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I drove It!! - Click HERE for Original Thread

Well Murano Friends-

Guess what I got a call at work today, a local dealer took delivery of one that was earmarked for the Nissan Rep.. I got to drive it, My knees are still knocking!

Describe it? It was breath-taking the vehicle is DROP DEAD gorgeous inside and outside!

I took it out on the freeway, acceleration was peppy and brisk- the CVT almost drove me nuts, silky smooth almost too good to believe it was happening, and at lower speeds my right foot became my worst enemy as everthing you do is translated to the engine-

On the freeway it was an eyestopper, several folks stuck their heads out the window and gasped "Wow" what is it?

I am a hairs breath away from Nixing my MDX order and taking a Murano- The vehicle is beyond spectacle, it is gorgeous, and exciting.

I am going back to the dealer tommorow night to try again, as I need to do a walk-around and pre-flight the Murano as though it was a Fighter Jet-

Missing immediately- Rain Sensing wipers, On Star telemetrics and High Pressure Headlamp Washers for the Xenon's- Theatre Lighting Auto Dim Down would be nice.

I have to also say after having a Lexus RX300 for 4 days that th4e Murano put the Lexus RX300 in the Garbage Can permanantly no contest- Other vehicles the Murano "Nixed" or put in garbage can:

Pilot: Not even a remote chance
GMC Envoy with the whole works, 41k MSRP what a piece of Junk
Audi A4 and A6, Nice Cars but Murano runs circles are them
Bravada: Yunk no hope at all-
Buick Rendevouz- What a Joke-
GM-Ford Trailblazer and Escape No way Jose-
Toyota: 4 Runner Limited, alot of money but nice vehicle
Highlander, LIke a undersexed Rx300 didnt like

The only real competiton is the Acura MDX and now the question becomes Dollars a sense- I cannot slight the MDX and I cannot slight the Murano they are both gorgeous. The MDX has an established track record, I recently visited a Acura dealer who had a 2002 available used with the custom wood steering wheel added- it was 1500.00 less than a 2003 MDX at Full Sticker- The vehicle lasted exactly 1/2 a day on the lot it was sold in hours! The MDX typically commands an awesome resale price.

Now comes the Murano which has stole my heart away- the dealers are talking Full MSRP- I find that hard to swallow on a completely new and unseasoned model that has absolutley no track record. Z Car full sticker absolutely yes in a heart beat, it is a seasoned veteran of many years of refinement with a proven track record, Murano Full Sticker absolutely not, Copeditive pricing, absolutely yes, get them out there in numbers, and let Nissan shake their fanny at the world, "Look what we did"

Although I drove a fully loaded SL AWD today with the Navi Unit, I have to tell you Im sticking to my guns and will grab a SE AWD with the whole works except the Navi- where does that leave me?

around $36,500- I also have to say that today I visited with probably the best of the best when it comes to Nissan Dealers, Impressed ? Yes, but my original worry is still in place:
How will Murano fare with regards to it is retail value, its percentage ALR is unknown (Residual %) anyones guess. The bottom line boils down to dollars and sense. There is absolutely no question in my mind, that if I buy a MDX and divorce it a year later, I probably will only lose around 1500-to $1800.00 and resale will be no problem whatsoever-

What about the Murano? No history, no numbers, no track record-

I will however clearly make a wager, Murano is going to put a big dent into the "SUV or Crossover Gang" I would even not be surprised if the Muarno takes Best SUV or Crossover awards, Oh yes, I also got my hands on the New Volvo as well, Hate to say it but for some one whos got nothing better to do with their money than throw it out then maybe the XC90 is okay?

Can you believe it, I have absolutely probably palyed with ten of the best of the rest SUV's or Crossovers-

First Place is tied: Acura 03 MDX touring and Murano SL AWD-

Who am I? I have absolutely no ties to any car manufacturer, I dont sell cars, and no one has paid me a rotten nickle to do what I have done here- I am a Professional Consumer who works hard for his money and is tired of getting ripped off all the time. Just like the rest of you, I want to maximize my Purchase and get the biggest bang to dollar-

Both cars are missing several important things to me... The Vehicles should both have ON-Star telemetrics, "it is worth its weight in gold when needed"- One has rain sensing wipers and no Xenons, the other has no rain sensing wipers but has the Xenon bilevel lamps-

The CVT trans was absolutely almost too good to believe it was silky smooth, and I am still trying to find out if the accelerator is "Live by Wire"

The vehicle overall is flawless, seams fitted wonderful with equal spacing on both sides, 100% accurate, leather was really nice could have been better. Both Vehicles are beautifull-

Any comments from anyone out there would be gratefully apppreciated, contact me at-
ItsaRaid@columbus.rr.com

Hope this helps some of you-
Thanks-
Larry

Thanks for all the great info after your test drive...I can't wait to test drive the SL myself! Has anyone else been able to test drive either model and if so, please post your opinions. :P

Am I safe to assume based on your email address that you are in Ohio??

It's only a matter of time until we can see them in Atlanta.

Quick question...how large a person are you? At 6'5" and 250lbs, the interior size is of concern to me. First impressions of brief test drives, the MDX is quite comfortable, the Highlander is quite cramped.

For me, sight unseen, it really comes down to the MDX and Murano.

Tick, tick, tick...

Great News on your test drive!!!

I had a few questions about your first ride. Did you notice any of the noise from the CVT that had been reported in the online article? Also, any other observations an the transmission?

I spoke to several dealers in the Orlando area and one had a date of Dec 5th for the first one or two demo units. I am told all the dealers will have only one or two for demo purposes until larger shipments hit the street.

Later

Someone emailed me about the interior quality-Mary you are welcolm to call me. Leather Cafe Latte a Light Saddle color, in Leather- If you compare the RX300 to the Murano Interior only the RX300 is substantially more "High quality" than the Murano, that is the only area that the RX300 excels, otherwise it goes to the Garbage Can-

I am still stuck on the Acura MDX, let me tell you why- I am looking at a MDX Touring, Navi with running boards the net and toneau cover or cargo cover, a wind deflector for the hood at about 41k- There is a Acura dealer up north from me they have a 2002 MDX with several additions to trim including the stupid rosewood trim to the steering wheel- it has 18k miles and they are asking 38.9 k!!! about 1500.00 betweem model years, the resale value on the damned MDX is incredible- If I am unhappy with it after a year I can walk away without 'Tears" better yet the loss would be minimal-

WHAT CAN you tell me about the Murano? Its totally unproven, and if you look at past history the only "Shaker" from Nissan is the Z car-and recently the Altima- They want full sticker for the Murano and they are unwilling to Drop the price- Im looking at a fully equipped Murano SE AWD with everything except Navigation- stickers for almost 37k

Frankly Im scared that I will lose a ton of money on it when I roll it out of the show room and the CVT requires Nissan Intervention Only including fluids for it. Depreciation on a Nissan is typically 10%-18% out the Dealership doors on delivery, the Only Nissan Product at this time that I know of that has a High Resale Value is the "Z" car and the Maxima with the 6 speed, otherwise all the other Nissan Products take a substantial hit when delivered,

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Let me know. Im still inclined to go with the MDX.

Some one else asked about the CVT making some strange noise, Yes I heard the "ticking" noise as though a sewing machine wa srunning, it was howeve "Faint" but noticeable, and the Triptronic Trans was done away with, the Clutchless Shifting is not there-

Its a Tie Murano and MDX- My heart and sole says Murano, my Wallet and Wall Street friends say MDX

-Larry

I feel your pain Larry! :cry: You are about to spend $38K - $41K and you want to make sure you make the right decision.

From reading your posts, it seems like you don't intend on keeping the car you purchase very long. Is this correct? Or are you just taking into consideration that you may not like the car after owning it for a while and would be looking to sell it quickly? In either case, it seems to me that you have already answered your question of which car to choose - the MDX. I say that because the MDX has the high resale value and has been around a few years to give you a pretty good idea about its reliability. The Murano is a total unknown.

The other option is to wait a while until the Muranos have been on the road a while and get some feedback from the people who took the plunge.

