Bangernomics with a Nissan Primera
Discussion
No, not the flop of a Primer that was in production under the Renault banner. The one before, 99 to 2001 model.
They look very good value for money and I can't really fault them.
After a lot of ooh'ing and aah'ing about which type of car to purchase over the years (it has been a while) I've decided to stick with cheap and cheerful. And also because I really want to try my hand at bangermonics.
What do people think about these cars? Which model is best in terms of reliability, performance, mpg, handling and comfort? Also, insurance needs to be kept down too. Especially with prices the way they are today.
They look very good value for money and I can't really fault them.
After a lot of ooh'ing and aah'ing about which type of car to purchase over the years (it has been a while) I've decided to stick with cheap and cheerful. And also because I really want to try my hand at bangermonics.
What do people think about these cars? Which model is best in terms of reliability, performance, mpg, handling and comfort? Also, insurance needs to be kept down too. Especially with prices the way they are today.
Something of a dark horse in their day. As the replacement for the Bluebird they looked like pensioner's chariots of choice, but because Nissan were desperately trying to do something about their image, they made it brilliant to drive. So much so that, when Ford were engineering the Mondeo, the Primera was their benchmark as to how a FWD saloon should handle.
And then there's the SRi and eGT models, which had the pace to match. Martin Gurdon (Classic Cars columnist, Bristol owner and all-round car nut who knows a good thing when he drives it) has an SRi as a daily-driver and says it's a future classic, a kind of cross between a 3-series and a Morris Minor (3-series in terms of performance and enjoyment, Minor in terms of having a fuddy-duddy image but being far better to drive than the looks would suggest).
Given that they're utterly bomb-proof, I'd go for it if you're looking at paying peanuts, especially if it was one of the sportier models.
And you can pretend you're Laurent Aiello or David Leslie:
And then there's the SRi and eGT models, which had the pace to match. Martin Gurdon (Classic Cars columnist, Bristol owner and all-round car nut who knows a good thing when he drives it) has an SRi as a daily-driver and says it's a future classic, a kind of cross between a 3-series and a Morris Minor (3-series in terms of performance and enjoyment, Minor in terms of having a fuddy-duddy image but being far better to drive than the looks would suggest).
Given that they're utterly bomb-proof, I'd go for it if you're looking at paying peanuts, especially if it was one of the sportier models.
And you can pretend you're Laurent Aiello or David Leslie:
I nearly got a Primera of that vintage as a daily driver a couple of months ago, but went for an Avensis instead.
Primeras, like the Avensis, are quite similar, in that they are British built to a decent standard, generally well rust-proofed and reliable. Both have chain-cam engines that are capable of very high miles if looked after, and have quite robust and long lasting interiors.
If you go for either, I'd recommend going for a very well-specced, lowest miles possible example. It's not worth getting the 1.8 over the 2.0L ones as they are both good for well over 40mpg, I'm currently getting a verified 45+ week in, week out.
Here's a Primera for example;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
And here's it's nemesis;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
ETA; The Nissan is the better steer, the Toyota just pips it for fuel economy.
Primeras, like the Avensis, are quite similar, in that they are British built to a decent standard, generally well rust-proofed and reliable. Both have chain-cam engines that are capable of very high miles if looked after, and have quite robust and long lasting interiors.
If you go for either, I'd recommend going for a very well-specced, lowest miles possible example. It's not worth getting the 1.8 over the 2.0L ones as they are both good for well over 40mpg, I'm currently getting a verified 45+ week in, week out.
Here's a Primera for example;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
And here's it's nemesis;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
ETA; The Nissan is the better steer, the Toyota just pips it for fuel economy.
Edited by V88Dicky on Friday 10th June 10:21
Edited by V88Dicky on Friday 10th June 10:23
I have had a couple, both 1999 SX hatchback models - and they are absolutely brilliant. Just a little bit (very) uninspiring. But cheap to insure, reliable, unlikely to be nicked and a shed so I dont get too worked up about people opening doors into it.
The current one I have had for the last 4 years is on 115k miles of which the last 60k were driven by me. In that time its had new pads all round, a set of tyres, a battery, a drivers side CV joint and an exhaust centre section that was blowing when I bought it. Its due front discs soon but the engine and gearbox still feels very strong and I imagine that it will be going for a good while yet. I change the oil & filters myself every six months and it never seems to burn/lose any between changes.
The fuel economy is average - get about 350 miles out of a 60l tank for general commuter driving.
