Nissan Navara, opinions please

[papabear]

Always had a hankering for a truck and find myself drawn to the Nissan Nivara Aventura.

I'm not looking to buy one for work, In fact it will have a very easy life. I just fancy a big truck.

So any owners here want to give me their opinions?


p

[Sixpackpert]

Sorry, no real input as I have an L200 (which has been bullet proof in the 4 years I have had it).

Have a look here...

http://knackerednavara.proboards.com/

[300bhp/ton]

papabear said:

Always had a hankering for a truck and find myself drawn to the Nissan Nivara Aventura.

I'm not looking to buy one for work, In fact it will have a very easy life. I just fancy a big truck.

So any owners here want to give me their opinions?


p

My only question would be why?

It's not that I don't like trucks I do (really think they are a sensible family car and real hoot). But the watered down trucks we get in the UK are just so ho hum.


If you want to go off road, haul or tow, then a Landy has to be better in every respect.

If not one of those, then I'd look at some proper US trucks. They are much nicer inside, have a proper engine, perform much better and probably won't cost much more if any to run.

Not sure on your budget, but why not look at things like these:





Or if you don't need off road ability maybe a 2wd truck:

[ZesPak]

300bhp/ton said:

papabear said:

Always had a hankering for a truck and find myself drawn to the Nissan Nivara Aventura.

I'm not looking to buy one for work, In fact it will have a very easy life. I just fancy a big truck.

So any owners here want to give me their opinions?


p

My only question would be why?

It's not that I don't like trucks I do (really think they are a sensible family car and real hoot). But the watered down trucks we get in the UK are just so ho hum.


If you want to go off road, haul or tow, then a Landy has to be better in every respect.

If not one of those, then I'd look at some proper US trucks. They are much nicer inside, have a proper engine, perform much better and probably won't cost much more if any to run.

Not sure on your budget, but why not look at things like these:

<pics>

you're seriously suggesting a Dodge RAM won't cost you more to run than a Nissan Navara

You sir, are the reason you see so many on driveways with a big "FOR SALE" sticker on the windscreen.

That said, the Navara is a very good workhorse, wouldn't see why you'd want one for anything else, but I've run a double cab for years for heavy duty work (hauling trailers of cement/bricks/sand) and it never let me down once...

EDIT: just noticed the "nicer interiour" part
Ok, my friend loves his Dodge RAM but there are two things he said he would NEVER say about it:
1) It's reasonable to run
2) The interiour trim is ok

Come on, I know a thing or two about trucks, and you're talking complete rubbish! How do you work out a RAM/F150 has better interiour than a Navara? Or it won't cost you much more to run?
Am I missing something? Did I do some very bad research (on running costs) when I was looking for a truck?

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 8th April 12:36

[Waugh-terfall]

I had one for a couple of days in the Summer, a 56-plate Outlaw King-Cab dCi manual. I LOVED it, big and comfortable, easy to drive and it doesn't feel as big as it is from the hot seat. Steering is nicely weighted but lacking in feel and the gearbox has a nice action, the cabin felt well put together and the sound system was alright too, mine had auto lights/wipers and climate control, which was nice and worked well too. Parking was fairly easy, though harder in the dark as it was black. Wasn't particularly lethargic and had a decent amount of grunt pulling away and for getting up some of the steeper parts of where I used it off road. Performed pretty well off-road in the wet too on standard All-Weather tyres. Flicking the switch back from AWD to RWD on a wet field was great fun too, they're quite handy at the ol' donuts! Mind, I don't think the turning circle was particularly great! We used it with a new L200 Warrior too, which definitely didn't feel as nice-a place to be in and wasn't as well built, though I think it had a better ground clearance than the Navara. I'd take the Navara any day, unless a Dodge Ram was on offer...

[mazdajason]

If you will be driving with kids and worry about safety, dont go near them, terrible NCAP reports and safety testing results

[300bhp/ton]

ZesPak said:

you're seriously suggesting a Dodge RAM won't cost you more to run than a Nissan Navara

I suspect the Ram would be more reliable long and short term.

As for fuel, well if you get a Cummin's they'll do 20-22mpg. compared to what ~25-28mpg for most UK spec diesel trucks.

So even over 10,000 miles in a year that's a huge £300-700 year a difference in fuel costs.

If it's petrol and converted to LPG then it's probably be cheaper per mile than a UK spec diesel.

ZesPak said:

You sir, are the reason you see so many on driveways with a big "FOR SALE" sticker on the windscreen.

Were on earth (or in the UK ) do you live. Such trucks are rare enough as it is, let alone seeing loads of them in driveways for sale

Seriously

ZesPak said:

EDIT: just noticed the "nicer interiour" part
Ok, my friend loves his Dodge RAM but there are two

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 8th April 12:34

Nissan Navara interior:


Ram interior


F150



umm I see your point.

