Nissan Qashqai - Your Thoughts

G-Money

So for some reason I started to browse cars this morning online and I was wondering about the Nissan Qashqai's. What are peoples experiences of them?

I'm currently driving a 2001 Nissan Almera. It's still driving well and there's only about 54,000 miles on it so hopefully it should last another while.

Having said that, I guess at some point in the future I'll have to think about getting a new car and I tend to like Nissan's and of the current models, the Qashqai is the one that appeals the most.

Just wondering what others who own them think?

Cheers.

Stevie Dakota

Have you done a search of the forum? This question has been posed a few times.

david

They are good cars, if incredibly dull but I doubt that's a huge issue coming from an Almera. I stress the word car as they are by no means capable of any off-road driving, towing or anything that requires increased ground clearance.

I've only been a passenger in one but the ride is ok if a bit bouncy. The handling/road holding is below average for most cars. The engine is underpowered (1.5dci) and apparently struggles to get 35mpg which is not great for a diesel crossover SUV.

The raised driving position gives the illiusion of space. The interior space is cramped (5 adults would be a very snug fit). The boot load space is ok but again it's nothing to write home about. I could not fit a set of golf clubs in the boot without removing the driver and three wood (Acid test for me when considering bootspace).

In conclusion Qashqai's are dull (if reliable) cars usually bought by middle aged women and elderly people. The type of people who buy new povo-spec Primera's Tiida's and Almera's every January to keep up with the neighbors and always drive 10-20km/h below the limit. This is enough to turn me off buying one!

The Qashqai+2 (estate version) is intriguing with the 2.0dci engine but I have not had a good look at one up close. In the same class have a look at a Suzuki Vitara, Toyota Rav-4, Daihatsu Terios etc. The Quashqai will hold it's value reasonably well as they appeal to people who know nothing about cars.

Nissan really aren't producing anything in the least bit exciting for reasonable money these days (bar GT-R and 370z). If you like japanese motors I think Honda are really leading the way as of late in terms of form, function, price, innovation and are well worth a look.

niceirishfella

If you go for a secondhand one, make sure they have the recall addressed on it.
Re; the MPG, 35mpg??? I had one on hire on the continent and it returned 42mpg, no hassles. Also a good pal of mine has one (his wifes) and is very happy on how easy it is on fuel.
nice interior on them too.
1.5 Td unit from renault, just so you know, not a bad engine all the same.

I'm not for dull cars, I like nice things. But I really don't think the Qashqai is a dull car. I really really like it. My sis bought the 1.5 diesel and loves it. She drives from Arklow to Dublin every day finds it a hell of a lot more economical than her previous primera or Rav 4. It's a nice drive, as mentioned above, maybe a little rocky, but it is a Nissan, and while they tend to be very reliable, they are not the heaviest cars on the road.

As for fitting 5 adults snuggly, there aren't many cars on the road that carry 5 adults without a bit of a squeeze.

I would happily drive one. If I was buying one though, I would be taking a trip up north I'm afraid.

Drummerboy08

Deleted User wrote: »

I would happily drive one. If I was buying one though, I would be taking a trip up north I'm afraid.

Can you explain why?

Drummerboy08

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Can you explain why?

My sister bought hers up north and saved thousands. Simple really.

JHMEG

david wrote: »

They are good cars, if incredibly dull but I doubt that's a huge issue coming from an Almera. I stress the word car as they are by no means capable of any off-road driving, towing or anything that requires increased ground clearance.

I've only been a passenger in one but the ride is ok if a bit bouncy. The handling/road holding is below average for most cars. The engine is underpowered (1.5dci) and apparently struggles to get 35mpg which is not great for a diesel crossover SUV.

The raised driving position gives the illiusion of space. The interior space is cramped (5 adults would be a very snug fit). The boot load space is ok but again it's nothing to write home about. I could not fit a set of golf clubs in the boot without removing the driver and three wood (Acid test for me when considering bootspace).

In conclusion Qashqai's are dull (if reliable) cars usually bought by middle aged women and elderly people. The type of people who buy new povo-spec Primera's Tiida's and Almera's every January to keep up with the neighbors and always drive 10-20km/h below the limit. This is enough to turn me off buying one!

The Qashqai+2 (estate version) is intriguing with the 2.0dci engine but I have not had a good look at one up close. In the same class have a look at a Suzuki Vitara, Toyota Rav-4, Daihatsu Terios etc. The Quashqai will hold it's value reasonably well as they appeal to people who know nothing about cars.

Nissan really aren't producing anything in the least bit exciting for reasonable money these days (bar GT-R and 370z). If you like japanese motors I think Honda are really leading the way as of late in terms of form, function, price, innovation and are well worth a look.

That's the most disjointed and bizarre post I've seen on here in a while.

The Qashqai's are dull yet the Qashqai+2 (estate version) is intriguing? WTF?

Absurdum

JHMEG wrote: »

That's the most disjointed and bizarre post I've seen on here in a while.