I've had the car I drive now for the past ten years (Acura Integra). I'm looking to buy an SUV and want to make sure that I won't have to buy another car for another ten years. So for me the big question about the Murano will be its reliability. My plan is to wait and see if the Murano is everything it seems to be. Hopefully, my current car will hold out.

Good Luck!

I am also a "long term" car owner...I am driving my 1987 Nissan Maxima proudly (I'm the original owner). It has 166,000 miles on it and has only been serviced by my loyal Nissan mechanic (not at the dealership). He tells me that I can easily take it to 200,000 miles, but I am thinking that it might be time to take the Murano plunge. I don't care if I pay a little extra, because I'm the type who will drive it at least 10-15 years (assuming it's as reliable as I think it will be). However, I might wait at least 3-6 months after it's release to see if I can get a slightly better deal...of course, this is all assuming that I fall in love with it when I drive it. Can't wait!

I've had 4 Maximas, starting in '85. My '89 had over 210K on it when I sold it to a friend who put more than 30 more on it. My son is driving the '92 with nearly 100K and our 2000 is just breaking in at 50K! I know Nissan makes good machines and I too am looking for a car to keep 10 years, so I want to make a good selection. The only concern I have is the CVT.

As far as the MDX, I've still got my eye on it too. I hate to betray Nissan for an Acura, but that's what I favored before I heard about the Murano, so now a quandry.

Regardless, the resale values are great selling gimmicks, but how real are they when a private owner trades it in, or sells it directly, especially after just one year.

I quess there are more than one of us in this quandry of which one to get?

This past summer on my way home there was a MDX with a sign on it "For Sale, Private" I turned around real quick followed the MDX and tooted the driver, he stopped I asked- What a laugh, a grown man acting like a child.

The MDX owner told me, he needed bigger thats why, otherwise he would never ever consider selling, "Best Car Ive ever Owned" Put an ad on the internet 3 days latter there is a "War" going on who is going to buy the damned car- some guy flew in from Texas, paid him in Full- The MDX was a Year old had 20k onit he got 38.500K! He lost 1500.00 dollars from the purchase price-

I know the man because he does Commercial Home Cleaning, and my home is only one of many he does- Hes driving a Denali by GMC and curses it, he has 5 small children! He needed the size-

So what do I say, I got bit by the Murano bug? the car is beautiful and then some-

If my dealer takes off 2k from sticker Im in the 34-35k price catagory Im going Murano, however if they maintain their stand of Full Sticker Im going MDX Touring and maybe with the Navi as well-

I got a surprise call from the MDX dealer, they are willing to Work a little with me on Price!

I got another call from a friend in New York who works with the NY Stock Market and Securities, asked him for advise, He said Im right on target- The MDX has one of the Highest Resale Pricing in the Industry, and their is a good reason for it, The vehicle has Industry Standard Awards, It has a proven Track Record, Durability is Incredible, Maintenance Record indicate Incredible Easy to Own and reliable, with minimal repairs, and Acura Loyalty to Customers is unparralleled-

The Murano is just out the gate, for a 5k difference Im going Murano, that is the Murano will cost me 34-35k in comparison to 40k, However the 3 k difference isnt worth the gamble for the new technology on the Murano-

Audi has a extremely successful CVT Trans with the "Manual Mode" Pretend Shift- however their CVT is accessible to everyone service wise-
Nissans CVT requires Special Fluid for the Trans and it is ONLY available Nissan- Dealers tradiitionally are more expensive for service than Lube Stores- The Sewing Machine Noise was present when I drove the Murano, however I was so excited, the noise didnt "ding me"- I was more interested in seeing what the vehicle really had to show me.

The Murano and The MDX Vehicles are the first vehicle's to ever talk with me and say, "Take me home with you" This is the very first time Im in a rut or stuck position- Im also hearing not so impressive reports abt AWD scenarios regarding the Murano's AWD. The Accelerator Fly by Wire is incredible, it is an experience everyone should have and it permanantly ruins you to accept anything less- Combined with the CVT slow speeds will take getting used to, the Live wire is incredibly sensitive in combination with the CVT-

The Trans was silky smooth almost scary to believe this was happeneing to me. The Murano talked to me it said touch me, Drive Me Take me home with you, but the MDX also did the same thing as well-

Help! Im stuck, dont know what to do-

-Larry

In a similar boat here...torn between the proven MDX and the unknown (and still unseen) Murano.

It seems that resale value is important to you. And while I don't disagree with any of the points you've made, you may to consider this...

The MDX is now is its third year. For the first two years, most dealers were able to command MSRP for this vehicle, which obviously increased the resale value of those put back into the market. Entering its third year, some dealers are already offering discounts or incentives, even while some 2002's remain on the lot. If you keep your next vehicle three years, that puts us into the 2006 model year. Surely the MDX will be restyled by then, which would likely decrease the value of the "first generation" MDX even more (relative to the current generation). The Murano may still exist in its current design, which would help maintain its resale value. Just something more to think about that may justify that $3000 price gap. :)

Ownersite, I agree with you whole heartedly, however, let me do this, anyone clever enough to come up with a marvelous site like this is smart enough to accept a challenge....

I challenge you to test drive a Touring MDX take it apart and then put it together, and then get your hands on a Murano, and then you tell me..

You point on the Chrono state of the MDX is correct, actually Im surprised, 40k no Xenon lamps, No OnStar, missing certain "Finishing Touches" that other veh in price class have. Both MDX and Murano can put a Lexus RX300 in the Garbage can, including the Highlander Limited, but atlas the one thing Highlander Limited and RX300 excell in the interior, thats it, thats all the RX300 has over the two, and the Highlander Limited Leather Interior is also gorgeous, Murano real nice, but not the same level- MDX a cut above but the leather appounments in both MDX and Murano are not just quite the level of RX300-

Long term Short term, Bah Humbug..... Who cares- I would love to keep the car for long term, but theres allways something coming out, and you know what? Im tired of taking a Bath everytime I buy a car.

The Envoy is interesting, but nowhere near the level of the MDX, but its got certain toys on it that are on other 40k cars-

Im mixed up- The Murano is very sexy, jumps at you, but after listening to my heart and brain, Im cautious and wonder if its worth the risk? The MDX is proven and the damned resale value makes it even more savory- after all if I dont like it and its an Envoy 36k will got to 22-25 k after a year, like major loss- the Murano is a Question that cant be solved, if we go by typical Nissan Stats your looking at a 15 to 19% depreciation out the dealer door, after all its not a Z Car... well the MDX thats another story... I saw a 2002 today used 24k miles on it with navi, they got 39.9k for the damned thing, they paid 41.5! You tell me-

By the way they advertised the MDX on the Internet, it went in 2 days- they had about 150 calls, and 6 deposits fedexed to them! I hope they returned the other 5, but its driving me nuts, Why is the MDX drawing such responses?

Looking forward to hearing from you- Theres no question Im stuck its Murano or MDX

-Larry

No argument here at all. If short-term depreciation (a year or two) is your concern, the MDX is the way to go.

I've driven the Murado twice now and it's a delight to drive, I can't really find much wrong with it. I can't find the loud noise level that a couple of the reviews have talked about and I gave the vehicle a good workout each test drive. BUT, it doesn't drive like it has 240 hp. I know it's heavy (3900+) and AWD but still, it should go better than it does. I'd be glad to be proven wrong when the magazine reviews start coming out but I would be suprised if does 0-60 in less than 8 seconds. My dealer has sold twelve in less than a week, this will be a big seller. Regards.

