I have a 1990 Hardbody, 2.4l 4-cyl RWD KingCab with nearly 300,000 kms on it. It has lots of power, gets over 10 km/l (about 24USmpg), can haul my mini-camper AND a 12ft boat over the Coquihalla hy at 80kph and get 9km/l doing it.
But it's OLD! The seatcovers are cracked, you have to lift the door to get it to close, the interior light doesn't work...
Should I assume a newer Frontier would get at least as good fuel economy and have as much power?
In particular, should I get a used (pre 2003, I think...) Frontier, or a new one? I really don't like the looks of the new Frontier, although the XE doesn't look TOO bad... But I'm reading they don't seem to have much power, or get even as good economy as my beatup old clunker (eg payload of 1000lb, vs I think 1500 for mine...)
I'd buy the previous generation Frontier. I consider the new Frontiers (2005+) to have "lost the bubble" as to being a mini truck; they are more like 75% Titans. The V-6 trucks have a lot of power but they typically seem to get, at best, around 20 miles/gallon (based on reports on this forum). I think the 2005+ Frontier has gotten too big for its four cylinder engine.
I get in the mid to high 20's (miles per gallon, I'll let you do the metric conversion) with my 2001 XE 4 cylinder automatic (and this seems about right based on this forum). While I'm very happy with my current truck I'd look either for a used Frontier or elswhere for a replacement vehicle. If you decide to buy the previous generation (up to 2004) I'd stay with the 4 cylinder. It seems to be more robust from a reliability standpoint (e.g. no timing belt, it uses a chain), better gas milage, and not much less horsepower (about 143 versus 170 for the normally aspirated V-6).
I have a 1990 Hardbody, 2.4l 4-cyl RWD KingCab with nearly 300,000 kms on it. It has lots of power, gets over 10 km/l (about 24USmpg), can haul my mini-camper AND a 12ft boat over the Coquihalla hy at 80kph and get 9km/l doing it.
But it's OLD! The seatcovers are cracked, you have to lift the door to get it to close, the interior light doesn't work...
Should I assume a newer Frontier would get at least as good fuel economy and have as much power?
In particular, should I get a used (pre 2003, I think...) Frontier, or a new one? I really don't like the looks of the new Frontier, although the XE doesn't look TOO bad... But I'm reading they don't seem to have much power, or get even as good economy as my beatup old clunker (eg payload of 1000lb, vs I think 1500 for mine...)
I personally like the styling of the '05+ models much better (and I sure wish I had the e-brake handle in the center console; I hate reaching down past my knee to release the e-brake), but to each his own.
I'd say test drive a new one and a 2004 or earlier model and if you don't have a favorite after that, let price be your guide. Sometimes you can get a good deal on a new truck.
Good Luck with the hunt and let us know what you decide.
__________________
Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd My Frontier Page
I'd buy the previous generation Frontier. I consider the new Frontiers (2005+) to have "lost the bubble" as to being a mini truck
Is that the same as "jumping the shark"?
That's what I feel. However, I've been reading some consumer reports on the Frontiers, and, well, they're not kind. One says the "old" Frontier with 4-cyl is basically "unacceptably gutless". Now, I certainly wouldn't describe my truck as "gutless" (OK, it has a K&N filter and 2 1/4" catback, but still...). And a review of the "new" Frontier said "we're finally done with the KE24..." I LIKE that engine!
Am I nuts? Why are the critics so down on the 4-cyl Frontier?
Oh, and as for the "extra room" of the new Frontier: I see it now has front-facing jump seats - I doubt I could have shoehorned in my 6ft 4in friend like I did with the side-facing seats in Rocky...
I dig the old hardbody. It's a cool little truck and looks pretty bitchin on some big tires.
Unless you go out and buy a new one, I wouldnt "upgrade". Just spend a little money and fix up the one youve got. At least you know its history and arent potentially taking over someone else's abortion.
That's what I feel. However, I've been reading some consumer reports on the Frontiers, and, well, they're not kind. One says the "old" Frontier with 4-cyl is basically "unacceptably gutless". Now, I certainly wouldn't describe my truck as "gutless" (OK, it has a K&N filter and 2 1/4" catback, but still...). And a review of the "new" Frontier said "we're finally done with the KE24..." I LIKE that engine!
