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Have I made a mistake? - Still not convinced. NP300

8K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  mike-b 
#1 ·
Welcome,

It all sounds a bit disappointing, what is going wrong?

Nothing is broken, but I am disappointed with my purchase in a few areas!


Worst of all is the suspension. It feels like it's held together with elastic bands! On only slightly bumpy B-roads, I can feel the rear especially, just bouncing around with minimal control. (This in particular is driving me mad. It is not good for my blood pressure!)


And I can see from the forum posts that headlights are a big issue! Auto, or on! No Off! Then they come on in the shade, but not in torrential rain! And when they do come on, the range is pathetic! It isn't even 50% far enough! My 1973 Morris Marina had more effective headlights!


These two are doing my head in, and its making otherwise minor irritations in to major ones!


The gearbox feels vague, a week in and not a positive change in sight! There is a green light on the mirror that won't stay off (why is it even needed! I know its to do with antidazzle, but it is just not needed.). I can't turn the 'connect' system off. It seems to be on all the time. I don't want the map on all the time, and I don't want the radio on. There is a warning light for emergency braking, whether it is on or off! The bluetooth connection only connects when it feels like it! There are far too many bleeps that follow no pattern! A bleep sounds and triggers the question - 'What was that for?' and by then its too late - what ever the issue was, it has passed.


It's a great looking pickup, and when you go out for a test drive with a very pleasant sales lady, everything is nice, but nothing is in focus as you chat away about nothing in particular. It's only when you get to drive it properly that these things appear! As I say, great looking pickup, but other than that I am distinctly underwhelmed so far!


So - I need much better lights, and a polybush kit!


(From reading forum posts, I think I fit in the 'suit in a ute' category! :wink2: My pickups have only ever been family cars, carrying nothing heavier than the weekly shopping from Tesco, or suitcases to the airport at holiday time!)
 
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#2 ·
Regarding the suspension, you have to remember it's designed to cope with a ton of load in the back, so it will inevitably bounce around when it's empty.
Agree about the headlights. On my previous vehicle, a Mercedes, I very rarely felt the need to use full beam. On the Navara I want full beam all the time.
 
#3 ·
If you press and hold the day and night mode button I think it will turn the Connect display off, but leave the radio "on" although the "off" button will turn the sound off.

Headlights - you have the "better" LED lights, I thought they would be really good. I have traditional Halogens in my lowly N-Connecta and I have to say I've had no problem with them for brightness/range etc. Perhaps yours need some adjustment? the lack of ability to turn them of is bloody stupid, often I end up with the side lights on just to stop it flicking on and off again. You can turn the sensitivity down in vehicle settings which does help slightly but its a bit like pissing on an oil rig fire.

If its a manual, yes the gearbox is more akin to pulling levers in a signal box. However you get used to it, I've done neck end of 30k in mine and you just learn not to rush the gear change and to push the clutch pedal back into the engine bay. It won't get better, the clutch is also "average" at best, mine spends its life on the motorway yet its already got a hint of clutch judder when pulling away.

The suspension is soft, compared to most pickups. I have found it tends to wobble a bit on very poor roads. I wouldn't describe it as a bouncy pickup though, compared to others I have experience the D23 is by far the best. It's hard to pin point where the issue is but I do know what you mean. Its not the same as the usual unladen truck though. It can feel a bit under damped at times.

The mirror light, yes annoying a very Japanese thing (as is the lack of 1 touch on the other windows and the fact that the window inhibit switch turns of all windows apart from the drivers!!) but just wait till you drive it far at night and then the small sun in the headlining will really bake your noodle.

The beeps, well there's a beep for the seatbelt, if you drive above 10mph which doesn't shut up again until you either appease it or switch the engine off, lack of key or ignition on etc and you open the door. Just part of life these days. Health and safety gone mad.

