Looking into buying a 2001 Body style Frontier. Tips.

[heywier427]

Hey guys, long time Niconaut, and am looking into buying a 2001 body styled Frontier.

My 720 is still a tough little b****, but i need a small truck for my job, and the 720 not up for the task. Its more rust than truck now I dont even think theres a bed under the plastic liner!

So, comments, questions, concerns. Im open to all opinions. I dont want to pay more than 7k, and i wont be buying till spring next year.

This will be commuting highway 70 miles everyday, then be used for constuction salesman driving around. Probably another 100 miles perday. Is it up to the task? Will an engine with 120+k go for another 150-200k if properly maintained.

Id like it to be 4x4, auto, crew cab, and has to have ac.

Is the 4 cylinder better on gas than the six?

Im a brother of a mechanic, and can do lots of jobs myself, and maintain my own vehicles very well.

Just looking for any hints, tips, recalls, things to look out for, dont buy this because, type of stuff. I can pick out obvious stuff, and i will begin my searching about this truck now. Just wanna hear from the pro's, as i dont know much about this truck.

thanks for any and all help.

tom.

[Rev_D21]

4 is way better than the 6 in MPGs unless it's in a 4wd...then it's just a dog. If you go six make sure if the truck has between 90k-120k miles the timing belt has been done. If it hasn't been done by 130k it's a ticking time bomb. Lot of people trade the truck before doing the timing belt so be on alert for that...it's $1000 if done correctly by a dealer. Also watch for leaky/rusted oil pans and cat converters. Ball joints, centerlinks and tie rod ends are common items on these trucks. Also check for proper operation of the 4wd hubs as some people can't read directions on how to use them properly. Hope that helps!

[heywier427]

thank you very much for the tips.

i do my timing belt twice a year on my 1.8 audi, so im very familiar with tb jobs.

ok so it has to be 4x4, so by "dog" do you mean, its just slow cause of the weight, or will i be consuming more gas than the 6, just to get the thing moving? im only interested in getting "better" gas milage, and no so much acceleration. so will the 4 be better on gas and slower, and the 6 be peppier but less mpg? or will the 6 be better than the 4, just because i wont have to push as hard to get the 4x4 weight going.

leaky, rusty oil pans, got it. Not a major concern, but good to bargan with. if it is rusty/leaking, that "sounds" like an easy fix.

shot cat, and front end looseness, got it. will absolutly drive it in 4wd, and give it a little romping, check.

so nothing more specific? no major flaws like with the toyota frame recall? an electrical gremlin to watch out for? sounds like a typical nissan product...reliable!

thanks.

[Rev_D21]

Replacing the oil pan on a 4wd requires removing the front axle housing because the pan straddles the axle. In regards to the 4 cylinder, when I called it a dog it is overworked trying to move a 4wd truck, it's just underpowered. The 6 can return 21-23MPG if treated properly but will average between 15-17mpg for an entire tank. The saying goes that the Frontier V6 has the power of a 4 cylinder with the thirst of a v8. I still love mine even though it's becoming tougher to swallow the fuel prices these days at $4.10 a gallon. I just can't wait for this election year to be over with. Whether you buy a 4 or a 6 you will enjoy the ride of the Frontier and it should be around for a long time. Nothing too specific with these trucks. The only chronic problem every single one of them have is the knock sensor, they all went bad but it only seems to affect the supercharged trucks, not the N/A trucks.