Need Nissan advice

[Paul Greathouse]

Anybody own a Nissan Murano? We already have an Altima, the Murano and Altima share the same V6 so I know the motor will be great but I don't know much about the Murano itself.

We love the Altima, the only problem is, my wife and I are both tall and are getting tired of climbing in and out of a car. Up till now we have always had trucks and large SUV's.

So, does anyone have any complaints and/or compliments on the Murano?
Also, if you have one, what kind of real world fuel mileage are you getting with it?
If you don't mind me asking, what did you have to pay for it?

[Paul Ryan]

Mechanically they have hereditary transmission and transfer case issues. The bearings used are garbage and don't tend to last more than about 70k miles sometimes less. The last one I looked at had 68k on it and the transfercase started growling. About 6 months latter she was back for the trans at that time, lost 3rd and 4th gear. The owner was recently out of college and had bought a service contract that saved her but. Otherwise she would have had a large loan and junk vehicle. Stick with something good buy American.

[Orion Henderson]

I have never had one-but I know a few people who have. They seem to have been trouble free. Always liked the look and interior on them a lot. I have a full size Nissan P/U that runs like a champ.

[Josh Reid]

Go Toyota. You won't be dissappointed. The new Highlanders are great looking and about the same size as the Murano. Or you could go with the bigger 4Runner. They run forever and have a good resale value.

[Chuck Stewart]

Paul,
In o7 I traded my 1999 F-150 for the 2007 Nissan Murano , I think it's the "S" series has the power seats and mirrors and payed around 27K. This car feels real solid underneath, has lots of room (back seats fold down) and has a real smooth ride. Even people riding in the back seat have commented on it's smooth ride. It has the 3.5 liter 24 valve V6 and I thought I'd be getting pretty good gas mileage but have to say I'm quite dissapointed in that I'm getting only 16mpg combined and only saw 19 to 20 mpg when it was brand new which is odd since I've always heard it should work the opposite, once broke in the mileage should increase.Got about 19k miles on it now and the wife has started driving it to work since she only has a couple miles where I'm traveling 45 miles and decided best to take her 99 Ford Escort.I like the fact you can program a maintenance schedule and it will alert you on the onboard screen or check gas mileage with the push of a button. Also it has the CVT transmission (continuosly variable transmission) and you'll never feel it shifting even when you punch it....and it will fly. As for the heat/ac controls, maybe it's just me but their positioned around the radio controls (even though you can control radio on steering column) and I find myself looking over searching for the right button (has dual control for passenger) plus you gots to dial the fan up to see what's being changed on the screen. And then when I get it just where I want and pull into a store and shut it down, when I take back off I have to go thru the entire setup again!! Just give me a friggin slide control with a blue/red dial is my opinion.So...smooth ride and power to spare,yes
Lot's of room and options,yes....good gas mileage,no....funky controls..maybe only to me

[Paul Greathouse]

Thanks for the input guys,

I was hoping for better combined mileage than 16, believe it or not the Altima with the same engine gets about 28-30mpg on the interstate.

Chuck, I'm guessing with an average of 16 your getting about 20-21 on the highway. For a little more money maybe I should just consider a Tahoe or Yukon.

[Paul Ryan]

A tahoe, yukon, or even a suburban will get around that 19-22 range with out pulling something. If you hook up a trailer than mileage goes way down.

[Andy Joe]

they actually make a different block for the rear wheel driver 3.5v6 then they do for the transverse 3.5v6 in the front wheel drive applications, im not sure if this or weight and 4 wheel drive could be changing your gas millage. I have owned a couple difrent nissans now and my only complaint is that they all have a watter/oil breather that is one in the same uinit and sits right next to the timing belt. On two diferent cars now(one 240 and one maxima) the timing belt has goten lose and ate through the cover and cut a hole in that breather causeing my engine to fill up with sludge. I didnt notice a change in the car untill the sludge came both times. Also i have had alot of problems with fuel pumps going bad in my nissans. But they have all been used vehicles, and a car is only as reliable as the mantaince you put into it.