Bring out yer dead. Bring out yer dead.

I'm surprised not too many people compared the VW Toureg. I would think it is one of the few vehicles that might get close in the 'coolness' factor to the Murano.

I actually did look at one. But, I wouldn't seriously consider owning a VW with that many moving parts, sorry. Anyway, the best part was, the Toureg had just come out at that time and the dealer had this attitude like they were selling Ferrari Enzos or something. Plus, you'd pretty much need the V8 if you actually wanted to haul something (like passengers). Yes, I realize it has great off-road ability but how many of us actually will take a $50,000+ car 'off roading' That's what Jeeps are for.

 

I'm surprised not too many people compared the VW Toureg. I would think it is one of the few vehicles that might get close in the 'coolness' factor to the Murano.

I look at it but I am not really a VW fan so I could not justify the extra $$.

 

Has anyone compared the Murano to the '05 H6 Subaru Outback?

Thanks,
Sean

 

I looked at the VW... too much money but besides that I didn't have anywhere near the comfort or front leg room as that of the MO.

MDX - Didn't like the interior, only comes with leather, I wanted cloth. I also didn't like that envoinmental controls... too much like a Civic-ish and I found that the huge gas mileage LCD was annoying, useless and a waste of dash space.

Volvo XC wagon - I liked it... but wanted something with a little more room.

Pilot - just to truck like and didn't care of the blane interior.

 

Re: Compare

I owned a PT Cruiser and was looking for a "football bat" to do all the things a Cruiser would do. My wife insisted on a vehicle with a V6 and I generally hate SUVs, but needed something that would haul stuff and/or people. Also wanted a dog-friendly vehicle.

I considered a Saturn Vue (nice vehicle, bland interior) and wound up getting a more tricked-out Murano than I'd originally intended because I liked the bells and whistles so much. At the price, though, I wonder if I couldn't have gotten over the need to haul stuff occasionally and gotten an Infiniti G35.

 

I was giving up my VW Corrado for a more family friendly car that could haul two dogs and a large baby seat, so I wanted something I could hang my hat on performace wise. I looked at the Saturn Vue redline edition with the new Honda V6 engine. The car is great and handles very tight. very fast and great gas mileage, but the redline is hard to come by and the only one the dealer could find that wasn't lime green was several hundred miles away. Because they only allocate 1 per dealer, my dealer wasn't sure they could even get the one I wanted. I also looked at the Dodge Magnum. The SXT was underpowered, but the RT was great. Really loved this car, but because it was brand new, dealers were marking and additional 4K onto the MSRP. My wife insisted we look at the Santa Fe, but I almost fell asleep during the test drive. Then when we were leaving dealer alley, my wife saw the Murano on the lot and insisted on a drive. She really loved the backseat room and the rear ventillation onthe Murano. I never even looked at the SL model, because I wanted the manual shift mode on the SE and I wanted the tight suspension. At least it let me believe I was still driving a sports car. No regrets.

 

Coming from a 96 Explorer, I considered the MDX, Pilot, X3, X5, Touareg, Highlander, RX330, Escape Hybrid...

My dream vehicle is an X5 loaded, but it costs $$$$....

I wanted a Hybrid, so the Escape would be sweet.. but a so-so equipped Escape Hybrid listed at $33K (over $6K more than loaded V6 because of the hybrid and the $3K "high-demand fee").. so that was a ripoff...

MDX, Touareg, RX330 - nice vehicles but also higher costs compared to Murano....

Pilot/Highland - quality vehicles, but bland and boring...

Narrowed down to X3 and Murano.. Murano was cheaper, more equipment standard, larger interior.. Murano has been a perfect fit.

 

Has anyone compared the Murano to the '05 H6 Subaru Outback?

Thanks,
Sean

I was considering the Subaru Outback (not the H6 though). I really wanted to like it because it has great technical specs, but driving it right after the Murano was underwhelming to say the least. You don't get the advantage of riding high on the road and the seats are so low you feel like you're lying down. The passengar seat was really uncomfortable with your knees practially up to your chest.