Ownersite;

you mention that there are "Incentives" on the MDX, please share with me anything you know... It is very difficult to get a discount of any kind on the MDX, and the accessories are expensive as well, but I guess that the price you pay if you want something really good-

What kind of discounts have you been offered with regards to a MDX? I would apprciate anything you can share with me-

I am not look at the short term, What I am looking at is the "Mode of Recovery" at 35k to 40k for a car, I have to say, thats alot of money any way you cut it-

I am looking for a car that will offer minimal probllems get in start it and run, minimal "Dealer Time" "Minimal Maintenance" and a maintenance program that is reasonable-

At this time, the fluid for the CVT on the Murano is available only at a Nissan Dealership- The Sewing Machine Noise or ticking was there when I drove the Murano, however it wasnt that loud, I had th stop and listen for it, and then and only then did I hear it for the rest of the test drive-

Power was impressive, contrary to the other post, it had great acceleration and power and the Fly by wire throttle was awesome, at slower speeds you have to get used to " Milking the Pedal" with your foot because the damned thing responds instantly there was no "Lag"-

There is also a substantially less warranty 36k 36 months however that can be cured by purchasing a famous additional warranty for another $ 800.00, which gives you 5 years complete peace-

What, appeals to me? The Murano exterior design reeks of "Hold Me" "Touch me" "Love me" concept- I am 53 years old and wear no line bi-focals, my night vision isnt the greatest anymore, The Xenons are right up my alley, and the main instruments are also wonderful, they are easy to read at night. (My test drive was at night) I didnt like the control layout of the other stuff, However I must admit I really didnt get a chance to understand what it is and what each does, so therefore, its not bad, I just didnt know how to or which button to push- The radio was a real trip because there is NO typical radio control panel, almost everything is translated on the Nav Screen or LCD. Im told that if you dont get a Navigation uniiit the screen is slightly smaller- I liked the layout of the inside of the vehicle, however the Level of Leather was diminished in "Luxury"-

If the Interior of the Murano was same quality as the Lexus RX 300 people would be tearing down the doors at dealerships to get a Murano-

The Interior was "Nice" but thats that- Maybe there will be a ("Coach Edition of the Murano?) The levers in the back were an instant hit, pull the lever in the truck and the back seat lays down!

I also have read several reports were the test driver took the Murano out nto rough AWD terrain and the vehicle "Wallowed" and a towing service had to be called- I would speculate that that maybe a rumor, or the driver took the Murano into something they had no business doing in the first place-

Anyways I have a Tenantive order for a loaded SE AWD polished Pewter with Latte Leather Inside, Im taking everything except -2- items, the Navigation and the crazy Chromed wheels- it comes out to 36.765.00

Hope to hear from you-

Larry

Drove an SL 2wd Murano in SF Bay Area today.

EXTERIOR:
=======
I definitely like the look.
The 18" wheels seem to have a lot to do with setting the profile.
But definitely unique.

Some comments/concerns:
------------------------------
- Noticed no rear bumper guard to protect loading/unloading from scratching paint.
- Does look a bit more wagon-like than others like MDX. Big billboard near by for this Mitsu Outlander (or something). Have not seen one in person but the thought struck me as very similar.

However the exterior looks did inspire emotion. I like it.

INTERIOR:
=======
Seemed very high quality overall.
Liked the seats. Leather seemed high quality. Good adjustments.
Like the center console.
Lots of room in front and seemingly for rear passengers. The lack of rear tranny hump is good.
Generally well equipped with auto-climate, separate dirver/pass settings, etc.
Stereo on brief listen seemed better than adequate.

The only things that give me reservation are:
---------------------------------------------------
- the long swooping dash (reminds me of the new VW Bug).
- the mounting of the instrument cluster. While the instruments are fine, something about the way it sits on the long swooping dash does not resonate with me. Also this one did not adjust? Thought they were suppose to as a standard feature?
- rear cargo cover (the one you pull to cover items from view) and the cargo tray (that you lift to store small items) seemed low quality. The cargo tray would not fit flush after lifting. The stereo subwoofer is mounted on top of the spare and perhaps the dealer guys were playing around with it and it just needs to be put in correctly.
- the rear seats fold flat - but I could see the headrests being damaged easily in this arrangement as they seem to stick up a bit.
- not sure I like the big display unit in the center of the dash. Yes I know Nav systems are the rage - but this one was the standard display - seems a lot to do about nothing and just something to scratch or fail

TEST DRIVE:
========
Generally smooth - did not seem rough on the road. You know it is hard to tell sometimes until you live with it daily.
Power was adequate - I did not stomp on it. Dealer did not know what the gear "S" or "L" really did. So we kept it in "D". Power seemed good - smooth.
Did not notice any "sewing machine" noise as the reviews stated. Engine/Tranny and acceleration were very very quiet.
Hard to say on the instruments, etc. The Compass in the mirror was interesting but I doubt very useful. Very dark view out the rear view mirror (it was night time). Anyway hard to say - sometimes you are in a new environment and it just strikes you differently. Perhaps mirrors and such were not adjusted properly.
Would need to drive again to really feel comfortable. But the engine/trans were very quiet and the drive seemed quite smooth.

PRICING:
======
So the sticker on an SL 2WD was around $32,400 or something. Then dealer then had a $5000 markup. Told him it was competitive at $32k but that at $37.5k the competition makes it a more difficult sell. The Sales guy said I am sure we could sell it for MSRP. Just a bad taste in my mouth on that. Come on...putting that on there is just asking to piss people off. But hey somebody will pay it just to have the new thing. The dealer & Nissan in general give me concerns. The Sales guy was good. But the dealership had this feel of a low-rent scam type place or a used car lot. Definitely not a Lexus or Acura or German car feel. The Sales guy introduced the Mgr - who seemed to have no interest and little excitement. Again a bad taste. I struggle to see buying a car there and going back for service. Just felt like I would be one of the others who they already sold to...not sure this makes sense...but when they start trying to mark up $5k and get toward $40k I would expect some excitement and an attempt at some time of quality feel. At $32k OK assuming the car is well-built and reliable maybe.

So overall:
=======
- Love the exterior styling
- Like the interior (except the dash) - would need to have another look.
- Like the performance/drive/handling - would need to go again for another perspective
- the dealer made me feel like I was on a used car lot

Definitely can see the perspective of the MDX discussion. Really a no-brainer - by the MDX. Two blocks down I could buy a fairly loaded MDX or RX300 for $37K. With the RX300 being discounted from $39k to perhaps even $35.5k. Hard to see paying anymore than MSRP for the Murano and very easy to see discounts in the next 6-months as the new car appeal wares off. So MSRP of $32.5k (SL 2wd) could easily be discounted to $30k in 6-months. Maybe not. But the Acura/Lexus reputation & dealership experience alone would be worth $3-5K for me based on the crap feel of this Nissan dealer. Maybe I should try another. Never had a Nissan. Taken girlfriends car to Infiniti. Was impressed woth Infiniti dealer - they tried hard to project a good feel/attitude/treatment for the customer.

Hope that helps.

Excellent writeup, dcs1800. Thanks!

Larry, I have been talking to a local (Atlanta area) Acura dealer about ordering a 2003 Acura MDX w/ Navigation and with very little negotiation they have already knocked $1000 off the MSRP.

I am a serious buyer. I plan to drive "home" from Atlanta to Connecticut at Christmas time packed full of stuff for my 8 month old Son. (who will be flying up with his Mom) I let the dealer know what I wanted, when I wanted and this is what he came up with.

Sooooo, here is the challenge. At $40,000 for an MDX and the Acura ownership experience or $37,885 for the loaded AWD SE Murano and the Nissan ownership? Tough call. We also have a 2002 Altima SE and the dealership experience is far from luxury at our nearby dealer. The Murano will really have to bowl me over to get the nod, I think.

Frankly, I think that will be the challenge for Nissan. Despite what the dozens of Nissan salespeople are saying on the forums about how successful the Murano will be, if they mark it up too much (perhaps if at all) it will push buyers to more expensive (MDX) or less expensive (Pilot) SUV's, IMHO.

:D

also test drove..actually a 2WD, but going for the 4WD...REALLY liked the feel of the car, liked the interior alot too...I guess I'm just into the different look of the car, and really like the nice warm copper color, that's been featured in most o the original online images.

Great features, and I am all for the NAV system.

Looks like I'm putting a deposit on one..found a dealer 70 miles away that has the copper SL, NAV system I'm looking for.

