Expert answer

Hi Joe,

The official fuel economy figure for that model was 35.3mpg, or 8.0 litres per 100km. At this age, and depending on how well it’s been cared for, I’d expect that to be considerably worse today, probably close to 25mpg on average.

Expert answer

Hi Adam,

Short answers — no and yes, maybe. No, that kind of mileage is pretty low. It works out at 7,500 miles per year which is staggeringly low. If it’s been well cared for and fully serviced, it should be just fine. On the petrol front, it’ll be pretty thirsty, depending on the model. The 1.8 turbo is really thirsty (think circa 30mpg) or if it’s the V6 model then think more like 20mpg.

Expert answer

Hi Jakub,

Right, here’s what we’ve gleaned with a little help from Nissan and a dive into its archives…

There were basically two specifications of Primera from 2002 to 2008. The entry model was an SE, which came with a full colour display in the centre of the dash, trip computer, colour reversing camera (one of the first cars to deploy this tech, as I recall), climate control, power steering, front and rear electric windows, electric mirrors, height-and-lumbar adjustable driver's seat, CD player stereo with six speakers, ABS with EBD and brake assist, six airbags, front pretensioners for the seatbelts, remote central locking, alarm, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fogs, chrome door handles and body coloured mirrors.

The T-Spec model got all of that and added auto dimming rear view mirrors, auto wipers, leather trim, power and heated seats, steering wheel audio controls, premium audio system, active headrests, cruise control (for the 1.8 petrol model) and 17-inch alloys.

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Hi Greg,

Yes, it’s well worth looking at a UK import as you can potentially save money. Mind you, have a shop around local dealers too — many of them have cut their prices to compete with the UK cars, and you can often get better after-sales care if you buy locally. A figure of 90-110k miles isn’t a big deal in and of itself; it all comes down to the service history. If the car has been cared for and has a fully stamped-up service book, then it should be fine.

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

The rear wiper is an easy one to start with as it's very common with this car. The wiring loom gets broken near the hinge for the hatchback so you'll need a good mechanic or auto electrician to fix that one, but it shouldn't cost a fortune to do.

It's trickier to assess your fogging-up problem from afar. It essentially means there is moisture in the car somewhere, though sometimes simply cleaning the inside of all the windows properly sorts this out. Other than that, avoid using recirculation of the interior air, do use the air conditioning if you have it and, if all else fails, consider leaving a dehumidifier running for a while in the cabin to take out moisture.

Hope that helps

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Hi Danny,

While the Frontera is cheap to buy and not bad off-road, it really is not a 4x4 we'd recommend due to its lack of quality and poor reliability record. The weak points are the engines and electrics. If it has not been serviced then best to walk away. The steering and suspension systems have also had problems and the Frontera is prone to rust.

Sorry not to have better news!

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

There is a known issue with the Freelander concerning the central locking that may cause this, which annoyingly requires replacement of the fuel filler flap motor, then the central locking system fuse (F25 (10A) in fascia fuse box/relay plate if you want to check that before doing anything else).

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Hi Enda,

I wouldn't be massively worried about the mileage so long as you're not planning on putting up huge mileage yourself. Buy on condition and history. If you have any suspicions that it might have been a taxi have it checked on Cartell.ie.

As to the value, it won't be worth a lot at that mileage - and don't expect to sell it on for much when you're finished with it - but we can't value it without knowing its condition and year.

Let me know how you get on.

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Hi Paraic,

First and foremost is the running costs, but I guess they're on the same level as any large SUV-based commercial with an automatic gearbox - they're heavy on fuel and tyres, etc.

Other than that, while the Discovery 3 is proving to be more reliable than its predecessor, it's hardly the most dependable truck of its type. Some cars are perfect, but others have loads of issues, from the electrics to the air suspension and even to full engine failure.

Don't settle for anything less than a full service history and make sure you have the car checked out by someone that knows what they're looking at too.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi FD,

I'm afraid sales of this car have been too low for there to be a decent sample size to judge. We've heard of one or two with internittent instrumentation issues, but they could be quite isolated cases.

Sorry to not be of more help