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A-OK
Nomad
Posts: 162
Registered: 9-11-2004
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: faded
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Ford Bronco !!
Engine
2.0 liter Ford Duratorq TDCi 16-valve turbodiesel
Horsepower
128 bhp (178 with nitrous oxide boost) @ 4000 rpm
Torque
244 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
Weight
3100 lbs
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Confusing conclusions.......
......from the articles.
However, I must say that the on-highway driving advantages of the Frontier would make me a buyer over the Tacoma. It seemed like the editors also
concluded this.
And why the hell has Toyota still not gone to 4 wheel discs?
I owned a Nissan P/U in the mid 80s and a Toyota P/U in the 90s and I must say that even back then, the difference in ride comfort and noise levels
was immediately noticeable between the two. The Nissan was the clear winner in both cases. Toyotas are the kings of reliability but they are loud and
much less comfortable than the Nissans in the newer ones I've driven. And, at least according to Consumer Reports, the differences in reliability
aren't statistically significant.
I would certainly consider the Frontier if I was going Tonka.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Just test drive the two for yourself... then figure in all the Baja people who have Toyota trucks and all those with Nissan trucks (are their any?),
and weigh them all.
I had no special opinion of Toyota before owning one... in fact, I went to Ford first for my new truck... They wouldn't take my POS Chryslar-Plymoth
Grand Voyager van as a trade in... Toyota Carlsbad made it all happen very painlessly... so, 5 years later and after perfect Baja proven 136,000
miles, I stayed with Toyota. Neal Johns and others from Amigos de Baja strongly suggested somebody like me should get the Tacoma... Now, I have joined
their ranks!
Oh, by the way... yesterday I had my 15,000 mile service performed (4 months old)... and that whistle/ squeel I had occaisionally coming from the
front right brake at Hwy. speed is gone. Seems that a small metal plate was bent... Otherwise no problems... and my truck is so quiet on the road that
I actually heard that whistle... Maybe they were noisey years ago. This truck is even quieter and nicer riding than my 2001 Tacoma... and more
powerful, even though it is a bigger truck and now a four door model... still gets 16-20 mpg.
[Edited on 1-5-2006 by David K]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Years ago, yes...
....but these articles are very recent and the noise level in the Toyotas is still an issue, apparently.
I don't deny that there are many more toyota's going to Baja but all that is saying is that Toyota sells more than Nissan. That's been the case for
awhile but is not indicative of a superior product.
I like empirical evidence like Consumer's Report ratings and the findings of the test drivers and their equipment. Given the data, I would drive BOTH
vehicles before making a choice.
Did you even drive a Nissan before deciding on your new Toyota, Dave?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64859
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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No, I had a friend with a Nissan... and just one look under the hood at all the vacuum tubes all over his engine... and I shuddered... I was Nissan
neutral up till then, and that was a few years ago.. Perhaps they cleaned up that mess since. Heck, I was a big Subaru fan in the late 70's through
the 80's... What a great car as far as quality and ability goes... I am disappointed they stopped making '4WD' (with low range) and are ALL WHEEL
DRIVE only now (no low range)...
Hook, I respect Neal Johns' opinions and he was right on the mark with his Tacoma recommendation. But, he wasn't the only one... Bajaboy, jeans, and
many more on Amigos were praising their Tacomas... Heck, our own web host Doug (Baja Nomad) has one!
Now, after 5 years of my '01 Tacoma and 136,000+ miles and NO breakdowns or complaints from me, I went back for another... Only a four door for my
growing kids to ride in... and in '05 the Tacomas are totally changed, roomier and larger cargo area... bigger motor, same good milage as my '01...
I only paid for two things that went bad during those 136,000 miles on my '01 (other than normal wear items like brakes and tires)... That was an O2
sensor and the water pump... The water pump had a drip, discovered when they did the routene timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles...
My '05 is 5 months old now, has over 16,000 miles and that is a lot of trips to Baja as you all have seen... In fact, Baja Angel and I are going to El
Rosario tonight (Baja Cactus Motel, naturally) for a weekend retreat, including good food and fun. Anyway, just the occaisional whistle sound from the
front right and the way the ABS brakes work on dirt roads have been my only complaint so far. I am going to tell you the bad and the good as I do not
work for Toyota... I am only reporting what I experienced for your benefit.
Go ahead and buy a Nissan... and then we will learn from your posts if that was a wise choice...
I guess I am just not much of a gambler! I just like the sure thing bet.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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I think a lot of this stuff depends on what you USE your truck for. I certainly would not buy a Toyota truck to haul around a 3,000 pound cabover
camper. I love our superduty F250 4x4 and it has had zero problems since I bought it new in 2001. I just like bigger, stronger, powerful trucks
anyway. 
Bob H
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I think Nissan and Toyota both build solid vehicles. Personally I think some of the Nissans look more like a Tonka toy than a truck, including the
Titan. But thats me and to each his own. As to the noise level they are not that far off. The Toyota was 3 Db higher at 70mph and 3 Db on the long bed
at full throttle. 3 Db is just a perceptable level change and may be do to the tires. I don't know if they've change it but the Toyota transfer case
doesn't have a Neutral for towing. Maybe Nissan doesn't either.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
I think a lot of this stuff depends on what you USE your truck for. I certainly would not buy a Toyota truck to haul around a 3,000 pound cabover
camper. I love our superduty F250 4x4 and it has had zero problems since I bought it new in 2001. I just like bigger, stronger, powerful trucks
anyway.
Bob H |
Agree completely, Bob, but if I made a choice to tow a travel trailer around that weighed 3k or less, I would probably buy a Japanese truck. Probably
a Tundra, as the Titan is still a little too unproven.
But, as you know, I have a Lance right now and believe my combination is the best compromise between economy, offroad ability, towing capacity and a
moderate/spartan amount of living space. It can go anywhere and provide us with a place to sleep, a shower and head and a full kitchen. And I can
still tow a boat, if necessary. There is really no Japanese truck that can do this; the trade-off in camper size is too severe. They can only
accommodate a pop-up type, which also has drawbacks in wind.
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