Tell me about the Nissan Stagea
Discussion
A car dealer near to me has a freshly imported Nissan Stagea up for 2K. Its a 1996 Auto RS 4 2.5 turbo. I dont know anything about these other than they are supposed to be quick. Looking for an estate car that can do 30mpg on a run. Will a Stagea do this? Are they 2wd or 4wd? How do they compare to a Subaru Legacy estate? What would I look out for when going to look at it?
30mpg from a Stagea 
even the NA versions struggle to do that let alone a turbo.
They're not bad cars, as far as running gear goes theyre basically an R33 Skyline wagon so pretty tuneable and reliable. They go well enough and handle well for their weight (1700+ kg) but are very thirsty. Available in both RWD and ATTESSA AWD forms, with RB20DE/25DE/25DET versions common and an Authech RB26DETT version with R33 GTR running gear thats about as common as rocking horse sh!t. I think they were all auto (except the Autech RS4 perhaps), they have one of those funny pedal 'handbrakes' with a lever to release it, which has to be removed for any manual conversions.
A mate of mine has a '96 2.5NA AWD one, and my dad used to have a '97 2.5NA (NEO VVT engine) AWD so I have some experience of them - I always preferred the handling balance and lighter weight of Legacies. Both of the 2.5NA's had fuel consumption a bit worse than a mid-90s Legacy GT (2.0 twin turbo), I assume the turbo versions are worse again. AFAIK the 2.0 and RWD Stageas drink less but the 2.0NA motor is really pretty underpowered for a wagon that size.
hth
even the NA versions struggle to do that let alone a turbo.They're not bad cars, as far as running gear goes theyre basically an R33 Skyline wagon so pretty tuneable and reliable. They go well enough and handle well for their weight (1700+ kg) but are very thirsty. Available in both RWD and ATTESSA AWD forms, with RB20DE/25DE/25DET versions common and an Authech RB26DETT version with R33 GTR running gear thats about as common as rocking horse sh!t. I think they were all auto (except the Autech RS4 perhaps), they have one of those funny pedal 'handbrakes' with a lever to release it, which has to be removed for any manual conversions.
A mate of mine has a '96 2.5NA AWD one, and my dad used to have a '97 2.5NA (NEO VVT engine) AWD so I have some experience of them - I always preferred the handling balance and lighter weight of Legacies. Both of the 2.5NA's had fuel consumption a bit worse than a mid-90s Legacy GT (2.0 twin turbo), I assume the turbo versions are worse again. AFAIK the 2.0 and RWD Stageas drink less but the 2.0NA motor is really pretty underpowered for a wagon that size.
hth
Worth looking at Legacy wagons too - they actually compare fairly well to Stageas for boot space despite being a smaller car, the Stagea boot space is longer but shallower from floor to roof.
A mate of mine gets up to 35mpg from his '97 Legacy GT wagon (2.0 twin turbo 260bhp) on a run, they like a drink around town or if you have a heavy foot though. I have a '97 2.0NA Legacy and the best I've had out of it is about 38mpg average over half a tank.
A mate of mine gets up to 35mpg from his '97 Legacy GT wagon (2.0 twin turbo 260bhp) on a run, they like a drink around town or if you have a heavy foot though. I have a '97 2.0NA Legacy and the best I've had out of it is about 38mpg average over half a tank.
plasticpig said:
liner33 said:
plasticpig said:
Looks like its back to looking at Volvo V70 T5 wagons then.
they arent any better on fuel than Stageas !!Averages in the low 20's
I have a chipped diesel E Class which averages 34.5mph and does high 30's low 40's on a decent run , its larger than both the Stagea and Volvo and still hits 60 in 7 seconds
chevy-stu said:
Have you looked at the VR4 Legnum, more refined and quicker than the Legacy and better looking (IMO of course)
Marginally quicker in a straight line and slower in the corners according to contemporary mag tests. I haven't driven one myself to comment on refinement but no real complaints about Legacies in that department from me.The problem with the VR4 is how much more it costs to run compared with the likes of a Legacy - they drink significantly more fuel, and in the Mitsubishi tradition have a reputation for breaking down fairly often and costing a lot to fix when they do.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 11th June 22:27
GravelBen said:
chevy-stu said:
Have you looked at the VR4 Legnum, more refined and quicker than the Legacy and better looking (IMO of course)
Marginally quicker in a straight line and slower in the corners according to contemporary mag tests. I haven't driven one myself to comment on refinement but no real complaints about Legacies in that department from me.The problem with the VR4 is how much more it costs to run compared with the likes of a Legacy - they drink significantly more fuel, and in the Mitsubishi tradition have a reputation for breaking down fairly often and costing a lot to fix when they do.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 11th June 22:27
Suprised it's found to be slower on the bends, I give most WRX's a run for their money!! (mind you I've got coil-overs & bigger tyres than standard)
You should get a drive in one, quite a few in NZ apparently.
chevy-stu said:
Only breakdown issues are usually from from poor or lack of servicing from most people's experience. Only extra running cost would be the AYC fluids change which adds a few quid each service otherwise no more than any other turbo jap car.
