| HwnMurano |
| Let's hear it from ya'all! SE or SL? and why? |
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| pcs15394 |
| I bought the SL because I wanted a more comfortable instead of a more sporty ride. I came from a very cushy SUV and did not want to give up the comfortable ride. SL is plenty tight and sporty for me. It was still a big change from my prior vehicle. |
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| MVTCFP |
I actually was looking for an SL, but got a better deal on the SE. Go figure.
For some reason, I cannot vote in any of the polls so consider this a write in. |
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| EasternPA |
After living "The Simple Life" in my 2WD Xterra XE for a couple of years, I wanted all the luxury I could get my hands on. It was either a fully loaded SL AWD with nav and sunroof or a minimal FX, RX, or MDX and comfort/luxury is WAYYYY more important to me than labels.
Loaded SL it is. |
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| Stoker |
| I purchased a SL as I didn't think I needed the extra options which would have cost me $6K more. |
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| EasternPA |
| SL, AWD, *and* sunroof? Doesn't look like you left too many options out! Perhaps nav and the Bose 6-disc changer.. |
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| senza |
SL.....in Canada, you either get "loaded"SL or "loaded" SE so
-value....SL $5,000 cheaper...ride-prefered softer ride...didn't want leather....like the 5 spoke wheels better. |
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| Jim C |
| Went for the SE as I was coming off a sports car and wanted to retain the handling to the extent possible. Plus the SE came standard with Xenon bulbs, etc. No regrets so far at a whooping 600 miles on the clock! |
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| Eric L. |
| SE, because the whole point of the Murano is that its "sporty" compared to other crossovers. Granted its no sports car, but if I wanted a comfortable ride, I would have gotten a Highlander, which rides as smooth as its Lexus RX twin. |
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| hfelknor |
Mostly knife or spoon.
Both used for eating but different.
Everybody has named the differences.
Here is part of the process I used.
It was obvious that the SE was a bit tighter. It is IMO, NOT a major difference.
And this is what you would expect.
The front and rear end is no different in design.
But the parts are slightly heavier.
I tried both.
One place is full of fairly high speed corners. The difference came at 60 mPH. The SL was beyond the comfort zone. At 70 the SE was still comfortable.
Then there was another place where the road was rough.
No clear cut winner.
Then there was a concrete road with expansion strips. It's not common in FL but is very common in the NE.
The SL kicked the SEs butt here.
The SE does not have a truly sophisticated suspension.
It absolutely hates repetitive bumps.
The SL is a far superior ride on expansion strips)
AND the number 1 reason why we bought the SL.
My wife and i both liked the wheels on the SL better.
(Of course I swapped them out soon after and could have done that with the SE too. Those SE wheels just scream DORK! But that of course is a very personal observation)
IF Nissan wanted to REALLY make an SE, they should have at least put wider wheels and better rubber on it.
As it is, one of the biggest differences is the chrome decal badge.
Homer |
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| HwnMurano |
As for me, I ended up with an SE due to unusual circumstances on the day that I visited the dealer. I test drove a base model Pewter SL (no leather, NAV, Bose, AWD, etc.) and was sold on it. When the salesman went out back to start the paperwork, he found it that it was sold already. Some one forgot to put the sold sign on it.
So, I said find me another one at the same price. All the other SLs had signifcant upgrades and thus much higher prices. He said that he had some base model SEs that he could sell me for $800 more. So I said, let's test drive one. The stiffer suspension was evident, but didn't bother me. He had three in stock, they were copper, silver and black. I went with the silver SE. |
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| Dave N |
I bought an SE because once I loaded up an SL, it was equivalent to an SE. Also, I wanted the +/- shift option and the stiffer suspension. Yes, I know that it seems pretty rough, but on the few occassions where I had to swerve or take a turn faster than I expected to, the suspension provided a very reassuring response.
Lastly, I like the wagon wheel style rims on the SE better than the SL.
Dave |
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| Z_owner_needs_M |
| My wife don't like the bumpy ride on my 350Z. As soon as I mentioned 'sports suspension' on the Murano...........she said 'no way!'. So, we went with SL. We got rid of her Celica '00 and not my 350Z when our son was born, so I had to compramize on something, right? |
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| ron993 |
I bought the SE mostly because I wanted the HID lights. I really like the SE wheels better and the SL.
I drive a Ford F350 crew cab truck with a diesel, I also had a F250 extended cab truck with a diesel that I traded in on the Murano.
Going from both of those trucks the stiff suspension on the SE is a cake walk.
