1989 Nissan Pulsar Ti review from Australia and New Zealand
"A very reliable car, with comfort and respectable power."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front CV joints both left and right.
Thermostat and petrol sensors failed.
Dash gauges fail to work sometimes.
Warning indicators on dashboard i.e. petrol, brake fluid, battery no longer work.
Has had many problems with the 'ECM' Engine Control Module due to unknown reasons.
The exterior seals around the cars windows have shrunk and come a drift from their position.
Paint around the car has begun to oxidize.
The oil pump has been replaced.
It occasionally leaked oil, this was fixed with the replacement of the head gasket seal.
Sadly the central locking is a bit temperamental and the drivers window has come off it's track.
It's shock absorbers need replacement.
All of the above problems are due to wear over time. Now that it is more well looked after there have been no further problems.
General comments?
The car in the hands of its second owner and in mine, has always done it's job to an exceptional standard.
One must note that this car's previous owner had been in over ten accidents. I am now the third owner of this car.
The performance and reliability of the 1.8L should be commended, especially considering it's age and the fact that it has been thrashed over many years.
It easily pulls of the line, though when traveling up hill or when it is due for a service it's performance is compromised.
Air-conditioning is no friend to the engine, it literally drains the cars performance. It cools the cabin well though!
Its interior has faced the test of time quite well, though the plastic on the dash has a crack and the air-conditioning vents have broken slats. The seats, door trims and carpet are still holding together nicely.
It is a very comfortable car that features Air-Conditioning, Power Steering, Windows and Mirrors, Central Locking, an Alarm System and 4 Wheel Disc Brakes.
Due to the car having a three speed automatic it lacks in the performance and economy of the manual model.
My car is a poor example of the 88-91 Nissan Pulsar Vector range, due too many unprecedented factors.
In conclusion it is still a great car, forgetting its past problems due to poor maintenance, this car will take you where you want to go without any trouble.
Recommended reviews
| Great car! Reliable, cheap, good looking, spacious and surprisingly good to drive! |
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| AWESOME beast that won't die in a hurry! :) |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 140000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 185000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 6th March, 2004 |