Primera 1.6 2004

marzic

Could I get some of your opinions on this model primera? Its a sad day, but i'm succumbing to a low budget big second car which will only be doing 4000 miles a year. I'd prefer a 1.6 petrol to a 1.4, but I dont want to go above that - the budget is 2k. Thanks
marzic:(

Pottler

Buy the pre/up to '01 model 1.6 and pretend it's a '04. The older model is a great car, solid, comfy, uber reliable, handles and corners well. The '04 model is a bit of a ball of dung, putting it nicely. Best thing is, you get to spend €1000 of your budget on a nice holiday. If you buy the '04, you need to cancel your next holiday to save up for the repairs.:)

marzic

Pottler wrote: »

Buy the pre/up to '01 model 1.6 and pretend it's a '04. The older model is a great car, solid, comfy, uber reliable, handles and corners well. The '04 model is a bit of a ball of dung, putting it nicely. Best thing is, you get to spend €1000 of your budget on a nice holiday. If you buy the '04, you need to cancel your next holiday to save up for the repairs.:)

That is a fantastic reply - you must be one of those geniuses I've heard about, thank you Pottler!

CianRyan

I'll back what he says, bar a reversing camera the older model is a far better car. It's the one I'd go for out of the pair.

eringobragh

CianRyan wrote: »

I'll back what he says, bar a reversing camera the older model is a far better car. It's the one I'd go for out of the pair.

another vote from me.....defo go for the older model.:cool:

Senna

I actually bought a 2002 1.6, I paid about €1500 for it. It had a years test and drove nicely. I just assumed it was the same 1.6 engine and gear box as used in the older model (especially seen most markets didn't get the 1.6). What a mistake that was, one month after buying it the gearbox just gave up, no warning, just driving along and went to change gear, nothing.
Thank god i got a 3 month warranty, got the garage to put a replacement box in it and sold it as quick as I could. Got €1450 for it, which was €50 for a lesson well learned.
BTW 30mpg would be doing well.

JohnBoy26

If I were you id stretch to a 1.8 and get a honda accord. It's a much better car than a primera and 2k should get you a very good example.

langdang

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

If I were you id stretch to a 1.8 and get a honda accord. It's a much better car than a primera and 2k should get you a very good example.

Sounds like hatchback/liftback might be an important factor - much easier to find in the Primera than the Accord.
I'd go for the older model too OP.

ianobrien

I'd also go for the older model. We had an '00 1.8 from new and nothing ever went on it. I've heard plenty of horror stories about the last model, from terrible handling, dodgy gearboxes, funny electrics, etc.....

Wicklowandy

Would you buy an 01 on renault laguna? Thought not.

The 02 on primera shares a bit with the laguna and should be avoided at all costs. Trouble doesn't even describe how bad they are. And they're ugly (to me) and the boot is big but so badly ðesigned useless.

The older ones are a great car.

JohnBoy26

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Would you buy an 01 on renault laguna? Thought not.

The 02 on primera shares a bit with the laguna and should be avoided at all costs. Trouble doesn't even describe how bad they are. And they're ugly (to me) and the boot is big but so badly ðesigned useless.

The older ones are a great car.

They are a completly diffrent car to the laguna tbh.

JohnBoy26

langdang wrote: »

Sounds like hatchback/liftback might be an important factor - much easier to find in the Primera than the Accord.
I'd go for the older model too OP.

The op said nothing about a hatchback/liftback being a factor.

Blazer

ianobrien wrote: »

I'd also go for the older model. We had an '00 1.8 from new and nothing ever went on it. I've heard plenty of horror stories about the last model, from terrible handling, dodgy gearboxes, funny electrics, etc.....

I bought one new in 2005 and had it till 2011.
1.6 model as well...and I can honestly say it was fantastic car..never ever gave me a serious problem in 6 years of motoring.
One wheel bearing to be changed which cost me about €180 and that was it apart from a yearly or bi yearly service
Now it's no match for my current car but you don't buy a primera to go tearing around the country side.
Nice and roomy as well.

Wicklowandy

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The op said nothing about a hatchback/liftback being a factor.

Liftbacks are rare enough, and lagunas and primeras share multiplex wiring architecture and ancilleries such as window regs.....which surprise surprise fail with alarming regularity.

Nissans of this vintage trade in peoples minds on the reputation of 90s primeras and micras.

Unfortunately they share too much with renaults of the 00s and should be viewed the same.

ianobrien

Blazer wrote: »

but you don't buy a primera to go tearing around the country side.

Well, The old one was one of the best handling cars in it's class and was more than happy tearing around the countryside. The last of them you wouldn't...

Wicklowandy

Theyve only around 2 turns lock to lock. But instead of a quicker rack, its just like the wheels dont turn enough, terrible turning circle.

My mate had a 93 jap import egt(?) around 2000, beautiful car, fast, so sharp on wicklow country roads and reliable for the couple of years he had it.