Suprised it's found to be slower on the bends, I give most WRX's a run for their money!! (mind you I've got coil-overs & bigger tyres than standard)
You should get a drive in one, quite a few in NZ apparently.
For sure I wouldn't mind taking one for a pedal, though tbh I've heard far too many horror stories from ex-Mitsi owners (in general, not VR4s in particular) to seriously consider buying one myself.Suprised it's found to be slower on the bends, I give most WRX's a run for their money!! (mind you I've got coil-overs & bigger tyres than standard)
You should get a drive in one, quite a few in NZ apparently.
I forget what they (NZ Autocar) thought was lacking with the VR4, iirc it was running on almost identical rubber (size and type) to the RSK-B4 it was tested against but they found the Legacy could carry ~10% more speed through most corners.
I guess the thing most people forget with the Jap turbonuttermobiles is they're all close enough in performance terms that (on the road anyway) theres usually more variation between individual drivers than different cars.
A stagea has loads more space than a legacy and is much more refined .
Most in the UK are RS Fours and are autos with the single turbo GTS engine .(approx 250bhp)
In standard trim they are quite quick but a bit of a handful as they roll a lot. The handling can be easily upgraded as all Skyline GTR bits will fit - then the handling is exceptional.
Manual ones are very rare but there are a few in the UK all with RB26 twin turbo engines . I have one of them . Power is 415 bhp (stage one ) with uprated brakes ,steering etc from a 2001 R34 GTR
It also has an original Nismo bodykit .
a few pics
Most in the UK are RS Fours and are autos with the single turbo GTS engine .(approx 250bhp)
In standard trim they are quite quick but a bit of a handful as they roll a lot. The handling can be easily upgraded as all Skyline GTR bits will fit - then the handling is exceptional.
Manual ones are very rare but there are a few in the UK all with RB26 twin turbo engines . I have one of them . Power is 415 bhp (stage one ) with uprated brakes ,steering etc from a 2001 R34 GTR
It also has an original Nismo bodykit .
a few pics
Edited by WOTS A STAGEA on Thursday 19th June 01:10
I'm wafting about in one at the moment an RS Four with the 2.5T, they are not that thirsty if you waft about gently in them, much like any turbo car you give it a poke it'll poke you at the forcourt though. Mine seems to manage just about 30mpg if cruised about without gassing much, though it'll drop to mid 20's if you start poking it lots.
Surprisingly quick if required to be be!! Best bit is the sheer size of the thing the boot space is like the shuttle's you can 3 or 4 bikes in the back easily, they are great load luggers.
You can buy nice ones for £3-4k which makes them an absolute bargain in my book, they seem to be uber reliabletoo. screw on a Universal Turbo's hybrid unit for £850, an AFC or emanage & some injectors & you've a very cheap 430bhp out of the box, which would be fun!!
Surprisingly quick if required to be be!! Best bit is the sheer size of the thing the boot space is like the shuttle's you can 3 or 4 bikes in the back easily, they are great load luggers.
You can buy nice ones for £3-4k which makes them an absolute bargain in my book, they seem to be uber reliabletoo. screw on a Universal Turbo's hybrid unit for £850, an AFC or emanage & some injectors & you've a very cheap 430bhp out of the box, which would be fun!!
plasticpig said:
liner33 said:
plasticpig said:
Looks like its back to looking at Volvo V70 T5 wagons then.
they arent any better on fuel than Stageas !!i'd concider replacing mine with a newer V70 T5 when the time comes
Edited by y2blade on Thursday 14th August 14:29
I raced a VR4 at Santa Pod about 3 yrs back when my ScoobyWagon was still std at 215bhp. I have no idea whether the VR4 was std or not but it did a qtr mile in 15.3sec, my wagon did a qtr mile in 14.6 sec, that's over half sec quicker.
I know of an NZ VR4 RS that's stage1 modified and it did a qtr mile in 14.5, so a std WRX Wagon is much quicker than a std VR4 and certainly nearly as quick as a well modified VR4RS in a straight line. What lets the VR4 down is shear weight and they roll around corners so there's no way jose you'd be keeping up to the back of a well driven std WRX wagon down a lonely B-road or circuit.