I have always wanted a sports car, but have always had to have a truck, so I figure the Murano is as close and I am gonna get...
Ronnie |
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| mafmaf22 |
| I picked the SL because I was 17 when i got my murano and could not afford an SE. Also i personally like the SL wheels much better |
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| HwnMurano |
Hey, the SLs are in the lead right now 29 SLs -vs- 12 SEs.
In making the comparison, I've noticed a some interesting things... There are alot of posts which verbalize that the SLs suspension is more prefable to the SE's stiffer sport suspension. Also, there are a good number of posts involving SL owners who are looking to install the Xenon lights into their SL which come standard with the SE, but not the SL. Too bad Nissan didn't make the Xenon lights standard on the SL. Oh well, I'm still very happy with my SE. |
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| EasternPA |
Another interesting point is seeing people finding the SE more expensive than the SL. My dealer's inventory has always had SE's a few thousand cheaper than the SL's. One poster even said "a fully loaded SL is basically an SE".. :confused: WTF?
I had always thought an SE had a sportier ride with fewer luxury options, so this opinion is surprising. Does an SE have all the little touches we SL'ers have? I assume nav and 6 disc Bose is available, but what about a cargo net? Heated leather seats? A leather/vinyl cargo area privacy shield? VDC? Can you pitch your headlights up and down?
You do have the +/- "autoshifter" which we don't, right? We don't have an "autoshifter" but we do have a "sport mode" which is great for merging into the fast lane on highways.
Update: I stand corrected. After sorting by price, the top 3 are SE's at $38,890 and $38,380 and the next 3 are SL's at $37,730. Then 3 SE's, 2 SL's, 5 SE's, 8 SL's, 1 SE, and 1 SL at the bottom, with the cheapest SL being $5,000 less than the cheapest SE. Do you realize this changes my whole universe?!?!?
:xnuts: |
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| duaneellison |
I bought the SE primarily because it had the options I wanted - leather, sun roof, bose. I think I got everything except the DVD, AWD, and NAV. I am basically a 4x4 type of person and this was "my" first non-4x4 in a while. I KNEW that if I got AWD I would take it in the desert.
When I was looking for a new vehicle I drove the VW Tourage, BMX X5, Yukon Denali, Dogde Duragno-Dakota-Ram, Toyota Tundra-Tacoma-Sequoia. Of everything I narrowed the choice down to the VW and Nissan. I ended up going with the Nissan because I really liked the look of it - and the MO drove more like the V8 Tourage and BMX X5. Keep in mind I drive trucks - But I just liked the MO better.
I am amazed how everyone notices it. I continually get comments about it and people like it.
Duane... |
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| jaak |
In my world.. (can you hear the expedia commercial?)
I'd take an SE with all the toys, but chrome SL wheels and SL suspension.
Reality (reality often lives in my wallet) said to me, how much for the extras? OK, I'll take the SL please. Only things I really crave from the SE are the HID's and the Nav. |
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| hfelknor |
I keephearing, about SE and HIDs.
Is that a Canuck thing? An 04 thing?
I have an 03 SL and HIDs.
Homer |
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| jack |
I went for the SL, i didn't think spending another 7K for an SE, was worth it.. The SL is sporty, yet confortable, the same motor and transmission.. I only miss the Xenon Headlight from the SE.. I remedy the problem, I bought a set on E-bay.. I'll let you know how it went for the installation.. I'll be working on it today..:cool:
I was unable to Vote???:confused: |
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| Eric L. |
The ratio on the survey suggests that on a whole, there is a relative preference for the SE on this board, since a majority of Murano's sold by Nissan will be SL's. I think the number is quite high, around 90% I think in terms of the numbers of SL's produced vs SE.
This sort of makes sense, since people enthusiastic about their cars tend to get the sportier model (yeah I know, the SE is just a LITTLE sportier than the SL, which is already sportier than most crossovers out there) and post their experiences on the Internet.
As for SE's and HIDs, I think this topic comes up because SE's come standard with HIDs but on SL it is an option package. |
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| Tworules |
Got the SL to save a few bucks. I'm not one to push a car sports wise, so don't need the tighter suspension. Also like a smoother ride while not mushy like a GM land yacht.
And yes, I still got HIDs :D
Cheers! |
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| jaak |
quote:
Originally posted by hfelknor
I keephearing, about SE and HIDs.
Is that a Canuck thing? An 04 thing?
I have an 03 SL and HIDs.
Homer
Yeah, they won't let us buy an SL with HIDs... It sucks. Plus, I had to get every option there is, except sun roof, if I want the navigation.