A constant irritation of mine is that if you pull into a car park, using the hands free/listening to the radio etc and you turn the engine off the entire vehicles goes dead, unlike any other modern vehicle where the radio stays on after the engine has been turned of until you open a door. Of course the bluetooth drops and suddenly your ratching round looking for the phone to carry on the conversation. Another good one for you is if you are mid call, to the office for example and its an extra job you need to squeeze in, you can't enter the new destination whilst the audio is through the vehicle. Interestingly if you have headphones in, and whilst the Nissan Connect knows you are in a call (although it doesn't mute the radio) it will still let you enter a new destination. So this means either trying to remember it, finding head phones, stopping to write it down or asking someone to text you the details so you've got to stop and enter it. I wouldn't mind it if the "send to vehicle" thing was actually useful (so the office could just send a new POI to me, not that I could change it whilst on the phone anyway!) I appreciate its actually the apple phone that is at fault (as it will not to data over bluetooth, like an android) but other manufacturers which offer a similar system either connect the phone via wifi or provide the vehicle with its own data connection so the phone doesn't have to be plugged into it.

The warning lights/symbols for FEB do a number of jobs, the obvious orange "turned off" light is fine, it illuminates when the system goes into fault as well (which happens when it rains, or snows etc). The picture on the central dash screen does work as part of the system function so it can be forgiven. If the system activates (you approach a parked car on a bend etc or some f tard decides to immediately turn left without any warning) The little symbol will flash in orange and then begin to produce a loud beep before actually if it gets really serious the whole central dash screen flashes red and white (I think) and its at that point I think it begins to intervene to stop you crashing. I expect the random beep you here is from the FEB system panicking about nothing.
 
#4 ·
I get the feeling that in creating a global model Nissan have had to incorporate all of the specific country regulations, so have created a machine full of mostly unnecessary warnings.

The other thing is common to all of the big manufacturers, "how many people have died in our cars this month?".
Admirable, but the ultimate result will be cars that warn us of every possible hazard.. "warning you have opened a window, an occupant may fall out"
 
#6 ·
Well I have had mine just over a week now and I think its brilliant.
Came out of an Isuzu Utah (the 3rd one I've had) and its the difference between a tractor and a luxury car.
Must agree the headlight range is rubbish, I have already moaned about it on here but cant see any way to alter them
 
#7 ·
Have I made a very expensive mistake?

I've had mine for 9 months, and I still love it too. Admittedly, it's my first truck, so have nothing to compare it to, but it's one of the most refined vehicles I've had in terms of comfort. Second only to an R-Design Volvo.

Yes, there are niggles, but nothing that would stop me from buying it again.

I have installed a set of drawers in the back, which must weigh close to a tonne, so that would help the "bounciness" of the suspension.

I've not really seen an issue with the lights, but at night, I drive mainly rural bendy roads, where as long as they go as far as the next corner, they're fine, or well lit motorways.


Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse brevity and mistakes.
 
#8 ·
I own the Navara and regularly drive current Rangers. What you're experiencing is the sensation of suspension travel! The Nav's suspension is far and away more compliant than the Ranger's. That means you do get more movement over bumps, which can feel odd if you're used to rigid cart springs. The Nav does have slightly inadequate rebound control, but nobody knows if other utes do because their springs are too stiff to tell! Stiffer springs do give the illusion of better cornering stability but this is more perception than reality when it comes to 2500kg trucks.

The LED lights aren't the best or worst lights I've used on low beam but are decent on high beam. The white colour doesn't seem that special until you go back to halogen...

I've never used CarPlay or whatever the Android equivalent is without a cable, even in other new-ish cars. Accordingly I've never used it and just use Bluetooth audio.

My ute does not beep a lot, and when it does the meaning is obvious. Are you sure yours is working correctly there? Any warning lights or anything?

The transmission does seem to have a low first gear and spends a lot of initial effort converting throttle movement to engine noise. I notice that whenever I hope back in. But magazine performance tests show this is also an illusion, the Navara's performance is competitive with Ranger. Whether through it bedding in or me getting used to it, after 40,000km I now really like the gearbox when at first it was my least favourite feature of the car.

Go out and enjoy your purchase. You've got a few years to fall in love, or not, and plan the replacement.
 