The OP hasn't considered a WRX wagon then. Certainly nowhere near as big in the boot dept as either the Stagea or VR4, or even a Volvo T5 estate come to that, and not even as nice inside either, but you sure as hell won't see which way it went on the twisties, and i'm pretty certain a Legacy 3.0R spec B would be losing both the VR4 and Stagea on the twisties too. If you want something unusual then go for the VR4 or the Stagea, but if you want something reliable, quick and spacious, get the Legacy. If you want something practical, quick and relaible....get a ScoobyWagon
I know of an NZ VR4 RS that's stage1 modified and it did a qtr mile in 14.5, so a std WRX Wagon is much quicker than a std VR4 and certainly nearly as quick as a well modified VR4RS in a straight line. What lets the VR4 down is shear weight and they roll around corners so there's no way jose you'd be keeping up to the back of a well driven std WRX wagon down a lonely B-road or circuit.
The OP hasn't considered a WRX wagon then. Certainly nowhere near as big in the boot dept as either the Stagea or VR4, or even a Volvo T5 estate come to that, and not even as nice inside either, but you sure as hell won't see which way it went on the twisties, and i'm pretty certain a Legacy 3.0R spec B would be losing both the VR4 and Stagea on the twisties too. If you want something unusual then go for the VR4 or the Stagea, but if you want something reliable, quick and spacious, get the Legacy. If you want something practical, quick and relaible....get a ScoobyWagon
ScoobieWRX said:
I raced a VR4 at Santa Pod about 3 yrs back when my ScoobyWagon was still std at 215bhp. I have no idea whether the VR4 was std or not but it did a qtr mile in 15.3sec, my wagon did a qtr mile in 14.6 sec, that's over half sec quicker.
I know of an NZ VR4 RS that's stage1 modified and it did a qtr mile in 14.5, so a std WRX Wagon is much quicker than a std VR4 and certainly nearly as quick as a well modified VR4RS in a straight line. What lets the VR4 down is shear weight and they roll around corners so there's no way jose you'd be keeping up to the back of a well driven std WRX wagon down a lonely B-road or circuit.
The OP hasn't considered a WRX wagon then. Certainly nowhere near as big in the boot dept as either the Stagea or VR4, or even a Volvo T5 estate come to that, and not even as nice inside either, but you sure as hell won't see which way it went on the twisties, and i'm pretty certain a Legacy 3.0R spec B would be losing both the VR4 and Stagea on the twisties too. If you want something unusual then go for the VR4 or the Stagea, but if you want something reliable, quick and spacious, get the Legacy. If you want something practical, quick and relaible....get a ScoobyWagon
Dont think scooby engines & reliable go together I know of an NZ VR4 RS that's stage1 modified and it did a qtr mile in 14.5, so a std WRX Wagon is much quicker than a std VR4 and certainly nearly as quick as a well modified VR4RS in a straight line. What lets the VR4 down is shear weight and they roll around corners so there's no way jose you'd be keeping up to the back of a well driven std WRX wagon down a lonely B-road or circuit.
The OP hasn't considered a WRX wagon then. Certainly nowhere near as big in the boot dept as either the Stagea or VR4, or even a Volvo T5 estate come to that, and not even as nice inside either, but you sure as hell won't see which way it went on the twisties, and i'm pretty certain a Legacy 3.0R spec B would be losing both the VR4 and Stagea on the twisties too. If you want something unusual then go for the VR4 or the Stagea, but if you want something reliable, quick and spacious, get the Legacy. If you want something practical, quick and relaible....get a ScoobyWagon
not in my experience anyway!! Yes sir thats piston slap, they all do that sir
WOTS A STAGEA said:
A stagea has loads more space than a legacy and is much more refined .
Most in the UK are RS Fours and are autos with the single turbo GTS engine .(approx 250bhp)
In standard trim they are quite quick but a bit of a handful as they roll a lot. The handling can be easily upgraded as all Skyline GTR bits will fit - then the handling is exceptional.
Manual ones are very rare but there are a few in the UK all with RB26 twin turbo engines . I have one of them . Power is 415 bhp (stage one ) with uprated brakes ,steering etc from a 2001 R34 GTR
It also has an original Nismo bodykit .
a few pics
By the way....that looks like a hearse!! How cool is that!! Nice in Black :thumb:Most in the UK are RS Fours and are autos with the single turbo GTS engine .(approx 250bhp)
In standard trim they are quite quick but a bit of a handful as they roll a lot. The handling can be easily upgraded as all Skyline GTR bits will fit - then the handling is exceptional.
Manual ones are very rare but there are a few in the UK all with RB26 twin turbo engines . I have one of them . Power is 415 bhp (stage one ) with uprated brakes ,steering etc from a 2001 R34 GTR
It also has an original Nismo bodykit .
a few pics
Edited by WOTS A STAGEA on Thursday 19th June 01:10
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