Best SUV?

[Haakon]

swaybars, spring, shocks - I can put $100 bet my foz would leave the imprezza for dead in the corners lol


Be aware of the repair cost to the modern diesel engines, injectors are a minimum $370 for a Toyota Denso injector, euro diesels use Bosch items & most start around $450ea. Common rail is a relatively new engine design & unfortunately lack the reliability the old sooty diesels where known for.

As an aside - the likely fix VW will be forced to implement on about 8 MILLION VW diesel vehcles will involved replacing all the injectors and the catalyst. 8 million times say about a grand in parts plus a few hours labour adds up

 

[pharmaboy]

As an aside - the likely fix VW will be forced to implement on about 8 MILLION VW diesel vehcles will involved replacing all the injectors and the catalyst. 8 million times say about a grand in parts plus a few hours labour adds up

It seems to me, that this is just about emissions. I read in a few places that changes will reduce real world power of the engine and possibly increase fuel usage. I'm not sure I'd be wanting them to "fix" my engine so it complies with a Californian standard ?

 

[Haakon]

It seems to me, that this is just about emissions. I read in a few places that changes will reduce real world power of the engine and possibly increase fuel usage. I'm not sure I'd be wanting them to "fix" my engine so it complies with a Californian standard ?

Its to make them compliant with the relevant standards in whatever market they're in. They fail Australian rules too.

I hope authorites simply deny re-registration to those selfish enough to avoid the recall. A few bucks in your pocket is not the priority, emission standards (lax as they are...) are there for a reason.

 

[scblack]

No, not crap. And who said anything about bullbars?

But as I said, things are improving. Most recent SUVs will have the hard points (this is the essentially the ends of the chassis rail and the connecting beam that is behind the bumper assembly) lower or have a secondary beam to improve compatibility.

But that 150mm can make more of a difference to the survivability of an impact than you might think...

Oh, fair enough then. But most SUV's (especially smaller ones) are way less than 150mm taller than a similar sedan so not as bad as you first made out.

I read hard points to mean a bull bar, nudge bar, winch or something external.

 

[No Skid Marks]

Wow, pretty odd he wouldn't chase warranty, just an A-Hole I guess.
Captiva sounds like a 4WD version of the Viva, they are also horribly unreliable but usually just as the warranty runs out, such a shit car.


Big turbo and a straight cut gear set for the Subie, it will send your young one off to sleep nicely

They did replace it. The problem was the other mechanic jumped the gun and removed and stripped engine while I was waiting to sort out what was going to happen. He said he wouldn't until I knew.
Got it all sorted, but was a PITA.

 

[macca_1972]

Should you go down the Renault road, I can point you at a bunch of parts suppliers and assist in finding a decent indpendant (although a Nissan specialist will do as well).

For example, that $700 alternator belt kit is a rip, a quick ebay search suggests you shouldnt pay more than $200 for an OE supplier brand item without the Nissan/Reno sticker and dealer gouging.

Don't want to derail the thread too much, but if you could PM that info to me that would be great. Having only owned the car for a short while I need to build up a database of this kind of info.

Definitely agree that $700 for a belt kit is pretty steep (then you have fitting on top of that!). I was fortunate enough that the previous owner is a Renault mechanic and already had this kit, he included it in the sale to me along with some other bits and bobs (brake pads, etc.)

 

[Haakon]

Don't want to derail the thread too much, but if you could PM that info to me that would be great. Having only owned the car for a short while I need to build up a database of this kind of info.

Definitely agree that $700 for a belt kit is pretty steep (then you have fitting on top of that!). I was fortunate enough that the previous owner is a Renault mechanic and already had this kit, he included it in the sale to me along with some other bits and bobs (brake pads, etc.)

Depends where you live - I'm a Melbournian and do all my own work so not much help myself on who to take it to. But get onto aussiefrogs.com and ask for advice. There a few Koloes owners there and someone will chime in. You also have the advantage of working out which bits are Nissan compatible and cross shop Renault and Nissan sources!

For parts I always used a small importer in Melbourne, but he sold up recently and I think will be focusing on classic Renault parts. Next source would European Auto Imports in Box Hill.

There is also eurocarparts.com for UK sourced bits.

 

[Haakon]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Serpent...ash=item2a4b20d526:g:qsIAAOSw1vlUxA7b&vxp=mtr

And you'll get the belt for about 30 bucks at supercheap auto.

Dealers are not there to be your friend ;-)

 

[silentbutdeadly]

For what it's worth...my mum has a 2013 Forester in the US to use when she goes over there to see family.

She came back yesterday with the tale that the Forester had been rear ended two days before she left by a GMC light truck (a bit like a F100). She was just setting off from an intersection and then whammo. Not much damage just scratches and broken plastic to the Forester. However, the front end of the ute was stoved right in...as in no longer driveable right in with essential fluids draining away. It appears that the truck may have dived into the back end of the Forester and it just filled in all the air gaps!

 

[Jesterarts]

I have a 2010 Nissan X-trail. It's the T31.

As far as being functional and practical. Awesome. I can fit the bike in the back without taking the wheel off, has plastic in the back so easy to wash mud of. Draws under the floor where I store spares, tools, first aid.

I've put about 40,000km on it and it hasn't missed a beat. Fairly economical. Comfortable ride.

Aside from that, leather, heated seat which are lovely coming back from a cold day of riding at Lysterfield.

But.... I am looking at getting something different. Not something new, just something different.

I've simply become bored with it.

So if you are looking for a tool to get you from A to B and back, I recommend it.

