Posted: Dec 03 2008 at 6:47pm | IP Logged

 I've had some knee issues since getting older (old paratrooper knees + arthritis = pain) so I went with the automatic on the Frontier I bought in '07. I don't regret a second of the automatic, it's smoother than I thought possible, and seems to work quite well, and I don't have to work a damned clutch any more. I like it.

 I wouldn't want a 4 cylinder Frontier with an automatic, though, they can't get out of their own way, let alone merge with highway traffic. The V-6 cures that ill nicely. Get the automatic, you'll be happier long term, and it'll sell better when it's time to trade.

Posted: Dec 04 2008 at 4:39pm | IP Logged

 Just turned 50 in Oct., but I got the arthritis from the family genes. I hunt too, just went to the rheumatologist yesterday, in fact, and he prescribed a pheasant hunt in South Dakota next year, he said I need to walk a lot more, and carrying a shotgun gives me an excuse to walk a lot. That's what HE said. I like that doctor.

 I usually go to South Dakota for prairie dogs, I've been five times in the last ten years or so, this last trip we stayed at a pheasant lodge, so I think I can work myself into this idea of walking around carrying a shotgun.

 To keep this on topic, the reason I bought this new Frontier was because of these South Dakota trips. The last time I took the '02 Frontier XE, I was nearly run over, going UPhill, by semi trucks, as the little four banger couldn't keep ahead (it was loaded down pretty heavy) of the big trucks on big hills. I had a buttload of .223 and .204 ammo and a bunch of rifles, all locked in a big steel toolbox for security, in the bed of the XE, and it had no guts. I decided right then, that I would never get in that situation again. Got the V-6  in the new truck, and the power deficit went away. Just got back from Missouri, where I deer hunt on family farms, and the LSD helped a lot this year, it was a bit muddy out in the pastures, but the truck barely spun a tire, and only on wet grass/going uphill, at that. No 4WD for me, but I only take it, where I know I can go. With some common sense, you can go a lot more places than most folks realize. All 4WD does, is let you get stuck further away from help.

Posted: Dec 04 2008 at 7:07pm | IP Logged

 I moderate on www.204ruger.com, so I'm a little prejudiced I have two .204s, a heavy barrelled Savage (mostly for PDs) and a little lightweight CZ 527 American, for coyotes, groundhogs and crows. Plus other stuff, a couple of  heavy  Savage .223s, a .221 Fireball (another CZ527) and a .17 HMR, all of them make a prairie dog's life an "iffy" thing.

  The .204 is easier on the barrel life than the .22/250s, which I've done before. After ruining a couple of barrels in South Dakota, I started thinking "smaller case capacity will make for longer barrel life" and switched to the .204. It's really fun to shoot, it costs about the same to shoot as the .223s, but shoots MUCH flatter, making hits a lot easier at 400 yards. I've never owned a .222, but I have it bracketed by the .221 and the .223s, so I've never bought one (but I AM thinking about one!)

 The BEST thing about the .204, is that you can see the hits in the scope when you shoot, which is a lot of fun when shooting prairie dogs. There's very little recoil, and that helps you "dial in" at distance. They work better than expected in the wind, but are just like anything else, the wind WILL have some effect. That's just part of it, though, and makes it interesting..

  I could jabber for hours and hours, but we've hijacked this thread for sure and certain. Still, if the .204 interests you, stop by the .204um and give me a holler, Glenn Asher is the handle there, and at home. There are a lot of guys there who think .204 pretty seriously, we can answer any questions you might have, and have loading data out the wazoo, and all kinds of other helpful stuff.

 The hunting section is chock full of photos of trips out West for PDs, coyotes, badgers, etc. not to mention those Ohio and Pennsylvania groundhogs. We have guys from all over the world there, it's turned out to be the most informative site in the world for .204 stuff, if I say so myself. There's a big game section full of guys who would LOVE to read about your bear trip, too, and you can read about their elk and mule deer hunts, if you like, and the Canadians' wolf hunts. We do it all.................

Posted: Jan 11 2009 at 2:26pm | IP Logged

Personally I like the six speed.  I haven't had any problems, but it is still new.  It does have  an easy clutch pedal (which is kinda nice) and  I don't see anything wrong with that, it is all in the hydraulics.   What I found purchasing our last few cars is getting a manual transmission is not the norm.  My wife has an Accord coupe and the dealer had to search around to find one with a manual tranny.  When I bought my Frontier, I had to order it from the factory to get the color/transmission I wanted.  The only down side I found is that the shifter throw is a little long, but you get use to it quickly.

I agree, the stick makes it more fun to drive.  Good luck with your search.

Lou

08 Frontier KC 4x4  NISMO, Majestic Blue, 6 Speed