Fontier v. Xterra ? (2002-2004 Gens)

[Expedition.Report]

Hey guys!

I am on my last few months on a trip around Australia and starting to make some plans for the future, well atleast create a list of possibilities.

To start off I have only owned two makes of vehicles in my life, Dodge & Nissan. Although the Dodge I owned didn't have any breakdowns (surprisingly) I was never impressed with the truck and don't think i will be buying one any time soon. That said I previously owned an Xterra for 4 years and abosolutly loved it!

It was a 2000 3.3L 4x4 XE and when I sold it was only at 190,000km's. I put on a 2'' BL and installed the Calmini PML, ran 32X11.5X15 BFG A/T's with a full sized spare on a rear bumper built by my father and I and a few other accessories such as lighting and the like.

I was very impressed with this set up, and the only exception would be adding a few more items to the parts list, like front bumper, skids & winch, I would do it all over again.

With the above set up I was able to go everywhere that interested me, but the major draw back was during hunting season, without a trailer (don't have) the game would have to be lifted onto the roofrack, which I am sure you can understand to not be such an easy task.

My question is, why is the Xterra so much more popular then the Frontier? they have the same suspention geometry, same engine, trans, diffs. They share a large number of the same bady parts even... so what am I missing?

I will be back home sometime in the month of Oct and I will be needing to buy a new rig, so with some free time I have been looking around at whats available and I have started to look seriously at a 2002-2004 Frontier Club Cab long box (just not that tiny short one) and would prefer an Auto S/C model.... Again is there something that I am missing?

Some other pro's that I can add to this list is that Nissan sells this rig all around the world, under different names in some of the countries, but if I was to take this on a long trans continental trip I would have better parts support then ....say....the Tacoma which is sold as a North America model only...

The other thing is the possibility to swap out the petrol motor for one of the diesel motors that Nissan sells outside of North America....

To give an idea of my intended use I plan to one day do a transcontinental trip, when that will happen I am not sure, if I am to do that in an Xterra I am limited to a RTT or a trailer set up, with the Frontier it opens up the option of a popup camper as well as the two previous options of the Xterra. As a hunting truck it is far more capable for loading game and the size of the game as well.

A major draw back of the Frontier over the X is that it would have a longer wheel base.


Again what am I missing hahaha it seems far to simple to me,:elkgrin:

Sorry for the long post/rant just sitting in the Australian sun dreamin' about the next build and got a bit carried away lol.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys have to say about the two.

Oh and p.s. the X is still an option, I just already know what to expect with it.... and what ever I end up with would end up getting locked as well.

Cheers,

Mike:sombrero:

 

[mortonm]

I have an Xterra, its a 2001.

I think generally it comes down to what people need or think they need.

For a lot of people the all enclosed area is really nice, and it also provides a larger back seat for families etc (although I am not sure if the crew cab frontier is the same size back seat as an Xterra?)

some people just need to haul dirty ****, or bulky items and the pickup truck is a better platform.

There maybe some on here who have had both and can balance once vs the other. Good choices regardless, enjoy the rest of Australia!

see below for my vote

 

[Expedition.Report]

Thanks for the reply mortonm!

I think the club cab have very similar seating, however I hear that the roof is a bit lower since it doesn't have the "hump" that the X does...

Good lookin X btw, if I ever end up making a cross Canada trip might have to track you down! Plan is to move back to AB or BC when I return!

 

[sasfrontier]

Crew cab Frontier has enough room for 2 car seats in the rear or young children but that is the limitation. Young teens and adults will not fit comfortably in the back. I took the seats our of the rear of my crew cab and have installed a flat floor level with the top of the drivetrain hump, it has doors in it to access the space underneath it for things like recovery gear and other small items that should stay dry. Then i can load both my dogs in the back of the cab and they have plenty of room or i can throw grocerys or whatever back there. For me I am not a an of the crew cab long bed, the turning radius is even worse than the short bed, If needing a long bed i would see if a king cab will work for you, they are still quite roomy but no one will sit back there comfortably for more than a few miles.

 

[Slicky72]

I don't know about where you are but I ended p with an Xterra because they were cheaper than the Frontier

 

[drbandkgb]

Yes Xterras are cheaper vs Frontiers... and they are basically the same

Fronty has a open air bed... Xterra Doesn't..

