Changed over from Nissan to Ford

[Mike Up]

Just wanted to say Hi. I'm Mike Up and have had 3 Nissan trucks previous to the Sport Trac. I only buy vehicles made and assembled in the United States when I can. I had a 2000 Xterra and a 2005 Pathfinder both assembled in Tennessee. I also had a 2004 Titan Crew Cab 4X4 1/2 ton truck assembled in Mississippi. While I loved the Xterra, absolutely hated the Titan because it fell apart. Then got the Pathfinder but Nissan wasn't backing their warranty and refused some major warranty work. It was almost time to get rid of it because of miles, so Nissan lost my business.

Bought the Sport Trac for many reason. Number 1 is has good towing and payload bettering some 1/2 ton trucks when optioned. My optioned weight of my Titan with soft tonneau cover, hitch, and side steps was only 1213 lbs. It's towing capacity was only 6500 lbs and 650 lbs tongue weight because it didn't have the big tow package. The Sport trac with hard, "locking" tonneau cover and side steps is 1218 lbs according to the loading sticker. The Titan loading sticker was 1373 lbs without the options mentioned. The Sport Trac has a 7000 lbs and a 730 lbs tongue rating. So I actually have more truck in this midsize than the fullsize Titan.:

The Sport Trac brings me back to what a truck is. It really reminds me of the old Xterra, don't care for the new Xterras. I like the molded half bumper, wheel lips, mirrors, and handles. No paint on these well used areas to scratch, chip, flake, or peel off. Now I can play without worrying about babying the truck.

Ride is amazing compared to any of the 3 Nissans mentioned. I feel like I'm in a Lincoln Towncar yet it sucks up the big holes with no problem.

I camp a lot so this is perfect for my lifestyle. I also frequent the Folding Camper section of rv.net so you'll find me there a lot.

So I'm hoping I have as good luck with the Sport Trac as I did with my Xterra (Most fun and reliable vehicle I've ever owned).

BTW, I'm somewhat new to Ford because the previous 3 I had were well used vehicles with over 100,000 miles on each of them, when I bought. One I like the most was my Ford 1978 Granada, followed by the terrible 1986 Mercury Topaz and 1980 Mercury Cougar XR7. This is the first new Ford I've had. A lot of recommendations from Ford owners on their good luck with theirs.

Here's my Sport Trac.

Thanks and have a good one.

 

[JohnnyO]

Welcome. I just got an '08 Sport Trac to replace the '05 I had. The new one is not quite as "trucky" but it rides and handles much better and feels much more solid. Also more room in the back seat. It won't be quite the off-road machine that my old one was but I don't have much time for that anymore anyway. Mostly I have it because I have frequent need for a small truck and to get around in the snow...like today.

 

[Mike Up]

Welcome. I just got an '08 Sport Trac to replace the '05 I had. The new one is not quite as "trucky" but it rides and handles much better and feels much more solid. Also more room in the back seat. It won't be quite the off-road machine that my old one was but I don't have much time for that anymore anyway. Mostly I have it because I have frequent need for a small truck and to get around in the snow...like today.

Your right, with the IRS it isn't as trucky and I really wanted live axle and leafs but most of those trucks couldn't beat, let meet, the capacity and towing that the Sport Trac offers. I was looking at the Dakota because the Quad Cab Ram wouldn't fit adults in the rear seats. The Dakota's rear seat wasn't anywhere as roomy, it didn't offer the features, and it's puny payload "started" at 1225 lbs with the 4.7L. Put the featurs I have on that truck, it would have lower payload than some cars. I needed a truck to haul about 700 lbs in the truck (people Cargo) and be able to hookup to a trailer that has the 650 lbs tongue. Since 20% of that tongue wieght goes back to the trailer axles, 520 lbs would go on the suspension. That give me near the loading stickers 1218 lbs.

