Getting started looking for a truck

Just looked at a 2014 Nissan Frontier and a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab side by side. I can't see any real difference in leg room. The Ram was a bit wider though. Don't think the ram was the largest cab they have though. And the Frontier had enough leg room for my daughter in the back. Didn't have time to test drive or get serious about it but might head back in the next day or two. Only complaint about he Frontier was the bed is pretty short, but it also has the fold out gate to use the tailgate for space.
 
I've always been a Toyota guy. I have a 12 Tundra with almost 180k miles on it with no issues. Wife has a 2010 Sequoia with almost 100k and no issues. Had a 2006 Tacoma I put 200k on and only did routine maintenance and U-joints. I know the guy that has my old truck and it has over 300k now and still going strong.

My twins are starting drivers ed and will be driving in the next year. I'll probably go back to a Tacoma and pass the Tundra down to my son.
 
Frontiers are good trucks. Mine's been good to me since day one & I have no plans on replacing it.
 
Frontiers are good trucks. Mine's been good to me since day one & I have no plans on replacing it.

Barring something unforeseen we will likely buy that one tomorrow. We have dug around and really can't find a lot of complaints, particularly with the 2014. 2 recalls, neither of which effect this particular truck based on production date. Only 7 TSB's. Most of those are before the production date so may have been addressed since this is a later half of 2014 truck. It's got 25,175 miles and under 36 months so the warranty is still good for a couple months, plus the 60K mile powertrain. Price wise it's just a touch high based on car guru. But the dealership owner is a holster customer of mine and I'm going to talk to him tomorrow. If I can bring them down a bit I'll be thrilled.
 
The cost of a vehicle is not what you pay for it, it's the value that it loses while you own it. Buying a more expensive, even a brand new truck can be cheaper than buying an older truck that's depreciating faster. Like the OP said, Tacomas hold their value extremely well. I keep a truck for ten years or more, so I can buy a Tacoma new, and the new car depreciation curve is spread out over enough years that it doesn't justify buying used.
 
But a good, used truck has taken a depreciation hit on somebody else's wallet. I just don't look a vehicles as assets. They are expenses. What I can get for them when done with them is a bonus, but not something I figure into my buying. Mainly because I also don't jump from car to car. We have had our cars 12 and 13 years respectively, both paid for.
 
All I can tell you is that I've got a 2003 F150 Supercrew 4x4 with the 5.4 triton engine and automatic transmission. I bought it with 28 miles on the odometer and it now has 340,000+ on it. It's been serviced regularly and I run premium gas. I've replaced the coil packs and ball joints, but that's it other than maintenance. This truck looks a little rough now, but it still runs great. I've had lots of trucks in my life, but this one is the best I've ever owned.
 
Chevy, GMC, or Toyota. I am a auto technician with 29 years of experience and those are the only 3 I will buy.​

Friend of mine has a 07 or 08 Chevy with AFM. Carried it to the shop for every oil change, maintenance, etc. Eventually the motor went out. The dealership wanted $6000 for a new motor. He balked as he had carried to them for everything. Begrudgingly he agreed to split the cost. A lot of people had trouble with the Active Fuel Management engines. Seems a lot of those engines were junk. And in keeping with the thread, DON"T BUY A 2001-2006 F250 diesel with 6.0!
 
But a good, used truck has taken a depreciation hit on somebody else's wallet. I just don't look a vehicles as assets. They are expenses. What I can get for them when done with them is a bonus, but not something I figure into my buying. Mainly because I also don't jump from car to car. We have had our cars 12 and 13 years respectively, both paid for.
In general, absolutely, and that's why buying slightly used is usually the best way to go. Since Tacomas are being mentioned, they defy all sense of logic in the used market. They hold value better than anything, similar to wranglers, 4runners, and WRX/STi's. This is why we bought both our WRX and 4Runner brand new and I plan to buy a new Tacoma whenever the 18's come out.

A friend has a 04'ish frontier ext cab manual and is very happy with it, no issues, nothing too special but it keeps on going. Plus they're some of the cheaper trucks out there.
 
Thanks for all the tips. @Don those links were very helpful. One of the main reasons we went back to the Frontier.

He dropped the price about a grand since the tires have a good bit of wear. Apparently they missed the heated seat option. Payments less than expected. Drives great. More power and space than the Tacoma. Here she is.

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Friend of mine has a 07 or 08 Chevy with AFM. Carried it to the shop for every oil change, maintenance, etc. Eventually the motor went out. The dealership wanted $6000 for a new motor. He balked as he had carried to them for everything. Begrudgingly he agreed to split the cost. A lot of people had trouble with the Active Fuel Management engines. Seems a lot of those engines were junk. And in keeping with the thread, DON"T BUY A 2001-2006 F250 diesel with 6.0!
Every manufacturer makes a dud every now and again, but I am talking about what I see come in the shop for repairs the least. I make most of my money off of Fords and Mopars with out question and for the foreign trucks Nissan tops the list in most frequent and expensive repairs. Fact is we see GM's come in but it is usually a small problem that doesn't cost that much to fix unlike the others. I f you have a engine go bad as you mentioned the price for a GM unit is peanuts compared to every one else.
 
Looks like you've found your truck but I wanted to add my .02. I went through the same thing last year and ended up buying a toyota tundra. I drove everything except a Nissan, honestly just because it never crossed my mind. I was pretty well set on a new Silverado until I spoke with 2 mechanic friends, one of whom works at a very large Chevy dealer. They both said to buy Toyota. I kinda blew it of because comfort was my true goal and Silverado always made a nice riding truck. I was on my way back from a job in Statesville and stopped in at the Toyota dealer off I77. I drove a 2017 Tundra Crewmax with Leather interior and fell in love with the seats and the ride. I ended up buying one that night and have been very happy with it so far. I can get 18-19mpg out of it but my wife can only seem to get 16mpg. She drives like a maniac! I think the ford and chevy are both better looking trucks, the dodge I liked less than the Tundra as far as looks but none compared to the ride in the toyota. The seats just kind of fit me right. The back seats are awesome. I have a few friends that are over 300lbs, I'm not far off that mark myself, and they say the back seats are very nice on long drives and a crap ton of room
 
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Nice truck. Yer gonna be enjoying that one for quite some time.

In 106,000 miles my '07 Frontier has needed 2 batteries, 1 set of rear brake pads, 2 sets of front brake pads, a new clutch at 95,000, one power window motor & switch & a right front hub assembly (wheel bearings shot, sealed unit). I drive this truck hard. It runs like a scalded dog with the 6-spd manual & I've backed it into many, many corners. Never let me down & always done what I've asked of it.

Only thing I've done to it is a 45w x 4 JVC head unit & 2 pairs of JBL 6" x 9"s for some tune-age. I'd love to put a Detroit TruTrac in the rear, along with a 2" lift, cat-back exhaust & free flowing air cleaner, but it runs so well that it just hasn't been a priority.
 
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