How can I up my Almera's performance?
Hi guys, I have a 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5 SXE; are there any parts I can get to make it have a bit more power? Would it be possible to get a turbocharger installed in that model or K&N filter? Don't know if it's possible.
Thanks, it's so sluggish and I can't afford to insure anything bigger at the moment.
Michael Shannon (Daingean)Feb 2015 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Well, if you can't afford to insure anything bigger then a turbo's a no-go. Legally, you have to inform your insurer of any modifications made to your car, and if an increase in swept capacity is a no-go then no insurer is going to let you strap on a turbo.
A K&N filter or similar would be fine though and should readily be available for an Almera. While you're at it, why not put the turbo budget to a proper service, some high-quality oil and new tyres? All far better options for improving performance and nothing that will bother your insurance provider.
MINI or Nissan Qashqai for servicing costs?
Hello, I'm thinking of changing my 2012 MINI Cooper (70,000km) to a Nissan Qashqai 1.5. Which would be better in the long run say for parts etc. and servicing costs?
Thank you
Tara Tevlin (Louth)Feb 2015 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Tara,
Tough call, to be fair. I've been running a 2009 MINI Clubman for the last two years and it's been solidly reliable. That said, at the last service it would have set me back €3,000 for new bits and work had it not been covered by a warranty.
Now, Qashqais aren't as perfectly reliable as you might think. Clutches, rear suspension and windscreen seals are all fragile. However, on average a Nissan would generally be more reliable than a MINI and slightly cheaper to service so if that's your priority, go with the Qashqai.
My dealer can't sort a noise in my Qashqai...
Have a "thumping" noise in a 2011 reg Nissan Qashqai. Dealer can't find cause or solution through electronic assessment. Any idea of cause/solution?
Jack O Loghlen (Ennis)Feb 2015 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Jack,
I'm afraid it's very difficult to assess such a problem from afar. If the car is under warranty and the dealer is fobbing you off by saying they can't sort it out, then you need to make a firm stance and say they have to. If that's not the situation, then bring the car to an independent mechanic who won't solely rely on a diagnostic machine to tell them what's wrong. Sometimes a more experienced mechanic will be better at getting to the root of a problem than a computer!
Let us know how you get on
Skoda Yeti, Nissan Juke or Kia Sportage?
Can you compare the Skoda Yeti to Nissan Juke and Kia Sportage?
Mick O'Flynn (Kilkenny)Feb 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mick,
Well, there's a significant difference here in that the Juke is much smaller (and in fairness less expensive) than either the Yeti or Sportage. It's fun to drive too but to be honest I think its lack of rear seat and boot space counts it out here (though the 2015 model has a larger boot than before in two-wheel drive guise).
The Sportage is a good choice - good looking, high quality and with that long Kia warranty. But it's the Yeti we'd go for. It is well made, good to drive and massively practical.
Further reading:
Skoda Yeti vs. Fiat 500L Trekking twin test review
Nissan Qashqai or Hyundai Tucson?
1.5-litre diesel 2008 Nissan Qashqai or 2.0-litre diesel Hyundai Tuscon?
Feb 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Eva,
Actually, these are two quite different cars - the Tucson is a heftier vehicle. If we were comparing new Hyundai ix35 with new Qashqai then I'd have to give the nod to the Qashqai, but in the case of these older versions, I think the Hyundai just might shade it. It's bigger inside, with more space in the back seats and boot than the first generation Qashqai.
What are the resale values of Japanese imports like?
What are the resale values of Japanese imports like?
Laurence Ball (Drogheda)Feb 2015 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Laurence,
It varies hugely depending on the model. The closer in mechanical terms to the original Irish and European model it is, the better its value will be simply because it will be simpler and easier to maintain with locally sourced parts.
The more esoteric and unusual the car, and basically the more parcels of parts you need to order from Japan, the lower the value will be.
That's not necessarily a hard and fast rule though - some cars, such as the Toyota/Lexus Soarer and the Nissan Figaro, are well catered for here and in the UK with strong parts backup. Like I say - it varies wildly from model to model.
Nissan Qashqai or Volkswagen Passat?
Which is a safer and better car: 2013 Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI or 2014 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi?
Peter Pan (Ireland)Feb 2015 Filed under: safety
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
That us a very tough choice to have to make. Both are excellent - the Qashqai won the Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) Car of the Year award last year and trust me, we're a tough bunch to please. It's very good to drive, frugal and very comfy. Practical too, of course.
The Passat would probably be the better choice if you are doing lots of long motorway miles though - that 1.6 TDI engine is astonishing economical (I once did Galway-Dublin-Belfast-Glasgow-Dublin-Galway on one tank in one) and they're very comfy for long journeys. Both are about equally reliable, which means they're both pretty solid but don't accept anything that hasn't a full service history.
On the safety front, the 2014 Qashqai (that's the current shape model) got five stars on the EuroNCAP crash test, with an 88 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 83 per cent for child occupant, 69 per cent for pedestrian protection and 79 per cent for safety assist (which is a measure of how many electronic driver aids are fitted as standard).
The Passat achieved similar scores - five stars overall, 91 per cent adult occupant, 77 per cent child occupant, 54 per cent pedestrian protection, and 71 per cent safety assist.
Further reading:
2014 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi review (on Irish roads)
Should I get rid of my Nissan Micra?
I have a Nissan Micra that is a 2004 model; it's only done 40,000 miles on the clock and I have been told l need a new timing chain, which will cost me around £600. I am just wondering if it's worth repairing or am l better off buying a new but different car as l have heard there's a lot of faults with Nissan Micra and Note.
Barbara Simpson (Bradford West Yorkshire )Jan 2015 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Barbara,
It's always cheaper overall to stick with the car you've got and repair it, unless we're talking about an old Ferrari or something...
I'd say a new timing chain could keep your Micra going for a good long while yet but if you really want to change to something new then your best bets, in terms of similarly sized cars, are the Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo or SEAT Ibiza.
Is the Toyota Yaris the most reliable small car?
Hi again, just as a follow on from my last question, I was advised that the Toyota Yaris would be the most reliable small car I could get second hand; do you agree? If not, what else would you advise I look for?
Thank you :-)
Aoife Smyth (Bradford West Yorkshire )Jan 2015 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Aoife,
The most reliable small car? Pretty much, yep. I'd say the only others that match it are the Honda Jazz and Mazda2. The Volkswagen Group triplets - Polo, Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza - would come close to that level of reliability too and the Nissan Micra's not bad either.
Which engine is better in the Qashqai?
What engine is better in the Qashqai, 1.5 or 1.6 diesel?
Tom Kearns (Bradford West Yorkshire )Jan 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Tom,
It really does depend on what you mean by 'better'. The 1.5 has been around a long time so the 1.6 is more refined and more powerful, but the 1.5 is still more economical and emits less CO2, so it's cheaper to tax. On top of all that the 1.5 is €1,500 cheaper. Our money would be on the old engine unless you value performance highly or you expect to do a lot of towing.
Further reading:
Irish road test of the current Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi
First drive of the 1.6-litre engine - in the old-shape Nissan Qashqai