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Advice on a Nissan Serena please

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  • 09-11-2009 9:11pm
    #1
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭


    I need to buy a 7 seater, looked at a 98 nissan serena today, 1.6 petrol, its in good condition and at a reasonable price, im tempted to buy it.

    Has anyone any comments on these, any advice etc.


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    #2
    Stevie Dakota
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,817 ✭✭✭Stevie Dakota


    Do not take offense but in all my years motoring only one 'car' stands out as being the biggest pile of crap I've ever had the misfortune to drive, loud, uncomfortable, rough, crude, under engineered, grim in every respect. Utterly detestable device. You'll regret it every day you go near it.

    Don't do it.


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    #3
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    Surely there's something else-anything else?!?

    Drove the diesel in it a few times. Well it was a vanette. Same difference bar seats and windows. Apart from it being slow my uncles had it since new and it's got over 300k up on it. Never needed much but then it's not used for work. Just to move his mutts about


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    #4
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,159 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    The 2.3d was once described as one of the slowest vehicles ever, I'd imagine a 1.6 petrol one would not pull the skin off of a sausage, it's nothing more than a van with windows and 7 seats. I'd say the mpg would suffer especially with 7 people onboard.

    Mitsubishi Spacewagen:
    http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200933194897011

    Toyota Picnic:
    http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200943195623445

    would be superior imo.


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    #5
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,404 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    I wouldn't buy it for a few reasons:

    It's a van with windows
    Its engine is very underpowered. the Serena has the dubious honour of being the slowest car of the last 20 years. (fair enough the petrol is faster than diesel, but still over 17 seconds)
    It has a live rear axle and wobbly suspension so isn't inherintly safe.
    It has little or no safety equipment
    It's a van with windows

    Get a Space Wagon/Chariot instead.


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    #6
    Absurdum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    bazz26 wrote: »
    The 2.3d was once described as one of the slowest vehicles ever

    it was the slowest 0-60mph car at the time, 27 seconds :eek:


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    #7
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    And was 36.5 seconds when tested by one of the mags! Feels longer though...


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    #8
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,404 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Fully laden with 8 people would dent the "performance" alright

    That said I drive a Vanette 2.3d and it wasn't as bad.


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    #9
    eyesofvenus
    Registered Users Posts: 286 ✭✭eyesofvenus


    cascade35 wrote: »
    I need to buy a 7 seater, looked at a 98 nissan serena today, 1.6 petrol, its in good condition and at a reasonable price, im tempted to buy it.

    Has anyone any comments on these, any advice etc.
    Lmao no one seems to rate these...http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=285

    Maybe something like this instead?
    http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Zafira/elegance/200945195718383/advert?channel=CARS

    You never stated your budget so just guessing around 3-4k


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    #10
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Wow im glad i posted here now. Budget is 2k and the nissan is the first 7 seater ive ever driven.
    It was coming in way under 2k but im put off by a petrol engine.
    My minds made up now i am not buying it,get enough headache from the missus, dont need a van/people carrier giving me one as well.

    Thanks everyone for the advice.


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    #11
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    I wouldn't buy it for a few reasons:

    It's a van with windows
    Its engine is very underpowered. the Serena has the dubious honour of being the slowest car of the last 20 years. (fair enough the petrol is faster than diesel, but still over 17 seconds)
    It has a live rear axle and wobbly suspension so isn't inherintly safe.
    It has little or no safety equipment
    It's a van with windows

    Get a Space Wagon/Chariot instead.
    What is a live back axle?


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    #12
    alias no.9
    Registered Users Posts: 6,271 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    cascade35 wrote: »
    What is a live back axle?

    A solid rear axel using leaf springs, horse and cart technology (or american), it's fine for a trailer but not something you'd want with passengers above. There has to be better options.


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    #13
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,404 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    cascade35 wrote: »
    What is a live back axle?

    It's an old fashioned type of beam axle, the wheels can't move indepentantly when you go over bumps, The axle and propshaft are part of the unsprung weight of the car, which is bad. this is grand on a van but in a people carrier it means a crashy ride and bad handling.
    alias no.9 wrote: »
    A solid rear axel using leaf springs, horse and cart technology .
    You can have coilsprings with a live rear axle. The Serena uses conventional springs.


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    #14
    alias no.9
    Registered Users Posts: 6,271 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    It's an old fashioned type of beam axle, the wheels can't move indepentantly when you go over bumps, The axle and propshaft are part of the unsprung weight of the car, which is bad. this is grand on a van but in a people carrier it means a crashy ride and bad handling.


    You can have coilsprings with a live rear axle. The Serena uses conventional springs.

    I assumed it was the same setup as the vanette cargo, I stand corrected.


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    #15
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,404 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    alias no.9 wrote: »
    I assumed it was the same setup as the vanette cargo, I stand corrected.
    Maybe i stand corrected, I know a JDM newer one we had in the garage had springs..... apologies if I am wrong - i took your post as a definition of a live axle.


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    #16
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Colm how serious a problem is petrol in a diesel engine.
    99 astra 1.7td van with 20e petrol put in tank by mistake, driven til it stopped.
    have been told it will need new pump and maybe more.


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    #17
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,404 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    You're at least looking at cleaning out fuel lines, and changing the fuel filter, depending on the mixture of diesel to petrol in the tank. Given that your van isn't common rail (as far as I know it isn't) you mightn't be too bad, but you could be looking at injector damage or even damage to the cylinders.

    I'm not a mechanic so my opinion on this isn't worth a whole lot ;)


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    #18
    Drummerboy08
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,102 ✭✭✭✭Drummerboy08


    There's only one type of person that drives a Serena.

    You know who I mean....;)


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    #19
    Saab Ed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,374 ✭✭✭Saab Ed


    If 6 seats will do then heres a car well within the budget...

    http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Multipla/1.6-%5B-OP/200942195543411/advert?channel=CARS
    no-image-large.gif&width=120&height=90

    but if it must be a 7 seater then try one of these....

    http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V70/2.0T/200912192215293/advert?channel=CARS
    no-image-large.gif&width=120&height=90


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    #20
    Rev. BlueJeans
    Closed Accounts Posts: 600 ✭✭✭Rev. BlueJeans


    Serenas are horrible POS's. They don't even make good vans.


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    #21
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Saab Ed wrote: »
    If 6 seats will do then heres a car well within the budget...

    http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Multipla/1.6-%5B-OP/200942195543411/advert?channel=CARS
    no-image-large.gif&width=120&height=90

    but if it must be a 7 seater then try one of these....

    http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V70/2.0T/200912192215293/advert?channel=CARS
    no-image-large.gif&width=120&height=90
    Gonna check out the volvo.
    No serena for me.
    Have a guy draining the fuel system on the astra tomorrow.


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    #22
    high horse
    Registered Users Posts: 1,011 ✭✭✭high horse


    what about something like a Ford Galaxy?

    http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200946195805209

    Seat alhambra/ VW Sharan should come in at similar prices


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    #23
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Seems to be a lot of 7 seaters available, even on my limited budget. Never thought the day would come when i would need a family mobile.
    Should of bought a new tv months ago when the old one broke.!!!!!!


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    #24
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    I bought a vw transporter (8 seats) yesterday. Its 2.4 diesel,clean,comfortable and im very happy with it.
    Thanks again to all who advised me to steer clear of the serena.


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