Shopping has begun for a used Frontier

[Pilotamis]

After looking around and trying to read everything and reviewing the budget I've decided to come back to the Frontier. I had a 98 with over 250k on it and she ran flawless. Even after I totaled it hitting a deer she started right back up and I was able to get her home before she seized. I'm looking for 2010-2013 CC LB in an automatic. I've read the LB in a CC is pretty rare. Neither cars.com or autotrader.com have an option for LB so I'm forced to look at pictures and try to differentiate the two. I read somewhere that the gas cap door will not be touching the fender on a LB. So far no luck. Anything I could do to help the search? Is there an easier way besides just looking at the pictures? Most you can't even tell from the first picture, you have to keep scrolling through and try to catch a better side shot.

Thanks!!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Ooh, that's a tough one. The only real way to tell without being able to select LB would be to look at pics. The difference between the LB and SB is very obvious. Best way to tell is by looking in front of the rear fender arch. The SB will have the gap between the box and the cab immediately in front of the rear wheels. The LB will have another foot or so of bed before reaching the cab.

It would be this:



Versus this:

 

[toyotech]

Gas door and rear fender to cab is huge give aways.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[skibum315]

I don't know if either search engine gives the option to filter on wheelbase, though I doubt it ... but that could be another way to differentiate. I know you said neither one has a direct option for LB, but do they have a bed measurement filter? That may be another way in, to get more efficiency on your search.

 

[Pilotamis]

I went out looking today mainly to see what I would get on trade for my 15' JKU and my wife's 07' CX-7. Hit up the largest used dealer in the Buffalo area and managed to find 2 CC LB .... Tacoma's. I know right. No luck with the Frontier. They did have a 2013 CC SV that we took out for a ride. Great acceleration but steered hard, both of which I was expecting. She wasn't happy with the material the seats are made out of as it has small depressions throughout it. She feels it'll be a PITA to clean the kids mess out of them. Overall our impression was good. The radio was featureless and the interior lacked USB power stations/radio connection and a 120v outlet. Both would have to be added to power all of out wonderful gadgets and be able to listen to them. Mechanically I liked how tight ever thing was under the body and besides the rear diff and shock mounts nothing seemed to hang low. The wife and I then test drove one of the Taco's and while we didn't hate it, we didn't love it either. Looking them over the frame was heading South on the '11 and still looked new on the other. After, we were trying to decide why there aren't more Frontier's being built for Overlanding and 4x4'ing in general. Ever sponsored team and loads of general people seem to love the Taco. Is there something I'm missing? Our opinion of the Taco wasn't like "OMG, this is the only thing I would ever take off road". Why does it seem that everyone builds out a Taco while so few do a Frontier?

After we got home I did some more searching and found 2 CC LB Frontiers. One is a 12' and the other a 13' The 13' doesn't even have 15k on it yet and is priced to move but is this weird blue/green. The 12' is actually more money, more miles but is brilliant silver. We'll see what happens. Neither color excites me much.

Thanks for the pictures Wreckdiver. That really made it easy to tell the difference. While I still have to click through each listing I know what to look for now.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

All in all it sounds like you really like the Frontier. It really is a great truck. No, the interior is not the most outfitted in the world, but you get tons of storage and it's built very well. They do feel very solid to drive. Very much truck-like. Nissan made a great decision by tucking everything up between the frame rails, as it makes ground clearance less of a problem. The frame will hit before anything vital. Ask me how I know.

As for why more people choose the Taco over the Frontier, there are a few things better about the Taco. Number one is aftermarket. Everybody makes something for a Tacoma. You name it, somebody already makes it. The front suspension design is also better. The Taco has more travel stock and is easier to get more travel out of. The front suspension on the F-Alpha trucks is a bit limiting. And Toyota has a pedigree for off-road performance. People just kind of associate the swirly T with off-road capable.

 

[NitroExpress]

Curious if you got a Frontier? I've wanted a Toyota truck for decades, and have recently been looking at getting one. The one thing that disappoints about the Tacoma is the price - wow, are they expensive. I just started looking at Frontiers as an option. They, from preliminary searches on Autotrader, seem to be $5k-$7k less money that equivalent Pre-owned Taco's. They seem like they should be quite capable off road.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

I know what you mean. I was looking at Tacomas back many years ago and they had a heck of a premium being a Toyota. Although I deemed that I didn't need a pickup specifically preferred the SUV body and got an Xterra (been over 7 years now), and decided to save my cash for upgrades and make it easier to afford, and easier to afford to repair from off-roading. I was also on a contract job and if things **** the bed, it would be easier to keep, in which things did; took me everything to afford the payments, but I did.