Bangernomics with a Nissan Primera
Discussion
Must admit, it wouldn't be found in any car magazines anytime soon but I do find a good test is to look what the rich Indian families in my area drive - they tend not to be flashy, but instead are very, very careful with money and if they have a car they will keep it until kingdom come. Mid-Late 90's Nissans - Primeras and Almeras - are very, very common with aforementioned families around here and do seem to be respected.
I've got an early 2001 1.8 Primera as my daily runaround, and frankly, it does the job - but it's definitely boring. I've put about 60K on it since I bought it, and (so far) very little has gone wrong with it. All it's needed to date has been new pads all round, front discs, sorting out a problem with the drivers side window - plus the inevitable exhaust replacement - and thats about it. I Cant really complain considering its got close to 110K on the clock now.
If I had to choose one word to describe it, that word would be "reliable". Since my other car is a Land Rover (still in about a thousand parts at the moment. Again), I really, really appreciate reliability in my daily driver. The Primera is cheap to insure and service as well, so for bangernomics it's probably one of the best choices out there. Would I buy another one should this one meet an untimely end? Definitely (but would go for the 2.0 GT next time!)
If I had to choose one word to describe it, that word would be "reliable". Since my other car is a Land Rover (still in about a thousand parts at the moment. Again), I really, really appreciate reliability in my daily driver. The Primera is cheap to insure and service as well, so for bangernomics it's probably one of the best choices out there. Would I buy another one should this one meet an untimely end? Definitely (but would go for the 2.0 GT next time!)
In contrast to Twincam16's post, the eGT models were the ones with the power (SR20DE) and the harder suspension. The SRi models from my recollection, had stock engines but the uprated suspension. The Nissan brochures of the time were a little coy on the exact upgrades, but friends at the dealer were convinced there was more to it than Nissan were saying. I had a new P10 SRi (only white 4dr I ever saw) from Feb 97 until Feb 98, put 20K on the clock and loved it.
a couple of years ago I got my wife an X plate Nissan Primera 2.0 Se plus as her daily run about. It was a quality motor. came with everything and it all worked. Only issue was a throttle body problem which was replaced under warranty. It had about 80k on it and ran fine mid 30's mpg. Kept it for about 8 months before a co car replaced it.
It's a good car and worthy of a place in the snotter barge thread.
It's a good car and worthy of a place in the snotter barge thread.
hora said:
I'm going to report this topic to the mods.
Why not choose a mk1 Focus?
Why not choose a mk1 Focus?
Because I want a Primera? I find this model a very good used buy and a reliable source of transport for me and my family. And a way of saving up for a weekend car without the Mrs giving me hassle.
Sr20de? Now that is interesting...
vit4 said:
Must admit, it wouldn't be found in any car magazines anytime soon but I do find a good test is to look what the rich Indian families in my area drive - they tend not to be flashy, but instead are very, very careful with money and if they have a car they will keep it until kingdom come. Mid-Late 90's Nissans - Primeras and Almeras - are very, very common with aforementioned families around here and do seem to be respected.
Interesting post! I work in two GP surgeries in Bolton, and the punters in both practices generally drive Toyotas... The 'catchment areas' for both practices are "pretty poor" (patients are generally Asian and make it to 65 or 70 then succumb to the grim reaper after 30 years living with Diabetes or impaired kidney function or other systemic failures; household incomes are WAY below the national average; the area gets relief on stamp duty; etc etc), and Nissans are rare among my "customers". I don't know what cars every last punter drives, but I go walkabout most lunchtimes and my comments aren't from poking a damp finger into the wind 
. They drive Toyotas, not Nissans.CAR magazine did a long term test of an early Primera 2.0GT and weren't complementary about the reliability of things like eletric windows - plus the gearbox developed a fault on 5th gear. But this was an early UK-built car, and later ones seem fine as reported.
To the OP: service it and run it into the ground - in several years
. Like the Bruce Springsteen song, they were "Born to run" !TotalControl said:
Sr20de? Now that is interesting...
Truckloads of Jap import Primeras down here and probably 80% of them are SR20 powered, the 1.8s are less common. Incidentally I've heard the 'Avensis' name mentioned on PH before but only now learnt what they are... the rest of the world calls it a Corona.
being a ex nissan tech for many years got to see them all from the late p10 primeras right up to the last p12 piles of junk, but the old 8valve turbo diesel p11 and p11e primeras were truelly shocking in terms of power............well complete lack of, really convinced that the turbo was just for show as it felt like it made no difference at all on every single one of them, if you were towing well good luck on that one. I liked the way the primeras drove and reckon the p11 td would be better with the boost wound up, but still not that good.
