X-Trail vs. RAV-4 vs. CR-V

[LiquidSilverSpecV]

Hey Guys and Gals,

My wife and I are looking into getting a compact SUV. We have the field narrowed down to the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V.

Uses:
Grocey Getter
Commuting to/from work
We are expecting a baby and will be using the SUV for the seat and stuff (it won't fit in my 350Z!)
We have a 70lb dog we occasionally lug around

So I am looking for feedback from you X-Trail owners. What do you like dislike about your X-Trail? Have you had any problems or are there any know problems with the X-Trail? If any of you have owned or driven the other 2 vehicles on the list, how do they compare? Don't bother to comment on styling as looks are very subjective.

By the way, we are looking at a 2005 X-Trail XE AWD.

I will also be posting this on the RAV-4 and CR-V forums.

Thanks for your input!

Tim

[nz_aj]

Keep your garage Nissan!
Dream of 280hp SR20VET powered X-trail? They've been in production since year 2000.
http://catalogue.carview.co.jp/NISSA...st/engines.asp
http://catalogue.carview.co.jp/NISSA...t/overview.asp

[bogo]

[quote=LiquidSilverSpecV]
So I am looking for feedback from you X-Trail owners. What do you like dislike about your X-Trail? Have you had any problems or are there any know problems with the X-Trail?
Thanks for your input!

I used to like it very much, until .......one day ....
I copy the rest from my letter that I sent to Nissan Japan on 18-Mar-2005 (nissan-ir@mail.nissan.co.jp). I know it is a lot but I want every one to have the right perspective on the subject. I live in Australia, Melbourne.
I got no replay so far. Maybe the letter was to harsh, what do you think? should i get up-set?


-----------------------------------------

Dear Nissan
I was trying to get in touch with Nissan Australia as well but on their
web site there is no email address, so this one will only go to you.

I have written this account of my problems, primarily for our web site. I
will however give you a pick preview with the request to reply just in
cast the policy in Australia is not correct and you might be willing to
act to fix the problems.

-----------------------------------------------
I thought i had a good car, Nissan X-Trail Ti-L + leather and sun roof,
top of the range, I've been told. Recently turning from Johnson street
into Michleham Road (north-west Melbourne) my car produced loud scraping
noise following total loss off power and the engine died. Very surprised I
let the car roll for a 100 meters to get away from the roundabout. .... I
was shocked. How can a brand new engine just stop while driving, and in
gear. What in the world happened?. I did not hear any noises before this
or have seen any warning lights on the dash.

I called 24 hour road assistance, they send RACV in an hour. I was
informed by the mechanic the engine seized because it run out of oil.
Thats good i thought 55,000 km from new and 4,000 km after major service,
where all the parts including engine should have been checked and it falls
apart. Feels like back in my country, Poland, nothing lasts more than that
50,000 - 70,000km.

I only wasted 3 hours. I was offered a tow but because it was a Saturday I
could not send it to Nissan Essendon. So on Monday, call for tow notify
Essendon they will have a delivery of a dad X-Trail

I thought I give them time to evaluate, next day I called (Tuesday
1-mar-2005) I've been told the engine seized, very good!, I new that, I've
been told that before. On the question when is it going to be fixed I've
been told 6-8 days, well it was not so bad. And the job will be covered by
warranty.

I called Nissan Essendon +613 9379 6643 talked to Matt to arrange courtesy
car, they did not have any, all of the cars has been out. He said he will
have to ask Nissan Head Quarters if he can hire a car for me. I enquired
on my own at the NISSAN HQ +613 9797 4444, Lance told me yes they can pay
for hired car. That shut me up for a while until I found that I can not
have X-trail not even Nissan (I suppose they ware too expensive) I've been
offered Hyunday Metz, which is fine car and it would probably last longer
than Nissan, but also I have to agree to $2000 excess just in case of any
damage/loss. I would not be afraid of accidents but if the car get stolen,
my insurance wont work and I would have to pull out 2 grand and say good
by to it. All would be good if my Nissan would be damaged by me I pay for
the privilege, but fault was not mine and I am getting penalized for
incompetence of Nissan, either Essendon for not checking all systems
during last checkup (4000km ago) or factory for not building the engine
properly.

