ok guys. Looking to buy an '05 or newer fronty. Just need something that I can haul in a bed with. Anything you know about that I should look for in flaws or stay clear from in those 2nd gens? I want the 4-door nismo off road package. I know I can look on clubfrontier but you guys seem a lot more knowlgeable sometimes. Thanks for the input.

I can't offer much input other than several members of the NOAS have picked up new fronty's and each of them are really liking theirs with no complaints. I would definitely do a little research on the Nismo package versus a standard 4x4 package though. My buddy says that he's heard some negative feedback on Nismo but I've yet to find any myself.

are you leaving us :(

I miss having a pickup bed sometimes but using a flatbed trailer for anything I can't fit inside or on top usually works out for the better. I think you'll be fine with 2nd gen. You might also want to check out the 2005 Tacoma, I liked the one I took out when looking but hated the price being the same as most 1/2-tons.

no way am I leaving! I love this forum. You guys will just have to put up with me talking about how I used to own an x and now my frontier!

wait wait, you're trading in the X?

Keep the X and get a trailer.. Its the best of both worlds!!

Generally everyone seems to love the second gens that has them. The two issues I know of are the front and rear diffs are weak. However it seems to be a kind of random thing, some are swearing at them and some are swearing by them. "Weak" of course could be relative as the 4.0 puts out quite a bit of power. It seems to be the Dana rear diffs with the locker that seem worse. Unfortunately there is not much in the way of aftermarket. There are some good threads on www.thenewX.org.
AFAIK the only difference between the Xterra and Frontier in this respect is the the Frontier is spring over.

BTW when test driving one be aware that right at about 40 mph on a and between a light and a lightly trailing throttle there can be an annoying clunk. It seems to be a normal "feature".

your ditchin the X for a fronty???

yeah. its a really hard decision. i love my x more than anything. but i just keep finding myself in more situations where im borrowing my brothers truck (my old frontier) to haul stuff and put stuff in a bed or tow a trailer behind my x full of gear (horrible gas mileage). so I feel im forced to go back to the pickup truck life. I used to have a first gen fronty so I am excited to get back into a new one. but yes, the x is going to have to go :(. unless of course I just cant sell it. then maybe it will be just a dedicated off road vehicle. but i dunno

There are also tales of some clutches taking an early demise if you go for a manual.

oh really? i didnt know that! I heard that ford was eliminating the manual tranny on its dually trucks this upcoming year.

yeah the more i read about the frontys the more people are saying they enjoy the manual, but they think that the auto is the better decision for maintenance reasons. so well see how it goes. thanks for the input guys

actually the manual is a better choice for maintenance reasons... you have less to worry about going wrong....

Agreed but it's parts related to the manual that cause problems. In fact neither transmission itself seems to have any issues.

yeah. its probably a toss up either way i guess. i really want a manual but they are really hard to come by. thanks for the input guys

From what I have heard, I have heard of a few starting problems there but I am not sure if that is 2nd gen. specific.