I don't absolutely need a truck, but it sure would be handy once in a while. I've found a crew cab 2012 Frontier with a manual transmission and 100,000 miles at a dealership about four hours away. They're asking just short of 14k for it. I'm in the rust belt and this dealership is even further north; do these have corrosion problems? There are tons of automatics locally, but the manual crew cab seems to be rare. Should I get an Amtrak ticket and bring this baby home?
One of our local autocross crowd tows a 280z with a 08 manual. He likes it but he did just buy a Tahoe for tow duties. The wife drives the Tahoe to work and he still drives the truck.
Edit: No clue on the rusting. We are deep south.
In reply to Toyman01 :
Nissan encourages that.
Friend has a 14 or 15 that he bought new that he just loves. It's an auto, but it drives wonderfully and rides great. Decent room for adults in the back. I'd have one if I wasn't a cheap ass.
Good trucks.
No real issues.
Here in Canada I've only really seen rust where the paint gets sandblasted off, sometimes the sills, and sometimes around the door handles.
I have a 2012 pro4x crew cab. They are great trucks, just not as nice as they used to be, i have a 2000 and had a 1994 too. Also kinda “meh” on fuel economy. I average about 16.8 without driving too hard.
Ive never towed anything bigger than my boat(17’ flatbottom, 50hp), its a decent weight but the truck loves it. Dont feel it with normal driving.
Id be a bit concerned with the paint. The factory paint/paint job is crap. Its so thin, its already flaking off in the rain gutters on the roof. Id be surprised if this paint looks decent at all in another 5 years. So as long as its got a good undercoat and you keep an eye on anywhere they painted over a seam, it should be fine.
Older Nissan Frontiers had frame rust issues at the kick up in front of the rear wheel. Not sure about the years you are looking at. Probably not old enough in Maryland (where I am) to show yet. The automatics of that vintage do have radiator/trans cooler problems that allow coolant to mix with the ATF. But at this point if it was going to break, it probably already has. Interior fit/finish issues. Nissan interiors tend to be cheapish.
The Frontier 4 door comes with a long bed or a short bed. The short is really short but the short is better at off-road angles. If your keeping it on the road, the short bed may just be too short to really do "truck things"
I just sold our 2008 Pathfinder with 200k kilometers (120k miles) and replaced it with a 2015 Frontier Crew cab long box. Rust shouldn’t be an issue as long as you oil spray it regularly (I swear by Krown). The Pathfinder did not have any rust, even underneath.
I drove 4 hours to Toronto (from Ottawa, Ontario) twice to get the Frontier... once to make sure it was what I wanted, and a week later to bring it home.
Cheers
Gordon
In reply to noddaz :
The radiator problem that caused the transmission problem was fixed by 2009. There was a chain rattle problem that got fixed in 2010. By the 2011 model run, they got all of the issues pretty well solved.
I've gpt a 2011 Xterra which mechanically is the same. Nothing fancy about it at all. We just turned 110K Miles and honestly, the truck is super solid. I can see doubling that amount of miles. The only issues we have seen is from stuff we caused like a rock getting wedged in next to the ABS sensor causing random ABS errors.
the major/common problems were fixed long before then, like the radiator issue that was mentioned, which wouldn't be a problem on a manual trans model. I have almost 150k on my 2010 xterra Off-Road. the only thing that makes the frontier not quite as good as a tacoma of the same vintage is the front suspension geometry, which is a result of the shared platform between the titan, pathfinder, armada, and xterra causing the narrow gauge models to be pretty limited on travel. since you're not planning on taking it off road, it shouldn't be a problem.
The manual model will have the m226 rear end, which is a variant of the dana44, and generally viewed as tougher than the standard rear end on the automatics. (off-road/pro-4x all came with a d44 with electric locker).
I'm not sure on rust, my xterra has the typical japanese thin paint, so rock chips and such might be common spots for it to start.
I have a 98 Frontier with 330,000 km on the 2.4 L 4 banger (manual, 4x4). Same basic truck under the skin as what you’re looking at. The only rust on the thing is right around the windshield, as a result of terrible workmanship when replacing windshields. The rest of the truck is rust free. While I’m in a fairly low rust environment (dry interior of British Columbia), I see domestic full size trucks of the same vintage with significant body cancer. My truck had to work for a living, hauling firewood out of the bush, hauling sand and building materials, ploughing our long rural driveway. It’s been bulletproof and trouble free.
Damnit, now I'm looking for one.
One of these days I'll learn my lesson and stay out of these learn me threads.
Dang, a nearly glowing review. I'll ring 'em up on Monday or Wednesday and see if I can put together a deal. Thank you
I’ve had my 14 frontier for 2 years and no problem at 50k. I fluid film mine so no rust yet. I haven’t towed with mine yet but it’s got more balls than my 99 f150.
That price seems high. Two years ago I paid 20k ( I thought too much) with 30k miles. Mine is an sv 4x4 automatic with nice options. Heated seats, dual climate etc. I don’t think I’d pay more than 10k for 100k mike truck. Is there a premium for manual trucks?
There's a premium for crew cab's, it seems. Manual is definitely rare; I have no idea if that equates to "sought after - higher price" though. Edmunds says these guys are in the ballpark when I use their estimator.
I need to see if they have maintenance records for it - specifically, is it on the original clutch still?
I'm also keeping my eye on these. One more flaw is that the tie rods aren't strong enough for offroad use, HD replacements are available on the aftermarket.
I off road my Xterra all of the time with no issues with the Tie Rods. It's the same part number for both. Shoot I'm in Colorado so off roading is almost the norm. Yes there are HD replacements but at 110K miles mine are rock solid and I see no need for them.
You can fix the front travel limitations if you want for not too much. It basically involves using the titan suspension with Titan parts.
Not sure where your located in the rust belt but you don’t see to many Rangers like this.
https://youngstown.craigslist.org/cto/d/sharon-2008-ranger-sport-4x4/6764822718.html
I can’t speak much for the frontier, but my hardbody has been great. Frontier is just a restyle. The Nissans don’t seem to suffer the frame rust the Toyota’s do? Biggest gripe I have is many parts are NLS at the dealers. I have order oil filters and drain plug gaskets.,
That Ranger looks to be in good shape... but I'm after the "real" back seat for child seats / LATCH.
I'm having trouble finding trucks with prices near what you're quoting... this one is probably the closest to what JJ has:
2014 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab 4WD - $20,563 (24k miles)
and its 350 miles away from me :(
I'll keep looking...
I replaced my 08 2wd crew cab six speed in October after 180,000 someodd mile with an 18 automatic 4x4 extended cab. Replacement was due to losing oil pressure at idle at operating temp. I don't blame Nissan for that one since I tended to drive it with the tach in the fun zone. I'm getting noticeably better mileage letting the truck shift.
I made the body style shift because the short bed could make lumber yard runs interesting and the seven year old that needed a back seat now has a Grand Marquis if we need a sedan for something. They are good trucks even if not the hot new thing.
The frontier’s are solid trucks overall. They don’t have great crash ratings but mechanically they’re very sound. Both times I found myself looking for a midsize truck I found I preferred the Tacoma but that was more to how it fit me and the deal I got than any deficiencies in the Frontier.
They are not cheap to fix after a deer hit.
This was almost 5k 6 months after I got the truck!☹️
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