The Qashqai's are dull yet the Qashqai+2 (estate version) is intriguing? WTF?

he's no Clarkson, that's for sure

rccaulfield

Slow with no off road capabilities. Your for the eh looks i think??

samsemtex

i would prefer a Volvo XC60 if i wanted something in that size. They are a lovely vehicle if your budget can stretch to it. Beautiful interiors. Volvo do poncey SUVs better than anyone.

granadaghia

I think if anybody knows anything about cars you will find the the DATSUN CASHCOOW is just an old renault scenic chassis rehashed, Do bear in mind that by no means are these an offroad vehicle or a car that will perform in harsh road conditions , they are designed for urban use as a cheap means of transport in other countries
Just because you have to pay dearly for them here doesnt make them an expensive car .
If you really wnt to see how much jap cars are really worth check out TRADE CAR VIEW. com . sh export company in japan , costs about 800 euro for shipping to dublin + vrt but you will still save a fortune .

Absurdum

granadaghia wrote: »

I think if anybody knows anything about cars you will find the the DATSUN CASHCOOW is just an old renault scenic chassis rehashed,

It isn't.

granadaghia wrote: »

Do bear in mind that by no means are these an offroad vehicle

Nissan (or anyone else) never claimed it was

granadaghia wrote: »

or a car that will perform in harsh road conditions ,

the 4x4 versions using Nissan's ALL-MODE system are more than capable of coping with harsh road conditions as much as any similar four wheel drive car could

granadaghia wrote: »

they are designed for urban use as a cheap means of transport in other countries
Just because you have to pay dearly for them here doesnt make them an expensive car .

they aren't particularly expensive, hence their popularity

rccaulfield

Absurdam-aren't expensive? Compared to what exactly- it stands out in no departments and costs an arm imo!

ltdslipdiff

The Qashqai was originally ear-marked for Renault to launch but was handed to Nissan...big mistake for Renault ! I bet if it had the Renault badge it wouldn't have sold in such high numbers ! With regards to the mpg's, it all depends on the right foot and how clever you are with the gear-changes. I sell Renaults for a living and love telling anti-Renault people that the Qashqai engine is Renault-made...as is the 1.9 Diesel in the Suzuki Vitara BTW !

Absurdum

rccaulfield wrote: »

Absurdam-aren't expensive? Compared to what exactly- it stands out in no departments and costs an arm imo!

You can get a brand new 2010 reg for €20k, that compares well to a Focus or similar type car.

granadaghia

Just how many people here would buy the high spec 4x4 version of these things .when you get to spending that kind of big money you could afford to buy a real car

KamiKazi

Qashqai? More like Crashqai

Absurdum

I'm done defending this piece of crap anyways, I should have better things to do on Stephen's night :P

granadaghia

If you had to go to the bother and expense of paying for the top spec 4x4 all singing model , youd probably be better off buying a real car in the first place.
people who buy these sort of suvs just to get seen in anyway , and probably just dont know any better , or they cant afford an x3 , x5 xc90 , range rover.or maybe they could but it wouldnt have the latest reg plate to show off.

JHMEG

david wrote: »

The Quashqai will hold it's value reasonably well as they appeal to people who know nothing about cars.

The Hyundai Sonata appeals to people who know nothing about cars, and yet it depreciates monumentally.

Henry Ford III

david wrote: »

...The Quashqai will hold it's value reasonably well...

I know a chap who has a good 1.5d with a high spec. 07.

He can't sell it, even for small money.

niceirishfella

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I know a chap who has a good 1.5d with a high spec. 07.

He can't sell it, even for small money.

shure what is!?:D

G-Money

Well to be honest, I've always liked Nissan cars. I had a look at the Nissan website and I'm not mad fond of their current models. The only one I like is the Qashqai and I'm not really considering changing my car at the moment. I'm hoping it's got a good bit of driving left in it seeing its only got 54,000 miles on it.

I just wanted to get a feel for what other people who've driven/owned them think.

Yeah, the north is so much cheaper for cars it's unreal. Even with importing it and paying VRT I think you end up saving a few thousand anyway. I know a guy who recently went to England to buy a Ford Focus, came back and VRT'd it and still saved I think about €3000.

rohatch

Bought a brand new 1.5 dci for €23,200 on 3 year 0% from mooneys in july. €156 tax. 45mpg up to 55 on a long run.

Fixed price servicing.

Great car.

Nissan make practical cars that are bland as fcuk.

Anan1

grandmaster wrote: »

Yeah, the north is so much cheaper for cars it's unreal. Even with importing it and paying VRT I think you end up saving a few thousand anyway. I know a guy who recently went to England to buy a Ford Focus, came back and VRT'd it and still saved I think about €3000.

FWIW, I think a lot of people think that because they paid €x,000 less than the asking price here by importing that they got a bargain. What they tend to forget is that cars here often sell for far less than the asking price if you know how to negotiate.

niceirishfella

Anan1 wrote: »

FWIW, I think a lot of people think that because they paid €x,000 less than the asking price here by importing that they got a bargain. What they tend to forget is that cars here often sell for far less than the asking price if you know how to negotiate.

agreed, but with the weak sterling and low vrt entry on some models, its well worth importing a low co2 vehicle.
On the flipside, lots of good deals here too - it depends on what your budget is and what you're after.

