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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 9:38:26 GMT
After sorting my car out a couple of weeks ago and with the PCP in Mrs. Sacamano's Qashqai up in a few months we decided to start shopping for her next car. I suggested she start thinking about what it must have and she came up with:
Must be white, preferably metallic.
Must be no smaller than current Qashqai.
Got to have a panoramic sunroof.
Preferably auto and diesel.
Got to have DAB radio and satnav.
A nice set of alloys would be good too.
So we started looking at options and quickly crossed out Q3 and Q5 - doesn't like styling and my sister has a Q5 diesel auto - not impressed. Skoda and SEAT, too boring to look at. Tiguan - her best friend has one and it's less practical than her Qashqai. Ford Kuga? Nope. The Koreans? Nope. BMWs? The X1 is a bit "funny" looking and the X3 too expensive. Volvo XC40? They want silly money for these. She quite fancied the Evoque but they are expensive and small inside. The Discovery Sport was a real contender but the price was £40,015 and put it in the expensive VED bracket - two cars in that bracket is too much to bear. It also had 7 seats and we really don't need that.
So, predictably, we ended up at Lookers Nissan where, surprise, surprise they had a Storm White pearlescent Qashqai, on diamond cut 18" alloys with a panoramic sunroof, in N-Connecta trim. I knew the game was up. There have been some subtle quality improvements inside - it really is getting close to a premium feel now - the seats have some nice side bolster now and the bit that seemed to please her the most - a flat bottomed steering wheel. Apparently, she'd always wanted one of these from her Audi days. Who knew? It always amazes me how one little detail can swing something for a woman.
We took a 1.5 diesel auto (it's a dual clutch affair now) and I was surprised at how well it went - it's never going to whip you past other vehicles and bring a huge smile to your face but the diesel engine and DCT box seemed well matched and refined. Anyway she was sold.
Upshot was that it was end of month and they were keen to do a deal, so as long as we were happy for it to be registered tomorrow for their bonuses we can have a factory fresh one on Monday to her exact specifications. She's signing the finance tonight and they are chucking in the mats, load protector, mudflaps and other bits and bogs free. She's highly delighted. Once again, my dreams of new golf clubs are squashed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 10:34:04 GMT
The golf clubs tend to get a beating into third place in my experience too. Different reasons but same old.
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Post by Tim on Apr 29, 2019 11:31:20 GMT
You've gone round in a big circle but at least you looked at alternatives.
We have the 1.5DCi engine in our Micra - in undernourished 86BHP form - and its not bad, it spins pretty sweetly to 5k and has better initial throttle response then the 320.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 11:56:34 GMT
You've gone round in a big circle but at least you looked at alternatives. We have the 1.5DCi engine in our Micra - in undernourished 86BHP form - and its not bad, it spins pretty sweetly to 5k and has better initial throttle response then the 320. They've tweaked it slightly; 115 bhp v 110 bhp in ours. It's a very good diesel engine; one of the smoothest and refined around and we've never had the feeling it's under powered for our everyday use. Having looked at others I would say the only real contenders for her money were the SEAT Ateca & BMW X2. Obviously, since we ended up at Nissan I pushed for the GT-R but she wasn't having it. |
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 29, 2019 12:34:41 GMT
If you are after new clubs but don't mind them being used, in my mum's shed we still have my late father's old clubs, bag, trolley and some balls.
Now that the Qashqai has a proper auto 'box, it would be on the list of Captur replacements but as I've no intention of replacing the Captur yet........
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 12:52:18 GMT
Don't get me wrong; my current clubs are only 5 years old but golfers are notorious for always looking at the shiny, shiny new stuff that will make us scratch golfers.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 29, 2019 15:15:22 GMT
"N-Connecta".... Is that for real?
Apart from that and the metallic white paint, it sounds good.
My father-in-law has a 2013 Qashqai (last of first gen), which I drove for the first time the other day and was surprised how well it tackled some twisty Italian B-roads. It's got a bifuel petrol/LPG engine (all the rage in Italy) with a 5spd manual box but apart from that I don't know much about it.