The AWD system and ground clearance in the Outback are incredible but everything else was disapointing - especailly the price.

 

My sister-in-law's family just purchased a Kia Sorento. Its roughly the same size as a Murano and close in price. Its nice, but the fit and finish doesn't compare....Murano hands down, and for styling cues as well.

The other thing is the Sorento is only like 190HP engine vs. 245!

 

Did you say Subaru Hunchback?

 

I was looking at the Acura TL. Not having the greatest back in the world also looked at SUVs (my wife just got an Accord - very nice - expecially considering we got a fully loaded EX V6 for 21k - but that and the TL are like sitting on the ground - hard on the back). Test drove an Acura MDX and Honda Pilot. I'm 6'0" tall and like my legs to be able to be fully extended. The MDX and Pilot driver seats only go back so far - probably so they can cram that 3rd row seat in. I'm not sure why this is the case with most vehicles - manufacturers seem so concerned about providing leg room for the back seat occupants - as with my wife's Accord. 85% of the time I'm commuting, another 10% or so she is riding passenger, so very little of the time is there another couple in the back so why make the driver uncomfortable for that 5%. Give me the driver leg room! And that's what the Murano does with the power gas/brake pedals set closest to the floor. Big selling point - that and it's fun to drive !

 

My sister-in-law's family just purchased a Kia Sorento. Its roughly the same size as a Murano and close in price. Its nice, but the fit and finish doesn't compare....Murano hands down, and for styling cues as well.

The other thing is the Sorento is only like 190HP engine vs. 245!

I was astounded that they had the nerve to charge that much for a KIA...

 

Comparing

I purchased a Murano because it looks different then any other SUV out there, all the rest look basicly the same. I've owned Japanese products before and find them very dependable

 

Where the Kia shines is in the base model.

Less than 20 grand and a lot of standard equip. BTW, that's a LOT less than a base Murano.
I like the back window that opens.

In many ways, Hyundai (Parent company) is a better car company than Nissan.

I like the 10 year warranty.

But definitly not a competitor to the Murano.
Different class.
But I'ld have to think about it if I was in the market for a Suzuki Grand Vitara (HATE that name) or a Rav 4...........


Homer

 

Kia

My Neighbor just bought a Sorento and I really like the looks of it. I was stuck in a Mitsu lease and ended up buying a Mitsu Outlander but wish I had bought the Sorento for the basic around town stuff. It was an easy out of the lease to buy another Mitsu product. Now I wish I hadn't because Mitsubishi is close to going under since DC won't give them anymore $$.

 

Amazingly, the final back to back test drive was between the Murano and the Mitsu Evo, the G35 6-MT having already fallen out of the running .

 

I was astounded that they had the nerve to charge that much for a KIA...

When we bought our MO yesterday they told us that its tough to even finance a Kia, banks I guess are leary of the them.

I think my sis-in-law got theirs with leather and a few other options for like 25.5K out the door or something. We got our MO for 23.3K with only 27K mile and 100K warranty.

 

Amazingly, the final back to back test drive was between the Murano and the Mitsu Evo, the G35 6-MT having already fallen out of the running .

I take it you really needed the space then?

 

Wow, comparing a Murano (cool wagon) against the Evo (a real sports car) is quite a stretch!

Enjoy your Murano! Although I don't think anyone here would have objected if you went with the Evo!

 

Weeellll

 

Hehehehe...well, the major needs were; a vehicle big enough to hold my 6 and 7 year old kids in the back, at least reasonably fun drive, not american made, and sub 30K. The WRX and STI got thrown out early, not big enough back seat, same for all BMWs (including price concerns). Evo would be more fun to drive, Murano would allow us to go do more fun things, and the G35 got tossed before the final round because it was in the middle ground and wouldn't do either well enough.

