I'm thinking of buying a Frontier...

[Great-Kazoo]

The only thing you will get buying a small truck is easier parking. We looked at small trucks, even the sport futility vehicles. When a smaller unit gets the same MPG as our full size trucks, there was no reason to buy a smaller unit.

[Ronin13]

The only thing you will get buying a small truck is easier parking. We looked at small trucks, even the sport futility vehicles. When a smaller unit gets the same MPG as our full size trucks, there was no reason to buy a smaller unit.

This is one of the primary reasons, I really have no use for a full size (otherwise I'd be going with a Ram), and moving into the city soon, parking is kind of a pain at my GF's with my family's '05 Ram 1500 I use from time to time. Plus from reading comparisons between the Tacoma and the Frontier (since they discontinued the Dakota), the Frontier's V6 has a little more balls than the Tacoma. To top it off, I really like the look of the Nissan, personally.

And Ray, dammit, my friends are all much larger than a 12 year old... Guess I won't be DD very often...
ETA:

...

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for, a no BS "I own one" response. That just helped, and I agree, the Tacoma is waay too expensive for the year/model... I comparatively looked at the '08-newer Tacoma, and sorry, if I can buy an '05 Tacoma for the same price as an '11 Ram 1500 with bells and whistles, that says the Tacoma is too much. Plus I've heard the same things you have with the Tacoma vs Frontier. My GF has a '13 Rogue, she loves it with the exception for the no-power 4-cyl engine, other than that, she swears that Nissan has their shit together when it comes to quality vehicles. I have exclusively been looking at the Pro-4x model, and like what I've read and heard about them. Parking still being a hassle, is just maneuvering or is it size as well? My main gripe is that our Ram is just too wide for several places, mostly parking garages, and my GF's apartment complex, I'm not really worried about length and turning radius as much as I am about overall width.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm just not sure I want to get into a V8 again, maintenance on some of them can get costly from what I've experienced.

[sic_semper_tyrannis]

she swears that Nissan has their shit together when it comes to quality vehicles. I have exclusively been looking at the Pro-4x model, and like what I've read and heard about them. Parking still being a hassle, is just maneuvering or is it size as well? My main gripe is that our Ram is just too wide for several places, mostly parking garages, and my GF's apartment complex, I'm not really worried about length and turning radius as much as I am about overall width.

I have zero concerns about the long term durability of the Frontier, especially since I treat my vehicles well and do my own oil changes. I can't vouch for the rest of the Nissan lineup, but the Frontier is good to go.

The Pro-4X is the only model I even test-drove, so I can't speak for the ride or handling of the base models. I absolutely love the suspension, and it can handle any normal off-roading that you encounter. I've never done any true rock climbing with it, but it tackles all the shitty forest service roads without a hiccup.

As for parking, the problem is both size and maneuvering. It's a big truck, and doesn't turn well. It fits just fine in a standard size parking space, but maneuvering into the space can be problematic at times. I don't normally have problems in a regular parking lot, but parking garages can be a real hassle. I also gave up completely on trying to parallel park it. It can suck trying to take it downtown and deal with the limited and tight parking. As for width, it is not as wide as a fullsize, but it is much wider than the previous generation or a compact truck, but like I said it will fit in a normal parking space just fine.

[crashdown]

Frontier and Xterra are very similar. My vote would be the Xterra so you have real 4 door seating and the security of having everything enclosed, and get a trailer for when you need a pickup bed.
The Xterra is great on and off road, and I found more pleasant to drive than the Frontier.

[HoneyBadger]

You should see if honeyB still has their nissan, xterra? same frame / chassis. Myself, if storage as a concern i'd lean towards a sealed unit. I store our firearms in the clubcab / back seat of truck, unless it's a to & from range trip. Putting a locker , gun safe in the truch bed defeats the purpose of having a p.u truck. Consider a tool box for storage.

Frontier and Xterra are very similar. My vote would be the Xterra so you have real 4 door seating and the security of having everything enclosed, and get a trailer for when you need a pickup bed.
The Xterra is great on and off road, and I found more pleasant to drive than the Frontier.

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/131099-...5k-miles-on-it!
PM me if you're interested and I'll cut you an even better deal.

[crashdown]

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/131099-...5k-miles-on-it!
PM me if you're interested and I'll cut you an even better deal.

DO IT! Great deal.

[Ronin13]

I've never done any true rock climbing with it, but it tackles all the shitty forest service roads without a hiccup.

I don't anticipate much more than the service roads getting to some of those harder to reach shooting/camping spots. Just went to one last weekend near Fairplay that nearly sheared my friend's Corolla rear bumper off. I don't really do the rock crawling thing.

2008 Nissan Frontier Nismo (essentially a Pro4x) with 75k miles on the clock checking in.

Pros:

Great value for the money
Decent interior room
16-17mpg in town, up to 23 on the highway
great offroad for a stock truck
reliable
good stereo

Cons:
Turning radius sucks
Tacoma owners look down on you.

If you get a good deal, buy it.

I keep hearing the con being the turning radius, I'll test drive one in the coming weeks and see for myself just how bad it is. And I'm not really worried about what Taco drivers think of me, just read another review from a guy who owned an '09 Tacoma and got offered a deal on a '13 Frontier, said the Frontier was a way more powerful engine, and a much smoother ride.

[blacklabel]

I don't anticipate much more than the service roads getting to some of those harder to reach shooting/camping spots. Just went to one last weekend near Fairplay that nearly sheared my friend's Corolla rear bumper off. I don't really do the rock crawling thing.

I keep hearing the con being the turning radius, I'll test drive one in the coming weeks and see for myself just how bad it is. And I'm not really worried about what Taco drivers think of me, just read another review from a guy who owned an '09 Tacoma and got offered a deal on a '13 Frontier, said the Frontier was a way more powerful engine, and a much smoother ride.

Mine has developed a lot of creaks and groans after beating on it offroad, bent frame, a couple accidents. 260+hp V6 definitely gets it done on the interstate and around town.

[HoneyBadger]

DO IT! Great deal.

[sportbikeco]

If buying used get the Nissan. (Get a better deal as it depreciated more)

If buying new buy the Toyota (crazy high resale value)