[Thunderhorse]

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/the-nissan-titan-xd-is-the-best-ford-f-150-you-can-buy-1781159327

If you're like me you're thinking "WTF did I just read"???

I usually look forward to Jalopnik reviews because they are more candid, objective, and willing to be borderline offensive in their description of the test vehicle than other automotive journalism. They’re usually more correct on technical stuff too-even this article lists diff gearing. That’s why I found this article so disappointing, specifically because:

This article is comparing a 3/4 ton truck to half ton trucks and heaps praise on it for doing so. Sure, in the past a 1/2 ton was the biggest truck Nissan made, and their marketing department seems to be capitalizing on that by calling it a heavy duty half ton, differentiating it from the regular Titan with an “XD” instead of putting “1500/2500" on them. The thing is, there is actually a criteria that separates 1/2 tons from 3/4 tons-GVWR.

I figured Jalopnik would be the first place to call them out on the fact that the Titan XD is a 3/4 ton, but apparently they are more than willing to buy into it. Ford should launch an F-250 as the F-150.5 and see if people believe that too.

What reason could there be to call this a 1/2 ton? Because the previous Titan was? Because they have a 1/2 ton version too? Because their marketing department calls it one?

This truck compares with 3/4 tons from the big 3 in price, GVWR, and even capability. Of course it crushes half tons in a competition. It has the “capability to draw and quarter its competition” in the same way an F-150 or Ram/Chevy 1500 can draw and quarter a Tacoma.

Since it is about a Nissan/Toyota, I expected the fact that it is made in the U.S. to be mentioned as a shot at the big 3. That’s par for the course despite the fact that foreign direct investment does not constitute them being an American company. Also the chicken tax and effective lack of a market for full size trucks outside North America mean it makes no sense to make them elsewhere. Just about every automotive journalist does that. But mismatching truck classes in a comparison? I still love Jalopnik, but they definitely lose some credibility here.

 

[Desert Ram]

Just playing on 1st truck buyers or hoping people who
read it don't comprehend what they are reading :doh:

Sell the Sizzle and not the Steak

 

[Electrojake]

FWIW...
My Son, a mechanic, and a Nissan truck lover <go figure> took a great interest in the new Cummins V8 Nissan when it first appeared on the market several months ago.
After doing his tech research and then visiting the dealer for a hands-on test, he came away saying that the V8 Cummins is neutered, and if he wanted an "F-200" class truck, he'd just up it a notch and buy a Ford Super Duty.

Not very reassuring coming from a guy who has owned three Nissan 4x4 trucks. :4-dontknow:

 

[chaman]

It seems very suspiciously to be an ad.

 

[2014Beluga]

Tovarish is the genius that says everyone should look into buying high miles used German luxury cars since spending 30 hours in your garage to change an oil filter should be considered an enjoyable part of your car ownership. He's Jalopnik's version of WVDan judging from his unconditional defending of the XD.

But hey, some of the 896 Titan buyers in June must be super stoked they got their Kind-of-not-quite-but-we-will-call-it half(ish) ton, and the diesel buyers should take pride in the fact that their coveted 5.0 Cummins couldn't even keep up with the 5.6 in towing tests...

 

[jrtubb]

Why Freddy got that article I have no idea but his best stuff is the flipping of high mile beat to crap cars from NYC. I like their stuff but they are very North East in attitude and not huge domestic fans.

I looked at the specs also and it is too much money, I can get a better Ram 2500 for the same money.

 

[2014Beluga]

Why Freddy got that article I have no idea but his best stuff is the flipping of high mile beat to crap cars from NYC. I like their stuff but they are very North East in attitude and not huge domestic fans.

Andrew Collins must have been on vacation that week.

I looked at the specs also and it is too much money, I can get a better Ram 2500 for the same money.

Except the coolaid drinkers will badger you to death for comparing it to a 2500 if you dare mentioned the 800+ torque in the 2500s. But when you point out how much more MPGs and more comfortable 1500s are, they will insist that the XD is sooooo much more durable like a 2500, but it's not a 2500, and there is no MPG rating for it not because it's a 2500, but because it's a super awesome 1500 that is not a 1500. They especially don't like it when you point out that once you put on any options the supposed 12k tow goes down to around 10k, and payload goes down to 1500 lbs. And they are serious!

Yeah, XD fans are morons. Reading XD forum posts reminds me of the Ridgeline forum I came across once. Bunch of people who paid too much for too little, but only because they are smarter than everyone else.

 

[Ramajama]

Yeah I don't get it either. It's more of a tweener truck than either a 3/4 or 1/2 ton. It would get its azz kicked by a true 3/4 ton when worked.
Oh well, don't change the fact this is the most butt ugly truck I've seen in awhile. I saw one on the road not long ago and it's even worse in real life.

 

[jrtubb]

I liked the old Nissan Titan, I almost got one in 2004. But the practical side of me won out for a Honda CRV, ya I cross shop at extreme sometimes.

This new one forces you to look at the 1500 and 2500 depending on how you set it up for you needs.