I did not have any accidents for many years so I am group 1, have paid
group 1 protection and my normal excess is $250. Although $2,000 excess
can be reduced to $250 but I have to pay $18 per day out of my own pocket
on top of whatever Nissan is prepared to pay. And after many call to
Essendon and to HQ I've been told to get what i can because Nissan HQ
definitely will not pay $18 more per day to replace their FAULTY NISSAN
with HYUNDAY for another 7 days

7 days later and numerous phone calls I have been told it might be another
week and still no car to drive. Another few days past and I received phone
call from Matt saying that there is a problem with delivery of some parts
to fix the DUD Nissan X-Trail of mine so they will not be able to fix it
before the end of the March. So far it will be whole month, 30 days for a
repair that was the fault of Nissan.

I just can't believe that company as big as NISSAN would be willing to
damage their reputation for $126 or even $300 Australian dollars (due to
the extended repair/delivery time), it is just unthinkable. One reason for
this is that they don't give a stuff about one man that complains, even if
he's right. I write this information page because we live in the
information age where the dissemination of information could and should be
a powerful ally, and big boys like Nissan should not BULLY small guys like
me, and treat them with contempt. For now I discourage anyone to buy
Nissan, even more "STAY AWAY FROM NISSAN" "SELL your NISSAN ASAP", it is
not worth hassles to keep them. Nissan warranty policy is inadequate.

If you have a problem with your NISSAN service or other cars service, send
me an email. I know this can make the difference. We have about 5,000
visitors a day coming to our web site http://centre.net.au we will post it
here and let people make their own decision about truthfulness of Nissan
advertising and reliability of their cars.

I have made more phone calls. So far, the situation makes my stomach turn
upside-down, I am wasting time calling both Nissans and trying to organize
transport for myself, but most importantly thinking about the situation
instead of working and earning a dollar or two.

One thing for sure, I will never ever buy another Nissan receiving such
customer service from both Essendon and Nissan Australian Headquarters and
forcing me to look for other transportation rather than to do my work.
People at Nissan are polite enough, however the system or the lack of
customer understanding sucks. I was not my fault yet I am paying for it,
in time and in pain and frustration. Someone up the top (maybe in
Australian HQ) is not seeing the big picture because the customer is too
small. I hope that Nissan Japan will be of a different opinion, and i will
post their reply (if i get any) below. But for now this is the post that
most of our customers will see on our font page, please feel free to send
me condolences and encouragements to bogdan@centre.net.au .

Since then we have bought Volkswagen Sedan (Golf) on the recommendation of
a friend and a personal experience of one of the directors (I suppose
customer service was exceptional).

Latest news is that the repairs will not be completed until the end of the
month. This is a disgrace.

26-Feb-2005
brake-down at 11:00, 24 hour assistance works good

28-Feb-2005
Tow to Essendon Nissan, job number YRA 31943

01-Mar
1 call Essendon about repairs

02-Mar call HQ - Lance (customer service manager)
another 2 calls to follow up on courtesy car
attempt to call HQ

03-Mar
2 calls to Essendon, no one called back

04-Mar
2 calls to HQ, talked to Lance

07-Mar
2 calls, talked to Andrew
call from Essendon

08-Mar
2 calls to HQ, talked to Lance
1 call to Essendon

17-Mar
1 call from Matt at Essendon Nissan which gave me
a bad news about another delay of parts.

18-Mar
1 call from Matt about hire car which I would have
to pay $3000 excess if something happened to it.

Last update 18-Mar-2005


Thanks
Bogdan Bednarczyk
http://centre.net.au
-------------------------------------------------------------

[pugs16_777]

hey dude, you are the biggest winging bastard I have ever listened to. sure you may have problems with any car you buy as with anything in this world. do you really think another company would drop on their knees and say sorry and give you the world. no they would not. who do you think you are 'god'. their are much worst things going on in this world than your poor xtrail. at least you can afford one. atleast they are fixing it atleast they arranged a loan car but no you have to go on and winge about an excess which unless you drive like the idiot you are you won't even need to use. your a sad and sorry case for a human. get a life and get over it. you looser. i can believe you wasted so much time posted that. I am so ammused.