If you enjoy driving and having something interesting to look at inside and out, not so much.

 

[OscarWhitbread]

From the original post, I wouldn't bother with the Ford Kuga, absolutely stuff all room in the boot area, not so bad with the back seats down if it's only 2 of you in the car. Not sure how much bike stuff you'd fit in the back though, looks pretty squeezy.

My old man just bought one, he is pushing 70 and 6' 7" tall, one of the factors for getting it was it's easier for him to get in and out of at his height compared to a sedan. Length wise, the car was slightly shorter than the Mondeo hatch he replaced.

 

[Jeffgre_6163]

No one has mentioned the Mazda CX5
I have had a 2013 2.2lt Diesel AWD since new.
I love it, with 129kw & 420nm torque it goes like stink. It is actually fun to drive it pulls so hard.
It averages 6.7 lt/100km and that with me driving fairly hard. I also live regional so 99% of my driving is regional.
Space in the back for a bike, handle like a big car - what more could you ask?

 

[hifiandmtb]

Sure. Where can you find a CX-5 for $15k?

 

[spoozbucket]

Sure. Where can you find a CX-5 for $15k?

OP said up to 20k, saw a couple at 19k negotiable.

A friend had a shit of a time with a dealer when the turbo on his petrol CX-7 died, took two months and I think they removed the turbo three times each time telling him that it's stuffed. Every model has turbos that go boom though, especially if they are owned by people that do stupid things like tow a van to the top of a hill and switch off or drive a car full of kids to a soccer game and switch off.

 

[redbruce]

I absolutly hate them, they are a pox on our roads and proof of the demise of civilisation. But if you must have one, at least get something remotely decent...

Decent is a relative term:

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/head-to-head-renault-koleos-v-nissan-xtrail-20120126-1qk5s.html

Unless a betting man, really hard to go past the established and well regarded players; Forester (my pick), CX-5 if you can find one for the money, otherwise a naturally aspirated 2.5 CX-7 (stay away from turbo version), X-trail and RAV.

There are nuances between them and that might be deciding factor.

 

[Haakon]

You recommend an Xtrail and dismiss the Koleos? Have you not been reading the thread?

That's a pissweak article... Although I tend to tune out of any article on a French car that uses the word "quirky"... That journo is a lazy idiot.

 

[Jesterarts]

Decent is a relative term:

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/head-to-head-renault-koleos-v-nissan-xtrail-20120126-1qk5s.html

Unless a betting man, really hard to go past the established and well regarded players; Forester (my pick), CX-5 if you can find one for the money, otherwise a naturally aspirated 2.5 CX-7 (stay away from turbo version), X-trail and RAV.

There are nuances between them and that might be deciding factor.

Eh, pretty lazy article. Not much insightful substance

Seems like the kit is slightly better on the French effort, but I'm not sure what the journo is thinking when he says there is limited leg room in the X-trail in the back.

I am 6 foot 5 and a bit with most of my height in the legs and I can get in the back and be comfortable. More importantly, the X-trail has a very 'boxy' shape which means headroom doesn't deminish in the back due to a sweeping design.

That sweeping design is also the reason the x-trail has 600L of cargo space before folding the seats while the Koleos only has 450L.

 

[redbruce]

You recommend an Xtrail and dismiss the Koleos? Have you not been reading the thread?

That's a pissweak article... Although I tend to tune out of any article on a French car that uses the word "quirky"... That journo is a lazy idiot.

Pissweak, in what regard. It doesn't support your biases (there are none in that article I detected)?

In any case name calling is not evidence, simply a cheap shot unsubstantiated and emotional.

Says more about you than the journo (you really trained and work in science??).

Having driven both, they do have differences (as article points out and to be expected, same as Mazda and Ford offerings of the same vehicle, etc.) as do other contenders I mentioned (and have experienced).

As I said, you need to look at your specific needs and preferences in choosing.

Another view:
http://cararac.com/comparison/nissan-x-trail-renault-koleos.html

My mates in the car trade (both mechanical service providers and consulting design engineers) tell me Renaults of the last 5 years or so are considerably more reliable (except autos) than those of the previous 10 years. Nissan underpinnings hopefully provide additional confidence and lower running costs.

 

[stirk]

You recommend an Xtrail and dismiss the Koleos? Have you not been reading the thread?

That's a pissweak article... Although I tend to tune out of any article on a French car that uses the word "quirky"... That journo is a lazy idiot.

Pissweak, in what regard. It doesn't support your biases (there appear to be none in that article)?

Name calling is not evidence, a cheap shot unsubstantiated and emotional.

Says more about you than the journo (you really trained and work in science??).

Having driven both, they do have differences (as article points out and to be expected), same as Mazda and Ford offerings of the same vehicle, etc.

Some other views:
http://cararac.com/comparison/nissan-x-trail-renault-koleos.html
http://www.4x4australia.com.au/drive/road-tests/1409/top-10-compact-suvs-test/

Now now boys, that was not an article at all, I'd not even honour it by labelling it a comparison, it was that bad, sorry, red, it was a bad craparison to share.

I'm sure both the koleos and xtrail fit the requirements and of course they will be different, der.

Asking opinions about cars will always excite the masses!!

 

[carpetrunner]

what about a real 4wd?

Landrover Defender

Done dozens of events sleeping in the back of the Defender with all my gear and a 29er. Plenty of room.

Doesn't go fast enough to be a danger to anything else on the road.

There are still a few Australian army ones on the auction block.

- Carpetrunner