The only 1/2 Ton trucks, Crew Cab midsize and fullsize that could even meet the Sport Tracs payload were the F150 when optioned lightly but it was ~$6000 more! The next was Silverado but I'll never own GM junk again. The Ridgline seems to have a good base starting payload but it's a unibody Pilot with no real 4WD. It also can not be used to tow with a WDH and it's trailer weight is limited to 5000 lbs. It's just a car that's been tweaked to give an almost truck personality but missed the mark by quite a bit IMO. The Nissan Titan upped their payload toward 3/4 ton capacity but I had a Titan already and regret ever buying it.

The Sport Trac seems to be a winner and it's pretty good gas mileage is a huge plus. It's doing better than the Pathfinder's V6 I had!

Have a good one.

 

[FordxMan]

I really like my Sport Trac. I drove a F-150 but it was too big!! This baby tows my 3k boat like it's not even there!!!! Get a Magna-Flow Exhaust and it sounds like a real V-8. K&N and you will rock!!!! The OEM Mich's suck big time:thumbdwn:, I will be up sizing to 265/65 18's. If you have the 18's rims, it is a perfect match!!! P.S. Get a radar detector(Valentine 1), saved me big bucks many times, also you can watch others getting a big $ pull overs.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Welcome Mike- I drive one of my co-worker's Adrenaline Sport-Trac at work a lot, and I think it's an amazing truck- and still has the seats that I think were the best I've had in a Ford Vehicle- the ones in my '01 and '02 Ex Sport seats.

 

[Mike Up]

Thanks everyone, I really love this truck. After I get the Trans TSB done, I'll even love it more.

I really like having the tonneau cover that came with it. It's perfect in my opinion. It gives security, weather cover, and can open 50% with a tall load (strapped on sides) or taken off completely with little hassle.

The interior is great also. No carpet to worry about and the seats are very comfortable and the rear leg room is awesome. PLUS there is still room behind the large rear seat for storage and the single seat has a cubby area for my air compressor. It's also used for the sub if you got one.

I love this truck in every way. The only thing that bothers me is the trans not shifting to first before I accelerate from a stop. The slam to first, off of throttle is really bothersome but luckily others here have pointed me to the TSB and hopefully will have it installed Friday.

I've already figured out how large of a travel trailer I can tow while still being within the tow rating, hitch weight rating, and payload rating. I can tow a 4000 lbs "DRY" weight camper, load it 1000 lbs and never have to worry about going over payload, hitch weight, or the tow rating. It's nice having a truck that can do what you'll want it to do in the future.

Also, how in the hek did they get a good Off Road ride and an On Road ride without sacrificing the other. The ride off road and through pothole ally feels like it has an off road suspension. However the on road ride isn't bouncy. It's the best of both worlds. I've had 2 vehicles geared to an off road ride, my late 2000 Nissan Xterra 4X4 and the late 2004 Off Road Titan Crew Cab 4X4. The Pathfinder did not have an Off Road suspension and boy you could feel it with the shock waves. The Sport Trac absorbs all the heavy off road landscapes but doesn't have excessive body roll or bounciness on daily drives. JUST LOVE IT!

Well thanks everyone, have a good one.

 

[JoeCool6972]

You sound like me. I had a 94 Nissan truck, then a 2002 Frontier Crew Cab. Eventually I got my 07 Sport Trac. I must say the quality is WAY BETTER. And the pricing is around the same. Comparing the 02 Nissan to my Sport Trac is like comparing raw sewage to purified bottled spring water! (Had both for about a year, bought both new)

As far as where a vehicle is made... The Nissans, Toyota, Honda, etc may be made here, but the overall profits still go home to Japan.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

nice sport trac

 

[derekfo]

My concern with the trans is that it would downshift really late and that it would make a bump type feel, after the tcc update it is perfect! Overall its a great truck, it just boggles my mind that people go buy honda ridgelines with side mounted v6's with lesser fuel mileage and a noisy ride for the same price... go figure