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I know the Padre loves his, he hasn't posted for a while though so might be worth putting an FAO out for him.  Welcome to UKCS btw.

Ali

He he, Megabyte's still chomping at the bit, just replied to your PM Megabyte.

IMHO I reckon the Elgrand has to be a better bet than the Bongo for build quality and reliability.  It shares its parts with other well known Nissans and I believe they are easy to get hold of and garages don't shy away from maintaining them.

Ali

Finally got round to offering my Sedona up for sale sniff sniff i will miss it, its been a great car but I need 8 seats and have my heart set on a Nissan Elgrand Highway Star with selectable 4WD, 3.2 Diesel, automatic and leather seats. Watling engineering have a towbar available and from what I can see, it makes a fantastic towcar. There has been a few 4WD Elgrands come in from Japan with towbars fitted and it states on the plate that maximum tow weight is 3000kgs.

I think thats probably right for the 4WD versions and probably nearer 2000kgs for the 2WD Elgrands and with Nissan reliability I think these care will become more popular over time, I would like an Elgrand just like this one....

http://www.japautoagent.com/?page=stock_list_details&id=119&pic=119&k=0#new

And its a great price too :)

The attraction is that they are normally low mileage because the Japanese tend not to do many miles and also free of rust due to the climate.  If you click the link given I think it says what the auction price was and it certainly wasn't £500.  They are very highly specced and very luxurious for the most part and being Nissan's usually pretty reliable.

Go look at one and see for yourself.

Ali

Yep they have to have an ESVA.  Go to www.elgrand.co.uk as there is far more info on there if you wish to know the ins and outs.  I believe these vehicles are £30,000 odd when new in Japan.  It is the sort of thing that either floats your boat or doesn't to be honest.  It is a total turn off for some and not for others.  I'd consider a Largo or an Elgrand at some time in the future and compared to a Bongo they are good value.

Ali

Japanese cars are stronger and heavier than European cars, they don't fall to pieces like the cars over here and are more reliable. Ok a Japanese car built for the Japanese market will never beat a European car on mpg as they tend to have bigger engines to compensate for the weight, but they will last a lot longer. A nine year old car in Britain for example will be have lots of rust, new sills required perhaps and the obvious welding due to corrosion.

Over here the MOT test is taken every year after 3 years old and that is that. In Japan there is a similar test called Sharken taken every 2 years. The average shaken test costs £1500.00, they check all the components as per the Sharken guidlines and if they are found to be part worn, the component is replaced, therefore it is in the owner's best interest to keep the car as highly maintained as possible.

If you can show me a 9 year old car in Britain in as good a condition as that one, be my guest.

The FOB price is the final preshipping price as it comes out of the auction, the Japanese dealers pay the same FOB as we do except we have to ship it and pay rip off Britain taxes when the car lands at the British port.

Japanese cars for the Japan market tend to have higher equipment specification than cars over here and that means when you get a nine year old Japanese import you are getting real value for money and not something that is ready for the scrap heap. ;)

Hello you, wondered when you'd be along!  It is a Shaken btw, not a Sharken but you made me laugh thinking of sharks, he he. de de de de de de de de

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 07/9/2007

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Hello you, wondered when you'd be along!  It is a Shaken btw, not a Sharken but you made me laugh thinking of sharks, he he. de de de de de de de de

Ali

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Hi Ali, when I wrote shaken it didn't look right so i left one shaken in there and 2 sharkens haha

There was no need to get toothy with me

Finally got round to offering my Sedona up for sale sniff sniff i will miss it, its been a great car but I need 8 seats and have my heart set on a Nissan Elgrand Highway Star with selectable 4WD, 3.2 Diesel, automatic and leather seats. Watling engineering have a towbar available and from what I can see, it makes a fantastic towcar. There has been a few 4WD Elgrands come in from Japan with towbars fitted and it states on the plate that maximum tow weight is 3000kgs.

Megabyte, I've struggled for some time now to find any literature on the towing capabilities of the Elgrand. I've seen a 'plate' that displays what I believe to be kerbweight and gross vehicle weight but the text was all in japanese unsurprisingly. Maybe the newer models have a towing limit? Any chance of some photos or a point in the right direction to see this 'plate' myself?

Defender

Its heresay and its all a maybe, I have done some research on the japanese websites and come back with maximum unbraked trailer only and nothing at all for towing braked trailers/caravans, if I find anything that confirms this i will let you know......

By the way SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD my Sedona yey!!!!