That took a nicely equipped SL worth 40K up to 50K (Canuk bucks) just to have Nav.
I keep looking at the Altima with Nav and thinking that's a sweet deal. Slap a supercharger on that, it would be cheap fun. |
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| Nicole |
I opted for the SE for the reasons why it differs from the SL. I liked the manual shift mode, the HIDs were a MUST, the body color lower bumpers (it's pewter on mine where as seems to be silver on others, so mine matches the rest of the paint) and my husband prefers a stiffer suspension for handling.
Since we really only travel via freeway, the stiff ride isn't a factor. My altima 3.5 SE is also on a stiff suspension and doesn't bother me. Actually I can get car sick from too cushy a ride like a caddy or lincoln (rentals).
So yaaaaa, also when I threw my MO together on the website and located one in my area, I was glad to find exactly what I wanted, so I didn't bother test driving an SL. Most of the MOs on the lot are loaded, I only wanted the performance package bc I love the cloth interior!! So just trying to find on that had the color combo I wanted and wasn't loaded, I was happy to find an SE Pewter in my area, so I took it as a sign...that's the one that belongs to me!!! |
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| seaofdunes |
| bought the SL because we wanted it as bone stock as possible. turns out the cheapest way for the dealer to offer us the one with no options was to throw in a bose audio system and sunroof. :) |
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| EasternPA |
Sorry for the silly question, but with the infatuation with HIDs around here, I wanted to see if I already have them. I have the SL Premium pkg, and my headlights are extremely bright. But the thing that surprises me the most is how defined their beams are. You can not only see a precise line where the beams stop, but you can see "steps" cut into the beams. You can literally see a staircase in them. They are also pitchable.
Its a feature intended for use when towing something that causes the rear to dip. I have 4 settings for the height of the beams, 0 to 3. The beams are so bright, though, that I normally keep the headlights at the lowest position, as if the car were leaning wayyyy back, so as to keep the beams out of oncoming drivers' eyes. I hate when people do that to me, so I try not to do it to others. Sometimes when I hit a bump or dip in the road, there's nothing I can do, and their faces are lit up like a mobster in an interrogation room.
Based on this description, do I have HIDs? I can't imagine that there are even brighter, higher quality headlights that people fawn over so much here, but I'm open to anything :) |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by EasternPA
Sorry for the silly question, but with the infatuation with HIDs around here, I wanted to see if I already have them. I have the SL Premium pkg, and my headlights are extremely bright. But the thing that surprises me the most is how defined their beams are. You can not only see a precise line where the beams stop, but you can see "steps" cut into the beams. You can literally see a staircase in them. They are also pitchable.
Its a feature intended for use when towing something that causes the rear to dip. I have 4 settings for the height of the beams, 0 to 3. The beams are so bright, though, that I normally keep the headlights at the lowest position, as if the car were leaning wayyyy back, so as to keep the beams out of oncoming drivers' eyes. I hate when people do that to me, so I try not to do it to others. Sometimes when I hit a bump or dip in the road, there's nothing I can do, and their faces are lit up like a mobster in an interrogation room.
Based on this description, do I have HIDs? I can't imagine that there are even brighter, higher quality headlights that people fawn over so much here, but I'm open to anything :)
Yes you have the HIDs! |
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| EasternPA |
| Phew! Thanks, Eric :) So far, I can't find anything I'm missing from an SE besides the sportier ride and the +/- shifting. |
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| malaycobra |
As far as I know the only difference between a fully loaded SL and SE are the "tiptronic" gears, stiffer suspension and 6 spoke wheels. Driving 99% in New York City I most certainly didn't want a stiffer ride and couldn't see any point in being able to change through the gears. As for the wheels I couldn't care less.
Now, make me live in a place with lots of twisty roads and higer speed limits (like home in England) and it would be a different story.
By the way, while I'm on the subject, whats with the stupid, ridiculous nonsense moronic speed limits in this country?? 40 mph on a Parkway! We are allowed to do 60mph on 2 lane roads with hairpin turns and only 8-10 feet per lane. And I'm sure I see more accidents here than at home. Guess it had something to do with the fuel crisis in the 70's but really, everyone here should be driving 1.2 litre cars. Who rwally needs a 5 litre V8 to drive at these speeds?
Oh well.
And before anyone flames me, I know that if I don't like it I should go the hell home!
Sorry for the rant... :banghead: |
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| Nicole |
quote:
Originally posted by EasternPA
Phew! Thanks, Eric :) So far, I can't find anything I'm missing from an SE besides the sportier ride and the +/- shifting.
