1998 Nissan Avenir GT4 2.0 SR20DET from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

SR20DET enough said

Faults:

Nothing, it's a Nissan.

General Comments:

SR20DET in a wagon form, amazing car, turns heads left right and centre. In NZ this car and model GT4 are very rare, and since the government don't allow 98 vehicles in anymore, the amount for sale is under 15 nationwide.

I got mine through a Japanese auction, I sold my awful RSK B4 twin turbo manual. On paper the RSK is faster, but then again, like all subi turbos it's a gas guzzling machine even off boost!

The Nissan is set back by a 4 speed auto trans (only offered with a 4A), but like most Nissan transmissions, this is very strong, holding gears, ability to reach peak power, doesn't hunt for gears at all.

Auto trans has a 3 mode system for power driving, snow and normal, car hums at 2300rpm on the motor way, imagine if it had a 5 speed manual?

Specs this has a lot, just like the popular Primera wagon, it has all its features, and more.

Pearl white is hard to find, petrol consumption is brilliant, below 3500rpm, the car operates like a Primera, with brisk acceleration; it hardly needs to be revved past 3000rpm, you can really drive this car with your toes and fingers, it's so easy.

When you hit the motorways, it just comes alive. Like the RSK, it's a car that will get you into big trouble, but unlike the RSK, which is poorly made, where you easily tell if you'r going 180 (JDM) due to excessive wind noise, on this you simply can't.

This doesn't like decelerating from 140, it demands more, and you can't help it.

I'd just like to thank the last owner for total care of what is a sleeper and rare car from Nissan. It's an ideal car for Silvia fans with a family, but driving the car, you know it has at least 50 percent more to offer if it was manual.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th November, 2008

19th Jan 2010, 13:27

We have owned a 1999 Nissan Avenir GT4z for a few months now, and we are loving it! I agree with you, a manual conversion would be amazing. She's a heavy wagon, and the turbo lag in first gear if you're in a hurry is a bit frustrating. Once up to around 2500rpm she's away laughing. I think there's huge potential for this ride, so I'm doing some research as to what people are using for mods. As you said, SR20DET...

2002 Nissan Avenir from North America

Summary:

Don't buy a Nissan

Faults:

After I reached about 80,000 miles, I had to change the catalytic converter. I took my car the Nissan dealership for repairs. They told me that it would cost at least $900 to repair. Nissan also stated that my car would more than likely use up a lot of oil and possibly blow a head gasket. I continued to check the oil and filled it up when needed.

Only about 3 weeks later, my engine light came back on. I took it back to Nissan and not only did they charge me $95 to check the car, I was told that I needed a new head gasket. This time I took it to my private mechanic and he changed the the head gasket.

I'm still having problems with this car, and from what Nissan is telling me, I will always have a problem from this point on.

Count me in if you want to file a lawsuit. My email is jaz_vincent@yahoo.com.

General Comments:

This car is a piece of junk and Nissan knows it, and they're refusing to take responsibility for it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th November, 2008

8th Apr 2011, 23:57

I see a lot of reviews with Americans complaining about Japanese cars. Most of them are in fact more American than Japanese, as most of them are actually assembled in America. Thankfully I live in New Zealand, and benefit from direct imports from Japan. As a result, the cars are a lot more reliable than a lot of reviews coming out of the Americas would describe. Gotta love Japanese engineering ;)

In reply to 8th Apr 2011, 23:57

9th Dec 2011, 22:47

I wholeheartedly agree with the previous comment. We are doing really well here with the range of good quality Japanese assembled vehicles available to us in New Zealand. Pity that customers elsewhere seem to be so badly let down by second rate workmanship and pitiful dealer support.

The only problem we saw in N.Z. was the initial wave of second hand Japanese imports - 22 years ago - in which 10% had the mileage deliberately wound back, and the other 90% "accidentally" altered. There was even a case (early 1990's) of a disgruntled Kiwi managing to locate the previous (Japanese) owner of the lemon Mitsubishi that had failed in a spectacular manner. The Japanese owner was very surprised and embarrassed to learn that the car had been imported to N.Z., as he had sold it to a scrap metal dealer, to be crushed - or so he thought!

Such accounts are seldom heard of here in N.Z. nowadays.

What is harder to forget about is the string of truly horrible British models that we had the misfortune to have here during the 1970's and 1980's. Good bloody riddance to them!

British Leyland in particular, seemed to specialise in producing crap.

Long may the "land of the long white cloud" continue enjoying the excellent vehicles from the land of the rising sun.