[Closed] Is this X -trail hideous?

Split rim wheels make it look like a boy racer mobile

Does it say 'T-Spec Cobra' on the back ? 😆

Does it say 'T-Spec Cobra' on the back ?

T-spec is the highest spec for this model, and as far as I can gather from goggle, "Cobra" is the bodywork style.

needs eye bleach but I ahte all 4x4 [ execept landys if you actually need one]

Could you really live with the dash the way it is? Really? I mean, my grey-haired mother likes her X-Trail, but I can't stand looking slightly to the left to see the dials.

If I look at that, I keep thinking of my mum's car and, if I saw you, I'd just assume that you owned a couple of retrievers, liked crochet and thought that tweed was a jolly good, hardwearing fabric for daily wear.

Even with the pimp-tastic rims and low profile tyres.

good car, bad example of one, poorly bastardised effort in attempt to mate it look like a Khan type of conversion. I'd say it's a grey import too?

The fake splits look hideous.

If I look at that, I keep thinking of my mum's car and, if I saw you, I'd just assume that you owned a couple of retrievers, liked crochet and thought that tweed was a jolly good, hardwearing fabric for daily wear.

It's not for driving around Surrey.

No need for a nobbly tyred landy, but whatever I buy will be full of camping/climbing/biking stuff every weekend in the Highlands.

X-trail seems like a decent compromise (I don't like estates).

That looks [b]DOPE!!![/b]

[img] [/img]

We're blastin' off baby!![b] BOOOOOOOM!!!![/b]

OK, so my fears are comfirmed.....gangsta mobile 🙁

Next!

x-trails aren't bad. That x-trail though? Mine eyes!

peterfile - Member
No need for a nobbly tyred landy, but whatever I buy will be full of camping/climbing/biking stuff every weekend in the Highlands.

Avoid the original diesel engines. Can't vouch for the new one. We went for a CRV instead.

Any car will cope with that - no need to make a 4x4 "statement"

Don't necessarily want something with 4x4, just something with loads of space for kit and isn't an estate (or an Audi/Mondeo/Passat etc) and gives 40+mpg.

Get a van. Trust me - I wish I had done so sooner!

Change the rims and BLAM, you won't be rollin' wit da big dog no more....

Don't necessarily want something with 4x4, just something with loads of space for kit and isn't an estate (or an Audi/Mondeo/Passat etc) and gives 40+mpg.

If Gangsters like towing caravans, then yes it looks Gangster.

It's not hideous but it's not far off (to my taste anyway).

Here's mine:
[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/westwood/soundboard.shtml ]For Binners...[/url]

[b]BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!![/b] I'm pimpin'an heavy hittin' baby!!!!!

Cheers Flashy 😀

<shuffled in> I like it..<shuffle out>

URGH!

Normally they are not bad, but that one looks like its been tarted up by some middle eastern teenager**

** they love the sticky back faux chrome, shiny wheels and general tacky stickers/logos' stuck on everywhere, which is a pretty good precursor to tell you steer the hell clear of it!

Those wheels will cause nothing but problems for you. We had a 3 year old Vitara that the previous owner felt the need to add 19 inch wheels to. Tramlined so badly that we had to shell out £700 for another set of smaller wheels and tyres that were closer to the original size (although still didn't feel completely right)

Sold the 19's but only got £150 for them.

Car companies fit a certain size of wheel for a reason

Edit: In fact on second look, those wheels and tyres look exactly the same. If you've got an extra £700 to blow on wheels that actually work, then knock yourself out, but that looks like Gulzars had a hand in that (search "Gulzar" on Pistonheads set gag reflex to boke)

That is minging. You don't often see pimped up X Trails, and it seems that this is the reason why.

They are brilliant though - you shouldn't need a T Spec or Aventura, the cheaper Columbia is pretty highly specced (the only car I've had with cooled cup holders), and don't pay extra for an early one with sat nav - it'll be a bit out of date by now (my '06 model used to insist I was off-roading when I was on the Newbury bypass). Also don't pay extra for an Aventura with those roof-rail lights - you'll never use them.
The 2.2 diesel has a reputation for turbo problems, but mine only had routine servicing in 75K miles. You soon get used to the central dials on the dash - having the glove box right in front of you can be handy. They also have switchable 4WD, unlike the RAV4 and CR-V.

lose the wheels and most of the stick on chrome tat and it might look half decent.
I did look at getting one of these,but running costs did not seem to good even with the diesel engine plus its a fairly old car design wise.
Personally I prefer the equivalent Honda CRV.

The 2.2 diesel has a reputation for turbo problems, but mine only had routine servicing in 75K miles. You soon get used to the central dials on the dash - having the glove box right in front of you can be handy. They also have switchable 4WD, unlike the RAV4 and CR-V.

FWIW, my one is nearing 200k and no problems since the turbo went dodgy about 130k ago.
The newer ones have the dials 'where they should be' and a 2 litre Renault diesel engine with more oomph.
They still look nicer than that one up there too (Big up the Big Dog Wesssssstwooood!)