[papabear]

Thanks for the replys,


Why do I want one? I don't know really, I just do

I may have been influenced by T J HOOKER or Marty Mcfly driving his black Toyota in Back To The Future, and yes it was twenty years ago but I still think trucks are cool.

I have to admit the Fords and the Rams are the bks but just toooo thirsty. Besides the steering wheel is on the wrong side, which for me is only acceptable when considering an E30 M3, Delta, Charger, Corvette etc.


I'm booking a test drive to see whats what.

T

[HD Adam]

ZesPak said:

Come on, I know a thing or two about trucks, and you're talking complete rubbish! How do you work out a RAM/F150 has better interiour than a Navara?

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 8th April 12:36

Here's a Navara



and here's my Ford F150



I'd say that I have a better interior, even on my older model.

[trickywoo]

IIRC some of the early diesel models suffered from big end bearing failure. Possibly all sorted now.

Edited by trickywoo on Thursday 8th April 12:58

[300bhp/ton]

papabear said:

Thanks for the replys,


Why do I want one? I don't know really, I just do

I may have been influenced by T J HOOKER or Marty Mcfly driving his black Toyota in Back To The Future, and yes it was twenty years ago but I still think trucks are cool.

I have to admit the Fords and the Rams are the bks but just toooo thirsty. Besides the steering wheel is on the wrong side, which for me is only acceptable when considering an E30 M3, Delta, Charger, Corvette etc.


I'm booking a test drive to see whats what.

T

I admit, I've always had a soft spot for the HiLux, although latter ones simply didn't look as good.

LHD isn't so bad, you get used to it very quickly and a high up truck would remove some of the issue people have with it.

As for mpg's. I'd do some research, I'd be very surprised if there really is that much real world difference.

For instance, my 200Tdi Disco only usually manages 21-23mpg. And a quick Google says the Navra has a Combined mpg of 28. And claims as low as 23mpg (although a few over 30). But if you put it on chunky tyres expect the mpg to drop.

[papabear]

I think the majority of faults were sorted 07 and on. I may be wrong.

I'll be looking at a nearly new, 6-10 months old, fully loaded.

I don't get the Die Hard or the Long Way Down versions.

[ZesPak]

300bhp/ton said:

ZesPak said:

you're seriously suggesting a Dodge RAM won't cost you more to run than a Nissan Navara

I suspect the Ram would be more reliable long and short term.

As for fuel, well if you get a Cummin's they'll do 20-22mpg. compared to what ~25-28mpg for most UK spec diesel trucks.

So even over 10,000 miles in a year that's a huge £300-700 year a difference in fuel costs.

If it's petrol and converted to LPG then it's probably be cheaper per mile than a UK spec diesel.

I'm not slowest driver, and as said, I hauled a lot in it, but never got below 30mpg on a run. 25 is riduculously low. My mate with the RAM however, is glad to see 20.
Over here (Beglium) diesel is cheaper as it is, but I can't imagine you could make a winnings out of 10mpg less?
As for reliability, well, can you put some numbers on that? In my experience the navara is not an unreliable car, and I don't think a Dodge RAM will be unreliable. But I couldn't compare them, as my mate and I never had anything go wrong with our cars. His parts are a bit more expensive, but that's due to rarity here I suspect, and I have to admit the RAM is better looking (outside).

300bhp/ton said:

ZesPak said:

You sir, are the reason you see so many on driveways with a big "FOR SALE" sticker on the windscreen.

Were on earth (or in the UK ) do you live. Such trucks are rare enough as it is, let alone seeing loads of them in driveways for sale

Seriously

I live in Belgium and lots of people here think "if I put them on LPG, it will be good for me". One of the reasons I didn't get one back then was because so many were sold and it made me very suspicious of the running costs.

300bhp/ton said:

ZesPak said:

EDIT: just noticed the "nicer interiour" part
Ok, my friend loves his Dodge RAM but there are two

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 8th April 12:34

Nissan Navara interior:
picture taken with bad camera from an angle

Ram interior
brochure picture of top spec

F150
brochure picture of top spec


umm I see your point.

Really, comparing a shoddy picture with pictures of top specs of the other brands?

[daveparry]

Sorry if it has been suggested elsewhere but you should consider the Toyota Hilux, cracking machine!

[papabear]

Yep the old Hilux is a good truck

Here's one
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1620780.htm

It would be worth buying just so to drop my 6 year old son off at school.

[iggletiggle]

OP to answer you question about the LONG WAY DOWN and DIE HARD versions - these special ed's have various extras fitted as standard such as Sat nav, leather etc with some chrome bits and bobs thrown on the outside for good measure..