As for the last gen p12, thank you renault in part for destroying a nice reliable car. Turbos/intercoolers/boostpipes/gearboxes/suspension/electrics all were made of chocloate, lost count how many of the above we changed and dont get me started on the yd22 engine itself, stretching timing chains when less than a year old,fitting modified timing chain tensioners, diesel pumps that were fubared..............that on its own is a 1800 quid part alone without labour, the list goes on and on. Its a shame too as i used to love working on nissans but this just ruined it
As for the last gen p12, thank you renault in part for destroying a nice reliable car. Turbos/intercoolers/boostpipes/gearboxes/suspension/electrics all were made of chocloate, lost count how many of the above we changed and dont get me started on the yd22 engine itself, stretching timing chains when less than a year old,fitting modified timing chain tensioners, diesel pumps that were fubared..............that on its own is a 1800 quid part alone without labour, the list goes on and on. Its a shame too as i used to love working on nissans but this just ruined it
scorchio said:
being a ex nissan tech for many years got to see them all from the late p10 primeras right up to the last p12 piles of junk, but the old 8valve turbo diesel p11 and p11e primeras were truelly shocking in terms of power............well complete lack of, really convinced that the turbo was just for show as it felt like it made no difference at all on every single one of them, if you were towing well good luck on that one. I liked the way the primeras drove and reckon the p11 td would be better with the boost wound up, but still not that good.
As for the last gen p12, thank you renault in part for destroying a nice reliable car. Turbos/intercoolers/boostpipes/gearboxes/suspension/electrics all were made of chocloate, lost count how many of the above we changed and dont get me started on the yd22 engine itself, stretching timing chains when less than a year old,fitting modified timing chain tensioners, diesel pumps that were fubared..............that on its own is a 1800 quid part alone without labour, the list goes on and on. Its a shame too as i used to love working on nissans but this just ruined it
Guy in my work has a p12 Primera. It is a bag of crap! Dodgy electrics - heated rear screen, central locking switch, cd player and lights not working. Dodgy suspension and brakes - eats through bushes/shocks etc constantly. It also had a stretched timing chain which cost a fortune to sort out. Full of Renault parts. Fair enough, he doesn't look after it but he had a p10 or p11 (can't remember which) before it and it was bulletproof.As for the last gen p12, thank you renault in part for destroying a nice reliable car. Turbos/intercoolers/boostpipes/gearboxes/suspension/electrics all were made of chocloate, lost count how many of the above we changed and dont get me started on the yd22 engine itself, stretching timing chains when less than a year old,fitting modified timing chain tensioners, diesel pumps that were fubared..............that on its own is a 1800 quid part alone without labour, the list goes on and on. Its a shame too as i used to love working on nissans but this just ruined it
Yeah one of the recalls on the p12 when it was just launched was to fit bigger anti-roll bar droplinks to the rear, this involved drilling out the anti-roll bar to 12mm, drilling sprung steel can be fun, another was replacing rubber boost pipes with hard pipe kits as the factory ones were splitting left right and centre, nothing but cheap junk. The p12 had potential on paper as it was a cool looking shape but just didnt deliver even in t-spec guise. Getting back to that yd22 pile of poo, that engine is nothing but trouble no matter what its in, x-trail/almera/nevara
GravelBen said:
Truckloads of Jap import Primeras down here and probably 80% of them are SR20 powered, the 1.8s are less common. Incidentally I've heard the 'Avensis' name mentioned on PH before but only now learnt what they are... the rest of the world calls it a Corona.
I was surprised with the Primera having an SR20DE as parts could potentially be shared between this and higher powered cars. So modifying the engine to create a bit more power could happen if need be.
I hate the P12 shaped thing. Renault ruined it.
downthepub said:
In contrast to Twincam16's post, the eGT models were the ones with the power (SR20DE) and the harder suspension. The SRi models from my recollection, had stock engines but the uprated suspension. The Nissan brochures of the time were a little coy on the exact upgrades, but friends at the dealer were convinced there was more to it than Nissan were saying. I had a new P10 SRi (only white 4dr I ever saw) from Feb 97 until Feb 98, put 20K on the clock and loved it.
With the P11, the SRi had the 130bhp engine, but the uprated suspension, with strut braces in front and rear, and very hard springs.The GT was the same but had the 150bhp engine.
I miss my old GT, but it was a heap. But then I payed shed money for it (£425) and for that, the odd oil leak and tatty interioir or exterior are expected. Averaging 36mpg from a 2 litre engine designed in the late 80's/early 90's ain't too shabby either.
ah so so nightrunner all depended on how much it cost, its still the yd engine in this one but not common rail iirc , just low pressure 150 bar fuel pressure. Still will have the yd engine issues but these were not as bad on diesel pumps, just watch the boxes though........kinda swiss cheese, it does sound like i am being harh but this was nissans quality vrs cost issue as we were told by a renault exec when they took part control that " nissans were too reliable and didnt make enough profit"
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