But also put off by paying full price, but we're all kind ofs tuck in the beginning... saw cars. com invoice price...I pay @$4,000 over invoice, according to that, when I juice up the car and add Nav (which forces you to get many other features, Some I'm not all keen about)

But folks, the car LOOKS great, felt nice (heard no real sounds in the trans nmission, and did nice acceleartion- it was sweet with the CVT just taking off, and saw that the mileage numbers are 20/24, which is better than the 17/20 I have with my current Jeep.

I think (deep breath) I'm taking the plunge.

rcohen@outoftheblueproductions.com

Ownersite and friends-

I appreciate all the good input... Here is my final line or stand- I refered someone to a local Nissan Dealer that had 2 Muranos there. The Dealer wouldnt even open the vehicle to show it to him and his wife.!

Now I can understand you cant drive them they don't belong to us, But I cant understand, we will open one up for you to show you the insides-

On the other hand... My local MDX Acura Dealer has been wonderful to me, anything and eveything you could ever ask for, Ive probably driven 3 times in the MDX. The Acura Dealer has each time without fail asked me what they can do for me.....

I think Ive just about made my decision and will be taking a MDX in the new color "Sage Brush Pearl" w/ Navi Unit-

I have a friend who called me from British Columbia, and has test drove a SL AWD and SE AWD in loaded configurations, he stated that they both had a "Wider than normal turning radius" and on the SE AWD he heard the sewing machine noise- and some other issues-

The earlier posting where someone had reviewed the Murano and given the Detroit Review was extremely accurate.

Regardless of how nice or not nice the Murano is, the fact remains that all of us would require interaction with the Nissan Dealership, and you know what Ownersite was right. Im not spending 35k to have a dealer crap on my head, when I can spend a few k more and get the "Real Thing", Purchase a vehicle that has a proven and awesome resale value minimal depreciation, and lastly Most Importantly- at some point you, me, the local ghost and then someone, is going to require a interaction with the dealership. How will the Dealer treat you?

I have not had any Acura Dealer treat me unkindly yet, there is a "Big" difference between what one gets fro a Acura Dealer and a Nissan Dealer-

There is a very big difference between Warranties- another year with the Acura, and then you get the Acura red Carpet all the way.

Nope gang, Im going with the Acura MDX- Long term - Short term who cares, whats really important is me, you, me, our families, if the car breaks down what are they going to do for you? give you a car or give you a headache? Give you first class service or make you whine to get something done-?

At $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 I say thats alot of money, I dont care what you buy, It appears to me that at this point the MDX completely outclasses the Nissan Murano no matter how sexy the Murano is in appearance.

There is a very clear difference in commitment to the customer made by both companies, it it appears at this point that that Nissan will have to Huff and Puff and Blow the House Down in order to convince me that their product and CUSTOMER SERVICES are worthy of the Acura reputation,and can compete with the Acura, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Toyota namesake and reputations- maybe then Ill feel the Murano is a worthwhile purchase-

-Larry

You bring out some excellent points, very well thought out. I don't think you can go wrong with an MDX.

Just to play devil's advocate for a second...(and put myself in the position of a potential Murano buyer, which I am)

If a Murano SE AWD were priced comparably to a Honda Pilot (MSRP of $32,980 w/Leather, 4WD & Navigation), would the thought process be quite so difficult?

What I keep getting hung up on is that a loaded Murano is only a couple thousand less than a comparably equiped MDX, yet it is $5000 more than the vehicle it aims to compete with, the Honda Pilot.

I guess I am just confused...as will be some Murano shoppers I suspect.

As I've noted on FA's forums. I am not intending to Nissan bash. We currently own a 2002 Altima SE. My first new car was a 1992 Sentra SE-R. (miss that car) My family has owned a 1978 Datsun B210, a 1980 Datsun 210 Wagon (learned to drive stick on it), a 1992 Infiniti G20 and 1995, 1999 & 2003 Nissan Maximas.

Based on the styling and features (have yet to drive it) I would love to consider parking a new Murano in the garage, but the pricing simply does not make it a no-brainer. Pricing comparable to the Honda Pilot would.

Sorry to drone on...

Hi all,
I just came back 1/2 hour ago from a test drive of the SE model. Wow, where to start?
The thing I tried really hard to look out for was the "sewing machine" noise as many have mentioned. I did not hear anything of that sort. Shifts gear very smoothly and you certainly can't feel it shifting. The only way I was able to tell was really listen to the engine. The ride was so smooth you really couldn't tell. Acceleration was pretty good, although I didn't get a chance to really push the engine...actually, didn't even get to drive it on the freeway at all.
Other things were the interior was very nice. The test drive Murano has leather seats...but nothing too "wow" about them.
And, this SUV is wide. Sitting inside, it felt like the width was just like the MDX. It was the first thing that popped into my mind: W-I-D-E. However, for someone who's about 5'9, it was just right...maybe just a little bigger than what I'm used to, but very comfortable.
Turning is very tight and responsive. Didn't really have a lot of opportunities to test it in a parking lot, but from what I could tell, it's very good.
Couple of things that bothered me:
There is the blind spot, on both sides, where the windows curve upwards in the rear due to its styling. That created quite a significant blind spot for me. That is a huge disadvantage for me, my opinion. It will certainly take some serious getting used to. The one thing that helped to offset that was the rear-view mirrors, that was OK, but would have preferred it a little bigger, both outside and interrior mirrors.
Since it was a sports model Murano, the suspension was tight. It reminded me of a Maxima suspension that I once rented. Very tight....personally, I prefer softer, more cushion-like suspension. However, this is the sports model, and it is an SUV.
There is a lot of space between the dashboard and the front of the windshield. It guess with such a sloped windshield, you get a lot of wasted space that way. And one think I learned really quick, don't put anything on that area. It will totally reflect on the windshield and make it a little difficult to see.
And lastly, the PRICE!! What ridiculous markup the dealer was asking!! Priced at 38,000 US dollars. And it isn't even fully loaded (no navi)!! That would be extra and would have put the Murano at 40K! Might as well buy an MDX at that price or RX300.
I think I'll wait until the hype has died down...right now, it's not a good time to buy since it's a new model, first year, and I don't want to be the guinea pig at my expense.

Well, that's my humble 2 cents on the test drive. I will test drive the SUV several times just to see how it feels though...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, who have been generous with your time and opinion giving, regarding the Murano;

Last Night I wrangled a Nissan Dealer into letting me take one home for the night and day today- Gorgeous Silver w/ Black Leather SL AWD has everything except the Dynamic Vehicle Traction Control, Navi, and Chromed wheels- Told the dealer the truth, I cannot justify spending this sort of money without having some time with the vehicle alone-

Because the Dealership is closed today (Thursday) they agreed to do so- I be returning it later this late aternoon to the dealership-

With regards to discounts, I have been offered $ 1,000.00 off and about $1800.00 from another with the "Agreement to "Split" the invoice- Where does this leave me in comparison to a MDX? The Acura Dealer has also offered to take something off as well and as far as I can gather it amounts to about $1,000.00 off the invoice:

This Murano will cost me about $34,750.00 plus taxes and transf, ect
The MDX about $ 38,000.00 plus taxes ect- The SE AWD Im thinking of Ordering will set me back about $ 36,420.00 everthing except Navi and Chrome Wheels-

I called Bank One for particulars in which a Bank uses to make loans, they instructed me to depreciate the Nissan by 12 to 15 percent out the door, they really couldnt comment on the MDX- If you take 10% off the Nissan that means your looking at a $ 3,470.00 loss right at Delivery- Because there is no history on the Murano, I looked at Nissan popular vehicles Altima and Maxima- Big Depreciations and a substantial difference between a new vehicle and a -1- year old vehicle (used) (about 7 to 8 thousand dollars) retail-

I called a Acura Dealer in Atlanta, and another in Boston along with Tennessee-
I found -3- Used MDX's Touring with Running Boards and various trim additions, all 3 vehicles were within $ 1,000.00 of the price of a NEW 2003 Touring MDX- That absolutely floored me- The Dealer that appealed to me the most wanted $ 37,900.00 for a Touring 2002 with the Fancy Steering wheel, R-Boards, Cargo Cover and Net it has 24k miles on it! That is almost $ 900.00 Less than a New 2003!