Anan1

niceirishfella wrote: »

agreed, but with the weak sterling and low vrt entry on some models, its well worth importing a low co2 vehicle.
On the flipside, lots of good deals here too - it depends on what your budget is and what you're after.

As always, the trick is to look in both markets. In my experience, though, large discounts are far easier to get here than in the UK, which makes comparison trickier than just comparing sticker prices and then factoring in import costs.

G-Money

I have to admit I don't know much about getting a bargain on these things. I think it helps to have an idea of what the lowest price they can let the car leave the garage for, is. By that I mean there's no much point going in and expecting them to knock 90% off the price. You need to have an idea of how low in general they'll go with a bit of a push. Rather than looking like an ejjit

I'm not really in a position to buy a car at the moment (new or 2nd hand) anyway.

rohatch

Anan1 wrote: »

As always, the trick is to look in both markets. In my experience, though, large discounts are far easier to get here than in the UK, which makes comparison trickier than just comparing sticker prices and then factoring in import costs.

I could have saved €1,000 bringing it down from belfast, or €2,000 from the uk, but at the end of the day, i live near the dealer, 1st service is free and 0% makes a big difference.

Drummerboy08

Deleted User wrote: »

My sister bought hers up north and saved thousands. Simple really.

Sheep following the other sheep me thinks.

Only a fool will buy up North or in the UK without first seeing what the same car can be bought down here for.

The day of saving thousands on run of the mill cars by going up North or across the pond is long gone. Maybe on a special car yes. But not on something like a Qashqai.

Anan1

rohatch wrote: »

I could have saved €1,000 bringing it down from belfast, or €2,000 from the uk, but at the end of the day, i live near the dealer, 1st service is free and 0% makes a big difference.

By 0% do you mean 0% finance? If so, did you factor the value of that into your savings?

Drummerboy08

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Sheep following the other sheep me thinks.

Only a fool will buy up North or in the UK without first seeing what the same car can be bought down here for.

The day of saving thousands on run of the mill cars by going up North or across the pond is long gone. Maybe on a special car yes. But not on something like a Qashqai.

She researched it for 3 months before deciding to buy up north. She test drove loads of them down here in various garages in a few different counties and in the end the dealer up north gave her a much better deal - as I said, she saved thousands.

niceirishfella

With Sterling the way it is, I don't doubt it.

groupb

david wrote: »

They are good cars, if incredibly dull but I doubt that's a huge issue coming from an Almera. I stress the word car as they are by no means capable of any off-road driving, towing or anything that requires increased ground clearance.

I've only been a passenger in one but the ride is ok if a bit bouncy. The handling/road holding is below average for most cars. The engine is underpowered (1.5dci) and apparently struggles to get 35mpg which is not great for a diesel crossover SUV.

The raised driving position gives the illiusion of space. The interior space is cramped (5 adults would be a very snug fit). The boot load space is ok but again it's nothing to write home about. I could not fit a set of golf clubs in the boot without removing the driver and three wood (Acid test for me when considering bootspace).

In conclusion Qashqai's are dull (if reliable) cars usually bought by middle aged women and elderly people. The type of people who buy new povo-spec Primera's Tiida's and Almera's every January to keep up with the neighbors and always drive 10-20km/h below the limit. This is enough to turn me off buying one!

The Qashqai+2 (estate version) is intriguing with the 2.0dci engine but I have not had a good look at one up close. In the same class have a look at a Suzuki Vitara, Toyota Rav-4, Daihatsu Terios etc. The Quashqai will hold it's value reasonably well as they appeal to people who know nothing about cars.

Nissan really aren't producing anything in the least bit exciting for reasonable money these days (bar GT-R and 370z). If you like japanese motors I think Honda are really leading the way as of late in terms of form, function, price, innovation and are well worth a look.

s
My wifes qashqai must be a special one so. Its no focus to drive but its easily as good as a golf and unlike yourself I have actually driven all three. I have to admit to been impressed by it and I was no great fan when she announced that she was trading her mini (another old persons car?) for one.The spec is bang on (blue tooth,6cd changer,dual climate control,cruise control all standard). I would'nt be the slowest driver around and while its certainly not powerful it feels like a rocket when compared to a 1.4 focus or golf. I think its slightly heavier than a golf but lighter than a focus and we have no issues with fuel consumption. All in all its the first car that my wife has been happy with for more than a year , and believe me thats a first.

VolvoMan

You'd probably get better service by going up North, but that's all.

rohatch

Anan1 wrote: »

By 0% do you mean 0% finance? If so, did you factor the value of that into your savings?

Yea. 3 year 0 percent.

I had to put down €7 grand, and the other €16 grand over 3 years. The offer ended in july 09.

I paid €23,000 on a list price of €27,500

I got a tow bar, 1st service free, and full tank fuel, mats, running boards. The dealer is 4 miles away from me. UK and NI qasqai's have the other clocks and the spec is different too.

niceirishfella

VolvoMan wrote: »

You'd probably get better service by going up North, but that's all.

naaaaaaaaa, not all, you can fill the boot with cheap booze on the way back down:D