02 on model is a poor car, poor handling, thirsty and undrpowered. And the auto (i drove one for a month from a garage while a DSG octy i had was being fixed) was one of the most hateful things i ever had.

JohnBoy26

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Liftbacks are rare enough, and lagunas and primeras share multiplex wiring architecture and ancilleries such as window regs.....which surprise surprise fail with alarming regularity.

Nissans of this vintage trade in peoples minds on the reputation of 90s primeras and micras.

Unfortunately they share too much with renaults of the 00s and should be viewed the same.

I have no love for either car but I wouldn't view them as the same car even if the do share certain items. The nissan has a diffrent engine and gearbox to the laguna. The suspension and actually the whole chassis is diffrent too. Also the thing that was the most annoying niggle on the laguna it's keycard troubles are non existant in the primera because it uses a proper key.

Wicklowandy

The laguna actually doesent have a bad engine, its just the rest of the car thats the problem;)

Diesels shared between renault and nissan. Lovely engine when new (as in brand new) variable after youve passed a thousand miles or so

Dunno why everyone thought it was time to replace keycards with keys at the time. Whats wrong with a key? (still think vag fold up keys of the vintage the most convenient of all)

JohnBoy26

Wicklowandy wrote: »

The laguna actually doesent have a bad engine, its just the rest of the car thats the problem;)

Diesels shared between renault and nissan. Lovely engine when new (as in brand new) variable after youve passed a thousand miles or so

Dunno why everyone thought it was time to replace keycards with keys at the time. Whats wrong with a key? (still think vag fold up keys of the vintage the most convenient of all)

You are correct the diesels are the same. Sorry i should of said it was the petrol versions i was reffering to. I agree with you on the key id take one anyday over a card.

marzic

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The op said nothing about a hatchback/liftback being a factor.

hatchback not a factor at all really - looking for the most recent, big, 1.6 petrol car I can find for 2k that will last for a few years of small mileage. I would prefer an avensis but you're back to 02 for around that money plus: no french or italian cars, or opels, or cheap asian yokes. If I could get a 04 I would avoid the annual nct for a couple of years

langdang

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The op said nothing about a hatchback/liftback being a factor.

Ah yeah, he just needs a big car. My mistake, big car usually implies some need to carry a decent amount of stuff.
kia magentis or passat or something so.

Wicklowandy

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4434773

Doesnt look too bad, cheap, and has the bigger and better 1.6 (1.4 a pig, search for 1.4 golfs on here and see the problems) nct til june, run it in march, plenty of money on top to fix whats wrong, good to go til 2015.

If its a runabout does year really matter? Yearly nct is just something you do if youve a good maintained car doing small mileage, surely its a formality?

marzic

Wicklowandy wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4434773

Doesnt look too bad, cheap, and has the bigger and better 1.6 (1.4 a pig, search for 1.4 golfs on here and see the problems) nct til june, run it in march, plenty of money on top to fix whats wrong, good to go til 2015.

If its a runabout does year really matter? Yearly nct is just something you do if youve a good maintained car doing small mileage, surely its a formality?

perhaps it would be a formality, but for such small mileage I'd expect no maintenance at all and any small problems would previously have only been subject to the whim of the nct centre every 2 yrs are now an annual thing in a 10yo car.

By the way thats a nice car, skoda hadnt crossed my mind at all, thanks

Wicklowandy

They're nice and simple, but avoid the 1.4. 1.6 minimum or the tdi even though you dont do the mileage, the tax difference between 1.6 and 1.9 isnt too considerable and the 1.9 tdi is as tough as boots:)

Fishtits

I can't believe that the OP was encouraged by subsequent posters to actually buy that POS?

Are there any standards here at all?

I guess this is fishtits signing off

CianRyan

Not that you'll be replying but well, they are far from pieces of ****.
Go drive one.

Wicklowandy

CianRyan wrote: »

Not that you'll be replying but well, they are far from pieces of ****.
Go drive one.

Driven plenty, 02 on primeras are dirt. I cant think of any redeeming features...bad handling, thirsty, gutless, useless gimmick of a reversing camera (b + w til 04) didnt lke the seats personally, stupid central dials, useless boot on saloon.....i can keep going, theyre right up there with the laguna, but at least the lagunas comfortable;)

CianRyan

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Driven plenty, 02 on primeras are dirt. I cant think of any redeeming features...bad handling, thirsty, gutless, useless gimmick of a reversing camera (b + w til 04) didnt lke the seats personally, stupid central dials, useless boot on saloon.....i can keep going, theyre right up there with the laguna, but at least the lagunas comfortable;)

All true, the only thing wrong with your post is that you're talking about the wrong car. We recommended the earlier model, completely different car.

Wicklowandy

CianRyan wrote: »

All true, the only thing wrong with your post is that you're talking about the wrong car. We recommended the earlier model, completely different car.

Have a read back and you'll be amazed to find I did as well, we were just tearing its successor apart;)