Nissan NV3500

[Diamondpilot]

I agree the 6.2 is a good motor. The 5.3 is also a good motor, just not up to par with others base offerings. The 6.0 was introduced to compete with the 5.4.

Its just that 99 out of 100 GM trucks have the 5.3 paired with crummy gear ratios like 3.42 that leave a lot to br desired.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

I agree the 6.2 is a good motor. The 5.3 is also a good motor, just not up to par with others base offerings. The 6.0 was introduced to compete with the 5.4.

Its just that 99 out of 100 GM trucks have the 5.3 paired with crummy gear ratios like 3.42 that leave a lot to br desired.

Chris

Agreed. The 6.2 is not very common and it seems it is only available in a 1/2 ton denali for north of 40k. I am not a big fan of the 6.0. Serious gas hog. I rode in a yukon denali with the 6.2 and when the pedal was pressed it was rather quick. One thing I would like to see Nissan do is offer more than one V8 engine for the Titan. Maybe the 5.6 and then a 400hp/430tq 6.something. That would be a tough package to accompany the pro 4x package. I was impressed with their rear differential, the ratio and locker.

 

[roadiestar]

All I can say is I bought a Titan after driving 3 new GMC 1500 and 2 2500's. The power difference is real noticeable The Titan pulls at lot better but Gas mileage SUCKS.

Titan has more power......................
Titan seats are more comfertable on long trips
Gas mileage GM wins
Looks can go either way
GM better brakes
Titan better stereo
Ride same
GM better AC
I like the GM inside better
GM has much better traction control
Titan bed is nicer factory coating and hold downs

 

[deerefan]

All I can say is I bought a Titan after driving 3 new GMC 1500 and 2 2500's. The power difference is real noticeable The Titan pulls at lot better but Gas mileage SUCKS.

Titan has more power......................
Titan seats are more comfertable on long trips
Gas mileage GM wins
Looks can go either way
GM better brakes
Titan better stereo
Ride same
GM better AC
I like the GM inside better
GM has much better traction control
Titan bed is nicer factory coating and hold downs

Does it handle the load better or accelerate the load better? I agree, the bed accessories in the titan are awesome.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is my take being a Ford Guy.

Nissan Titan:

Power
Seats
Style
Locker-wash now with the F-150
Bed
Radio
Nav System
Backup Camera
Towing

F-150: (Pre Eco Boost)

Ride
Gas MPG

Chris

 

[jeffsw6]

I agree the 6.2 is a good motor. The 5.3 is also a good motor, just not up to par with others base offerings. The 6.0 was introduced to compete with the 5.4.

Its just that 99 out of 100 GM trucks have the 5.3 paired with crummy gear ratios like 3.42 that leave a lot to br desired.

I have the 5.3 and don't even know or care what my rear end is, whatever is on a 05 1/2 ton Suburban. I do almost nothing but towing with it and I have been very pleased with it. MPG is around 10 with a 6x12 3000# to 5000# box trailer behind it in town, better on the highway. If you are familiar with the hilly part of I-65 south of Louisville, I travel on that several times a year and has no trouble keeping up with the flow of traffic.

The only time I ever wish for taller gears or more torque is when I get out on the hilly parkways in Kentucky, it will spend a lot of time in 2nd gear turning 5K RPM to maintain highway speed up the bigger hills. I just set the cruise control and let it do its thing. I thought the MPG would be terrible doing this but it hasn't been worse than 9 on any trip so far.

With much more weight or a larger frontal area trailer it is not really an appropriate vehicle for serious highway towing, but I am not at all displeased with the 5.3 for my light-duty uses.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thing you guys need to remember about the Titan is that Nissan changed the game. This truck came out in 2003 as a 2004 model year and is basically unchanged. It has features and options that left the big 3 scrambling and some still are trying to catch up.

No one had a real rear end locker factory. Yes, GM had the G80 Mickey Mouse thing.

No one had 317 plus HP or 385 FT TQ in a 1/2 ton. Hemi was only available in 3/4 ton trucks. The reason I bought a 3/4 ton Ram Hemi.

No one had a factory sprayed in bed liner.

No one had the bed rail tie down system and other neat bed options.

No one had big tow number, big tow mirrors, ect on a 1/2 ton.

No one had VDC on a truck. Vehicle Dynamic Control.

Not sure but I think they were the first truck with a nice Nav system and backup camera. Talking a 8" screen in the middle of the dash.

No one had a center shift option.

Ect, ect, ect. So knock them all you want but they were responsible for taking the big 3 and Toyota to the next level.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have the 5.3 and don't even know or care what my rear end is, whatever is on a 05 1/2 ton Suburban. I do almost nothing but towing with it and I have been very pleased with it. MPG is around 10 with a 6x12 3000# to 5000# box trailer behind it in town, better on the highway. If you are familiar with the hilly part of I-65 south of Louisville, I travel on that several times a year and has no trouble keeping up with the flow of traffic.

The only time I ever wish for taller gears or more torque is when I get out on the hilly parkways in Kentucky, it will spend a lot of time in 2nd gear turning 5K RPM to maintain highway speed up the bigger hills. I just set the cruise control and let it do its thing. I thought the MPG would be terrible doing this but it hasn't been worse than 9 on any trip so far.