Nissan must be doing something right because he's decided that it's time for a new car and apparently he fancies a new X-Trail as a replacement (wants a bigger car).
Read and weep on UK residuals vs continental ones - he's been offered EUR13k in part-ex for it with 35k miles on the clock, whereas you'd get about half that over here.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 15:24:43 GMT
That is a very good residual. A friend has an X-Trail and loves it but it's a bit big for us.
Nissan has some beauty trim names: Visia, Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, Tekna, Tekna+. I'd be happy with a Nissan Qashqai GL: one up on the peasants driving Qashqai Ls, without the ostentation of the Qashqai GLX or Ghia.
I think they call it the N-Connecta as it's the trim where all the electronic gubbins kicks in - the forward radar, lane assist, traffic sign recognition etc plus the 360 deg birds eye surround view, rear camera and a host of other stuff that I will spend 6 months explaining to the driver.
That reminds me; is it X-Trail as in "Ex-Trail" or is it "Cross Trail"?
Same for BMW's X-Drive; "Ex-Drive" or "Cross Drive"?
Asking for a friend as I'm not that sad.
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Post by Tim on Apr 29, 2019 15:42:03 GMT
I'm not sure you're totally right there Bob, mine's an Acenta plus (?) so it has the lane assist, sign recognition, bluetooth with Apple car play but it lacks satnav, cameras or (a major bugbear to Mrs Tim) speakers in the back.
It's also got a plastic steering wheel which is my major bugbear.
Well, apart from it not being a 370Z and thus lacking 240 BHP, some handling and a decent soundtrack.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 29, 2019 15:51:45 GMT
Plastic steering wheel? Urgh how horrid!
Whatever trim pops-in-law has does at least run to a leather steering wheel, as well as electric folding mirrors and the like. He didn't spec it - he got some amazing deal on it at the time because the new Qashqai had already been launched and this was an in-stock car they were keen to shift.
I've always said Ex-Trail because, frankly that's what it says (you don't call the well-known gaming device a cross-box after all), but I have no idea whether that is what Nissan intended.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 15:58:03 GMT
I'm not sure you're totally right there Bob, mine's an Acenta plus (?) so it has the lane assist, sign recognition, bluetooth with Apple car play but it lacks satnav, cameras or (a major bugbear to Mrs Tim) speakers in the back. It's also got a plastic steering wheel which is my major bugbear. Well, apart from it not being a 370Z and thus lacking 240 BHP, some handling and a decent soundtrack. Our Acenta has that too but it was always a £495 add on called the Smart Vision Pack. Only the basic Visia spec has only had front speakers and a plastic steering wheel so it sounds like a Visia plus Smart Vision pack. |
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Post by Tim on Apr 29, 2019 16:00:20 GMT
I didn't realise the wheel was going to be plastic, the test drive was clearly in a higher spec version and it never occurred to me to look through the spec list.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 29, 2019 17:27:57 GMT
I didn't realise the wheel was going to be plastic, the test drive was clearly in a higher spec version and it never occurred to me to look through the spec list. Sorry, I forgot you were talking about your Micra. I'm not familiar with their specs. I don't have a problem with a plastic steering wheels, Ford did some nice ones in the 80s. |
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Post by PG on Apr 29, 2019 18:57:55 GMT
I didn't realise the wheel was going to be plastic, the test drive was clearly in a higher spec version and it never occurred to me to look through the spec list. Sorry, I forgot you were talking about your Micra. I'm not familiar with their specs. I don't have a problem with a plastic steering wheels, Ford did some nice ones in the 80s. They have their place. Our Shogun has one and it makes it much easier to clean when it is covered in shyte and dirt. But as a thing to hold and drive in a normal car, leather wheels all the way for me. Re the OP, sounds like a good deal on a car Mrs S really wanted, so a win all round. Nissan really hit gold with the Qashqai. I drove a Mk 1 version and you could totally see why they are so popular. |
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Post by Tim on Apr 30, 2019 8:19:35 GMT
