13-04-2013, 08:27 PM
It's interesting what you are saying about Nissan dealer quality, because that's the same sort of short shrift I was getting down here, so it must be some sort of institutionalised mantra from company offices in Watford / Rickmansworth.
On the X Trail the 4WD was actually quite reliable, unlike the engine, and coped well with the snow over the last few years. What let the car down initially was the turbo failures, which prompted a 6 year / 90k mile warranty extension by Nissan. The cure was a recall and the change of the turbo boost sensors, but even then I was always weary of the car, but the engine throwing the con rod was an unexpected surprise. The worst bit of penny pinching by Nissan was making the intercooler by the same method as rolling a baked bean can, the new intercoolers are welded on the edges but the old ones would go and often take the engine with them. I'm sorry, but Nissan kit is not fit for purpose.
I'm buzzing around at the moment in an 08 plated 1.6 Astra, a high end model, which is a lovely car to drive whilst returning better MPG compared to the diesel X Trail, at least a quarter better. It will do for a couple of years until finances sort themselves out but I must admit the Fiat 4WD is on my radar along with the Hyundai X35. Nissan ruined it for themselves, that brand is poison now.
On the X Trail the 4WD was actually quite reliable, unlike the engine, and coped well with the snow over the last few years. What let the car down initially was the turbo failures, which prompted a 6 year / 90k mile warranty extension by Nissan. The cure was a recall and the change of the turbo boost sensors, but even then I was always weary of the car, but the engine throwing the con rod was an unexpected surprise. The worst bit of penny pinching by Nissan was making the intercooler by the same method as rolling a baked bean can, the new intercoolers are welded on the edges but the old ones would go and often take the engine with them. I'm sorry, but Nissan kit is not fit for purpose.
I'm buzzing around at the moment in an 08 plated 1.6 Astra, a high end model, which is a lovely car to drive whilst returning better MPG compared to the diesel X Trail, at least a quarter better. It will do for a couple of years until finances sort themselves out but I must admit the Fiat 4WD is on my radar along with the Hyundai X35. Nissan ruined it for themselves, that brand is poison now.