#9 ·
Totally know what you mean spw-335, my 15 yr old lad is desperate to buy a ranger as soon as he can drive he says the nav is a load of sh@t.
I have come from owning many Range Rovers to having a np300 so my pain is even worse.
There are many things I dislike about the nav but the way I look at it after 1yr of nav ownership is this.
For the next 4 years its still under warranty, it probably won't go wrong in that time, so that gives Ford 4 yrs to make the next generation ranger posher and more refined and also gives me 4yrs to save up for one because thats what i'm buying next.
 
#10 ·
hmm going to have to disagree there Range rovers? good? pfff they break for fun comfy though when working, dont get me wrong i have a D40 and have never driven a NP300 but we do have Hi luxes and Rangers in our fleet at work brand new ones and to be honest i prefer the D40 the hilux is just plain horrible to drive underpowered and uncomfortable, the ranger is probably ok in the 3.2 version but the smaller engine one makes hard work of getting around and its very twitchy in the rain.

I dont like the look of the NP300 so the next one will probably be a V6 D40....if we had them here i would buy a Patrol pickup in a heartbeat.
 
#14 ·
The comparison between Range Rovers and Navaras has been discussed before.



An entry level Rangy is now £100,000, top spec is £200,000. A lot more in $AUS.



So it isn't really surprising that when you could buy seven top spec Navaras for a top spec Rangy that the driving experience is quite different.


The difference is only about five times here ($55,000 vs $254,000), but sure, fair point.

It's not just the price point either, it's the passenger wagon vs the commercial ute design too. A Prado or Everest are both nicer to drive and around the same money as a top spec Nav.
 
#15 ·
Have I made a very expensive mistake?

Surely, common sense says, that a truck should only be compared to another truck.

I went from a Volvo C30 R-Design Sport to my NP300 Tekna.

The ride and refinement are massively different, as was the price, but it was to be expected.

A truck is a commercial vehicle. As such, should only be compared to commercial vehicles of a similar size and type.

Mine is my first pickup, so I have nothing to compare it to. Also, I didn't test drive any others (or even this one). However, I did lots of research on spec vs price beforehand and decided the Nav best suited what I wanted. And I've been perfectly happy with my choice too.

However, if I'd been looking for something that handled like a go-kart, with the speed of a McLaren and the refinement of a Rolls Royce, I might have chosen something different.

I'm not saying it's the best of the available pickups, but let's keep the comparisons fair.


Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse brevity and mistakes.
 
#18 ·
I bet he's just watching, with his head in his hand's.


Me? We bought our's in Feb, S/H from last June but relatively no mileage!
Apart from the drive home (about 180m) it's only been for one shopping trip of about 50miles so I can't really comment except head lights are dissapointing coming from a 2007 Ranger (the only vehicle I've ever owned that I miss) & before that a Disco commercial we had from new in '95.

As has already been said, it's a truck! I threw a stable mat in the back to protect the liner (lol) & stop the dog sliding about but the BOSS won't let him in it :crying: ("It's too new", leather seats inside etc).
 
#19 ·
Also, since when did a 15 y.o. lad become the voice of experience, and the font of knowledge on the pleasures of driving different trucks? :)

Maybe he should pick out your next kitchen refit or even your next house! :)
 
#20 ·
Freemensteve. I can tell you that this 15 yr old lad, hang on a sec I'll rephrase that. I can tell you that my 15 yr old lad has driven many things from a six inch nail to a £250,000 spider digger so he has earned the right to express a opinion on many thing automotive or other wise. not all lads of his age sit in front of a tv screen etc playing games or glued to their phone. In fact when he got home from school today he was on a 360 track machine leveling out some stone.
Also funny you should mention houses and kitchens as he has already secured a joinery apprentership when he leaves school next year and often helps me in my joinery workshop, So yep he probably will be fitting kitchens and renovating houses in the future.
Need I say anymore.
I didn't think so.
 
#21 ·
Freemensteve. I can tell you that this 15 yr old lad, hang on a sec I'll rephrase that. I can tell you that my 15 yr old lad has driven many things from a six inch nail to a £250,000 spider digger so he has earned the right to express a opinion on many thing automotive or other wise. not all lads of his age sit in front of a tv screen etc playing games or glued to their phone. In fact when he got home from school today he was on a 360 track machine leveling out some stone.