I clearly have dry hands and the wheel in the Micra is quite hard feeling - the plastic wheel in our 2nd Stilo was nicer to hold than this.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 30, 2019 9:09:08 GMT
I clearly have dry hands and the wheel in the Micra is quite hard feeling - the plastic wheel in our 2nd Stilo was nicer to hold than this. Solved your problem:  Fecking moaners......  |
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Post by Tim on Apr 30, 2019 9:30:37 GMT
Wow, they've found that photo of me  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 11:10:25 GMT
Those pink bits are OK, no the other pink bits...... Unless it's Bob monkhouse moonlighting again.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 10, 2019 9:12:39 GMT
Some photos:    First impression are it feels very solid and well screwed together, the ride on 18" wheels hasn't significantly deteriorated from the 17s, and although it's only got 115bhp it feels well matched to the auto box, pulls well, and only really runs out of puff at the top end. Some faux aluminium/carbon fibre has given the cabin a bit of a lift, all the upper surfaces are soft touch and feel decent quality. Lower plastics are cheaper and harder but of a sufficient thickness to feel OK. Couple of things I didn't realise it had; a blind spot monitor that works really well and flashes an amber light on left or right if something is in that area, and auto parking for parallel parking or bay parking. I've not had the courage to try this yet. |
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Post by Tim on May 10, 2019 9:41:17 GMT
I think the Qashqai is probably still the most attractive of these mid-size (?) cheaper SUVs, it's certainly a lot more attractive than the less cheap 'premium' ones!
Even in white.
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Post by johnc on May 10, 2019 9:42:59 GMT
and auto parking for parallel parking or bay parking. I've not had the courage to try this yet. I never used it on my last car and won't use it on my new one - my understanding is that it lines up based on the parking of the cars in front and behind you therefore if one of them has parked on or against the kerb, that's where you are going too. The Qashqai is a really good looking vehicle IMHO but the neighbours are going to be talking with 2 new cars in the drive. |
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Post by Martin on May 10, 2019 9:47:27 GMT
and auto parking for parallel parking or bay parking. I've not had the courage to try this yet. I never used it on my last car and won't use it on my new one - my understanding is that it lines up based on the parking of the cars in front and behind you therefore if one of them has parked on or against the kerb, that's where you are going too. The Qashqai is a really good looking vehicle IMHO but the neighbours are going to be talking with 2 new cars in the drive. I’ve used it a couple of times and it doesn’t line up with the other cars, it did a perfect job even parking on a curve and if you’re concerned you can just take your finger off the button. However, with surround cameras it’s quicker and easier to do it yourself and I’ve always been good at parallel parking. |
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Post by Tim on May 10, 2019 10:48:10 GMT
I’ve used it a couple of times and it doesn’t line up with the other cars, it did a perfect job even parking on a curve and if you’re concerned you can just take your finger off the button. However, with surround cameras it’s quicker and easier to do it yourself and I’ve always been good at parallel parking. Cue Martin making a trip to the wheel refurbisher next week...... |
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Post by Martin on May 10, 2019 11:22:27 GMT
I’ve used it a couple of times and it doesn’t line up with the other cars, it did a perfect job even parking on a curve and if you’re concerned you can just take your finger off the button. However, with surround cameras it’s quicker and easier to do it yourself and I’ve always been good at parallel parking. Cue Martin making a trip to the wheel refurbisher next week...... Mmmnnnn, can I take that back?! |
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Post by racingteatray on May 10, 2019 11:55:08 GMT
The Qashqai is a really good looking vehicle IMHO but the neighbours are going to be talking with 2 new cars in the drive. That thought also crossed my mind! |
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Post by PG on May 10, 2019 17:14:46 GMT
'Tis a good looking thing, the latest Qashqai. And somehow white suits it. Which I don't often say.
It does looks huge next to the 3 series.
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