what to do

[sleepyzzz]

hello all. i am replacing my 2001 Frontier XE Extended Cab after having an accident.
the old truck was a four cylinder, five speed transmission, and i had a Century bed cover enclosing the bed.

i averaged 26 mpg and ran the piss out of that poor truck, and it had over 450,000 miles on it.

looking at a new 2010 Frontier SE, and thinking i might want a six cylinder this time with automatic transmission.
the posted hwy miles per gallon is 20. that 7 mile per gallon difference over 50,000 miles traveled (my average per year)
will cost over $2500 per year more with gas at $3.00 per gallon. that averages out to $150 per month more in fuel, over what i am presently spending.

i live in the ozark mountains, and the four cylinder struggles on some hills that i travel each day, where i downshift sometimes as low as third gear to pull them. and after having back surgery, i think that doing away with the clutch, might help my back, not hurt so much at the end of the day.

and then there is the timing belt, and water pump maintenance every 60,000 miles, almost once a year, with the six cylinder engine, and that would get pricey also. where the four bager still uses a chain for timing. and i have never had one fail.

suggestions?????????????? anyone recently gone thru their six cylinder and replaced the timing belt and water pump? how much was the repair?

again,,,,,,,,,,,,,, what to do

[RT22]

One thing, GET A STICK no auto is as tough and they are expensive as hell to rebuild. NO AUTO will last as long as a stick, the clutch will need replacing now and then but much cheaper than one rebuild on an auto. I will never have another auto ever. TOO much power loss and too expensive. I know some will say autos last but I have never seen an auto get really used and last like a manual. Slipping clutches in an auto wear like the clutch in a manual, but a manuals clutch is cheaper and easier to repair than a auto transmission.

[sleepyzzz]

thanks for the reply. sure would love to hear from someone who owns a newer frontier with a six to get an idea of average mpg, and how they like it.

[RT22]

Search for frontier on this site and get the email of some owners and email them. Not all check in that often so they may not see your question.

[Rev_D21]

I shopped Frontiers in 08. I thought I wanted a 2wd 6 speed 4.0L which would have been a fun drive. What bugged me about the new Frontiers, which others love about it, is the size. It's grown some and felt a little too big for me. I prefer the small trucks from before. Another thing is the MPG sucks compared to the old trucks. My 95 averages 25mpg per tank which even the 2wd 5spd 2.5L can't touch. I was shocked to find the frame had changed, no relation to decades of Nissan truck history. It rode nice but I want the suspension I was most familiar with, shortcomings and all. The interior was too hip for me. I am glad I didn't buy one and my decision was echoed by a Nissan tech who has been a A level Nissan tech since the mid 80s. His opinion draws a lot of water with me because he has owned Nissan trucks of every generation since the 80s, multiple HBs and Frontiers. His drive to work is 45 miles one way so he racks up the miles pretty quick. He told me he wouldn't own a new Frontier indicating the 04 he is driving now will be the last Nissan truck he buys. He did say the Cube was a cool car and that he would drive one of those before he drove a new Frontier. I wouldn't be that harsh on the truck myself but I do agree, it's a different breed of truck that has left my traditionalist a** behind in the dust.

[StephenG]

I looked at some frontiers before I got my hardbody, albeit the early ones. I also preferred the smaller body and the simplicity. Less to break, less to fix etc...

If you think the clutch is an issue for your back, by all means get an auto. However, I doubt you'll be happy with the mpg, nor the extra maintenance. Your going to be due for a transmission filter and fluid change every 18 months with your driving.

Hope you find something you like, cant say the frontier is a bad truck. But, like others have expressed, its not the same animal as the HB.