 

[Ramajama]

Hmm, this is kind of a head scratcher as well.,.
http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/a-british-billionaire-wants-to-bring-the-land-rover-def-1783511655
It's off the RAM topic but it's kind of speaks to their credibility. LR already has definitive plans to bring back a rebooted Defender. And they wil sell it in the US. the design is said to have been signed off on but they have only pushed it out a few years to hash out a few details on the overall structure and the build site.
This is all fairly well known stuff within the LR community.
Maybe they are eluding that this billionaire wants to help keep it built in the UK? Ok maybe since they are considering building elsewhere.
But the new Defender is coming with or without this billionaire they mention. They act like its gone for good if not for this dude....

 

[2014Beluga]

aren't they talking about the billionaire wanting to keep building the old classic version for enthusiasts, separate from the official rebooted "defender"?

either way it can't happen. Aside from economic and regulatory issues, whenever "enthusiasts" like Jalopnik writers say "we want it" it really means "We want everyone else to buy it and take the depreciation so we can get it ten years later in mint condition for 1/4 the original price".

 

[Thunderhorse]

aren't they talking about the billionaire wanting to keep building the old classic version for enthusiasts, separate from the official rebooted "defender"?

either way it can't happen. Aside from economic and regulatory issues, whenever "enthusiasts" like Jalopnik writers say "we want it" it really means "We want everyone else to buy it and take the depreciation so we can get it ten years later in mint condition for 1/4 the original price".

That's how I understood it.


Agreed as well

 

[Celtic bhoy]

Why Freddy got that article I have no idea but his best stuff is the flipping of high mile beat to crap cars from NYC. I like their stuff but they are very North East in attitude and not huge domestic fans.

I looked at the specs also and it is too much money, I can get a better Ram 2500 for the same money.

For basically the same money you can get a RAM 3500 Laramie with the 6.7l I6 Cummins; Crew cab 8' bed combo with the Aisin tranny, 4.10 rear and 4X4. More than double the payload, and 18562 lbs. more towing. Or maybe a fairer comparison would be a Laramie Limited 2500 with the 6.7l I6 Cummins; Crew cab 6.33' bed combo, 4.10 rear and 4X4 vs a Platinum Reserve -

• Ram Max Payload=2,168lbs; Max Towing=16,900lbs; Cost C$72,045
• NXD Max Payload=1,470lbs; Max Towing=10,608lbs; Cost C$71,059
• Difference_________698(+Ram)________ 6,292(+Ram); C$00,986 (+RAM)

So basically for under C$1000 you get a little more payload and 3tons more towing. For C$9821 more than a Platinum Reserve you can get a fully loaded Laramie Limited (Crew/6.33' bed, aisin, 4x4, etc.). Just sayin'

 

[2014Beluga]

^^Clearly most consumers did the same math as we did and are voting with their wallet. The only people left who still think the XD is a good deal are

-auto writers who get to drive them for free,
-people waiting for them to come on the 2nd hand market, and
-literally dozens of guys all over north america who are going to the dealerships and buying them each week.

The resale value on those hundreds of XDs sold so far will be insane!

 

[Ramajama]

aren't they talking about the billionaire wanting to keep building the old classic version for enthusiasts, separate from the official rebooted "defender"?

either way it can't happen. Aside from economic and regulatory issues, whenever "enthusiasts" like Jalopnik writers say "we want it" it really means "We want everyone else to buy it and take the depreciation so we can get it ten years later in mint condition for 1/4 the original price".

Well guys that's actually news to me, I had not herd that chatter anywhere so that's not how I read it.... But it's been a few months since I checked into my Defender news since things are moving so slowly. But if that's the case, I stand corrected. :4-dontknow:

But yeah, I mean if that's what he is trying to do, I guess it's noble enough as the old rig was a classic. But like you said, t there's too much working against it these days. Plus there's plenty of the old ones running around to satisfy the purists for years to come. It's really only relevant across the pond anyways. Trying to get that old design fit for US sales would be monumental. And Land Rover would most likely just let it go out as the legend it is and call it a good run.

From the things I've gathered, the new Defender will be pretty awesome. Not a lot of people will care about the old one other than for nostalgia's sakes.

 

[Thunderhorse]

There are at least a few countries whose militaries that use the Defender.

2014 Beluga, I was going to say you forgot to add the guys who will buy it just for the Cummins, but TBH I think they'd prefer the I-6 with a front beam axle so you're right.

 

[2014Beluga]

Yeah, XD devotees really hate it when people bring up the ISB. Suddenly all those who bought 7500lb "1/2 ton" and can't stop saying "Cummins" in conjunction with "triple nickel" all instantly become pinnacles of moderation. It is really funny.

"I didn't want all that much power".

"It's too much for what I need."

"I prefer someone smaller than the 2500."

etc.

 

[Thunderhorse]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-nissan-titan-xd-56l-4x4-test-review


Strangely enough, I think C&D did a much better job with their review (linked above). Where they said: "Both versions of the Titan have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 8500 pounds, meaning they are exempt from EPA fuel-economy testing" I think it should have said: "Both versions of the Titan have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 8500 pounds, meaning they are 3/4 tons" but I will admit it is unlikely they would ever put that in a magazine like C&D.

I appreciate how they took the 5.0 XD to task for offering less capability than other 3/4 tons at a similar price with scarcely better mileage if at all, despite the fact that the article is specifically about the gas V8.

 

[2014Beluga]

That is a pretty unbiased review. Most other reviews glossed over the inconvenient traits of the XD and focused on "oh it's soooo comfortable compared to HDs", or "it feels really confident compared to a 1/2 ton".