Nissan Xtrail or Honda CRV? Max £5k

[Back]

As stated in the title ...

Can anyone with some knowledge on the above two vehicles comment?

This is a vehicle for need more than want. I won't be going off-road but it needs to be capable in the snow and good for carting round two adults and three kids.

From what I have seen I am looking at a 2007 vehicle with high mileage - what do I need to look for and be wary of?

Opinions / comments appreciated!

[Liquid Tuna]

Back said:

As stated in the title ...

Can anyone with some knowledge on the above two vehicles comment?

This is a vehicle for need more than want. I won't be going off-road but it needs to be capable in the snow and good for carting round two adults and three kids.

From what I have seen I am looking at a 2007 vehicle with high mileage - what do I need to look for and be wary of?

Opinions / comments appreciated!

You'll get the usual comments about fitting winter tyres to a normal car etc etc etc (which in 95% of cases is actually the better thing to do) but that advice notwithstanding, aren't there problems with higher mile X-Trails? Is it diesel or petrol models you're looking at?

[McWigglebum4th]

You don't need 4wd for snow

I live in the northeast of scotland 4 miles from the nearest road that gets gritted

When its snowing we still use the wifes panda

Look at all season tyres

So unless you life at the south pole forget 4wd

[Back]

McWigglebum4th said:

You don't need 4wd for snow

I live in the northeast of scotland 4 miles from the nearest road that gets gritted

When its snowing we still use the wifes panda

Look at all season tyres

So unless you life at the south pole forget 4wd

I'm a police trained advanced driver - without going into the physics involved, yes I do need four wheels driving for the purpose of this vehicle.

I do not know what the issues with the cars are hence my post = anyone in the know, please tell me!

Vehicle requirements are: 4x4. Room for 2 adults, 3 kids and respective luggage, prefer diesel as a petrol engine is only useful in a performance car, max £5000 ... any other options within these requirements, please let me know!

[Back]

Liquid Tuna said:

You'll get the usual comments about fitting winter tyres to a normal car etc etc etc (which in 95% of cases is actually the better thing to do) but that advice notwithstanding, aren't there problems with higher mile X-Trails? Is it diesel or petrol models you're looking at?

If the Xtrail has problems at high mileage then I'll probably cross it off the list!

So, Honda CRV ... no older than 2007 - any one in the know?

[valiant]

Be careful with the old X-Trail diesels.

Common issue with turbos going pop. (for the life of me I can't remember which variant of the engine is the 'dodgy' one - sorry, but google is your friend here).

I'd go for the CRV or a petrol X-trail. (I also believe that the 2litre is 2wd only - 2.5 has 4wd)

[Back]

valiant said:

Be careful with the old X-Trail diesels.

Common issue with turbos going pop. (for the life of me I can't remember which variant of the engine is the 'dodgy' one - sorry, but google is your friend here).

I'd go for the CRV or a petrol X-trail. (I also believe that the 2litre is 2wd only - 2.5 has 4wd)

Very helpful, thank you - in a couple of posts I have definitely crossed the Nissan off the list now!

Any other contenders?

[minghis]

I had a 2006 CRV (petrol) and found the ride was really hard, not at all suited to the car. The tailgate was side hinged which was really annoying. A bit tall and narrow inside.

I had a 2003 X Trail (diesel) and it was more comfortable with a bigger interior. Better off road apparently and also had proper top hinged tailgate which was much better.

Didn't have either of them long enough to be able to offer much more than that but if I had to have one again I'd have the X Trail.

[McWigglebum4th]

Honda diesel of the same age is also patrial to a turbo for breakfast

I would suggest a forester as they are pretty bomb proof but petrol only at the age you are looking for so they are a performance car

[McWigglebum4th]

Back said:

I'm a police trained advanced driver - without going into the physics involved, yes I do need four wheels driving for the purpose of this vehicle.

Oh tell me more about how you need 4 wheels driving

Edited by McWigglebum4th on Tuesday 11th February 14:07

[Back]

minghis said:

I had a 2006 CRV (petrol) and found the ride was really hard, not at all suited to the car. The tailgate was side hinged which was really annoying. A bit tall and narrow inside.

I had a 2003 X Trail (diesel) and it was more comfortable with a bigger interior. Better off road apparently and also had proper top hinged tailgate which was much better.

Didn't have either of them long enough to be able to offer much more than that but if I had to have one again I'd have the X Trail.

Interesting and very helpful - the narrow comments might have put me off the CRV now - I have already noted the annoying side opening boot which I am not keen on.

And other posts above have put me off the X Trail.

People are probably going to respond to thread title now rather than the posts ...

But now I am looking at alternatives to both!

