I traded in my 2018 Tacoma TRD OR for a 2020 Nissan Frontier Pro

The last few weeks I considered the options after my fuel pump fiasco. I liked my Tacoma, but there's some issues that I didn't like. My former truck was a 2018 TRD OR DCSB 4X4 Automatic

The audio system, Toyota really needs to go back to the drawing board because the base audio system was just awful. I did the typical upgrades Focal drop in door speakers and Kicker drop in Subaru dash tweeters. I was still left wanting more, but had zero interest in changing head units, adding wires amps etc.

I've always had a slight diff whine, it seemed like Redline oil made it a little quieter.

The chimes are borderline irritating on this truck. Way too much beeping for my taste. I did have the dealer program the seatbelt one out, but still had to use a seat belt extender to get rid of the startup chime. I wear my seatbelt BTW.

My truck also feel into a VIN sequence that made it likely that the timing covers were going to leak at some point and that the front diff would start making noises. Who knows this could have been a nothing burger over time.

I explored options like buying an extended warranty and adding leather in hopes that i'd just live with the truck.

I also explored buying a second gen, but the one I looked at earlier in the week had damage history in the Carfax. They did a good job repairing it from what I could see and the title was clean. It's just a big unknown of how severe was it.

I also explored the idea of selling my 3rd gen outright and just buying another 1st gen, but clean stock first gens are just hard to find anymore and the prices are crazy.

So this morning I decided to visit my local Nissan dealer who had a left over loaded 2020 Pro Frontier leftover with 11 miles on the odometer. The dealer ran the numbers and I tossed $1200 on the table just to get out of my Tacoma. My Tacoma was paid off and the entire process took less than an hour. I felt that I did ok. I got two years of driving the Tacoma.

I'm fully aware the depreciation is going to be steeper on the Frontier, but to me the trade off is worth it. Yup the interior is not nearly as sexy as the Tacoma, but I gained a sunroof, heated leather seats and a sound system that doesn't sound too bad.

I'm not going to flame people out like other posters that traded out, I felt it was just time to let it go and try something else. I could be behind the wheel of a Tacoma again at some point, but who knows in two years the itch could be a sports car.

 

If you don't like something it makes sense to just sell rather than throw money at it and hope you do.

Frontiers are great, congrats on the new truck!

 

Congrats! Buy whatever you want brother! We’re just here cuz we enjoy the hospitality of one another.... no hard feelings

 

Have a 2016 Frontier Pro 4x. Like it a lot. Your truck is basically the same except for the new engine and transmission. Hope you enjoy it.

 

I have an xterra, even the old Nissan 4.0 feels more powerful than the 3.5 in the tacoma.

Only complaint is the interior of the old frontier/xterra, but I put an apple car play radio in to update mine.

 

First of all, how dare you.
Just kidding Different stokes for different folks out there. If you dont like something, change it. My old Chief has a Frontier and loves the thing. Hopefully she serves you well.

 

I would have waited for the new 2021, which I think look pretty damn good

 

Good for you man! I had a 2011 frontier that I loved. Enjoy it!

 

Congrats OP and enjoy. Frontiers are excellent trucks.

Had I known about the differential howl before I bought my truck, I would have gotten a '19 Frontier instead. I was on the fence at the time between the two.

 

What VINs are you aware of that are prone to leaky timing cover?

 

@You Suck I Suck More
It may be in here if I remember correctly
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/timing-cover-leaking-oil.484372/

 

@Itchyfeet you should have waited for the 2022!

Now you get to party like it's 2005. At least you have the new drive train, so there's that. No horrid CVTs or pink milkshake to worry about.

 

I have a 2009 Xterra that has become my Daily Driver so I can keep some miles off the Tacoma since its getting close to 225,000 miles.