They without any reservation whatsoever offered to pick me up from the airport if I wanted a vehicle from them New or Used, and stated that if it went late into the evening they would pay for my accomodations overnight so I could get a good rest the night before I head back home with a New Car from them! On the Other hand I really Had to work the Nissan Dealer to get them to consider letting me go overnight with the Murano-

Now, that I have given all of you the above "Food for Thought" let me go the the Murano I have-

Since Last Night I have been stopped everywhere, Ive gone with it, What is it? Wow! Its Beautiful, Can I look Inside? Oh My God! When was it released? How Much?, Wow, egads its gorgeous ect, ect, and then some-

The "Wider Turning" turning radius appears to be due to the 18" wheels, and its really not all that bad, most people dont do "Donuts or figure 8's with their cars" but it is wider than what the MDX Radius, and substantially so-

This one didnt have the Cachophony Noise or Sewing Machine Noise until you Goosed the accelerator and pushed it- Power Transfer is Silky Smooth and "Stepless" On Hard acceleration the sewing machine noise was present- but other than that, the whole Powertrain Concept with the CVT concept is very impressive to say the least-

The controls on the steering wheel are NOT Backlighted- and make it very difficult to do anything with because you cant see them-

The so called "Floating Instrument Cluster" is Fixed and it does not move, as it is stated to Float and Move with the Tilt-Telescope" like in the Z-Car.

The Dash Board- Control Panel display is substantially smaller than the one with Navigation unit and the Nav Unit is in Color where the Non Nav Unit is smaller and in Yellow Text display color Only- I have Mixed feelings about the display-computer and its layout, and the information it gives you- Although everything relating to the HVAC, Radio, and other toys are displayed on the Display Head- At Night it is great, during the day, well Ill let you decide for yourselves. It was Okay to read until you got into a bright Light Environment, then it was a little tough to read-

The Control Lay-out of all controls on the Dash Board "Center-Dash" is very Busy, you can get lost very easily, and this is a car that needs to be familiarlised with its owner real well, because groping for something could well cause a distraction while driving, the result would not be good to any measurable standard- Maybe after a couple hours you can get through the "oops" I pushed the wrong button syndrome-

The Buttons all do different things and they are not Modular or centralised, they are "Scattered" all over the place, Example all the HVAC Controls are not in one area, the radio in another ect- Like on most vehicles- Very easy to get lost, make a mistake, push the wrong button- Once you understand the display and what everything does its not so bad after all, but the Control Button Placement still is busy, and not as well organised as they could have been done- They are however nicely Backlighted at night-

Because of the exterior Design, no body trim moldings, no bumper guards, if you park the vehicle and someone opens their door, they will use your Muranos Side Panel for a stop. Most vehicles at this level come with something to avoid body-vehicle damage-

The Vehicle has a fairly "High Belt-Line" sitting from the inside- Visibility is good, I wear No-Line Bifocals, and I really didnt have problems seeing around me. The Front DashBoard real Estate is Humungous, Much like the Pontiac Transport- I am still not used to the "Line of Sight-Vision" afforded from the front end cut-off and side to side visibility on the front end- Example: Parking the vehicle where you have a "Middle space" and there are parked vehicles to the left and right, you wanting to occupy the "Middle Space" Very difficult to judge clearance on the turn into the space (front-end) "Left to right of the vehicle" and the Front end cut off visually hard to judge as well-

Lastly, my driver seat is not Solid, it has a slight rocking effect to it front to back which annoyed me-

Other than what I have depicted here the Vehicle is a formidable challlenger to the other vehicles Im looking at. The Warranty is less than the others, it should have been 4yr/50k miles it is not. It is loaded full of new Bells and whistles that if they break will cost a foot, arm and a leg to repair if you are out of your warranty period- None the less it is packed with state of the art cutting edge technology.

The Bottom Line? do you buy a car because of how it "Looks" or because of what it does and how it performs? If looks is what counts only, than the Murano is a Hands Down Winner or Formidable Contender-

If dependability, performance, and a solid investment, and minimal depreciation and a good resale history, is a factor or prime consideration- then it is Not the Winner, however it would clearly be in a "Top 5 Consideration List" and at the bottom of that list-

I hope that no one will feel that this email was meant as a Nissan Bashing Attempt, not at all- The Murano is a elegant Vehicle, Nissan has made a tremendous turn-around and should be applauded- The Murano's Look is incredible. As I mentioned in earlier emails, this is literally one of few times that a vehicle jumped up and "Talked to me" Touch me, Drive me, take me home"-

I have several more hours to enjoy the vehicle and may add something to this note if I find anything-

Still torn in half by the MDX-Murano decision I have to make- I will also Have a MDX this weekend for overnight and by Sunday I should be able to make a clean decision between the 2 SUV's-

The last note: Using the Murano today, it is very clear, the Murano is a "Crossover" UTE and the MDX is a "SUV"- there are very clear differences between the two- The Murano is on a Altima Platform, and the 18" wheel gives you "False SUV Height" whereas the MDX is clearly on a SUV Platform by itself- There is a clear and formidable difference between a Wannabe SUV and the real thing-

As some may have read this message earlier, yes indeed it is an edit, I have to say on my way back this afternoon to the dealership, I decided to take it out again on the freeway and let her rip- The Acceleration is breathtaking, and the Power transfer to the CVT was as smooth as silk, it was uncanny, No slam into Passing like most american cars do. I chickened out at about 132 mph- The Murano had more to give, it laughed at me and said, " You Chicken! You've only scratched the surface... Ive got plenty left to give" not wanting to tempt fate and the Ohio State Police Departments, I backed off. The Speedometer is marked off at 160mph, I have no doubt the Murano could exceed that- Actually I got nervous because the accelerator never made it anywhere near to the floor boards, the car was screaming at me "Ive got more to give, Take it, Take it!"

Steering seemed a little "Over responsive" and or Oversensitive? But wow, I havent done this since I was 18 years old in Detroit-!

The car was "absoluetly revolutionary quiet"- during this madness run, the Tach was no where near a red line, it was absolutely uncanny, the only thing that was missing was an "Afterburner Switch"-

Lastly, I have played with both models the SE and SL AWD's, The Ride on the SE is much tighter or firmer and the steering is real tight like an Audi Quattro or Volvo, You point it and it stays there, very very tight, solid and responsive steering. The Ride is slightly stiffer, Firmer on City Roads however on the Freeway, the SE would be my preffered choice, I like that type of feel- The SL was Softer and much more loose in comparison to the SL- Both were AWD's the SE had the Nav and the Dynamic Traction Control, maybe that had something to do with the difference between the -2- Models-

Invaribly, I prefer the SE AWD with the Dynamic Traction Control and TPS Systems over the other, The SE AWD I drove had everything except the Chrome Wheels and Navigation Unit- List was $36,420.00-

I have also been advised by Nissan that the Satellite System- is wired and ready to go, however there is a "Hardware Issue" and it will not be available until Spring 03- There is a slight possibility of an addition to the transmission late Spring-Summer 03, the one that is shown in the Marketing Pix where if you move the shifter to the right you can manually shift thru 6 or 7 forward gears, and there is talk of a "Limited Rendition" Maybe even an addition of On-Star?

As I left the Murano at the dealership, I felt even more confused than ever, or is the word impulsive? I pulled my Safari next to the Murano and waited for it to warm up- I kept looking at the Murano, and asking it why do you intrigue me so? It smiled and said "Take me home with you"- I did another walk around. The Tires are really big on the vehicle, 18" monsters and Nissan didnt skimp, they are High Performance Goodyear Eagles, with a High Speed Rating- They almost seem out of place on the vehicle this time. But this time I am familiar with the vehicle and am giving it another looksee-

As I left, I was convinced that if I purchase a Murano, it will be the SE AWD with the DTC Package Dynamic Traction Control System- I also have been told that there is a Entertainment System that is being made ready for the Murano as well- Should be interesting but not for me-

There is no question in my mind that Toyota and Lexus finally have a Contender or Compeditor against their Highlander, RX300 and Pilot.