Also funny you should mention houses and kitchens as he has already secured a joinery apprentership when he leaves school next year and often helps me in my joinery workshop, So yep he probably will be fitting kitchens and renovating houses in the future.

Need I say anymore.

I didn't think so.


Why didn't you ask him what he thought before you bought your Nav?
 
#22 ·
Regarding the earlier point about the jumpy suspension I'd have to say that, in my own experience, is a good thing. if you're on a badly surfaced windy road and the truck is bouncing about that's a far better indication to slow down and mind the road than any amount of flashing lights and beeping noises.

I accept the point about trucks being designed for optimal stability with a heavy bed load. In the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 Denzel Washington's character appropriates a pick up, complete with very heavy looking load, for the climactic car chase. I wondered at the time if this was done deliberately, so the verisimilitude of the scene wouldn't be ruined by people wondering why the truck didn't flip over the first time he pulled an improbable looking swerve.

I might add I'm in no way suggesting that anyone watch the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123. I just happened upon the end of it. It was on when I came into the kitchen and I couldn't help but watch it. Why people feel the need to remake films that were more or less perfect in the first place is beyond me. You'd be especially curious as to the sort of logic that applies in the particular case of a film with Gene Hackman in it.

JD
 
#24 ·
still not convinced

I can see why my other thread got closed. It had run its course and was a bit off topic in the end. I haven't sold it, but I have been considering that as an option. After a further three weeks of ownership, and now at 1000 miles, I think I am a voice of one on the suspension front! I just don't like it at all. Maybe something is loose and I should get the dealer to have a look! But - I no longer notice the mirror light, and I have turned off the media display (I think the designers must have some syndrome or other! They just can't have it switched 'off''! It has a clock on it!) and I have 4 months to figure out how to get decent forward light!
 
#25 ·
I can see why my other thread got closed. It had run its course and was a bit off topic in the end. I haven't sold it, but I have been considering that as an option. After a further three weeks of ownership, and now at 1000 miles, I think I am a voice of one on the suspension front! I just don't like it at all. Maybe something is loose and I should get the dealer to have a look! But - I no longer notice the mirror light, and I have turned off the media display (I think the designers must have some syndrome or other! They just can't have it switched 'off''! It has a clock on it!) and I have 4 months to figure out how to get decent forward light!
Merged with original thread, edited title and reopened for further comment - Please try to keep to on topic
 
#27 ·
Maybe its worth taking a night time shot of your lights in action so it can be compared with other members on here.

Mine sit at the same level as my old Disco xenon's and have got a very similar through as well on main beam. high beam I can't say I've got anything to complain about. Maybe consider some halogen spots?

Suspension wise, speak to pedders. They were close to developing a kit when I contacted them which stiffens it back up.
 
#28 ·
I've got similar niggles with my Tekna NP300. Haven't driven it at night yet, so can't comment on the headlight performance, but I can't stand the auto on/off. Drive under a tree (even in the midday bright sunshine), and the headlights come on. They're on/off all the time. Yet they don't come on by themselves in torrential rain, when there's obviously less daylight then being under a tree in sunshine. Also, the sensitivity adjustment doesn't appear to make the slightest bit of difference to when they come on. I've spoken to the dealer about it, and he said he'd find out about possibly recalibrating the sensors, but not heard back from him.

I think the rear suspension is fine, it handles bumps better than my D Max ever did. But the front suspension on the Navara seems poor in terms of ride quality. Slight undulations in the road seem to cause a bad vibration in the cabin. Yet no other car or truck I've driven reacts the same to them. Maybe I'll get used to the Navara's handling in time - turn in seems quite sharp, but then it all gets a bit wallowy and imprecise. I could really hustle the D Max through the twisties and it felt very predictable, but maybe I was just used to it.

Not too bothered by the green light on the mirror, but I can see the one in the roof being annoying.
 
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