With much more weight or a larger frontal area trailer it is not really an appropriate vehicle for serious highway towing, but I am not at all displeased with the 5.3 for my light-duty uses.

I know these roads well. Probably make 25 trips a year to Dale Hollow, Lake Cumberland, Knoxville, Lake Norris, ect pulling loads between 7,000# and 16,000#.

There are some serious hills on these roads. Even more so on I75 as compared to I65. Worst part of I65 is the concrete sections near Louisville that will beat you to death.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

I thought California had the market on rough roads.... At all entrances to California, they need to change the signs to "Welcome to California - Caution Rough Roads".

There are some serious hills on these roads. Even more so on I75 as compared to I65. Worst part of I65 is the concrete sections near Louisville that will beat you to death.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

Thing you guys need to remember about the Titan is that Nissan changed the game. This truck came out in 2003 as a 2004 model year and is basically unchanged. It has features and options that left the big 3 scrambling and some still are trying to catch up.

No one had 317 plus HP or 385 FT TQ in a 1/2 ton. Hemi was only available in 3/4 ton trucks. The reason I bought a 3/4 ton Ram Hemi.

Here we go again with more WRONG information, I wonder if anyone actually believes any of the BS you try to sell here.
No one in 2004 had more than 317hp in a 1/2 ton? That's funny because my 2003 RAM 1500 HEMI has 345 HP/375 LB-FT. and is an early 2003 model vs the Titan which is a 2004 model. Plus it doesn't take my engine 5,200 rpms to make that horsepower either. :laughing:
2002 was the year the HEMI was only in the HD trucks, more proof you are making up the RAM you supposedly had.

No one had big tow number, big tow mirrors, ect on a 1/2 ton.

Max tow capacity
Titan: 9,400 lbs
F-150: 9,500 lbs
RAM 1500: 9,150 lbs
GM 1500: 9,100 lbs

Your right, no one was anywhere near that BIG tow number. Wonder why everyone is over 10k lbs now and the Titan is still unchanged.

No one had VDC on a truck. Vehicle Dynamic Control.

4wd and 4 wheel ABS is all my trucks got and all it needs. Apparently those really cool oversized "off-road" tires don't do so good in the slippery stuff so they need a computer to make sure you don't slip. :laughing:

No one had a center shift option.

No center shift for me but I have seating for six adults, try fitting 5 of your buddies in that Titan and tell me how wonderful that center shift is.

I liked the bed storage at the time until I actually used it, it never latched properly and half the time we would get to a site and see the door open with our tools somewhere along the highway. Also, the great "tie-down" system bent like a pretzel with anything heavier than a cardboard box. RAM's "Rambox" is ten times better. As far as the bed liner, that factory liner was OK but every truck dealer I went to gave me the option of a Rhino, Line-X or other local liner company for free with the truck purchase. I like that option better, 7 years and 120k miles later my Xtreme bed liner looks new and my buddies Titan is faded and peeling.

Seven years later and the only one playing "catch up" is Nissan...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I thought we were discussing vans here and not trucks???

 

[timswi]

One more point Chris that I believe puts a hole thru your statement. In your comparisons, you routinely pick on GMs 5.3 when comparing it to the top of the line engines from other manufacturers such as the Titan and the TT V6 from Ford. The 5.3 is not the top of the line engine from GM. The 6.2 is. Compare apples to apples and you may find the gap is non existent. The 6.2 is very comparable if not stronger than the top gas offerings from the other manufacturers. I believe timswi has one and has had high praise for it.

I am very happy with my 6.2..It's in a GMC 1/2 ton SLE, not a Denali though..I couldn't stomach the 52K price tag on the Denali...I had a couple of 5.3's and I was very pleased with those as well..The '01 Tahoe had 4:10's and my '04 GMC had 3:73's ran them both to 100K+ and they were trouble free.

I test drove a 6.0 a few years ago and it just didn't seem to have the zip of the 6.2 now that I can compare that.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here we go again with more WRONG information, I wonder if anyone actually believes any of the BS you try to sell here.
No one in 2004 had more than 317hp in a 1/2 ton? That's funny because my 2003 RAM 1500 HEMI has 345 HP/375 LB-FT. and is an early 2003 model vs the Titan which is a 2004 model. Plus it doesn't take my engine 5,200 rpms to make that horsepower either. :laughing:
2002 was the year the HEMI was only in the HD trucks, more proof you are making up the RAM you supposedly had.

Max tow capacity
Titan: 9,400 lbs
F-150: 9,500 lbs
RAM 1500: 9,150 lbs
GM 1500: 9,100 lbs

Your right, no one was anywhere near that BIG tow number. Wonder why everyone is over 10k lbs now and the Titan is still unchanged.

4wd and 4 wheel ABS is all my trucks got and all it needs. Apparently those really cool oversized "off-road" tires don't do so good in the slippery stuff so they need a computer to make sure you don't slip. :laughing:

No center shift for me but I have seating for six adults, try fitting 5 of your buddies in that Titan and tell me how wonderful that center shift is.