Lose those ghastly wheels and the chrome and it's a good, understated vehicle. That one looks like the owner really wanted a Range Rover Sport, on a Mondeo budget. There's a Navaro Mammoth parks near where I work, and I really like how that looks.
If they've still got the original wheels, get them swapped over, and either lose the chrome detailing, or mask it, rub it down with a scouring pad and spray it with a muted colour, like a gunmetal.
I think you've got the basis there for a good truck. 😀

peterfile - Member

Spotted one that ticks a lot of boxes, only thing is, it looks a bit gangster.

It really doesn't.

[img] [/img]
Was it ever actually used as a hearse? 😆

To me it says "I really wanted a Range Rover but couldn't afford one".

You'd look a total **** driving that, let's be honest...

Don't forget your asking overweight, 30 something IT consultants.

It looks lovely.

Then again I'm pimping my T4 and seriously considering a carbon wrapped bonnet 😉

How are you expecting to get 40+mpg from an x-trail?

Ghetto fabulous!

If you don't deal dr*gs to 15 year olds now you will do within the year.

Private plate needs to be changed though. D3 ALS

Joking aside, I don't think it looks to pimped, the wheels look good but if you are bald, 50 and carrying some timber I would look else where.

I manage about 38 average in ours. Mostly driving about town, with the occasional motorway run. Probably get about 45 on the motorway at 65-70.

Ours is an '02 2.2DI , older nissan engine but I upgraded the intercooler when it burst last year to the newer, bigger one. Currently on 147k

And yes, that one is awful!

it looks safe blood, innit!

Brrraaaatttt Brrratttttt

Had one. Didn't look like that 😉 Bought three years old with 21k on it. One week in, intercooler exploded. Nissan grudgingly paid most of the cost of the fix, four more years, 55k added not much went wrong. It was getting a bit saggy and due an expensive service, but otherwise brill for mountain bikes, growing family, dog, etc, etc. Even used the 4x4 a bit in the snow and various muddy fields masquerading as event campgrounds.

Had a voracious appetite for brakes and tyres (flipping expensive tyre size), sounded a bit truck-y when it was cold but otherwise decent car. Only lost 3.5k when i traded it. Looked at new ones- a. Ugly(er) b. HOW MUCH!

So much as I loved mine, the one posted by the OP would have me walking instead 😉

If you can cope with the looks then the Renault Koleos is a Nissan X trail underneath and comes in thousands of pounds cheaper!

Seriously?

Koleos, X-Trail? They're all utterly vile looking things and pointless too.

Need space? By an estate car.
Need off road ability? Buy a proper 4x4.

Soft-roaders, or whatever the latest buzzword is, are just stupid.

Need space? By an estate car.
Need off road ability? Buy a proper 4x4.

mil has a 55 plate one, decent enough to drive, does about 40mpg (2.2dci)
but, fuel pump went after 2 months of ownership, would have been pricey to fix but luckily warranty sorted it.
general opinion seems to be, if you get a decent one they are pretty decent, but get a bad one and it may be a money pit.
personally, the OP's one would look ok with standard wheels imo.

What car would you suggest for someone who wants a civilised, yet roomy, ride and the ability to do some light offroad work, rocky farm tracks and the like?

V70XC, Scooby Legacy Outback, Audi Allroad, etc.

I've used my (non XC) V70 AWD for "light offroad work, rocky farm tracks and the like", such as Salisbury Plain, or getting down the silly bashed up track to my friend's farm in Pembrokeshire, and it's fine. You just don't need a soft roader for anything.

V70XC, Scooby Legacy Outback, Audi Allroad, etc.

No, they are not, but they're not jacked up on stilts to make you feel like you've bought a proper off road vehicle.

Big boots, normal handling on road, and a little more oomph in the dirt if you need it.

Soft roaders offer nothing beyond that, apart from some sort of smugness about being higher up than other people.

(FWIW, I'm pondering buying a Disco at the moment. 😉 )

But you said...

Need space? By an estate car.
Need off road ability? Buy a proper 4x4.

OK OK, I get the drift, the GhettoWagon is a no-no.

I'm still stuck though. Went to see some cars at the weekend, liked the 3 series but it would struggle to hold 60m of rope and a rear mech.

5 series was nice and had lots of room, but it's a pretty big box of metal.

Still really liking the Mercedes CLK coupe, and the rear seats fold down flat to make it useable for biking.

I can't own a Subaru (I wouldn't be allowed in the office car park, although i doubt i'd be allowed in with an x-trail either), a Landy is overkill, a Mondeo will result in depression and I will lose the most beautiful girl in the world (and my dignity) if I buy an estate.

So, realistic options are:

3 series with a hidden towbar for a bike rack
5 series and some spacial awareness
CLK and a pair of boat shoes

The Nissan X trail, and Koleos are one of the better off roaders with central diff locks etc, they aren't all show and no go.

3 series with a hidden towbar for a bike rack
5 series and some spacial awareness
CLK and a pair of boat shoes

I will lose the most beautiful girl in the world (and my dignity) if I buy an estate

Estate cars tell the world you don't give a **** what people think of you and that you have big virile balls.

