I'm seriously think about a replacement truck, and now that I'm living in an area where it snows, really want a 4X4.

I have been researching the new F-150, and really like the FX4, but stumbled onto an article about the Nissan Titan, and am really wondering which way to go now!

The Titan with the off-road package has some really nice standard features, plus some options not offered by any other full size truck manufacturer! Most notable is the traction assist four wheel drive! This apparently applies limited braking to the tire with the least traction in order to apply traction to those tires with traction. Also, an electronic locking rear axle! Wow, positraction at the flip of a switch!

MSRP on simularily equiped models are within $2K of each other, so it's really not a matter of price, but with 305 hp, 379 ft lbs of torque, and a long list of standard features, it's going to be a tough decision!

Anyone actually have an opportunity to test drive a new Titan? None of the dealerships in the Indianapolis area have any yet!

 

Best answer you will get, regardless of any comparisons and our opinions: Drive them both and see which YOU like. Even if we tell you one sucks - if it's the one you like, it's the one you should get.

Both are going to be good trucks overall. I did not like the new Titan that I test drove, for numerous small reasons. Again, small reasons -- it will definitely be a decent vehicle if you aren't as scrutinizing as I tend to be.

 

So, what were some of those small reasons? I have not even had a chance to see a new Titan yet, so until some of the local dealerships start getting an inventory, I can only rely on what I read. Do you own a new 2004 F-150? is so, how do they compare as far as ride, comfort, handleing, etc?

 

Things I didn't like about the Titan:

Spray-in bedliner was about 1/16" thick, easily scratched all the way through with a masterlock key.

Plastic compartment in the tail of the bed rattled, good for jumper cables - MAYBE -- not much else.

Interior not as comfortable.

Interior did not feel as wide.

Interior had a general "cheap plastic" feel to it, whereas my F-150 has a more "You can punch it without it breaking" feel.

The engine did feel like it accelerated faster than my F-150, however, I don't race my F-150, it is to commute/haul/tow, so I really couldn't care in that department.

My F-150 has better hauling capacity and towing capacity than a Titan of comparable cost & options.

Ride was smooth, but not as smooth as the F-150.

I don't like the overall look of the Titan... Too much chrome and other junk for me.

I have a better relationship with the local Ford dealer than Nissan...

...and - I got better incentives, x-plan, et cetera in my deal with Ford.

 

wow, for once I agree with vocabulaic. hehe.

bottom line is test drive the hell out of both vehicles. go back multiple times and ask if you can take longer test drives than once around the block. i love my 04 F-150 and I honestly believe it is the best truck available, but that doesn't mean the Titan is a P.O.S. If you have specific questiosn about the 04 we would be happy to answer them. and you can look at pics in my gallery of my new 04 out in the dunes. this truck kicks butt off road and it is still stock.

one word of caution I would consider is that the Titan is a still unproven vehicle. although the 04 F-150 is redesigned (and well i must say) it does have many many years of being the leading truck. we don't know how well Nissan will do with this whole full-sized truck thing. this is big leap from the Frontier or the Xterra. just a word of caution in making your decision.

 

Thanks for the feedback! This isexactly the kinds of things I need to know!

I was curious about the bedliner, I have a line-x liner in my f-150 and love it. I also did not care for the look of the storage compartment on the outside of the bed. It looks like a good spot for road salt to accumilate and start the bed rusting!

The only option I was considering was the off-road package because of the traction assist and the electronic posi-trac rearend. I'll probably go with another line-x bed liner, so that's no big deal. I say in one of the new Pathfinder Armada's at the Nissan dealer, and the sales guy said it was identical to the Titan from the front seats forward. Of course, it was on the showroom floor, and the battery was dead, so I couldn't even adjust the front seat to get a feel for the available leg room!

Once they actually have some available in the dealerships, I may take one and stop by the Ford dealer and do a side by side comparison.

I also agree about the difference in dealerships, the Ford guys do seem more willing to deal! Being new here, I have no established relationships with either, so I don't have that advantage. Back in Georgia would have been different, bouth three different Fords from the dealer ship there, I got great service from them!

Thanks again for your comments, and anyone else who has any hands on with the Titan, please feel free to comment as well!

 

I may not be totally correct(or even close) but it sounds like your options such as traction assist is the same as the limited slip that is avaliable on the F-150s.

 

BrewMaster,

Thanks, and I agree! I've always been a sceptic about first year vehicles (hence my 1999 F-150 vice a 1997). Of course having said that, I probably won't purchase until the new 2005's start hitting the showrooms anyway, so it should give both trucks a good year to prove themselves, or expose any inherent problems! Plus, you always get a better deal on the left overs once the new model year starts hitting the showrooms!

I was really hoping Ford would have changed their minds about the baby power-stroke for the F-150, I had my heart set on one of those! Something about 350+ lbs of torque and 24 mpg out of a full size pick-up really appealed to me!

 

If the "traction assist" is valuable to you, you might want to look to GMC. Their 4wd system has an "autotrac" which transfers power to wheel that have traction, instead of decreasing to those which slip. I had that on a previous truck, and I loved it; especially in snow. It also works at highway speed during heavy rains, and it gives great security. If only Ford would develop a similar system.

 

The Traction Assist that is in the Titan - is the same thing as a regular Limited Slip. The advantage however, is that they have it available in BOTH axles, hereas the F-150 it is only available in the rear.

While having them front & rear is nice, if you do that much off-roading, you would be better off with just a plain rear locker, or front and rear lockers pending how you go and what you do.

 

I'd agree with him. Everyone has their own opinion and it's best that you get your own as well. It's pointless getting something because "other people like it better". Because then it's not your vehicle, it's technically their's

 

The TITAN in by far the most ugly truck ever built!!
If the Pontiac Aztec was a truck they would tie!
I don't care if it has a 400 HP supercharged motor and comes with 35" tires and a lift for free. I would not drive and "pay for" a Truck that looks like that!!
Is it from outer space??
If it is that must be what space junk looks like.
Harsh, I know just my opinion.

 

Ah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I know several people who own Azteks, and while they even admit they are ugly, they also love them for their versitility!

I for one thought the current F-150 (97-03) was ugly when it first came out, but it certainly grew on me, and I like it better than the 04 style at the moment. I'm sure that will change with time as I see more and more of them on the road.

As for the comments about trying and then forming my opinion, I agree, and will do that once there is a Titan available in the local area. In the mean time, I have to rely on what I can read. Unfortunately, most magazine articles and Internet Reviews all talk up the positive, which is why I turn to this forum! As a die hard Ford fan myself, I know I will get a truely critical, biased, one-sided review of a competitors truck! This is what I want, because until I can nit-pick one in person, I have to rely on other's who have already had that opportunity!

Nissan will have a hard sell with me, I've owned or operated 7 Fords in the past 6 years, 3 of them F-150s! So, to get me to switch from a Ford to a Nissan, they will really have to WOW the pants off me with this truck!

I normally purchase at the end of a model year so that I can take advantage of the year end close-outs and incentives, so I proabaly won't buy till next year anyway, so both the redesigned F-150 and the new Titan will have a year to prove themselves, or show their true colors! Time will tell, but regardless, the truck that offeres me the biggest overall value for my money will be the one to earn my business!

Thanks again for all the great comments, and please keep those impressions, opinions, jeers, and sarcasm comeing!

 

Titan is junk.....spend your dollars in this country

 

I read an interisting article about the Titan, the engine is built in TN and the Truck is assembled in KY! The design team built it from initial concept to production proto type in CA! So, is it an american made vehicle? Probably more so than the big three that are manufactured/assembled in Mexico and Canada! It was pretty eye opening to me!