For a car that only cost me £1200 I dont think it owes me anything - its driven dailiy, holds a load of stuff in the boot and has only failed to start once when the battery needed replacing.
The current one I have had for the last 4 years is on 115k miles of which the last 60k were driven by me. In that time its had new pads all round, a set of tyres, a battery, a drivers side CV joint and an exhaust centre section that was blowing when I bought it. Its due front discs soon but the engine and gearbox still feels very strong and I imagine that it will be going for a good while yet. I change the oil & filters myself every six months and it never seems to burn/lose any between changes.
The fuel economy is average - get about 350 miles out of a 60l tank for general commuter driving.
For a car that only cost me £1200 I dont think it owes me anything - its driven dailiy, holds a load of stuff in the boot and has only failed to start once when the battery needed replacing.
Twincam16 said:
I'd wager, given how equal they appear on paper, that the Primera was far more fun to drive - this is PH after all!
And exactly why I'd go for the Primera over the Avensis. The Toyota is the done thing. Many a cabby in my area has one, so I want something else. The Primera fits in right. That is, if I can find a good one in about 3 weeks time.TotalControl said:
And exactly why I'd go for the Primera over the Avensis. The Toyota is the done thing. Many a cabby in my area has one, so I want something else. The Primera fits in right. That is, if I can find a good one in about 3 weeks time.
Fantastic. Do you have a budget in mind, or just the cheapest available?Should get a perfectly reasonable Primera for that. Let me see.......
The usual haggling could see you in any of these;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
A GT;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Heated leather seats.. mmmmmm;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
The usual haggling could see you in any of these;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
A GT;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Heated leather seats.. mmmmmm;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
TAXI!Racked up about 50k miles in mine over last 3 - 4 years. ('99 2.0 petrol hatch)
Service it myself, just oil/filters/plugs as required.
Only thing to go wrong (apart from people continually driving into it - body's tough too
) was a CV gaiter split.
Average 35mpg but it is an auto.
Recommended as fun to drive, anonymous, park anywhere and not worry about it, vast luggage spaced,bullet proof shed
Service it myself, just oil/filters/plugs as required.
Only thing to go wrong (apart from people continually driving into it - body's tough too
) was a CV gaiter split. Average 35mpg but it is an auto.
Recommended as fun to drive, anonymous, park anywhere and not worry about it, vast luggage spaced,bullet proof shed
My experiences may not be typical, but I've found Toyota to be just a BIT more keen to price-gouge for obscure parts you might need and can't always find pattern equivs for...
That - and the nicer steer - puts the Primera on top over the *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry I fall asleep every time I try to say Ave....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
That - and the nicer steer - puts the Primera on top over the *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry I fall asleep every time I try to say Ave....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I had a P-plate primera which I bought to last me a month - it was £500.....4 years later with zero maintenance and almost zero spent on it and it was still running - absolutely great car, it was only taken from me when a local quick tyre place botched fixing a driveshaft and I couldn't be arsed getting it fixed properly....so sold it on ebay for £550.
One of the best cars I've ever owned - reliable to the end and I felt quite emotional the day it got taken away.
One of the best cars I've ever owned - reliable to the end and I felt quite emotional the day it got taken away.
I picked one up a few month back as a "gap car" and daily runnabout
whilst the reliability has proved strong so far and parts are easy to come across, i find myself dissapointed with fuel economy, mine is the 2.0 TDI although you'd never believe it actually had a turbo, and on a 424 motorway mile trip travelling at an eco 65mph it returned a frankly shocking 41.4mpg. which I deam just not good enough for such slow motorway driving.
However reliability is nice and I can't vouch for any of the petrol engines, and I guess theyre better looking than the avensis.
whilst the reliability has proved strong so far and parts are easy to come across, i find myself dissapointed with fuel economy, mine is the 2.0 TDI although you'd never believe it actually had a turbo, and on a 424 motorway mile trip travelling at an eco 65mph it returned a frankly shocking 41.4mpg. which I deam just not good enough for such slow motorway driving.
However reliability is nice and I can't vouch for any of the petrol engines, and I guess theyre better looking than the avensis.
johnpeat said:
My experiences may not be typical, but I've found Toyota to be just a BIT more keen to price-gouge for obscure parts you might need and can't always find pattern equivs for...
That - and the nicer steer - puts the Primera on top over the *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry I fall asleep every time I try to say Ave....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
That - and the nicer steer - puts the Primera on top over the *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry I fall asleep every time I try to say Ave....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I know what you mean.
How good is the steer on the Primera?
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