Opinions on low mileage 2007 Nissan Primera 1.8

James Hunt

Hi,

I've been looking at a few cars in the €10,000 - €12,000 bracket. I've seen a low mileage 1.8 '07 Primera. Has anyone any opinions on these? Are there any drawbacks that I should be aware of?

My main priorities are reliability and fuel economy - it may be that a 1.8 is more than I need, so I'll have to crunch the numbers and see where I am on that score.

I had set my sights on a 06-07 Focus 1.6 as well, but I'd be interested in what other, more knowledgeable people than me would recommend?

Any thoughts..... thanks in advance folks.

bazz26

The Primera would have to be the top of the range T Spec model and going very cheap for me to be even tempted to be honest. The 02 to 08 model is difficult enough to sell these days unless it is dirt cheap, a 1.8 litre might be sale proof in this country if you do not plan on keeping it along time.

There are better similar priced cars out there, you could pick up an old shape Ford Mondeo Platinum/Steel, Mazda 6 or Opel Vectra for similar money. All would be superior cars to the Primera imo.

Mazda 6:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200908191888207

Ford Mondeo:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200934194930700

Opel Vectra:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200849191128801


Another one that should be considered since reliability is a priority is the Honda Civic saloon, they are also quite economical for 1.8 litre and not that much smaller than the forementioned models above:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200929194648087

Mr Benevolent

Avoid the Vectra for feck's sake! Awful car. Go for the Mondeo or Mazda 6. Plenty of cars better than a Vectra. Primera's a good, reliable car, the handling/suspension was completely redone in '04. The Mondeo is better though.

James Hunt

Thanks lads

The Primera is a T-Spec alright and I would be thinking of keeping it for 4 or 5 years all things being equal. It's the running costs of a 1.8 Petrol that are making me think. I've read one or two reviews on other sites indicating that it may not be the most fuel efficient car in the world, and coupled with extra tax and insurance (having driven a 1.4 up to now), that's the sort of ongoing expense I could do without. I'd definitely be looking to keep the running costs down.

The Civic is one that I hadn't considered so far, but I will now.

Ideally, I'd like a decent spec Focus 1.6 TCDi but those are hard to get anywhere but UK Direct Ltd.

Thanks again lads.

ianobrien

My father has a 00 primera with the same 1.8 engine and regularly gets 40mpg for mixed driving. It goes up on long runs. I will admit that it's the previous model to what you're looking at.

IIRC, Road tax is 110 euro more than a 1.6 as well.

As for the "drive" of that Primera, it's fairly dull and not a patch on the '00 model

E39MSport

I've driven 2 of the current model. They are Very slow. The turning circle is MASSIVE. Solid enough though. I wouldnt buy one however.

bazz26

In cars of the size of a Primera a 1.8 litre petrol engine will be just as if not more economical as the smaller 1.6 litre engine which will struggle to push the heavy body. The 1.8 litre will have more poke than the 1.6 litre too.

EPM

The 1.8 is a better unit than the 1.6, not much more powerful really but nicer to drive. My dad used to have an older and newer model Primera with that engine and it was a nice drive. He did about 40k miles a year in them and the engines never gave any trouble. The only thing is though many of the later Primera 1.8's were auotmatics? Is this one manual or automatic? If it's an auto I'd run a mile as it is close to saleproof afterwards

James Hunt

The Primera is a manual.

I'm definitely tending towards the Focus at the moment in any event. I can just see it being a bit kinder on the wallet over the next few years. Looked at a few 07-08 1.6 cars, and was offered a great deal on a brand new one Focus as well. Having given it some thought, the Primera strikes me as a bit too costly to run. Plus, I understand that it'll depreciate at a fairly decent rate.