[sparkythecat]

I was looking for a similar vehicle 12 months ago, with a £4.5k budget to run as a second car. The X Trails I looked at all seemed to have had a hard life and were generally very 'careworn'. There were very few diesel CRVs in budget, but those that were had 150k+ miles.

In the end, £4k bought me a 2005 Kia Sportage diesel with 65kmiles from a private seller. I can't really fault it. It's a fairly bland and uninvolving thing to drive, but it's roomy, comfortable and does exactly what it says on the tin. It's been completely reliable and does around 37mpg in mixed motoring. If it died, I'd buy another tomorrow.

Edited by sparkythecat on Tuesday 11th February 14:14

[minghis]

Ford Maverick
Nissan Terrano
LR Freelander
Toyota RAV4
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Jeep Cherokee
Kia Sportage
Kia Sorento
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Terracan
Hyundai Tuscon
Mercedes ML
Chevrolet Captiva
Lexus RX300
Mitsubishi Shogun

Probably all within your price range.

[Back]

McWigglebum4th said:

I would suggest a forester as they are pretty bomb proof but petrol only at the age you are looking for so they are a performance car

I have considered a Forester but they are butt-ugly and not really big enough for the crowd I have.

As for 4wd, I haven't the energy to go into the debate right now .

I'd consider something with 500bhp and Rwd but I don't think that's going to suit my £5k budget!

[Back]

sparkythecat said:

I was looking for a similar vehicle 12 months ago, with a £4.5k budget to run as a second car. The X Trails I looked at all seemed to have had a hard life and were generally very 'careworn'. There were very few diesel CRVs in budget, but those that were had 150k+ miles.

In the end, £4k bought me a 2005 Kia Sportage with 65kmiles from a private seller. I can't really fault it. It's a fairly bland and uninvolving thing to drive, but it's roomy, comfortable and does exactly what it says on the tin. It's been completely reliable and does around 37mpg in mixed motoring. If it died, I'd buy another tomorrow.

That sounds like one to add to the list!

[valiant]

Does it have to be a softroader type thingy??

Stuff like Legacy/Outback or Skoda Scout might be suitable.

Or my stock answer to 4wd threads --- Jeep Commander!!!

[Back]

minghis said:

Ford Maverick
Nissan Terrano
LR Freelander
Toyota RAV4
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Jeep Cherokee
Kia Sportage
Kia Sorento
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Terracan
Hyundai Tuscon
Mercedes ML
Chevrolet Captiva
Lexus RX300
Mitsubishi Shogun

Probably all within your price range.

Thanks, I'll do some investigating on some of those, Minghis

[billzeebub]

Forester every time. So much more talented than the two you have mentioned in the thread title. I bought a high spec 2004 XT from Subaru main dealer a couple of years ago for £4250. It had done 80k miles when I bought it and I have since done about 15k miles in it without anything breaking. They are fabulous vehicles. The Turbos are a hoot, but the non Turbo also highly talented. They do like a drop of oil, the rear shocks can also fail (mine had just had them replaced by dealer before purchase). Other than that there aren't too many issues I am aware of. They can be quite sensitive to tyre choice though and I would recommend any purchaser to run 4 matching tyres.

Can't recommend the Forester highly enough. Mine has Leather Heated armchairs, cd changer, AirCon, full length glass sunroof, front & rear cup holders, 3x 12v power supplies, cruise control. I have usually ended up taking it instead of the RR, such are its breadth of abilities. I would definitely purchase another.

Edited by billzeebub on Tuesday 11th February 14:23

[rallycross]

£5k budget you will get a much better spec/condition X-Trail-D than you will a CRV- D and probably leave funds spare for a warranty (but not escpecially known for failing either of them) - for that reason I'd chose X-Trail, also I find X-Trails' nicer to drive than CRV (old shape).
£5k will get you a mega miles last of old shape 2006 CRV 2.2D (eg 120-150k miles) or a much lower miles X-Trail D same age. A decent X trail spec will include glass roof, heated seats, satnav, side steps.
X trail feels more modern than CRV of this vintage, neither are very nice to drive, wallowy slow witted things to drive but prefered X trail.
The Petrol 2.5 SVe/Adventura XTrail is the best to drive and a fair bit cheaper than D model, so might be worth a look, buit if you are towing go for diesel XT - for some reason has much higher towing rating than the same model petrol.
Cheap alternative might be last of old shape Hyundai Santa Fe 2005/ model 4x4.
Note - some dealers are retailing the last of the old shape CRV -D 's for £8k hence £5k is not going to go very far on a CRV -D.

[sk1prat]

The misses drives an 04 plate diesel sport 2.2dci engine x-trail (better engine than the di)Issues I was made aware of whilst looking was the di engine and was advised to get the dci as more reliable. Only issues with this car was the caliper pistons, but had mine replaced before I purchased and have had no problems with anything. Car done 106k (38 in my ownership) good car in my opinion.