well... everyone here most likely thinks highly of the titan, that's why we have 'em. but a $36k salary to buy a $26k+ vehicle is seriously going to put a damper on your lifestyle, especially if you're single. i personally wouldn't do it.

 

Thanks for the advice. This is my first big decision and i welcome all of your opinions and if you guys can share your expiriences with your first new car it would be great.

 

Welcome,

I think that's the rule after you graduate, buy a vehicle...whether you need one or not. Keep that old POS and save some miles off the new vehicle.

Keep in mind forums are for reporting problems, news, mods, etc... Not very often will you see someone post just to say how much they like how the seat feels on a long trip, how nice it is to have lights by the tailgate, or how great it is to have anti slip control. Any forum about a specific product will have more problem posts, not just the Titan. As you can see most of the problems here are pretty minor. Don't fix it yourself, use your warranty...you paid for it.

When it was time for me to buy a new vehicle last spring, I drove all the "major" brands, Ford F250, Chevy 2500, Dodge 2500 and the Titan. The Titan won hands down. Test drives are a great way to sort things out.

Hope this helps.

Buy the toys while you're single and still have a choice!!!!

 

Although the Titan is a great truck, and I recommend it to anyone, do you have the need for a truck, and what kind of commumte are you going to have everyday.

I am not trying to sway you, but think, this thing is a V8, and although pretty good compared to most V8's out there, it drinks gas like I do beer. So think about the cost of fuel, I mean I go through about 2 1/2 tanks a week, at about $45. a tank, so it can add up real quick!

I would also say that there are many cars out there that will last just as long as any truck, if not longer than some. It all depends on the application and what you are using it for. Give us some more details about what you do with you cars, ie. off road, hauling, towing? What do you NEED a truck for?

Other than that, I have been very happy with the Titan. I do however also work with "FULL" size trucks, like 3/4 and 1 ton's and I will say, depending on what you want to be able to do, the Titan is more of a cross between an SUV and a truck.

So for your average guy, who likes some rough play, a little off roading, and going where you want when you want, and if you do not have to worry about milage then I would say it is great buy one!!

This truck will haul wonderfully for 1/2 ton, the 4x4 works awsome, and the cab is very comfortable, very roomy, and a great ride.

I have an 04 SE CC by the way. And congratulations on your garaduation and welcome to the worldof teaching, my Wife teaches High Scool, and says the best advice she can give any new teacher is to wash your hands constantly all those children are ALWAYS sick, she also just added, don't forget that you do not get paid over the summer at many positions, but the truck payment is still due!

 

Thanks for the advice. This is my first big decision and i welcome all of your opinions and if you guys can share your expiriences with your first new car it would be great.

if you *reallllly* want a new car, i'd wait a couple months after you settle into your new job. that way you get a good feel of how much your take home pay is, how painful rent, bills, food, etc are going to be. then figure out how much the payments and insurance is going to be and see if you have any spare money for going out and meeting the ladies. =D

when i graduated college in '99, i though i was going to be rolling in it w/ my $39k a year job. when i got my first paycheck (about $500 month iirc, after w/holdings and 401k deductions), i suddenly realized things weren't going to be quite so rosy after paying rent, bills, student loans, etc. =D

 

As it is with anything you buy, you pay your money and you take your chances. With the Titan, you are invariably risking a lot less than any of the other 3 full size truck manufacturers (they need not be named). I did my research after driving a POS Dodge 1500 for 5 years and the Titan won every category for me. It was a reasonably priced vehicle, it has won the hearts and minds of a lot of folks in the industry, and it has a utility you can never have with a Sport Utility Vehicle (namely a truck bed). I bought a 04 Crew LE Titan 3 weeks ago and I haven't had any problems. If I do have any, I have a great resource here at my fingertips to help trouble shoot problems and help to find solutions. I am confident that I can handle just about anything. Good Luck in your decision and I'm sure you'll make a sound choice.

