Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Billings, Montana

Billings, MT Car Consumer Discussions

Nissan...

by michaell on Tue Nov 18 12:27:57 PST 2008

...is, in my opinion, trying to strike the same chord Yugo and Hyundai did in the day. I remember when the advertising for the Yugo was $3990 and for the Excel $4995. Yes, you are sacrificing quite a bit to get to that price point, but I will submit that the reliability of the Nissan has got to be orders of magnitude better than the Yugo or the Excel (of that time). Not that I'd buy one, mind you, but it has to appeal to somebody. I think the author's point is that, for that same amount of money, you can get cars with a lot more personality - either American or European. Yes, you are risking less reliability and higher maintenance and repair bills with the older cars.

Re: [euphonium]

by steve_ on Tue Nov 18 11:49:08 PST 2008

I remember the DOE. They funneled a lot of money to Alaska when I lived there (some was Exxon overcharge settlement money). They subsidized an energy audit, furnace upgrade, caulk and insulation for me. The window retrofit didn't pan out so I didn't go there. I owned a house in Anchorage for about 15 years and my electric and gas bill was lower when I sold it than it was when I moved in. A friend of mine just got a house up there and his energy audit is scheduled for later this month, so I guess the DOE funding is still out there.

03 Altima SE V6 with New Engine

by fboner on Tue Nov 18 11:12:24 PST 2008

Well, they did it. I have a brand new V6 engine, 2 x new pre-cats and 2 x new oxygen sensors installed in my 7yr old car with only 45kmi on it ALL courtesy of Nissan. I have no idea of the final cost (~$6K), but the page of gaskets required must've run $500 or more alone... Acceleration rattle has *finally* gone away! Presumably so too the mysteriously disappearing oil problem... It took them two days to do. (BTW the car passed it's emissions test not 3 months earlier with flying colours, and no lights, no SES, no oil, ever came on) Dealership swears up and down that the new parts have improved formulations and won't suffer the same breakdown as the original parts. ECM was not reprogrammed. I'm going to keep the car, as I still like driving it a lot, and even if it does melt down in another 7 years...I'll probably have got my money's worth. That said, I'm so glad I hadn't packed the miles on it like I used to, or I would've blown the 8yr/130km warranty and be stuck with the mother of all repair bills (like so many on this site)...and be in a bit of a quandary, as in to how to dispose of the car-cass least recklessly... Thank you Nissan for standing by your product (well, to a point).

Re: UPDATE: My experience with an '06 NISMO... not overly good [rimcut1]

by 05nismo6 on Tue Nov 18 10:57:53 PST 2008

rimcut1, I've got an even better list of issues for you, I don't have all of them in front of me, but some sound similar to yours. I have a 2005 NISMO and here's my list. I don't have mileage or dates at my fingertips, but I could get them for you. First issue I recall was the alternating "ABS, LOCK, SLIP, VDC OFF." Lights. This turned out to be my rear differential sensor. Make sure they fix it right by immediately driving the truck in reverse. If it hops like a freakin' bunny they forgot something. Next was the vent control valve and the fan clutch. Vent control valve was a grand time the truck literally spit gas back out of the tank at me. After that was the rear axle seals busting, along with the u-joint going bad. This was the point I lost my temper and sent a letter to Nissan. I got blown off at first, but after the bill hit $1000 and I went nuts at the dealership with my 10 invoices from another dealership. They decided to eat the cost of all of it. At this point my check engine light is doing the same thing it did when the vent control valve went bad before. I agree everyone boasted Nissan Toyota is the way to go. Well I'll tell you after owning 4 Toyota's and one Nissan. A Nissan will never be parked in my driveway again.

UPDATE: My experience with an '06 NISMO... not overly good [rimcut1]

by rimcut1 on Tue Nov 18 10:31:51 PST 2008

Well.. when I was last here, I was sitting at home waiting on the hook to take my truck BACK to the dealer twenty minutes after having picked it up. Turns out that trip was caused by the dealer reprograming my key and not asking me about a second key, and once I picked the truck up the very next time I started it I used my second key and killed the truck. Dealership ate the tow bill and apologized all over themselves. Ok, no problem. Stuff happens. Now, let me briefly recap my recent experiences. 1) Aug. 12 and 67,993 miles, $500+ repair bill for wheel seal and resulting damaged brake pads. 2) Sept. 2 and 69,548 miles, $541(plus an $85 tow bill) repair bill for some sort of power distribution box. And now......... drum roll please......... man, you just cannot make this stuff up...... 3) Nov. 18th and 75,348 miles the P.O.S. is in the shop again!!!!!!!! About two hours into my day the following warning lights came on, sometimes flashing, sometimes alternating turns and sometimes simply all staying on, "ABS, LOCK, SLIP, VDC OFF." I was working (again, truck is my office) and an hour from home when this crap started. So, I canceled two appointments and turned around to head back home and to the dealer. So........ once again, driving a rental (more $) so I can continue to work while the dealer has my truck. I am absolutely fed up with Nissan. Never, NEVER will I ever again buy a freaking Nissan of any type. This is almost to the point of feeling like a bad dream. EXCEPT I'M PAYING FOR IT!!!!!! I bought my first Nissan since "buy a Toyota or Nissan and it will be trouble free" seems to be the mantra of the automotive world. Well, in all of my vehicle owning life (15 I think, all Ford except for one Chevy and one Jeep) I have never, NEVER had a vehicle with a track record even remotely this bad. This is pathetic. What really sucks is that I'm stuck with the thing for quite a while. It's not like I can go trade it still owing 2 years on it. I am so screwed. I'm actually thinking I looking for something used to drive for work and just let this P.O.S. sit in my driveway. This is nuts. It's to the point that I simply cannot afford to drive a Nissan. Add my payments and my repair bills I could have bought a freaking BMW or something. I hate my NISMO and I hate Nissan. For the first time in my life I have a vehicle in which I have ZERO confidence. Zero. I have looked, unsuccessfully, and am going to continue looking for some anti-Nissan bumper stickers. Once I find some, I am going to freaking cover the rear of my truck in Nissan bashing stickers.

Re: Mazda sales [autonomous]

by aviboy97 on Tue Nov 18 07:10:29 PST 2008

How is the financial crisis affecting your dealership, aviboy? It's not that bad where I am. Could business be better? Absolutely. Sales are down, that's for sure. Are some vehicle purchases more affected than others? The Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-9 remain hot sellers....well, as hot as they can in a market like this. The CX-7 has really died down and the MX-5 is virtually dead. I'm guessing the MX-5 has hurt because it is usually a car purchased for recreation. People are not spending money on recreation right now. Any opinions on what would help the recovery? I'm stumped. I really think those people who have money to spend, and in my area that is a lot, are scared to spend it right now. Then there are those who are struggling to just get by. Those people are not even coming out. What really is hurting us is lending institutions. They are being very very restrictive and selective with who they lend money too. Almost too selective. I have had a few people with 700+ credit scores and money down rejected loans by banks that 3 months ago were lending out money to people with 600 credit scores and no money down. I understand, and agree, with not lending money to 600 type people, but a 700+ person? Come on. Those people pay their bills.