Hey everyone get an X-Trail. They are great cars and so are nissan. I have one. Don't worry the chances of you getting a dud are 1 in a million and we know who got the last one.

J out!

[mmcleo11]

Exactly pugs16_777, idiots like 'bogo' should take the bus.

Obviously, the 'check engine oil' light would have come on and the fact 'bogo' was stupid enough to keep driving the vehicle actually means he would have voided his warranty. The fact that Nissan Australia was generous enough to replace the engine, should be enough to stop his abuse.

The fact you cannot admit your own stupidity, is what makes you the biggest loser of all. The fact you emailed Nissan Japan, not Nissan Australia is what makes you an even bigger loser.

I have never had a problem with my X-Trail, it would have to be one of the best cars I have owned!

[nissantech]

Well put all.
As the owners hand book states, IT IS THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSABILITY TO CHECK THERE OIL DAILY.

[jalalski]

Just a quick response to "bogo" which I think means "God" in Polish

First, and am sorry to say this to you, this the most un-subjective letter I have ever read and it will no way get any sort of attention from Nissan Japan, because you keep jumping from one subject to the other and lost the plot in the process.

You seem to be complaining about the type of hire car they have given you more than about your car that has broken-down.

If there was no prior oil leaks with your xtrail, there is just NO WAY for the engine to seize like that at all.

It is a serious problem indeed which puts any car owner in doubt about the quality of the car they have, but these things can happen to any make and model out there. That is why we have manufacturers warranty and reading what you stated above, Nissan Australia have done what they should and covered it by that warranty.

In some cases there will be lack of spare parts to complete the job and they will have to order them all the way from Japan and that is what can cause the delay.

Am sure had you been nice about it with your dealer or Nissan, they would have helped you out in any way they can and would have given you a loan car for the duration of the repair period.

Issuing a board statement like the one you made advising people to stay clear of nissan cars, just because you had a bad day, is not the way to go!

Second Your username may sound like "God" but you're simply not one, so come down to earth and enjoy real life with all it's troubles It's not the end of the earth after all.

I sincerely hope you can change your mind and buy another exy to compliment your VW which you can keep as a weekend toy. hehehe

[suftuffer]

@bogo

Man, this reply does not make any sense at all. If I understand you correct, you suffered some sever issue with the engine, which was completely repaired under warranty, and they even offered you a replacement rental car (which is not part of the warranty by the way). And here you are complaining about it?

Duh, get a life d00d

[bogo]

Obviously you did not read the post coming up with the ideas like "oil lights must have been on but you stupid bastard missed it".
well, i am not very vindictive but i hope this will happen to you. If this is 1 in a milion i hope there will be a milion sold by the time you get your next nissan.

BTW, now on the reconditioned engine in 4000km i have to add 2 liters of oil.
You telling me this is normal?
You all must be working for Nissan then.

For all the good wishers to get a life
Get a life yourself, I bought the new car not to fiddle around with it, or not to spend 2 fricking month at the Nissan garage.

Thanks for All the smart ass comments about how stipid i am.

[suftuffer]

Originally Posted by bogo

Obviously you did not read the post coming up with the ideas like "oil lights must have been on but you stupid bastard missed it".
well, i am not very vindictive but i hope this will happen to you. If this is 1 in a milion i hope there will be a milion sold by the time you get your next nissan.

BTW, now on the reconditioned engine in 4000km i have to add 2 liters of oil.
You telling me this is normal?
You all must be working for Nissan then.

For all the good wishers to get a life
Get a life yourself, I bought the new car not to fiddle around with it, or not to spend 2 fricking month at the Nissan garage.

Thanks for All the smart ass comments about how stipid i am.

Bogo,

I think everybody at this forum agrees that what happened to your car is not considered normal, and is of course not what anybody buys a car for. The comments are mainly that we do not understand your complain, since it seems that they did everything to help you out, get you a replacement car and performed repairs under warranty.

If this is indeed the case, it is more then logical that people wonder if your complaints are legitimate, as this could happen with any brand.

Leo

[jg09]

Originally Posted by LiquidSilverSpecV

Hey Guys and Gals,

...We have the field narrowed down to the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V.
...

None of them, get a Jeep Patriot.