It's a pointless car!!

Noisy crap on fuel and a bit cheap deeling (10'000kms in one)
Load space is poor for the size.

Just get a CRV. It's a better looking, more reliable X-Trail. Ours takes four bikes on the roof and has a 700L boot when needed. Returns about 38mpg in diesel trim. 96K and nothing has gone wrong aside from blown bulbs.

And it is good in the snow - a proper off-roader - even on road tyres.

Returns about 38mpg in diesel trim

f' me transit did 32!!

Minging. Trying to imitate a Cayenne (from the side anyway).

[img] [/img]

This is what you need.

Definitely change the wheels and tyres.

We see a lot of Porsche/BMW/etc. "bling" 4x4s with low-profile tyres like that around here in the winter. Usually in ditches, occasionally upside-down...

Does he have the original wheels? That's all that needs sorting.

Trouble is I doubt there's very much aftermarket value for them, unless someone else wants to make a horrible Xtrail.

I don't think any of these are particularly good offroaders.
You probably would be better looking at the Volvo/Audi/BMW poshroaders.
A better definition of what you need might help.

I don't need an off-roader at all, I'm trying to find something that will fit the following:

1. quick motorway commute to work each day
2. weekly trip from Glasgow to Highlands, sometimes as far north as Skye (including through winter)
3. must be comfortable (it's 5 hours to skye after work on a friday, I'd like to get there not dreading sleeping on the ground in a tent in winter)
4. must have enough space for camping and climbing equipment and a bike (although not necessarily at the same time)
5. I want to enjoy going for a drive in it. Practicality will only get me so far, I'm going to be spending a fair amount of time in it, so I need to want to be in it.
6. ideally 40mpg for longer journeys, but willing to settle for slightly less if I get a good deal on the car
7. looking to spend no more than around £7k

I intend to buy spare rims and cold weather tyres for whatever I end up getting.

What I don't want:

1. an estate or a van. I can't bring myself to like them, simple as that. The same way that i'll never buy certain bikes, I'm not spending money on something I don't want.

2. anything dull. I've been in Passats, Mondeos etc. Again, it's my money, if I wanted to be 100% practical I'd do all my shopping at Lidl, Ikea, Primark, and ride a Saracen. There's nothing wrong with buying something I like rather than settling for something I don't on the basis that it's "all I need".

3. An audi. I just can't do it 🙂

Mrs peterfile works for BMW, so I can get servicing and parts for super-cheap, which made the 5 series appealing (or the 3 with a removable tow bar).

I LOVED how comfortable the CLK was, I could really imagine being able to drive for 5 hours up north in the CLK and still feel relaxed at the end of it. The folding seats in the rear and relatively big boot is actually very spacious, almost as good as a small hatchback.

Also, considering how often I change bikes, I can see the same thing happening with cars. This is my first car - trial and error. i'm not looking for something that will do me for the next 10 years.

An X Trail is an estate just higher up...

VW T5 Transporter 4x4 room for everything and no need to sleep in a tent anymore.

almost as good as a small hatchback.

VW T5 Transporter 4x4 room for everything and no need to sleep in a tent anymore

I did consider it, but driving those to the top of a mountain is considerably harder than carrying a tent up 😉

Once my insurance premia reduce, I'd ideally want something like that for the weekend and also a golf/polo etc for commuting and general zipping around in. However, at the moment, the insurance on two cars is just too high.

That good?

Mrs P has a Fiesta and we can cram everything we need in that, so that's my reference car for storage. It's tight, but it all goes in.

I measured the CLK with the 2/3 seats completely flat and it was roughly the same. It's quite a long coupe.

It sounds to me like you've made up your mind on the BMW or Merc which given the acceptance of trial and error doesn't really matter, does it?

Agreed, but given I don't know anything about cars, I'm trying to avoid making a really elementary error. I'd hate to get any of the cars home and find out that I've missed something very obvious.

For example, as a new driver, will I really struggle with the size of the 5? I live in the west end of glasgow, not ideal for a big car.

If I can overcome my fear of estates, would this be a good choice?

[url= http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201226476648895/sort/default/usedcars/price-from/6000/price-to/7000/model/3_series/make/bmw/postcode/g24ru/page/1/quicksearch/true/radius/60?logcode=p ]BMW 3 Series 330I Sport[/url]

Probably not as you're looking for comfort. I would imagine that the [i]sport[/i] badge will provide you with a stiffer ride. I don't think all BMW tourings are of the sport flavour.
[url= http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201210455517045/sort/default/usedcars/price-from/7000/price-to/8000/body-type/estate/model/3_series/make/bmw/radius/1501/postcode/sy113ef/page/1?logcode=p ]http://www.autotrader.co.uk[/url]

For example, as a new driver, will I really struggle with the size of the 5? I live in the west end of glasgow, not ideal for a big car.

You'll learn fast enough, and most modern cars have edges that are hard to judge for new drivers anyways, and a 5 should have front/rear parking sensors anyways. Also, I'd go for a 5 touring, since you don't look at it when you're driving and the extra space is rather useful.