I am however a little connfused at the so called statement from Nissan about their going after the Pilot when in fact the Pilot is several thousand dollars less than the Murano, and Surprise, Surprise, Pilot is on 16" wheels, it is almost as though Nissan gave the Murano "High Heels" to qualify it as a SUV-

The Sticker says "URBAN SUV", I say Urban Crossover with High Heels" and now I realise why the tires on the Murano look so "Out of Place"

My wish to all of you and your families that you should have a Joyous, safe and meaningful Thanksgiving Holliday-

-Larry

Does anyone who has driven both the SL and SE models have any comment on the suspensions of one versus the other. For the life of me I can't notice any difference between the two although I'm sure there is. The SE apparently has a "sport suspension", I find them both pretty sporty but about the same. It may just be the way I drive or where I'm taking them. I always had a salesman with me during my test drives so I can't really wring them out the way I would like.

I'm like a lot of others that are caught between the Murano-MDX choice, it's hard to overlook the incredible resail value of the MDX but the Murano may end up holding it's own in that regard as well.

I sure wish someone would buy one. We can't even get to see them in KC, although a rep picked one up here and showed it off to some people without any fanfare.

I haven't seen any print or TV ads on it and only heard from one dealer about it when I passed on the Pathfinder he was trying to sell me a month ago. The dealers all have a differend date when they will be available here, from last week (I fell for that line!), to the end of January. It sure doesn't sound like Nissan wants to get the word out, unless you accidently click on their homepage. They say it will be out in Early December nationwide

Maybe they are just teasing us with a few pre-production models to see what we think before the put the pedal-to-the-metal on the assembly line. Does anyone have a clue to the sales goals for the US? How does this compare to the other Nissans and the competing Crossovers. And yes it's a "Crossover", just like the MDX which I understand is on the Odessy frame instead of the Toyata Camry (Highlander & Lexus RX300), and the Altima. Real SUVs arfe built on truck frames, and have real 4-wheel drives with low-gear locks, and ride/handle like trucks. The turning radius as reported on Edmunds.com is only 37.4 ft. I don't understand your comments about the much bigger turning radius than the MDX which is 37.2. Lexus is 41.3, Highlander is 37.4 and Honda Pilot is 38.

Here are some other specs. from Edmunds site @ http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/nis...html?id=lin0018

Dimensions

Exterior:

Length: 187.6 in.
Width: 74 in.
Height: 66.5 in.
Weight: 3955 lbs.
Wheel Base: 111.2 in.
Ground Clearance: 7.1 in.
Interior:

Front Head Room: 40.7 in.
Front Hip Room: 56.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 59.6 in.
Rear Head Room: 39.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 59.1 in.
Rear Hip Room: 56.6 in.
Front Leg Room: 43.4 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36.1 in.
Luggage Capacity: 32.6 cu. ft.
Maximum Cargo Capacity: 82 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5
Performance Data

Performance:

Base Number of Cylinders: 6
Base Engine Size: 3.5 liters
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 245 hp
Max Horsepower: 5800 rpm
Torque: 246 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4400 rpm
Drive Type: AWD
Turning Circle: 37.4 ft.

Fuel Data
Fuel Tank Capacity: 21.7 gal.

EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway)

Automatic: 20 mpg / 24 mpg

Range in Miles: (City/Highway)

Automatic: 434 mi. / 520.8 mi.

I did a side-by-side comparison of the Nissan Murano, Acura MDX, Lexus RX300, Toyata Highlander and Honda Pilot on Edmunds

http://applications.edmunds.com/pro...ompare+Vehicles

I don't know if it can be replicated by just opening this URL, but they have a great site with lots of detail and reviews. Check it out.

I sure hope someone buys one soon so I can learn more about them. Oh, don't sweat the warranty difference as extended warranties can easily be purchased at the dealer or on line.

Well Murano Gang;

"The Clock has stopped Ticking and my wallet is about to take a licking"-

I am just coming back from a exhaustive test drive visa-vi the Local Acura Dealer- I got a MDX for several hours all to myself-!

The Vehicle: 2003 MDX Touring with Navigation, Running Boards, Cargo Cover and Net and Hood Deflector-

I wanted to be able to go fresh from the Murano to the MDX, while I still had Murano pumping "Fresh in my Veins"-

I have to say Honestly that the MDX has captured me completely at this point- Ownersite posted a really good review site, in which the review is totally honnest and caps many of the things I pointed out as well-

Without the Navigation unit on the MDX there is a $ 3,000.00 spread in price- The Quality of the Interior, how it is laid out, the seats and amenities are all superior to the Murano-

The way the MDX is put together reeks of Customer Convenience and thought put into the vehicle as to "What would our customers want" The Nav System is completely revamped and qualifies nothing less than a "Space Shuttle Level Technology" The Voice system was awesome, I issued 60 some commands, it missed -2- 1: Show trip computer and 2: Take me to your leader!

It is a "Split 3-d screen" if you want or another way if you want. Regardless it outclassed the Nissan Unit by far-

Again, it is the difference of the quality of the product that is winning me over versus the Expensive piece of Italian Glass the Murano is named after and looks like-

Rain sensing windshields and wipers, Rear TV camera, and the Vehicle to Tire Balance is proper. Look at the Murano and you can see how they got another Inch Height- 18" Tires which visually overwhelm the vehicle- they look almost out of place- on the Murano. That is not the case with the MDX-

I hope that many of you who are test driving the Murano take the opportunity to test drive Both the MDX and the Acura Dealership- They both are a cut above the Nissan Dealership Experience coupled with the Vehicle test drive-

The Murano is a incredible piece on its own validity, and Nissan did a tremendous job, no doubt. But alas, If im going to shoot my wallet where it counts, Im going to do it sensibly, and without taking a bath-

There are very few vehicles that have a "Residual Value at the end of 2 years of 71%" The MDX does, along with the M-Class Mercedes and X-5 Series BMW-

Happy Hollidays to all!

-Larry

I finally drove the Murano last night for the first time. It was a black SL AWD. Very nice looking with the huge wheels and the large exhaust pipes. The interior room is amazing and somewhat better than my 99.5 Pathfinder LE (you won't crack your forehead trying to get into the back seat of a Murano). The rear cargo area is a bit smaller than the PF, but sufficient. The Murano is like an SUV on the inside, but definitely a jacked up car on the outside. Parked next to the Pathfinder, I was surprised to see that the side mirrors were slightly higher on the Murano. The ride height is deceivingly the same on both vehicles.

Driving the Murano is a pleasure. It's very quiet and smooth, handling very well (like a car) around corners. Power is plentiful, except when taking off from a stop. When you floor it, the car seems to hesitate for a few moments. Then, you feel like your suddenly being pulled or catapulted. Like the speed of the CVT is suddenly catching up with the speed of the engine. I really didn't care for that too much. With all that power, you just want it to GO.

The car is very comfortable to drive as well. The cloth seats hold you firmly in place and keep your butt nice and toasty (seat heaters) in this cold Canadian climate. The adjustable pedals give you the perfect seating position. The steering wheel feels great and the audio controls are handy. The gauges are laid out well with nice yellow backlighting. I don't like the orange on black screen display. I would prefer blue on black.

The lease is up on the PF at the end of the year and I'm really not sure what to do. It's between a new Pathfinder SE and a Murano SL. The PF has served my family well, but we all like the novelty of the Murano. It really is a cool car. The only concern I have right now is the AWD and I hope to drive one in a snowstorm. The PF is great in the snow and I'm not sure I would want to give that up.

UPDATE:
I took the same Murano out for another ride the next night. Just a few things to add:

The seating is much lower than in the Pathfinder. It's decieving because of the height of the side windows. I brought my 4 year old for this ride and she could barely see out the window while sitting in her booster seat in the back. By the way, she didn't like the Murano ...because it was black.