Navara for a toy truck isnt too bad at all, although if i was going for something to offroad with i'd look at a hilux or defender pick up..

[papabear]

Waugh-terfall said:

I had one for a couple of days in the Summer, a 56-plate Outlaw King-Cab dCi manual. I LOVED it, big and comfortable, easy to drive and it doesn't feel as big as it is from the hot seat. Steering is nicely weighted but lacking in feel and the gearbox has a nice action, the cabin felt well put together and the sound system was alright too, mine had auto lights/wipers and climate control, which was nice and worked well too. Parking was fairly easy, though harder in the dark as it was black. Wasn't particularly lethargic and had a decent amount of grunt pulling away and for getting up some of the steeper parts of where I used it off road. Performed pretty well off-road in the wet too on standard All-Weather tyres. Flicking the switch back from AWD to RWD on a wet field was great fun too, they're quite handy at the ol' donuts! Mind, I don't think the turning circle was particularly great! We used it with a new L200 Warrior too, which definitely didn't feel as nice-a place to be in and wasn't as well built, though I think it had a better ground clearance than the Navara. I'd take the Navara any day, unless a Dodge Ram was on offer...

Thanks for this

[papabear]

iggletiggle said:

OP to answer you question about the LONG WAY DOWN and DIE HARD versions - these special ed's have various extras fitted as standard such as Sat nav, leather etc with some chrome bits and bobs thrown on the outside for good measure..

Navara for a toy truck isnt too bad at all, although if i was going for something to offroad with i'd look at a hilux or defender pick up..

Although I live in the country I don't see me going off road, maybe mounting the curb on the odd occasion but that's about it. I should look into it though as it would fill the gap over winter while the bike is hibernating.

T

[papabear]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why?

[300bhp/ton]

ZesPak said:

I'm not slowest driver, and as said, I hauled a lot in it, but never got below 30mpg on a run. 25 is riduculously low.

Well bully for you. But according to Google you are doing better than most and better than claimed.

But unless you are doing huge miles, even 30mpg compared to 22mpg is not such a huge difference.

ZesPak said:

My mate with the RAM however, is glad to see 20.

What is it?

Is it diesel or petrol or running LPG. If petrol is it V6 or V8, if V8 is it the newer OHV Hemi engine or the older 5.9 litre Magnum unit?

ZesPak said:

Over here (Beglium) diesel is cheaper as it is, but I can't imagine you could make a winnings out of 10mpg less?

For how many miles. What do you consider a lot to run. Show me some figures...


It's not that I want to disagree, but if you only do 5000 miles a year in one. You are only talking anywhere from as little as £150 to £400 difference. Or on average £12.50-£33.33 a month more. I personally don't see that as a huge difference in running costs.

ZesPak said:

As for reliability, well, can you put some numbers on that? In my experience the navara is not an unreliable car, and I don't think a Dodge RAM will be unreliable. But I couldn't compare them, as my mate and I never had anything go wrong with our cars. His parts are a bit more expensive, but that's due to rarity here I suspect, and I have to admit the RAM is better looking (outside).

I don't know much about the Navara, L200 or whatever reliability. I would expect them to be ok, but there does seem to be a fair amount of talk of problems with such vehicles. But I don't know the truth.

As for the American trucks, I'm sure some go wrong. But they sell thousands and thousands of them each year. If reliability was an issue I'm sure it's be made a much more prominent issue. None of which I can say I've seen. Also in the US these trucks often get very hard lives and rack up miles very quickly. As in 400,000 miles in maybe 2 or 3 years. This seems to be fairly regular and common use over there.

ZesPak said:

I live in Belgium and lots of people here think "if I put them on LPG, it will be good for me". One of the reasons I didn't get one back then was because so many were sold and it made me very suspicious of the running costs.

I can't really comment on Belgium as I honestly don't know.

But the modern V8's should be capable of 12-15mpg, maybe slightly better. In town they'll drink more for sure. But slap one on LPG then even 10-12mpg would actually make it the same as a regular petrol car doing 20-24mpg. And as diesel is more expensive than petrol, it's probably about equal to a diesel doing ~26-27mpg in terms of pence per mile.

So yes, on face value it may seem worse. But do the figures and I'm not so sure there's really that much in it.

ZesPak said:

Really, comparing a shoddy picture with pictures of top specs of the other brands?

Not at all, just used Google. But I'm happy to let you put some other pics up to show me wrong if you want.

Sure a 1996 Ram won't be as nice inside, but then comparing a 2009 Navara to it is a little unfair.

But even basic spec modern US trucks are quite nice inside.