You probably have black lower bumpers that do not match the rest of the pain. The SE has matching color lower bumpers.
That's probably all that is different. Oh and rims. |
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| HwnMurano |
I'm not sure why, but my 2004 SE does not have matching lower bumpers. They're dark silver, or medium grey, like the ones on the SL.
:31: |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by HwnMurano
I'm not sure why, but my 2004 SE does not have matching lower bumpers. They're dark silver, or medium grey, like the ones on the SL.
:31:
I think its gray on purpose - supposed to make it look more sporty. On some SL models, they do not have the gray bumper insert. |
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| malaycobra |
Nicole,
I think all the lower bumpers inserts are pewter. Since you have pewter bodywork it will look color coded.
I followed a blue SE this morning. He didn't have matching lower bumpers.
Guess you just got lucky! |
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| Halo |
Liked the suspension on the SE better. (still nowhere near as tight as, say, a Cayenne S [or Turbo *drool*])
Definitely wanted the HIDs.
Liked the 6 spoke wheels better. I agree that the SE could have come with 20s similar to the FX and I wouldn't be surprised seeing this in a future 'update' |
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| DoItFun |
| I wanted the manual shift mode. To, me that's the only major difference between a fully loaded SE and a fully loaded SL. |
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| BARCODE |
| Stiffer suspension, HID's I wanted. Mine is fully loaded other than DVD player and SAT. I also want to trailer around a small boat and anything else I wanted. I got the trailer hitch from UHAUL and the wiring harness from Nissan. Pewter with black interior. Wasn't crazy about the black interior but my wife liked it so.... .. . |
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| Snowride |
| SE for me. Being in Canada, you cannot get a fully loaded SL. I wanted the leather, tiptronic, adjustable headlamps, HID, preferred the wheels of the SE, Driver entry/exit seat, Memory seat/pedals/mirrors, TCS, VDC, tire pressure monitor. All these items can only be had on the SE in Canada. Basically an SL is the same minus everything I listed above. Not very difficult when chossing options because you can't. Only options are awd and nav on both the SL and SE. |
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| Myrano |
SE for me because it was sitting there in the clearance aisle of all places with a price tag of $27,500. Holy Moley, Batman! Wasn't even considering trading but saw a chance to dump my Lincoln and (shedding a tear) sacrifice my Mazda PU at the same time.
I miss the PU but the SE just took me from Maine to NC for the NASCAR races without a hitch.
Had earlier driven an SL to Logan airport and back in a blizzard and was blown away by its road-rugging grip. Speed limit on Maine Turnpike was lowered to 45 with most traffic doing 35 or less. The MO would have done 70 easily, but it would have menaced other vehicles to have done so.
When I bought my SE, I got Kelly Blue Book for each of my two trades and offered a total price of $25,000 which my salesman eagerly accepted. Deep Bordeaux had just sat there for ten months and color didn't matter to me.
SL or SE; it hardly matters as long as it's a MO.
Myrano |
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| HwnMurano |
Myrano, $25,000 for your MO?
You got a great score!
:2: :eek: :2: |
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| zilverMO |
| wheels have actually grown on me,manu-matic, HIDS, and "sportier" ride (well for an SUV)...the Mo is my gurls and she actually even likes the ride better...but she maybe used to the way my Z rides... |
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| EasternPA |
| Hey, another Bordeaux!! What interior did you choose (well, get)? Please don't say cabernet, please don't say cabernet.. ;) |
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| ezbentrider |
| SE fully loaded all the way the handling on tight turns the - + shifting the HID and got a great deal! :2: |
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| tigger |
| Took delivery on an '03 SE AWD and the only thing I gave up on was color...wanted Pewter but Silver was the only thing available within 2000 miles. SE had everything standard that a SL had to have as options basically. Only skipped the DVD-NAV but got everything else, including mats, liner, sunroof spoiler, etc.. Price was about $31.5 which was $2500 less than the same SL. Didn't notice much in the suspension types and liked the features in the SE more. I took AWD for the sand at the property and launching at lights with 'black ice', Florida's version where oil and chemicals leach from the roads during light rains...my truck used to spin like mad, the MO slips for a second and then the four wheels grab and it goes. No side-to-side movement either. Florida roads are better than most northern roads and I don't notice any appreciable noise or ride difference than most of my friends SUV's including a QX56 and Expeditions. Love the handling...wouldn't change that for anything! |
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| loggerdude |
SE for me. It has (on the 04 ) manual shift mode. can come in handy sometimes.
Loggerdude
04 Se AWD Pewter |
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