This car is fast! You really have to be careful with the gas pedal and the CVT takes some getting used to. If you touch the gas lightly, you get that brief hesitation from the CVT. And then the damn thing takes off on you. Make sure the way is clear before you go.

When I look at this car from the outside, it really looks beautiful. Very nice design (congratulations Nissan). However, it's too expensive for its size. I think the Pathfinder is a step above, and you can get one for the same price.

:?: Well I drove a Murona today, Pewter with black leather, pretty much loaded minus the navigation system. I live in Montana and such a system would be concidered very sissy. It was a great day to drive the Murano as it snowed six inches last night and it was VERY slippery today. This car has great traction and stops very well also. I have been waiting with much anticipation for the arrival of this SUV because I hate SUV's but my life style requires one (dog owner, kayaker, skier, family guy, ect). But I love to drive and love cars. My current toys are a Miata and SAAB 9-5 wagon (my anti-SUV). I was hoping the Murano would quelch my automotive thirst, but frankly I was a little dissappointed. I think this color combo did little for this car. The all black leather seats and black dash was a little boring and I think the aluminium look a little faddish and may scratch over time and use. The metal colored exterior was underwhelming. I did love the shape of the car and the way it drove. I will have to wait for a different color combination and see if it captures my heart. There are many things to love here..the big, fat leather cover steering wheel felt great and I LOVED the CVT tranny. You put your foot to the pedal and the tach stays at a certain RPM while the vehicle accelerates??? It's a weird, but welcomed experience. Rear sear comfort is great! Lots of leg room and the seats recline. As mentioned before, this car scoots when you touch the gas and the brakes are touchy. Just takes a little getting used to, then you like it. This may be the car for me yet...need to drive it on dry pavement and see if they start to offer discounts. My dealer wanted $1200.00 over retail.

I work as a technician for NIssan and this technology has been around since the 70's and been used in Japan since then. There is no real reason to worry. I am told that it will out last regular transmissions. Plus another thing is its Nissan. They always make great powertrains that rarely have problems. I have drove the Murano and would recommend it to anyone. IT IS AWESOME! If anyone has any questions please email me for some mroe info. :lol:

i second that mr nissan tech. i read somewhere yesterday on the net that the cvt technology has been used in europe and asia for a very long time. so, it's not new to nissan...

now, i drove it last night...the SL.

i must say this suv is saucey! i remember when i first seen it on 11.28.2. with moms. my first reaction was "what the???....look at the grill, look at the dash, look at the rear...LOOK?!?!?!!!...

when i jumped in it, the key was already in the ignition with no salesman around anywhere. was that some kind-a hint or what?!

i must have sat in the driver seat for a good 30 min looking at the display and pretty much figuring out all the buttons on the dash and every door that opened. it felt really comfortable. wasn't too impressed with the bose system. quickly turned it to a hip hop station here in the bay area and at low volume (like most car stereos) sounded really good. but, when i turned it loud (how i like it) it didn't get better. honestly, pretty weak. then i reminded my self that it's only 225 watts. so, yeah, weak. if you go to a car stereo place, most car stereos are at LEAST 225 watts for a nice price of $150 US. can't wait to customize the sound, i'll pass on the bose!!! the leather felt great and i especially loved the orange lights on the odometer and the display (need to see how well legible the display is in sunlight). i tried to recline the rear seats and WOW! just like the front seats. my friends will love me for this when we are out late. no middle hump. very confortable in the rear. on the driver seat there is a way to raise/lower the seat! great feature. you basically have to play around with the lever to figure it out.

after spending about an hour inside the car (from front to rear), i was ready to hit the streets. the onramp to 280 (southbay of the bay area) was a perfect test for handling until some idiot decided to be in my way. acting hesitant to merge so i HAD to stop. paranoid of wrecking the test car, so i did. it was a nice curve, double lane that merges into 1 about 80 yards up then merges onto the freeway. the curve was not too tight and not too straight. perfect actually, oh well. maybe next time. acceleration was good. but, think i didn't fly past that idiot with the quickness of the murano?!! LOL. and when i got onto the freeway, i was already at 70! then, i moved the shifter to the right (is this overdrive?) and the rpms jumped to like 3500 close to 4000 and i was quickly at 80!! that blew me away!

i heard about the noise with the sunroof open, and yeah, it's there. i don't remember if their is a spoiler for the sunroof or not but whatever the case, it was noisy. not terrible but very noticable. i've heard about the driver seat rocking a lil bit and didn't notice it. overall, the suspension was pretty good. not a caddy but pretty good for it's size. and the cabin noise wasn't that bad either. with the stereo on and/or a profound conversation with the passenger, would drown it out considerably. braking was excellent. not too much rocking of the vehicle. i made sure the radio was off so i could hear the engine and it sounded normal, except, when you first take off, there is a little growl at first take off but didn't hear any "type writer" noise inside. i did notice the "type writer" noise when the engine was on when i stood in front of the suv. wasn't that loud but noticable.

i need to test on a ruffer road to see how it absorbs bumps and holes.

so, the verdict?!...winner! i always wanted a suv but hated the boxy look (too many simular looks-no style) and the terrible gas mileage. i love the way it looks, especially the front, rear and the console/dash.

here's what i don't like: the interior roof is some cheap flimsy carpet material. should be leather or vynil. if not like the seats, at least like the doors (materially speaking). the rear signals. i hate red turn signals. they are harder to see in the day light than yellow turn signals. i'm sure i can customize that with some after markets later on in '3. no lights inside the cargo area. they are only located on the rear hatch/door.

my choice: SL AWD, sheer silver with the charcoal leather package only. i can find after market suspension kit if need be that will be better than what Nissan offers on the SE (low profile tires and a suspension kit will be better than the SE). all the rest is not worth it! i can find better on the street! i will deffinitely customize the stereo system (probably about 800 watts) and customize the rims (can't wait to put 20's on them), and a bike rack on top! can't wait. just need to save some money and sell my 231k mile driven honda accord!

by the way 76280z, can you explain the "growling" coming from the engine/transmission when you accelerate from a stop?

is the way to go. I must say that the Murano does have quite the "wow factor" going for it. Very stylish, very comfortable, adequate size. However, Itsaraid...you are right, buying the MDX makes more sense. As much as I liked the Murano I couldn't find one single reason to choose it over the MDX. The biggest problem is price and resale value. The Murano has the price of a luxury brand (if upgraded decently) but it will not give you the resale value of a luxury brand. Nicely equipped (and with the markup that some dealers trying push), the Murano is in a similar price range with the MDX, X5 3.0, Mercedes M-Class, Volvo XC90, RX300. Lets be real, a Nissan is not going to hold its value nearly as well as "any" of the others, they "all" would be a better buy than the Murano. Also, as others have mentioned, this is a new vehicle with no track record...as a rule of thumb I never buy "version 1.0" of "anything"!! (a little techie jargon there) :-) The MDX is simply "the" best SUV buy, in its price range, on the market today.

Worrying about resale value when the market is flooded with used cars doesn't seem to make sense to me. I just traded in a 2002 Acura RSX for the Murano and the "Acura Resale" value meant nothing. The wholesale values of used cars are so low right now. Why would anyone buy the Acura at the suggest KBB retail price when they can lease a new one for less. I realize the X5 and MDX do hold their value well, but if you decide to get out of the MDX in a few years, don't be surprised if the dealer trade isn't what you expected.

Yes, but you know as well as I do that the MDX (and the other lux brands) will have a much better resale value than the Murano. It just doesn't make sense to pay lux money for a non-lux brand. There is no case that can be made for the Murano being a better buy than the MDX.

Who's trying to make the case that the Murano is a better buy? I don't really even think of the two vehicles as being competitors. The comparable MDX is $8,000 more than the Murano I purchased. If I was in the market for spending $42,000 instead of $34,000 than I would have purchased the MDX. Obviously what matters is what car you like the most and what fits your needs. Why waste the time rationalizing why the MDX is better because of it's resale value? Just buy the MDX.

