I own a 2004 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with a V6 2x4. It has auto trans, power windows, locks, etc. etc.

Well I have been browsing the truck market for a month or so and started looking into a Dodge Dakota. I like the Dak and owned one from new 1994 model. It was a great truck, but an illegal U turn by me and a speeding motorist, the dak ended up in the scrap yard.

In the mean time I have owned a Chevy 1500, Dodge 1500 Quad Cab, the Nissan, and a GMC 1500. All were decent trucks but there is just something about Dodge that I love! They seem to actualy put thought into the construction and layout of their veh. My wife owns a Jeep Liberty and we both love it.

Anyway, my dealer, being the nice guy he is, let me drive the 2006 Dak for a few days (I still have it as of now). I am supposed to take it back on Tuesday, so I will have driven it for about 3 1/2 days. I have fallen in love with this truck. The interior of the truck is well built and very comfortable. Unlike my Frontier which is cramped and looks really cheap. The outside is so cool looking on the DAK especially the Inferno Red color. I love that color!!!

The V6 in the Dak versus the V6 in the Frontier, no question the Dak has more power. It accelerates so much better. The Dak doesn't throw you back in the seat or anything, but it has pleny of power to actually pass someone or get into traffic quickly. My Frontier has always felt like it was lagging and struggling to go.

There is tons more room inside the cab and inside the bed on the Dak compared to the Nissan. That is important to me having a wife and 3 kids. The radio in the Dak is actually of a good quality that you can crank it up and feel the base (SLT standard CD player 4 speaker system) whereas the Frontier radio system is weak and mono sounding. No bass whatsoever in the Frontier. In fact, the Frontier radio has 6 speakers (2 of which are tweeters) and 1 of the tweeters is busted so it sounds like crap. The seats in the Dak are very comfortable to ride and drive in (the model I have has the bench seat up front). My Nissan has the Bucket seats but they seem too small for me. I'm not that big of a guy (6'0" 190lbs.) but the Frontier seats are narrow and very uncomfortable to ride in for any length of time. Also the Frontier seats ride low. Meaning your legs are more out-stretched versus actually being in a seated position with bended knees in the Dakota. The seat in the Nissan's are not much over floor level it seems. The rear seat on the Dak is much more roomy versus that on the Frontier. A grown person can actually ride in the Dak. The headrests in the Dak are kinda funny looking but I suppose I could deal with that.

The Frontier has pulled to the right since about a week after I bought it. Minor I know and easily fixed but still annoying.

The steering on the Dak is so responsive compared to the Nissan. You feel like you control every move of the truck. The Nissan steering is more "stiff' whereas the Dak is very responsive and easy to drive.

I haven't had enough time to evaluate the MPG on each, but the Nissan gets about 19 to 21 mpg. According to the Dak on board computer, it stated about 19 to 20 mpg in the 40 miles I have driven it (I did reset it before I started driving it).

The Nissan seems to brake better than the Dak, but if I am not mistaken, the Dak is heavier. But the Dak seems to have a "loose" brake pedal, meaning I have to really press it to make the truck stop. But that may just be me not being used to the braking style used on the Dak.

I have driven the Nissan for a little over 2 years and have just dealt with the uncomfortableness (if that is a word) and the annoyances of the truck. I test drove a Chevy Colorodo (weak) and the Toyota Tacoma and did not like either of them. The Taco seemed cheaply made on the interior and that really turned me off and it doesn't ride as good, in my opinion, compared to the Dak.

I am supposed to go back to my dealer with the Dakota on Tuesday. I hope to try to make a deal on the truck. I really like it. I will change a few things if I get it. Likely I will drop the rear to level the truck out as I did with my 1994 Dakota. I would like to add some different style tail lights. Add a custom grill and remove the "DAKOTA" from the tailgate. Tint the front door windows and rear glass (only the two rear door windows are tinted now). But those are all very minor, failry inexpensive mods to do. I will likely add a cold air intake and maybe another 1 or 2 performance mods but nothing major.

All in all out of all the vehicles I have driven, this truck is by far the best for me (except the Charger I drove the other day ) But I just cannot practically use a car....I just wanted to "test drive" the Charger for fun. lol. I actually looked past the Dak several times because at first it looked funny to me with it's big front bumper but it grows on you quite well. I actually like the way the truck looks. It drives good, rides good, and has plenty of amenities for the price (especially with the $4000 off!!!). It is a great truck. Hopefully I will join some of you as an owner in a few days.