 

if you *reallllly* want a new car, i'd wait a couple months after you settle into your new job. that way you get a good feel of how much your take home pay is, how painful rent, bills, food, etc are going to be. then figure out how much the payments and insurance is going to be and see if you have any spare money for going out and meeting the ladies. =D

when i graduated college in '99, i though i was going to be rolling in it w/ my $39k a year job. when i got my first paycheck (about $500 month iirc, after w/holdings and 401k deductions), i suddenly realized things weren't going to be quite so rosy after paying rent, bills, student loans, etc. =D

Ed, I have to agree with you, when I got that first job, I thought I would have cash coming out of my ears, but boy was I wrong! It seems as soon as you get it, everyone wants it from you.

Titan_Joe, If you do not have a real need for a truck, or a 4x4, look into a nicer car, something that is les money, or what about a Frontier if you like the Nissans, and just Have to have a truck. What area do live? Do you hve need for 4x4?

 

Thanks to everyone who have shared their opinions and experiences. Alot of people are wondering how useful will a truck be for me...well, my commute will be about 40 miles to work everyday (to and from). Laredo is not that big of a city; everything is relatively close to to where i live, but i do like to travel San Antonio (150 miles away) and Austin (about 300 miles) every now and then for concerts and just fun weekends. Ocassionally i do go camping and a truck comes in handy.

Another reason why i want a truck is that i think that in the long run they are more reliable than cars and in the case i decide to move out of town a tuck will come in handy to help me move. I know that this truck sucks gas like theres no tomorrow and that is something that i'm keeping in mind...i do plan to wait a couple of months before purchase but i've started to look at trucks (no car has really captured my attention) and the Titan is the one that has impressed me the most.

so how reliable is Nissan?

 

Thanks to everyone who have shared their opinions and experiences. Alot of people are wondering how useful will a truck be for me...well, my commute will be about 40 miles to work everyday (to and from). Laredo is not that big of a city; everything is relatively close to to where i live, but i do like to travel San Antonio (150 miles away) and Austin (about 300 miles) every now and then for concerts and just fun weekends. Ocassionally i do go camping and a truck comes in handy.

Another reason why i want a truck is that i think that in the long run they are more reliable than cars and in the case i decide to move out of town a tuck will come in handy to help me move. I know that this truck sucks gas like theres no tomorrow and that is something that i'm keeping in mind...i do plan to wait a couple of months before purchase but i've started to look at trucks (no car has really captured my attention) and the Titan is the one that has impressed me the most.

so how reliable is Nissan?

I have found Nissan to be very reliable.

My family and I have owned several cars, and even back to when they had their little pickups, stripped 4x2 5 speed with a 4cyl. in it. I had a 1988, and a 1990 Hardbody PU. Both of them would not die. The engins ran for several hundred thousand miles on each. I just dumped both of them within the last three years. The only problem that I had with them is that the bodies rusted out big time. But they always started, and always ran. They hauled a lot of crap too.

I mean I beat the sh*t of them. And they just begged for more.
That is the main reason I bought the Titan, even though I have always been leary about buying a first model year vehicle.

I will say though, if you are going a total of 80 miles a day, you will get hosed with fuel costs.

Good luck with whatever you decide!! :cheers:

 

Having burned myself a few times in my youth before learning to separate NEED from WANT, you need to calculate gas, yearly license, insurance for your age, and finance charges in dollars (not abstract percent). Try to figure also how many miles a year you'll averaqe, because somewhere between 30-40k you'll need fresh tires, and they aren't cheap. ..What you can't calculate from your position is the need to put a big enough cash down to pay it off in 2-3 years (and preferably before the warranty runs out) .. for in four or five years you'll not only be driving an old truck, but still be making big payments. Like others have said, unless you're going to be towing big weight, a midsize without the costly extras will do all you need, if you need a pickup.

 

i've looked at the mid-size pickups but the prices aren't that far away from the full size trucks and alot of you are right about figuring out the "real" cost of owning a truck before i make a decision...thank you and keep the advice coming...