Sometimes I feel like people lose sight of what we're talking about here. There is not a right or wrong answer regarding the vehicle you choose to buy. Buy the one that's right for you and you'll be happy.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I liked the Murano...in fact, I loved it. I even had the sales rep drive it up and down the street while I stood by the road and watched!! (thats the car enthusiast in me...had to see what it looked like on the road....I always make the sales rep do that...they usually think that I"m joking) :-)

i'm with you on that taylormade...get what fits your needs and what is appealing to you. if ya want the mdx, get it. if ya want the murano, get it.

Amen!

well folks, i tested it again today. except this time it was during the day and on a rougher road.

now, to anyone that has driven highway 87 in san jose knows it's a great freeway to test cars on because of the BAD foundation it was built with (so many dips). i took the freeway to downtown and drove it through some construction zones where they tore up the street. IT HANDLED GREAT!!! didn't hear any rattling noise that some have complained about and it felt smooth. not too smooth like a caddy but smooth. i felt the bumps as i would like too but they weren't harsh. it felt normal (to me). i didn't get tossed around in the murano. i even took sharp turns in hope to feel any kind of body roll. you should have seen me whip this u turn?!! wow. checked out the display, as it was a concern of it washing out on bright days, and it looked fine. everything was fine.

That reminds me, I don't remember which review it was that complained about the displays being washed out, but I have had direct sunlight on my displays and had no problem reading them.

During the first hour or so of driving my new Murano, I had that same complaint of the nav display being washed out in the sun. Then I realized that there was a contrast mode switch for day or night viewing. It made a world of difference. I also like the fact that the display is high up in the dash so one doesn't have to glance far off the road.

Two weeks ago I drove a Murano SL AWD. I am looking for a replacement for my 94 4Runner which has been an exceptional rig, except my family can't fit any more. I am 6'4'' and my son is 6'7".
I am also looking for a safer and more environmentally responsible SUV. The Murano gets considerably better gas mileage; we all fit with no problems. On a wet, blowing night, it drove like a big sports car. Excellent acceleration! Fun to drive. Great cornering. The headlights were terrific; wide coverage and very bright. I liked evrything about this rig except the smallish storage area behind the second seat. I guess I could get a coffin for big loads, but then I have hauled rock in my 4Runner. I doubt if I'd do that in a Murano.
My still standing questions concern crash tests, which haven't taken place yet And how well it does off-road. Have any of you recent purchasers taken a Murano on a bad road yet?

i don't own one yet, but, the murano is great on-road but off-road maybe minor, nothing major. off-road speaking, you wouldn't be able to do the things you did in the 4runner, in the murano.

The off-road capability fo Murano will be limited.

I also would like to know the safety testing data of the Murano. It's not available yet. But I think it will be better than most other Nissan vehicles, most of which are rated good, because Maurano has mroe standard safety equipment than others. :lol:

yeah, i'm interested in that too. inside i think passengers will be fine but the exterior i'm curious about.

I'm not in the insurance industry, but after reading about the high insurance rates for the Murano, it must be fairly expensive to repair any damage. Possibly because the car is designed to crumple in the front and rear????

Just a guess. Anyone ought there with any more insight? :?:

My Insurance Agent explained that the Murano I ordered is currently a symbol 17 with my insurer. In contrast my 1995 Volvo 960 sedan is a symbol 11. This will cause a $600/year increase in my rates.

My agent stated that frequently new cars are rated higher in the beginning than they are 12-24 months later. The best the insurance industry can do is estimate the rating until actual accidents occur and repair histories are created. The availability of spare parts can also affect this rating as time is money spent for rental cars.

I expect the rates to drop after the initial 12-24 months period. It will be interesting to see the US Gov crash test data though.

quote:
I'm not in the insurance industry, but after reading about the high insurance rates for the Murano, it must be fairly expensive to repair any damage. Possibly because the car is designed to crumple in the front and rear????

i thought having crumple zones are a safety feature...to absorb impact...

Yeah, you're right - the crumple zones are a safety item. But I would think that would mean that if the car was repairable, there would be more body work required. Sorta like airbags - yeah, they saved your face, but now you have to get the airbag replaced. Who knows?? In the end, the damage from having crumple zones could be equivalent from to the damage if you didn't have these.

Don't get me wrong, I want these safety features. I was just guessing why the insurance seems to be high.

Just purchased my 2003 SE FWD Murano on Sunday and all I can say is WOW! :D I thought it was going to be hard parting with my 2000 Maxima SE which was/is a truely excellent vehicle, but the Murano is hands down the best set of 4 wheels I've ever owned. Overall quality is superior for this price class and the CVT is nothing short of amazing. If you're on the fence about this one...take it out, drive it and see what you'd be missing.

Hey Steveg, had a 2000 Max GLE until two weeks ago, know what your sayin' brother... I loved the Max, but the Murano's another level!

Okay, so I am about to buy a Murano, and I haven't even driven it yet??!! :oops: "WHAT," you say?Well, I absolutely HATE going to dealers and am waiting until the last minute. I have done all my research and pricing on over the internet. I have sat in one at the car show, and truly believe that the photos do the interior no justice. It is much higher quality than my 2002 Altima (the interior quality was one of my fears, because the Altimas interior leaves A LOT to be desired in terms of fit and finish, my 2000 Sentra SE had much higher quality feel) Anyway, my reason for writing is I need some feed back, AM I CRAZY? I love almost everything about it. I was worried about it being loud (inside the cabin) from some early reviews I had heard. My last few Nissans have been horribly loud. Please, any feedback on the ride and quietness would be truly appreciated. I drive for a living and spend 6-12 hours in my car everyday, I need a nice comfortable quiet ride. Don't get me wrong, as soon as I find a dealer that gives me the price I want I will drive it and make my final determination, but would love to hear from some owners. The other thing I was wondering about is the navigation system. Any feedback on it? I am planning to get it in mine (I am so sick of fumbling with maps all day long), but was wondering what anyone who has one thinks. Anyway, thanks in advance for your comments!!! :D

You won't be sorry.

The NAV sys is cool, bird's eye view... way cool. If you use one regularly think of the time it would save you fumbling with maps, and if you make a wrong turn it will recalculate the route for you. What a time saver in unfamiliar neighborhoods, no more watching for street signs, no worries...

As for the noise level, I had concerns too. I remembered on several test drives that the CVT had a whine to it, distincive and noticeable. So I went and drove the car again... this time I wanted to drive it "normally" not pushing it to the limits to see performance possibilities. So, I went at night, very quiet, stable, easy to read controls. Came to a big hill, well big for Atlanta. The CVT made some whine, but then I compared it to my current vehicle and the whine was actually easier to tolerate than then engine noise I would get from my Volvo. The rest of the time it was quiet as a mouse.

My freinds will tell you that I do not obsess over material things, but it amazes them that I have over this purchase. Actually had the car on order for two weeks and cannot wait to get it. Drove to the dealer yesterday so I could "touch" one again, sit in it, smell it. The salesperson probably thinks I am certifiable.

And, maybe I am...

i've test drove it twice. didn't hear any more noise than what i thought would be normal. i wouldn't really care if it had noise or not because i'm always playing my stereo loud anyways! :lol: at any rate, noise level when driving (even at highway speeds) seems ok to me.

:D Okay, I did it!! I test drove it and bought it today. SL AWD, Sunlit Copper, w/charcoal leather, all options... bought it at invoice!! They didn't have it in stock, but I just got a call (1 hour later) they will have it TOMORROW!!!! Thank you for your feedback, I truly appreciate it. I agree, the ride is actually really nice, didn't hear the infamous "sewing machine" sound. I have never been so psyched about buying a car in my life!!

congrats

Yeah, you're going to love it!!! 8)

jaak

Still Lovin' it!!!!:D

jaak

Yeah, old posts do that. If I go in to edit and immediately save, the system should fix it. Let me know if it doesn't.

Edit: Looks better now, on my system... The Forum used to run on different software, so things were treated differently. The act of going in to edit, then doing a save immediately, makes the current forum software parse the URLs.