These are just my opinions of what I experienced. My comparison is based on a 2002 Frontier V6 4x2 vs 2006 Dakota V6 4x2. The newer model Nissan's may have a more powerful engine, I have not driven (or looked at them) so I can't comment on the newer versions. 1 Nissan was enough for me. That was my milage, yours may vary

Thanks

matt
Warren, AR

 

I am not a fan of the frontier but in order to have a fair comarison you probably should compare it to a 06. The V6s in the new trucks in other makes have come along way. However the quad cab dak is a pretty nice truck. I have a QC, I dont have kids but it is great to let the dog and passengers in. I have never herd any complaints from people in the back, matter of fact they say it feels pretty roomy. I also have the leather which is more comfy than the cloth I think. I think the QC is pretty nice with the flip up seats. Honestly I never really had a problem with the head rests in the back, I just dont notice them. Since I often have passengers I refuse to remove them as it would be a safety issue if I were rear-ended. IMO I would suggest the v8 I do a fair amount of towing, I never had a V6 truck so all the V6 guys can chime in with their opinions. Check into all the problems the dak is having for some members, I however think I got a good one with no problems except for a freak jump out of park on the boat ramp and it rolled a few feet before it caught again. (learned to use my ebrake on the ramp). I've poked around on the other truck boards and I dont believe the Dak has any more problems that the other trucks. For some it seams dodge is working of some of the problems, I think it seems to be more of a dealer issue than anything, so If you have a good dealer sounds like you wont have any problems in the event you have an issue.

Sounds like you made your decision...enjoy the truck!

 

I chose the V6 because I don't haul/tow anything. Very seldom do I haul anything. The V6 has plenty of power versus the V8 Magnum (as it's only 20HP more according to specs). The torque may be slightly better, but I think for my uses the V6 will suit me fine. I would assume the V8 would use more gas and is why I like the V6. But I could be wrong.

Thanks for the reply.

matt

 

Actually, you would use the same amount with the V8 QC as you would the V6 QC. The QC is 6010 lbs and is a lot for the V6 to pull. I've had my QC since 2005 and I love the V8, even though I think it's a bit under powered. If I were you, I would consider the V8. Take a test drive in one before you buy the V6, I bet you that you'll like the V8 and want to buy it.

 

There is no pickup truck that weights 6k curb weight. Not even the Ram 3500. The heaviest Dak is the QC V8 TRX4 that is about 4,700 lbs curb weight. The V6 according to EPA gets just 1 MPG better than the 4.7 235hp engine. The 4.7 would be a better choice in most cases. No matter all three engines are under powered by today’s standards. The 06 Frontier V6 is rated around 265 hp and that is 5 hp more than the Daks 4.7 HO using recommended middle grade fuel. The Dak should be the badest most powerful midsize truck available. It could be but just is not. Looking at the big picture a mid size truck with a V8 sounds like it would eat all the others for lunch but just can't do so. In reality Dodge short changed the Dak Gen 3 line in a lot of ways. I see the line being revamped sooner than other generations by necessity.

 

i really enjoy my dak. just hit 26000 miles. never been back to the dealer for any problems and just changed my plugs at 25000 miles. best deal was the 206 cams and the piggy back chip. before my install average miles were 22/23 on the highway and 18/19 around town 370 miles to a tank of gas, now with the cams things are a little different, went down to 350/355 miles on a tank 19/20 miles on the highway and around town things are the same. but all that extra horses is worth it.

 

Welcome safety,I love my 05 Dakota Club Cab.

 

And I'm looking at going the other way from you. From a dakota to a frontier. No crew cab (I need at least a 6' bed). Plus getting a manual tranny is easier with a frontier than dodge.

 

You'd also be wrong. The 4wd 5.7L Mega Cab Ram 1500 weighs over 6500lbs at weigh in. That's not even the diesel model. Most diesel pickup trucks average around 7k...and some have weighed as high as 8k. Please feel free to argue that, but I'll simply bring the mods from the diesel section over to prove it.

The V8 Dakota QC weighs in close to the 5k mark...

The V8 in the Dakota is the best choice, as your gas mileage isnt going to be much better over the long term anyhow. In fact, you wont see enough difference to warrant the V6....and more to the point....the V8 gives you better resale value and more low end power.

I've owned both a V6 (2000 Sport RC) and a V8 (2001 Motorsports Edition CC). The V8 got very comparable gas mileage in city...and it wasnt too far off the V6 on the highway either.

Here's the big thing, the V6 will only be an advantage if your 4wd V6...as it will have the ability to use 4wd at times. Otherwise, if your going to be strictly RWD...I recommend the V8.

I'm not a huge fan of the new Dakotas styling, but I think the Dakota is the best mid-size truck you can buy....and to be honest....I'd seriously consider it over some of the full-size trucks as well.

 

I'm sorry, my truck says on the inside of the door on the left side that it has a curb weight of 6010. No unless it's talking about what it will tow, then I'm sticking with the fact that it weighs 6010 lbs. At the same time, I could be wrong.