 

Nissan makes a very reliable vehicle. I've owned many. Cars and trucks are my weakness. When I buy my Titan next month it will be my 27th vehicle,
(I told you I'm weak) LOL I'm only 46 years old.
Like another poster said, you have to separate need from want. Could you buy a new vehicle for quite a bit less and still have a new car? Sure you could. Do you really, in your best interest feel you can own,maintain and insure this truck leaving yourself money to enjoy yourself? There is much more out there than vehicles you'll need. What I thought years ago isn't what I think today. Realistically, I could still be driving car #5, #6 or even #7. Good luck with your upcoming graduation and your new job. Nissan gives collage grad rebates too.

 

well... everyone here most likely thinks highly of the titan, that's why we have 'em. but a $36k salary to buy a $26k+ vehicle is seriously going to put a damper on your lifestyle, especially if you're single. i personally wouldn't do it.

Not this day in age. A person who gets paid $30k can easily afford a 25k car with 5-6 year payments due to the low interest rates.

 

Yea I drive over 100 miles a day for work. But at least I get compensated. 3700 miles now on my Titan I just got Oct 21st. lol

 

Exactly one month ago today and we just rolled 3680 on this new one.

Gas totals: Miles 3680.8 Fuel Amount: 232.757 Fuel Costs:$525.20 Avg PPG $2.252
AVG MPG overall: 15.813 MPG.

Insurance - Full Coverage - $430 6 months (I'm 39 wife 31 - No tickets/accidents).

The last we put almost 29k on in 10 months.

Seeing what your making etc...an XE or SE with few options on her would be better and keep your monthly payments down and allow you to add 'niceties' as your budget allows instead of obligating to a high payment per month from the beggining.

Chris

 

Not this day in age. A person who gets paid $30k can easily afford a 25k car with 5-6 year payments due to the low interest rates.

i absolutely disagree. =D

let's be optimistic and say at $30k in texas (no state income tax), his take home pay is $25k. that leaves about $2100 a month. sweeet, as another poster said, he's got money coming out his ears!

with waaay low interest (2%), a $25k loan is going to be about $440 a month. still leaves $1660. not bad. remember he's young, so insurance is going to be high; figure $100 a month (it could quite easily be more). down to $1560. no problemo, tons of money left! rent? maybe $500 if he gets someplace cheap. only got $1060 left! should probably eat some food- we'll figure he's not that expensive, and only uses $50 a week, because we all know young single guys like to cook at home. down to $844 a month. utilities might run another $50 a month on the cheap side. we'll call it $800 even. damn, forgot about the student loans! if he didn't take out a whole lot (say, $20k, and wants to pay them off in a reasonable time frame- 10 years), that's another $200 a month. down to $600. it's always a good idea to save some money; you generally want to save at least 10% to get you some emergency money going (and we're not even considering retirement at this point!). down to $350! wow, where did all my money go?

that leaves a whopping $81 a week for gas, incidentals, having some beer with the boys after work, meeting women, KEEPING women, routine maintenance on the car, etc. oh yeah, we haven't alloted any money for new clothes, furnishing an apartment, new toys, etc, etc. hmmm, without a car payment, there'd be an extra $100 and change every week for that stuff.

 

Exactly one month ago today and we just rolled 3680 on this new one.

Gas totals: Miles 3680.8 Fuel Amount: 232.757 Fuel Costs:$525.20 Avg PPG $2.252
AVG MPG overall: 15.813 MPG.

Insurance - Full Coverage - $430 6 months (I'm 39 wife 31 - No tickets/accidents).

The last we put almost 29k on in 10 months.

Seeing what your making etc...an XE or SE with few options on her would be better and keep your monthly payments down and allow you to add 'niceties' as your budget allows instead of obligating to a high payment per month from the beggining.

Chris

Dang Chris- you've got to win some kind of prize with that kind of mileage. I've had mine slightly less than 6 months and have 10,600 miles on it (actually after another round trip between Lafayette, LA and San Saba, TX this weekend, by the time I get to 6 months on December 20th, I'll have close to 12,000 miles on the truck). How in the world are you putting that many miles on a truck?
Richard

 

We commute 86 miles each way to work...it adds up very quickly

And we even share the trips with my Z car...

 

We commute 86 miles each way to work...it adds up very quickly

And we even share the trips with my Z car...