Xterra will carry 4 people very nicely.. Fronty.. 50/50

Both have the same under powered 3.3

The Xterra Community seems to be a better group.. a few more forums vs Fronty... Not to say the Fronty guys are bad...
check out www.xterranation.org www.clubxterra.org for the Gen 1s.. and www.clubfrontier.org for the trucks...

Ive owned 2 Xterras and 1 2006 Frontier... Loved both..

 

[Expedition.Report]

I don't know about where you are but I ended p with an Xterra because they were cheaper than the Frontier

Wow your right they are significantly cheaper!? And there is a whole lot more to choose from... Guess I could just buy a trailer to make up for the lack of hauling ability for that price gap...

I can see how the back seats are not as roomy, less head room, and my family is 6' or taller

Turning radius is not something that I had thought about either, would be best to try out a truck and see what it's like

Okay so I might start to see where the differences and advantages come from....


There are two nice ones in Calgary that I wish I could check out now, but I won't be home until around October... Dang

 

[mortonm]

Thanks for the reply mortonm!

I think the club cab have very similar seating, however I hear that the roof is a bit lower since it doesn't have the "hump" that the X does...

Good lookin X btw, if I ever end up making a cross Canada trip might have to track you down! Plan is to move back to AB or BC when I return!

not a problem! not much done to it, just removed the rear sway bar and some new 235 85 R16 BFG ATs. If you are in the area any time for sure hit me up.

One of the things that people have noticed the most when sitting in the back of my Xterra is the stadium seating. That is why the "hump" in the roof line is their. the rear seats sit higher than most normal vehicles, this allows the rear passengers to see out over top of the front row of seats. I have had many compliments on it. I haven't had any passengers in there for a drive longer than a few hours but I haven't had any complaints for lack of space yet either.

one more! (you can never have enough pictures)

 

[The BN Guy]

I have a 2000 Frontier Crew Cab. I originally wanted an Xterra but couldn't afford it. Plus I've been around trucks my whole life and truly enjoy the flexibility of it. If I'm at HD or Lowe's it's easier to simply put it in the back rather than drag a trailer around.

I agree about the back seats. Short trips are no problem but going anywhere further than an hour away could cause some people an issue. Presently not us as our children are seven and two. Perfect for them. Actually on several occasions both ask to take the truck instead of our Chrysler 300! They love Stormy!

I have seen many very well mod'd Xterra's and sometimes think "hmmm, that's sweet but I could do some thing like that to my truck too! and simply end up agreeing that I made a great decision with the Frontier.

BTW, don't forget about www.nissanoffroad.net too! We're getting ready to make some cool changes to one of the oldest Nissan forums around.

My biggest piece of advice is to probably stay away from the supercharged versions as you must use premium fuel and that stuff gets expensive!

 

[granitex1]

From the B pillar forward they are the same. I tend to use trailers for everything, one for camping and offroad, and one for running around town to get stuff. The one for around town is big enough to fit sheet goods in, and I can leave stuff in it as I am working, The camping one is great for fire wood, camping equipment,,,, anything and everything that I would want to bring along.

The only real differance between them are big open trunk, or shorter wheel base. They have there own advantages at different times, and there own disadvantages at other times. But you can not say that one is better or worse that the other, it all depends on what you need it to do.

For me the Xterra was a better fit, I needed more interior space and on tight trails around here the shorter wheel base is easier to manuver around trees.

The weight distributation for the Xterra puts a little more weight on the rear axle for driving in snow and mud.

That same difference makes towing with the fronty a little nicer, longer wheel base with less weight on the rear axle makes it tow a little better.

The real nice thing is that you cant make a bad choice between the two.

 

[drbandkgb]

^^^ YEp.. Both are a great pick

 

[Expedition.Report]

My new fear is that if I go with the Fronty and don't like it as much as the X then I will regret it!

That said I can't believe the number of X's in my areas that are forsale at what I consider to be a reasonable price compaired to Frontiers.... There is just no comparison

There is even a 2004 with a 3" lift shrock up front and some 33's that I would be going to look at if I was back in Canada right now... It would need a new baja rack up top cuz its missing the OEM one.... But other then that it looks great..

Well I guess I need to test drive the Frontier and then I will know..

 

[drbandkgb]

Oh yeah.. Im not sure why a 2000 Fronty will go for 6-10k vs the same year Xterra for 3-5k