large "lifestyle" trucks with all the tech doo-dads and fluff.

Myself, I have a 1991 Hilux 5-speed, and would have gladly bought another one as same.
I didn't want the big Tacoma, and especially did not want the automatic transmission.
But I got what was available.

Chicken tax prevents sale of small imported trucks and an EPA reg that says larger vehicles can have higher exhaust percentages means manufacturers are making bigger and bigger trucks and SUVs. 

 

And i saw a fortnine video on youtube that shows a massive increase in pedestrian fatalities from the giant vertical grills on the new giant trucks.

 

I want one of these. Small 4 banger with minimalist interior

 

[Sedalia Dave]

On 8/1/2024 at 9:44 AM, PowderRiverCowboy said:

Lets just say 9/10  terrorists prefer Toyota  

 

 

So does the US Govt.

 

https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/vampire