Nissan NV3500

[Egon]

More comes into play when buying a truck other than HP numbers/QUOTE]

Surely true: transmission ratios, differential ratios, torque curves, HP curves, tire size and ?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Very true. Its all about how it puts the power to the ground and how the entire package works.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

If you read any of my post on my Titan the MPG is the sore point. Thats where it ends. I have averaged 14.3mpg tank to tank with 33" mud tires, 2" lift, and 4.10 gears. It is what it is. Most of my F-150's got right at 15.5mpg average tank to tank. My Dodge Hemi was 12mpg. So its right in the middle.

As for towing its right at 9mpg pulling 9,700# which I did over 5,000 miles last summer though out Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, and into West VA. It was around 11mpg the summer before pulling 7,000#. When I tow about 1/2 the time we are running in groups of 6-10 guys with trucks of all different brands pulling similar sized boats. I can plain stomp all over most everything gas when pulling hills. Accelerating off a interstate on ramp we leave the one guy with a GMC 5.3L 3.42 geared truck a 1/4 mile behind pulling 2,000# less than the rest of us. My friend Scott with a Tundra is the only one that can keep with me on the hills, this includes the Ford guys in 5.4L trucks. After driving my dads 2011 F-150 3.5L Eco Boost it would do just as well or better.

More comes into play when buying a truck other than HP numbers. Thats for sales men and the blind customers. Look at fit and finish, interior, features like a real electronic locking diff, creature comforts, ect.

Chris

I looked at nearly 100 different items between the 2, actually parked them side by side and analyzed for over an hour before making a decision. Just a few of the breakdowns for you:
1. Fit/Finish- about equal, Titan a little dated
2. Interior- Chevy more comfortable, they usually are over most brands
3. Locking Diff- Titan wins hand down, really stout rear end set up.
4. Creature comforts- Chevy here, really like the bluetooth and onstar, also driver info center, the Titan I looked at for $1500 more had none of this
5. Power/Acceleration/Brakes- I was only able to drive both empty, not a huge difference as their hp numbers are the same. There is a decent gap in tourque with the edge going to the Titan, but I did not want to give up 3-4 mpgs for 40 ft/lb or so of torque. I normally tow 7k lbs or less about 3-4 times a year.
6. Exterior looks- both nice looking, could have went either way
7. Warranty- Chevy (5/100,000)
8. Price/Financing- Chevy (I took the 0% for 48 months and no payments for 3 mo, nissan offered a small rebate)

The list could go further but I think you get the point. I do not shop blind, took over a month and a side by side comparison to decide, and ultimately went with what I felt was the best truck with the best deal. I traded a nice 06 F250 6.0 4x4 Lariat for it simply b/c I did not need that much truck or maint expense any longer.

 

[deerefan]

If you read any of my post on my Titan the MPG is the sore point. Thats where it ends. I have averaged 14.3mpg tank to tank with 33" mud tires, 2" lift, and 4.10 gears. It is what it is. Most of my F-150's got right at 15.5mpg average tank to tank. My Dodge Hemi was 12mpg. So its right in the middle.

As for towing its right at 9mpg pulling 9,700# which I did over 5,000 miles last summer though out Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, and into West VA. It was around 11mpg the summer before pulling 7,000#. When I tow about 1/2 the time we are running in groups of 6-10 guys with trucks of all different brands pulling similar sized boats. I can plain stomp all over most everything gas when pulling hills. Accelerating off a interstate on ramp we leave the one guy with a GMC 5.3L 3.42 geared truck a 1/4 mile behind pulling 2,000# less than the rest of us. My friend Scott with a Tundra is the only one that can keep with me on the hills, this includes the Ford guys in 5.4L trucks. After driving my dads 2011 F-150 3.5L Eco Boost it would do just as well or better.

More comes into play when buying a truck other than HP numbers. Thats for sales men and the blind customers. Look at fit and finish, interior, features like a real electronic locking diff, creature comforts, ect.

Chris

One more point, I would hope a truck with roughly equal power numbers would leave a comparable truck when there is such a steep ratio difference (4.11 vs 3.42). Also, take into account driving behavior. Maybe you are leaving him behind because he is not as aggressive. It is never a race when I tow, just a matter of getting the load there safely.