I liked the bed storage at the time until I actually used it, it never latched properly and half the time we would get to a site and see the door open with our tools somewhere along the highway. Also, the great "tie-down" system bent like a pretzel with anything heavier than a cardboard box. RAM's "Rambox" is ten times better. As far as the bed liner, that factory liner was OK but every truck dealer I went to gave me the option of a Rhino, Line-X or other local liner company for free with the truck purchase. I like that option better, 7 years and 120k miles later my Xtreme bed liner looks new and my buddies Titan is faded and peeling.

Seven years later and the only one playing "catch up" is Nissan...

Why would I lie about owning a Dodge? Its not something to be proud of.:confused2:

The tie down system is stronger than any stake pocket or tie down I have used in any other truck, including Ford. The bed Liner is much better than than any after market spayed in line I have seen or owned plus covered by Nissan. The cargo storage compartment is very handy and has not given me one ounce of trouble.

The tires on my truck are the oem size. They are what came on the truck from the factory. Glad you know all the specs. As far as VDC goes its not necessary by any means but either is my new smart phone, nav system, backup camera, ect but I sure like them and would not be without any of them from this point on.

I probably was wrong on the Hemi option but I did have a 03 Ram 2500 Hemi. I remembered the reason I bought the 2500 over a 1500 was the Hemi was not available in a 1500 but maybe it was a 2002 that the cut off year was. Either way mine was a 2003. What a POS. Only topped by my 05 Dmax 3500 or my 89 S-10 Blazer.

Thanks for all the corrections.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am very happy with my 6.2..It's in a GMC 1/2 ton SLE, not a Denali though..I couldn't stomach the 52K price tag on the Denali...I had a couple of 5.3's and I was very pleased with those as well..The '01 Tahoe had 4:10's and my '04 GMC had 3:73's ran them both to 100K+ and they were trouble free.

I test drove a 6.0 a few years ago and it just didn't seem to have the zip of the 6.2 now that I can compare that.

The trucks you had were matched good with the gearing. GM played the marketing game and wanted to get the mpg numbers up for that. 3.42's and higher were swapped out for the 3.73's and 4.10's and it really hurt.

You are right about the 6.0L. I have never had one but know 2 or 3 guys with them and just was not impressed.

Dont get me wrong here. I am not a GM man but its not the motors. They have good motors. Always have. Some better than others but for the most part the truck line up and the 3800 V6 are top notch as far as efficiency, reliability, and longevity. I just really dont care for the trucks suspensions, styling, and interiors.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I thought we were discussing vans here and not trucks???

You are right. This new Nissan is basically a Titan with a box on the back so it lead down this path. Looks like Ford may be doing the same thing as Nissan.

Its not about style with vans since 90% are sold to the service industry. Its about cost and simplicity and this is the path they are taking now days.

Chris

 

[timswi]

The trucks you had were matched good with the gearing. GM played the marketing game and wanted to get the mpg numbers up for that. 3.42's and higher were swapped out for the 3.73's and 4.10's and it really hurt.

You are right about the 6.0L. I have never had one but know 2 or 3 guys with them and just was not impressed.

Dont get me wrong here. I am not a GM man but its not the motors. They have good motors. Always have. Some better than others but for the most part the truck line up and the 3800 V6 are top notch as far as efficiency, reliability, and longevity. I just really dont care for the trucks suspensions, styling, and interiors.

Chris

I looked at lot of trucks before I bought the '04..Was looking for 3:73 only and 3:42 was beginning to overrun the market...That one was an off-lease with 15K...Looked like brand newin every way..Bed wasn't even scratched. Think they pulled a horse trailer or something with it.

The '11 has 3:42's, but with the 6 speed and 100 more horsepower, you'd never know those gears are in it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I looked at lot of trucks before I bought the '04..Was looking for 3:73 only and 3:42 was beginning to overrun the market...That one was an off-lease with 15K...Looked like brand newin every way..Bed wasn't even scratched. Think they pulled a horse trailer or something with it.

The '11 has 3:42's, but with the 6 speed and 100 more horsepower, you'd never know those gears are in it.

Yea, more gears and power can allow it to get away with it. Things are changing. Dodge has a 8 speed now in some cars and I am sure we will see them in trucks.

There is rumors that Ford has a 2 speed rear end that is computer controlled in the works. Something I have wished for many years. Something like a 6.00 and maybe 2.50 would be awesome paired up with a proper tranny. If it worked in conjunction with the tow/haul mode and the tranny it could be a neat setup.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

Yea, more gears and power can allow it to get away with it. Things are changing. Dodge has a 8 speed now in some cars and I am sure we will see them in trucks.

There is rumors that Ford has a 2 speed rear end that is computer controlled in the works. Something I have wished for many years. Something like a 6.00 and maybe 2.50 would be awesome paired up with a proper tranny. If it worked in conjunction with the tow/haul mode and the tranny it could be a neat setup.

Chris

I would prefer split rear or trans upgrades over smaller displacement and twin turbos. Less money in repairs down the road.