Am I nuts? Why are the critics so down on the 4-cyl Frontier?
Oh, and as for the "extra room" of the new Frontier: I see it now has front-facing jump seats - I doubt I could have shoehorned in my 6ft 4in friend like I did with the side-facing seats in Rocky...
druid
I'd say "losing the bubble" is similar to "jumping the shark" (I never did get over Rhoda being married way back when).
I would not describe the KA24DE as being "powerful" in the Frontier but it's adequate and reliable. The newer 2.5 engine is only slightly more powerful (154 horsepower versus 143 horsepower for the 2.4) but it is in a bigger truck. I'm not sure that the additional transmission gears make that much difference. It is interesting, though, that the curb weights are essentially the same between 2004 (and prior) and 2005+. I've not seen on this forum that the 2005+ 4 cylinder gets the same gas mileage as the 2004 or earlier.
Relative to the jump seats in either case: Friends don't let friends do jump seats. I buy extended cab trucks because I do not like my head against the rear window and it gives a protected place to put stuff.
Actually, I agree in part with Greg. If the existing problems with your truck are cosmetic or convenience I'd just fix it up. Is something big-time broken that is causing the door to sag or is it a relatively straightforward repair? I would not buy the new one because it has a lot of "improvements" (e.g. throttle by wire, tire pressure sensors) that seem to cause more problems than they are worth.
Steve
Last edited by azrocketman : Jun 9th, 2006 at 07:08 PM.
I dig the old hardbody. It's a cool little truck and looks pretty bitchin on some big tires.
Unless you go out and buy a new one, I wouldnt "upgrade". Just spend a little money and fix up the one youve got. At least you know its history and arent potentially taking over someone else's abortion.
Yeah... that's my Other Option.
Trouble is, there's a LOT of little things wrong (like on any old vehicle). Little dents in the hood. An unknown squeak when I go over a bump turning. Cardboard stuck in one of the vents. Inadequate cabin lights. No intermittent windshield wipers. I'd have to replace the engine and the clutch. And so on....
Also, it's a 1990 with 300,000 kms. If I put Serious Coin into it, I wouldn't get that money back if I sold it.
AND, it's a 1990 with 300,000 kms. So I fix the door, and the interior light, and the dents, and replace the clutch... and the differential goes, or the frame rusts out, or...
I replaced the engine in my boat a while ago, and I realized that I didn't even NOTICE the things wrong with the old engine until I experienced the new one!
So, I think a newer truck is the answer for me. I guess I just have to drive one to see if indeed a newer motor has more power than mine (or at least as much...)
druid
Last edited by druid : Jun 10th, 2006 at 11:23 AM.
I like the looks of the '05 Frontier much better than the industrial look of the '01-'04
Frontiers, but that is just my taste not that of others.
I traded in a 2000 Frontier XE KC to get this truck. The main reason I traded was to get more power. My XE KC did not have enough power to keep my cruise control from down-
shifting if I came to even a slight up grade. It was an a/t and a/c equipped truck
I got about 20 mpg on my XE KC no matter how I loaded it or drove it. I get 18-19 mpg
around town in my LE KC, but I do drive it a lot more fuel conscious than I ever did the XE KC. I actually get better highway mileage on the LE KC than I did on the XE KC. Here
again I drive with the mpg computer showing all of the time and so it makes me more economy conscious.
I would not go back to the XE now. The LE has spoiled me. You need to be very conscious of what model you buy if you are concerned about fuel mileage. The different models have different rear axle ratios and I think the LE KC is among the very best in getting good fuel mileage.
I also have added a true dual exhaust and a hard bed cover that probably helps with my fuel mileage. Plus as a retired person I avoid the rush hour traffic whenever possible. I
also walk to my bank, the cleaners, the grocery store and the hardware store unless I have to handle a heavy load. All of these businesses are within a mile of my home.
If I drove the LE KC like I did the XE KC it probably would not get quite as good a mileage figure.
Linear Mode