Too bad we don't get "frequent driver miles," huh? :jester:

 

I hear ya...would go nicely with my frequent flyer miles (160k miles last year)....

Yep a lot of motion...BUT, it's harder to hit a moving target...hehehe

Chris

 

As much as I love my Titan, I wouldn't want it to OWN me, and at that income, unfortunately, it would. I would not advise doing it, although only because you asked.

 

new grad

hey new grad, congrats on getting out into the work world. i just bought an 05 titan LE CC, 4x4 with every possible option nissan offers. i love this truck. i think if you think you can afford this vehicle, then go for it. it kicks major *** and it gets many looks from people. my wife owns a 2001 nissan maxima. we haven't had a bit of trouble from that car. that car rocks also. good luck in your decision. i say go for it. later, titanrookie

 

take it easy, do it right

Hello everyone, i'm new to the site and i've been checking the forums for weeks now and i would like your opinions about the Titan. I graduate from college this month and next month i begin my teaching career and t I'm ready to buy a my first new car and i'm seriously looking at the Titan

I currenlty drive a 1995 chrysler cirrus (dont' laugh at me please) and it is a POS!! That's the reason why i would never look at Dodge and i've read on numerous websistes about people having trouble with the Ford F-150. Since this is my first new car, i want to buy something that will last for a good number of years this is why i'm looking to get a truck.

I really like the TItan LE and i know it's expensive but starting salary for a teacher where i live is $36k and i'm not married and no kids. So, my question is should i buy a 2005 Titan? It looks awesome and people seem to be happy with it, but i have read about all these little problems that people have, i wanted to know if the 2005 Titan has any of the problems that the 04 Titan had?

Any advice for a rookie looking to buy his first new truck?

my advice...
wait a few months more...and make sure you can own the truck and not have that nasty truck "own" you.

keep in mind: save 15 to 20% of your income into 401k-type of account for teachers and also $3000 per year for ROTH IRAs, and also to cash savings for your future home down payment and current insurances (health & dental & auto) unless you can guarantee you'll get lots of iheritance or significant family $ assistance...

2005 Titans: look and test drive a XE, XE 4x4, LE and LE 4x4, but perhaps stay away from Big Tow or Off Road Packages as their more powerful lower final drive ratio may consume more gas, say 1 to 5 MPG "penalty" on gas milage. keep in mind: every 300 miles or so you maybe spending $45 to $60 per fill up, which is fine with me cause my last two (1995, 2000) relatively small Wrangler (loved it & hated it) 4.0L SUVs had worse highway gas milage then my Titan 4wd OR.

Get a new Nissan Titan or a 2005 Frontier 4wd [ http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/159 ], if that fits your budget better (i had a 1986 4wd nissan pickup that went for 230,000 before blowing a gasket...mainly due to driver's error). If power is not concern than also look at Toyota PUs.

Buy a new '05 Nissan Titan or Frontier (4x4 preferred: better re-sale value, safer, more fun), '04 or '05 Toyota, or even a '05 Honda SUT and then maintain it well and hang on to it as long as you can, after paying for the truck loan, then divert that same payments to savings and investments.

:coolsmile

p.s. looked at a loaded '05 fronty cc 4wd..nearly as costly as a titan kc xe 4wd and only 25~30% higher gas milage...

 

Wow, i love all the good advice i'm getting from all of you. This is a big decision and i really need this kind of advice.

since i'm still on the fence (although i'm leaning on the side of the titan) could some one tell me any of their experiences with a toyota tacoma or tundra (i like those trucks as well)...

and thank you to all the forum members who have congratulated me on my graduation...FYI my graduation is saturday the 18th...just tought i passed that on...

 

36k a year, you could do it and live fine if your responsible with your money. Personally I would not buy a truck if I was in your situation, I would be looking at something like a 2001-2003 preowned certified BMW 3series 330xi. Great cars and BMW really takes care of there customers. You can find one fairly reasonable and it will give a lot more years then the Titan will and the BMW is all wheel drive. BMW hold there value. I think you get free maintenance on BMW as well.