I am now worried that I was too negative.

The recalls are not a huge deal - something to do with the gas cap, and
new door latches. Mostly they are just irritating. This is not a
completely new vehicle, so I would have thought these sort of things
would have been sorted out in the first model year. The fact that the
Frontier was a second year model was an advantage in my mind. I've had
plenty of experiences with first year models from other manufacturers,
and was looking forward to a more mature design. I guess I was
expecting too much.

I left out some of the good stuff. The electronic limited slip works
really well on mud. The bed height is perfect for my use. The size of
the pick-up box is well matched to the load carrying capacity. The head
lights are good. The controls are good. The brakes are good. I really
like the tires that came on the truck. The 4x4 system works well. The
truck is reasonably quiet on the highway. The tow hitch works well. I
have not had any problems related to the drivetrain.

The oil filter location is a big pet peeve becasue I like to change my
own oil. The cabin squeak is irritating, but I am hoping the dealer can
fix it when I take the truck in to get the recall repairs done (this
week). I am not sure what can be done about the seats. I am a big guy
and the seat shape is poorly matched to my butt. They look great and
feel great at first, but after an hour in the truck, my butt is sore.
The seats look like something that should be in a 350Z, not a truck. I
don't really understand the plastic. It has that soft touch sort of
feel like some laptops, but apparently it has a soft touch for dust
too. I had no problem wiping dust off the dash of my old Ford. For this
Nissan, the dust just seems to cling like glue to some of the plastic
(but not all of it - it is weird). The engine is very powerful, but
very peaky. If you are willing to floor the accelerator, the truck will
go like a scalded cat. However, I really preferred the low down grunt
of the six cylinder in my old F150. If the Frontier got a lot better
gas mileage, I'd be OK with the lack of low end torque, but the gas
mileage is only a little better than my old F150. The F150 was over 700
lbs heavier and larger (more air resistance), yet got within a couple
of mpg of the same mileage under similar conditions (15 vs 17). Oh
yeah, I forgot to mention the steering - the feel is good, but the
truck is sensitive on the highway and it has the turning radius of an
aircraft carrier. I could wheel the old F150 (a SWB model) into parking
spaces with ease. I often find myself needing to have to back up to
line the Frontier up with a parking space. However, I had this exact
same complaint with the Tundra, the Tacoma, and the Colorado I test
drove. I expect a large turning radii with LWB F250's, not with light
duty trucks. My Expedition can easily turn inside the Frontier. I wish
I had test driven a late model F150 for comparison purposes, but
frankly, I hate the new F150s and wouldn't even consider them (although
I could have bought one for less than the Frontier).

Ed

I doubt you'll be able to buy a one or two year old diesel truck for as
little as the real selling price of a new Frontier.  Diesels are in high
demand due to fuel cost and they are all on the heavier duty chassis.

The Fronty is a nice little truck, IMO.  I have a Titan and love it and the
300+ HP engine.  Of course all that HP burns fuel but I love the power.

Butch

I purchased my Nissan Frontier SE in May. I've been averaging 22mpg since I
bought it. I have the two wheel drive version with the 6-speed manual six
cylinder. It rides rough and the steering is very touchy. I would suggest
you take an extended test drive in the truck over varying roads at different
speeds. The truck has plenty of power. I do agree about the seats. They
aren't the most comfortable especially for such a stiff riding vehicle. I
will tolerate these minor annoyances until my wife's vehicle is paid for,
then I will probably go back to a larger more refined riding truck. Gas
mileage was an influence in my choice of this truck. But www.fueleconomy.gov 
shows that the 4WD version gets considerably less than the 2WD version, if
that is what you're looking at. This is a very informative site about real
world fuel economy.
I'm pleased with the overall quality of the truck, it's just a little too
rough riding for my taste. I wish I had taken a considerably longer test
drive, especially on rough roads. I would have probably kept my 96
Silverado.

Thanks!  And I really mean that, No sarcasm intended.  I am sorry that you
seem to be having so much trouble with the truck but it is refreshing to get
a dose of reality injected into the lust of car/truck purchasing.  I still
am considering the truck but now the real use of the truck will make more
sense to me as I inspect it.  This makes the Dakota look a little more
reasonable but I don't like the sharp lines of the body work.  (A personal
preference thing).  And if I am going to get this kind of mileage maybe even
a one or two year old diesel may better serve me, for the price.

Mark

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