Nissan: Murano . . . Can anyone recommend one as a fun car to drive?

In article <YYRKb.772861$Fm2.750511@attbi_s04>,
"Kim Groves" <net> says:
 

The best Nissan/Infiniti web resource out there is "Freshalloy.com". They
have a Murano forum:

http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=Murano

.... and you'll be able to find out anything you want to know. QUICK TIP:
change the time in the "Date Range" bar if you're gonna do a search from
"Newer than 1 week" to something larger, like "last 6 mos" or so.

-Kenny, owner of an FX45

--
Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles
H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898
W: 26601 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302-1959 (818) 444-3685

Kim Groves wrote:
 

I find mine very comfortable and after a side by side comparison I
prefer the interior of the Murano to the FX even if I do still like
the exterior look of the FX a little better.

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On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 11:21:28 GMT, "Kim Groves"
<net> wrote:
 

My father owns a 2003 Murano. I absolutely hate the thing and drive
it only as required, but he likes it and it is his primary vehicle.
I'm also very tired of taking it to the Nissan dealer for him. The
CVT takes a bit of getting use to. I personally like shifting, it
doesn't shift instead it keeps RPMs at a constant rate and changes the
transmission ratio.. Since getting it, it has had paint problems
(small piece of road debris hit door panel and ripped the paint right
off), clock issues (clock too fast), and problems with a clicking
sound when starting from stop, but the last time I took it in, they
found the air scoop (which swoops down way too low, in my opinion) to
have been dislodged. However, the problem still exists, I don't know
if the CVT has a starting clutch but thats what I think is causing the
noise. Needless to say, I have to take it BACK AGAIN for the same
problem.

Fun to drive.. Not really. Ride and handling are carlike. As for
exciting acceleration, it's not bad in Ds mode, but otherwise it's
average. Rear seat ride is jittery. Front seat ride is better.

Nissan has not been very helpful. I don't care what the magazine
reviewers say, this car is not a great car.

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Barry S. wrote:

 

It's a car, ride and handling are supposed to be car like. What
would make it fun, having it handle and ride like an F350?? A
Corvette is something I would say is fun to drive and yet it is; I
would imagine, very car like. Sorry you have had problems but I'd
have to say road debris hitting the car and scratching off paint
isn't Nissan's problem and if you prefer shifting you can not judge
it automatically bad because it has an auto tranny.


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I've owned one for a year now in the midwest USA. There have been many "new
model" problems. I have used two different dealerships for service/repairs.
Neither dealer appears to be knowledgeable about the model.

Forget about passenger car type quiteness. Ride noises have been a problem
since I picked it up. The worst of mine appear at cold temperatures. There
have been several websites discussing how to (that means you, forget the
dealer) quiet particular problem areas.

Major impressions are that the ride is comfortable for an SUV, stiff but not
punishing, highway wind noise is good, cross wind stability is good,
acceleration is very good, a bit too much engine whine under throttle, there
is no exhaust noise (pleasant or unpleasant), all-wheel drive has performed
OK in snow and ice. You must get used to the CV transmission. If it has a
fault, it is that it's programmed to downshift a lot in response to a even
light accelerator depression. Gas mileage has ranged from 15 mpg on cold
city streets to 25 on summer highways.

It needs more headroom (6'3" tall), much of the central display is wasted
without the mapping option, high intensity headlights are unbeatable but fog
lights are pitiful, worthless automatic headlight control, ignition key
location causes much banging around on dash, inaccurate clock (incapable
service), BOSE audio is good but not outstanding (I'm changing the
windshield speakers), forget about satelite radio unless your into re-wiring
cars, windshield wiper design prevents easily cleaning lower windshield and
changing blades, rear window gets obscured quickly by dirt and road spray.
Most annoying - there is no decent front seat trash receptacle.

I really wanted to be enthuastic about this vehicle, but it's turned out
that my wife is much happier with it than I am.


"Kim Groves" <net> wrote in message
news:YYRKb.772861$.. 
am 
put 
ride 

otherwhorl wrote:
 

Mine is extremely quiet, but it's a later model and I haven't had any
of the door rattles mentioned at other forums.
 

I think this may have been fixed in later models too, I never noticed
that although the CVT is different and you have to grow accustomed to it.
 
summer highways. 

Interesting, I'm 5'11" and when the seat is way down there seems to
be enormous room, but, I'm 5' 11"...
 

I'd like to see them as HID with yellow lenses.
 

Huh?? If you mean the level control, mine is manual. If you mean auto
on/off mine seems to work. I WOULD like to have had DRLs though.
 

I just noticed since mid October mine has gained 10 minutes. That sucks. 

This is the first car I've ever bought that I didn't feel the need to
upgrade the stereo. What do you dislike about the dash tweeters and
what do you plan to replace them with?
 

The rear window stays a lot cleaner than the one on my Mustang
hatchback...
 

Door pockets?? I bought one at Wal-mart and hung it on the back of
the passenger seat.
 



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"WindsorFox[SS]" <net> wrote in message
news:Jf_Lb.70987$.. 
"new 
service/repairs. 
problem 
There 
not 
there 
performed 
a 
even 
fog 

When in the auto on/off mode my headlights don't come on until the skylight
is much darker than the legal limit where I'm at. BUT, the second I pull
even half-way into my home garage in the middle of the day, the headlights
come on only to be turned off with along with the engine two seconds later.
Great way to burn them out fast. 
clock (incapable 
I hear practically nothing from the windshield located speakers except at
very high volume and with the treble boosted past +3. I got a pair of
Infinity 10.5t that I will install when the weather gets warmer.
 
and 
spray. 

I travel between many states, so my door pockets are stuffed full of maps.
But, I really like that they open up. I've mused about getting my wife to
make a "saddle bag" type thing to hang over the center console under the
dash.
 
One other big gripe. This car has the least durable exterior paint of any
vehicle I've ever owned. I make a particular 2000 highway mile trip twice a
year. The first Murano trip sustained more front end paint damage than
multiple trips made by several other vehicles combined. And that was in the
middle of the summer, no winter "sand" or rock salt. The paint/clear coat is
exceedingly thin and isn't very tough. This has VERY big resale
considerations for me and is a killer when considering buying another Nissan
in the future. 

otherwhorl wrote:
 

I have to wonder if that is adjustable. Mine seems to work very well
as far as when they come on, but yes, they do come on when I wheel
into the garage.
 

Mine does that too. It's Bose, too much bass and not enough treble. I
have my bass control on -2 and the treble on + 3 or 4. Keep in mind
that Bose car audio many times has indevidual amps on EACH speaker
and 2 ohm drivers. With the adjustments I made it is quite livable
for me.
 

Grubbs Infiniti has a web site that offers the SatRas and wire
harnesses, if you have the interest you may look there. If I were
goign to get XM then I's want a dock in both cars and my house though.

 

I havn't noticed, but I havn't hit 2000 miles yet.


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