In the final test drive, while the Evo is one of the two most fun cars I've ever driven (the other being the E46 M3), it demands massive amount of attention with it's hyperactive steering, no cruise control, etc...not a remotely relaxing car to drive on long trips. That's not good enough for what would be my only car for such multi-hour drives. If I was able to combine the STI's road manners, cruise control & automatic AC system with the Evo's huge back seat and trunk then I would have gone that direction, but no such beastie exists so I got the Murano.

As it turns out, considering all the fun I've had exploring the back destert trails of California, I have no regrets at all, the Evo & STI while AWD would not have the ground clearance for the crazy stuff I've been up to .

 

There was snow everywhere and since we are a 1 car family (my other "car" was my 03' Harley Heritage Springer) I had to leave the wife at home without a car...again. Later that day she "convinced" me to sell the bike to get my dream car...a 350z. So that same evening I made arrangements to get off work early, did some more research on the dealerships in my area and picked up the person who gives me permission to wear the pants in our family to pick out my 350z. While on the way I had to call my salesman to let him know that because of the snow I would be about 2 more hours than I originally thought I would be.

After picking up the wife and snow surfing for a couple hours on our way to the dealership we finally made it. I had already done some test drives on the 350z but as we wandered around the lot I found my eye kept going to the Murano. Finally I couldn't resist any more and had the salesman give me a test drive in the Murano. After helping my wife pick her jaw up off the floor we piled into the Murano and I loved it! It had all the practicality that the 350z didn't with plenty of style and fun factor! That thing handled in the snow like no body's business and it wasn't even a AWD! I'm hooked! After getting it home I had wished I had gotten the NAV system but that is getting taken care of tomorrow with the installation of a Pioneer AVIC-N1 which I like immensley better than the NISSAN NAV system.

I've owned the Ford Escape and Explorer which I had originally thought if I was going to get an "SUV" would be one of them but this blow's 'em clean out of the atmosphere!

 

gmikesell

Good story. I don't know if I would have picked the MO over the 350Z if I had borrowed the pants the day we bought the Mo. Would have been a really tough choice.

 

Murano vs 4Runner

I looked at 2004 4Runner Sport with XREAS suspension. I liked it for how they've re-done the body and the interior, but when my fiancee came with me to the dealership she gave me an ultimatum (something along the likes of I will not be seen in a "box on wheels"). Both of us likes FX35, but it was out of our budget, so the next logical choice was Murano.

 

Yeah, picking between the 350z and the Murano was a hard choice. I actually had the salesperson drive 'em both up front so I could see them side by side. However, in the end, the practicality won out...this time! ;0)

At any rate, I spent all day sooooo stoked about the pioneer nav going in! I hadn't slept in two days and I still couldn't sleep, I was so excited. Then that call comes in from the Ultimate Electronics installer explaining what I had already explained to him when I told him the deal about the environmental controls being built on the same board as the stereo. He told me he couldn't do it without running bypass wires all through out or going through an RF transmitter. Next thing I know they are talking to me about building a fiberglass enclosure that would go in the center of the dash. Of course, it would be non-removable and if we went that route I would have to either like it or live with it. My dissappointment was very evident apparently when they said ok to giving me a $60 discount on the Passport X50 radar detector since they had assured me that they could do the work and that they had already done 3 or 4 Muranos. I explained the concept of "being caught in a lie" so I guess that convinced them to graciously conceded to the discount on the radar detectors, a very small compensation in my mind for what I would be missing out on. That's why I then decided to buy two radar detectors...one for me and one for the wife. <heh heh heh>

Geeze, that Nissan Nav system is looking REALLY good about now! So, anyway, I guess it's back to the Nissan dealership to try to get an explanation for why they said I could have an aftermarket unit installed because, while technically it is "kind of" possible the expense is extreme! I was looking at nearly $700 to $1000 in install charges!!!!!! All this for a unit priced at about $2000! I don't know if this is me just being trivial but I'm seriously considering getting my attorney involved to see if they will let me trade out of this Murano for one that has the Nav system.:cursin:

Ok, thanks for letting me vent everybody. As you were.