New truck, help me decide. Frontier or Chevy?

xflowgolf wrote: I still can't quite wrap my head around ending up at those two options as they're essentially polar opposites. What do you need this truck to do? Seems too knee jerk or variables left out. Lots of trucks in between.

Not sure about polar opposites, I think I've explained what I want the truck to do a few times in the thread and how I came to these two options. These are just two example deals. If I can't get the price I want on the Chevy without a GM trade in then that changes the deal and I would move on.

Unsold 2013 or 2014 doesnt matter to me as long as I am the first person to have it titled.

When you are saying lots of truck in between....which ones? No new Rangers/Canyon/Colorado right now. The Tacoma is thousand more dollars and less equipped than the comparable Frontier. IE 19k stipper manual trans model when I can get a 17k Frontier with cruise, bedliner, etc.

F150, 1500s, Sierras all over 23k.

crankwalk wrote: Unsold 2013 or 2014 doesnt matter to me as long as I am the first person to have it titled.

Well right, I just meant to differentiate that this was a model year changeover, so the 2013 is a different truck than the 2014 even though both are titled as "new".

crankwalk wrote: Then as I moved up in size if I'm not going to have the availability of a manual transmission I need a V-8. To Me the idea of a V6 automatic truck is worthless I get none of the driver input or fun of a manual transmission and none of the potential towing capacity of the V8.

You're wrong, just so you know. Read up on the new ram v6's with 8 speeds. They are cheap, and get crazy mpg (better than that tacoma) and can tow 7000+ lbs.

Edit- And all the magazines say they tow the 7000lbs just fine.

HiTempguy wrote:

crankwalk wrote: Then as I moved up in size if I'm not going to have the availability of a manual transmission I need a V-8. To Me the idea of a V6 automatic truck is worthless I get none of the driver input or fun of a manual transmission and none of the potential towing capacity of the V8.

You're wrong, just so you know. Read up on the new ram v6's with 8 speeds. They are cheap, and get crazy mpg (better than that tacoma) and can tow 7000+ lbs.

I'm wrong how? I don't want a V6 truck with a CHRYSLER automatic trans that cost thousands more than a V8 Chevy or 4 cyl Jap truck. I guess thats why I narrowed it down to these two examples.

Just looking primarily under $21k. Where are even these new V6 trucks for that?

If the V8 stripper work truck Chevy can't be purchased for that then it leaves just the Frontier so far through my research being the best value. (Can't justify paying more and getting less in a Tacoma) These are two DIFFERENT trucks in a way but they are still two truck that meet my needs at a good price point/ value curve.

Its a trade off. Here's my mindset for those who are curious.

Small trucks, basically thats just Frontier VS Tacoma. Frontier is less money and better equipped for a similar Tacoma.

What else is there? Chevy work truck the con of being less equipped than the Tacoma but the Pro of being able to tow and still less than $21k (using the example I had, if its more than that then it is ruled out.)

If I want to spend $26k on a truck then that opens up a lot of different options but I don't so how I will ask the question is "What is the best truck I can buy for under $21k new?"

crankwalk wrote:

ls1fiero wrote: HAH! I am likely the guy that wrote the $20,900 ad for the 2500HD in Atlanta. You will absolutely love driving it! Great power, 6 speed auto and a firm suspension make for a fun ride. I like the seats too. Contact me if you have questions. mikec@jimellis.com

What a coincidence! Those are the ones. Email is coming your way sir. The reason I came down to these two trucks is that I was looking for regular cab and a specific value point. I ruled out of Tacoma because for the same price is the Chevy I don't want a four cylinder without cruise control. Then as I moved up in size if I'm not going to have the availability of a manual transmission I need a V-8. To Me the idea of a V6 automatic truck is worthless I get none of the driver input or fun of a manual transmission and none of the potential towing capacity of the V8. So to narrow it down to these two trucks I just had a convoluted system of wants needs prices and availability in features and ended up with these two that would both suit my needs though they are completely different.

Watch out. He just raised the price $400 above your first post. Stealerships...

Living locally, I have seen this ad.. and found it to be a smoking good price.

I wouldn't even be looking at the Nissan if the Chevy is available at that price.

Datsun1500 wrote: I'm a huge Nissan fan, but I'd take the full size if it can be bought that cheap. Are you sure Nissan makes a regular cab?

Its a "king cab" or "access cab". If I can't put people back there , that is what I am looking for. These weird 4 door trucks and tiny beds look strange, less handy for me , and cost more.

This past summer I borrowed my father in laws 2wd Nissan Frontier V6 automatic to tow my Datsun Z cars from my old house in Pittsburgh to the new one in Beaver Falls. I used a heavy U haul trailer and also had the bed filled with all kinds of garage stuff and the truck did great on even the steep hills here in Western PA. It has the extra cab with the suicide doors for putting people and cargo back there which is very useful. For me, it was the perfect tow vehicle and I'm going to buy it from him when he sells it in the next year or so. I know it's not what you're thinking about buying but I just wanted to throw in my own experience.

^Yeah the issue is that truck is about $4-5k more money than the Chevy which would tow with even more ease.

Datsun1500 wrote: You are driving yourself crazy for a deal that requires you trade in a 99 or newer GM vehicle, which from what I read, you don't plan on doing. It's a $24,900 truck at the cheapest unless you qualify for all of the rebates. That's a big swing.

Yeah, if thats the case then the Frontier is the only choice for me. I'm not really driving myself crazy over it though. Just wanted opinions.

Maybe I missed it, but why must it be new? Why not a couple years old?

I don't think you could go wrong with either, especially if you don't drive it all that much.

I like HD trucks. Everything is just beefy. Crawl under both and just look at the chassis bits. Nothing wrong with the Frontier, but if you're getting a newer, beefier, truck for a few more greenbacks, I'd go with the Chevy.

It doesn't seem like much of a big deal, but I have to say this... the first time you accidentally hit a curb in a parking lot or during a 3-point turn, the first time you hit a retread from an 18-wheeler on the highway, or the first time you get in a small accident, you'll be REALLY glad you have those 3/4" diameter tie rods and forged control arms instead of stamped steel and little tie rod ends.

I have run over or hit things with a 3/4 ton truck that probably would have totaled a light-duty compact truck.

t25torx wrote: Maybe I missed it, but why must it be new? Why not a couple years old?

I need the vehicle to have as few miles as possible so I can have the bumper to bumper warranty to myself to get any potential little problems covered that aren't power train related. Past experiences and they definitely can add up.

Thanks for all the good tips everybody