 

[77bronco]

I looked at nearly 100 different items between the 2, actually parked them side by side and analyzed for over an hour before making a decision. Just a few of the breakdowns for you:
1. Fit/Finish- about equal, Titan a little dated
2. Interior- Chevy more comfortable, they usually are over most brands
3. Locking Diff- Titan wins hand down, really stout rear end set up.
4. Creature comforts- Chevy here, really like the bluetooth and onstar, also driver info center, the Titan I looked at for $1500 more had none of this
5. Power/Acceleration/Brakes- I was only able to drive both empty, not a huge difference as their hp numbers are the same. There is a decent gap in tourque with the edge going to the Titan, but I did not want to give up 3-4 mpgs for 40 ft/lb or so of torque. I normally tow 7k lbs or less about 3-4 times a year.
6. Exterior looks- both nice looking, could have went either way
7. Warranty- Chevy (5/100,000)
8. Price/Financing- Chevy (I took the 0% for 48 months and no payments for 3 mo, nissan offered a small rebate)

The list could go further but I think you get the point. I do not shop blind, took over a month and a side by side comparison to decide, and ultimately went with what I felt was the best truck with the best deal. I traded a nice 06 F250 6.0 4x4 Lariat for it simply b/c I did not need that much truck or maint expense any longer.

A lot of these points you make don't always matter to commercial buyers, as they are looking for the cheapest vehicle that will do the job.Performance isn't high on the list of "must haves" on a work truck, especially if the person buying it isn't the one driving it every day.
Besides,next to a late model Tundra, that NV is about the ugliest truck in America.

 

[deerefan]

Agreed. I was mainly addressing DPs post. That truck is pretty funny looking.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Agreed. I was mainly addressing DPs post. That truck is pretty funny looking.

I agree its ugly. So is the new Ford Van in the works. Main reason its so ugly is they use very simple build techniques. Flat squared off panels, existing frames and drive lines, ect. Like the last poster said the guys buying them are not the ones driving them so they are looking for value, that it. My neighbor works for the Phone Company and drives a E250. They have everything from Ford Rangers to Dodge Vans. Whatever is cheapest this time around. You would think it would be cheaper to have a common vehicle and stock the parts needed to maintain but they do not do that.

As far as your side by side comparison its all in the guys doing the checking. I brought my neighbors 2007 3500 Dmax over and put it next to my 06 F-350 PowerStroke. There is no comparison, the Ford in my eyes is much much more truck. Only thing the Dmax had going for it was the Allison at that time.

I did the same thing when buying this Nissan. I had a 07 F-150 and compared each brand I looked at at the time. I would not touch a GM so it was never considered but I compared the 07 F-150 to the Titan, Tundra, and Ram. To me they Titan was the only one that was as good.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

I agree its ugly. So is the new Ford Van in the works. Main reason its so ugly is they use very simple build techniques. Flat squared off panels, existing frames and drive lines, ect. Like the last poster said the guys buying them are not the ones driving them so they are looking for value, that it. My neighbor works for the Phone Company and drives a E250. They have everything from Ford Rangers to Dodge Vans. Whatever is cheapest this time around. You would think it would be cheaper to have a common vehicle and stock the parts needed to maintain but they do not do that.

As far as your side by side comparison its all in the guys doing the checking. I brought my neighbors 2007 3500 Dmax over and put it next to my 06 F-350 PowerStroke. There is no comparison, the Ford in my eyes is much much more truck. Only thing the Dmax had going for it was the Allison at that time.

I did the same thing when buying this Nissan. I had a 07 F-150 and compared each brand I looked at at the time. I would not touch a GM so it was never considered but I compared the 07 F-150 to the Titan, Tundra, and Ram. To me they Titan was the only one that was as good.

Chris

I really liked the pro 4x titan and may have leaned to it but they couldnt get right on the price. I have had 2 nissans, both frontiers. Awesome trucks, one an 87, the other a 00. Zero issues with well over 100k on both when sold. In no way am i knocking nissan. They make a great truck. Just did not quite fit my budget.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I really liked the pro 4x titan and may have leaned to it but they couldnt get right on the price. I have had 2 nissans, both frontiers. Awesome trucks, one an 87, the other a 00. Zero issues with well over 100k on both when sold. In now way am i knocking nissan. They make a great truck. Just did not quite fit my budget.

Must have been the time you were buying yours. My 08 was very well priced and loaded to the hilt. Its a Off Road ProX with dealer installed tires, 2" lift, and every option Nissan has.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

Must have been the time you were buying yours. My 08 was very well priced and loaded to the hilt. Its a Off Road ProX with dealer installed tires, 2" lift, and every option Nissan has.

Chris

I bought the chevy Z71 for 26300, the 4x4 titan (not pro 4x) was 27800. Both ext cabs.