New Nissan Pulsar for Europe

Frankie Lee

Frankie Lee wrote: »

The interior looks poor enough but I don't mind the exterior. It is bland and slightly dated but not as bland as say a Golf. The Golf has a better interior though.

If it's anything like the current quashqai then I'd be quiet happy with the interior.

The golf in bog spec is nothing special and anything more will cost nearly 30 k so I would expect the golf to be better in fairness if only marginally. The golf is a small car for the money, it's a bit crazy actually.

Alanstrainor

I don't know...all very mundane and exactly what I'd expect from a car in this segment. The lack of spec in the base model is surprising however.

Gael23

Yes it's well worth the upgrade to mid spec. I think this will sell, I don't think it will cause any great upset to other makes but for Nissan it's going to shoe things up a bit.

MuppetCheck

Top spec is worth it for 24k ish. decent headlights, blind spot monitoring and heated "leather" are well worth the extra in my book. I'd prefer them in a Gokf/Leon/Focus/308/anything else bar an Auris in that class mind.

The Petrols are actually impressive, 200 a year to tax, 20 extra than the rattle box diesels. Why on earth would you want a diesel these days for maybe an extra 8 mpg and 10 if you're lucky ? I don;t believe the diesels will get 3.4 L/100 kms which is 84 imperial mpg. I would say 65 mpg average, per tank and maybe 48-52 for the petrols ?

I'd have the petrols without doubt if doing 10-12K miles a year.

Even the CVT petrols are 200 a year to tax.





Interior is not bad at all.

Zubeneschamali

It's interesting that Nissan are making a car in this segment again, after killing the Almera and Primera in favour of the Note/Juke/Qashqai.

Just when others like Toyota/Honda are rumoured to be killing off Euro models like the Avensis and Accord.

CianRyan

I'll be more excited when Nissan sell the Fuga and Elgrand in Europe.

irishmover

Jeez didn't even known the new pulsar hasn't come out back home yet. It's been in Australia a while now.

I like it. The basic model is fairly crap looking though.

The Sedan is in the V8 Supercars. Think I might prefer the sedan to be honest.

Old diesel

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

It's interesting that Nissan are making a car in this segment again, after killing the Almera and Primera in favour of the Note/Juke/Qashqai.

Just when others like Toyota/Honda are rumoured to be killing off Euro models like the Avensis and Accord.

The Pulsar is in a different market segment to the Avensis and Accord though - and imo the Avensis/Mondeo/Accord/Passat sector has been hit by the move to "compact executive" cars from prestige brands - for example BMW 3 series and Audi A4.

The "its good enough - and thus its fine" approach of the Mk 3 Avensis and other such cars - is coming home to roost for manufacturers like Toyota.

The European market demands more then that from its cars in terms of driving (handling, ride quality, performance), styling and a nice interior.

This will probably mean the Pulsar may struggle in a European context if the early reviews are an accurate about how it drives etc - ie its okay - but no more then that.

CianRyan

Badge means more than anything else to 90% of drivers, let's be honest.
This will do fine but II don't see it being a huge hit.

I don't believe more than 95% of drivers care about handling to be honest, most people, including myself prefer a comfortable car on bad quality Irish roads. There's no point having a hard suspension if it rattles your fillings on bad roads, it becomes old and tiring quickly !

Even a prius MK II handles well enough to allow decent progress on back roads, I think if you want better handling then you will be driving in a dangerous manner on most roads in Ireland.

Most people prefer, value for money, and the new reg than power, handling or looks. If people preferred looks they wouldn't buy a boring Golf in bog basic trim with a bog 1.6 TDI !

And yes the badge is a big part of it also.

Old diesel

CianRyan wrote: »

Badge means more than anything else to 90% of drivers, let's be honest.
This will do fine but II don't see it being a huge hit.

A fair point - but the point is with the Avensis - Toyota haven't even tried to compete or make a car that's a game changer in its segment.

VW managed to completely change the Passats fortunes back in 97 with the B5 because the B5 bought a level of appeal to potential owners in various areas that had never been seen in a Passat previously.

BMJD

It looks alright to me, I can't help thinking that it's main rivals will be the Nissans Note and Juke though, rather than making inroads into Focus/i30/Ce'ed etc.

Old diesel

Old diesel wrote: »

VW managed to completely change the Passats fortunes back in 97 with the B5 because the B5 bought a level of appeal to potential owners in various areas that had never been seen in a Passat previously.

VW quality also took a huge nose dive in the 00's.

irishmover

It's so cheap for one here in Australia. Brand new 2013 ST-L sedan for $18k AUD drive away.

Almost tempted.

Gael23

BMJD wrote: »

It looks alright to me, I can't help thinking that it's main rivals will be the Nissans Note and Juke though, rather than making inroads into Focus/i30/Ce'ed etc.

Its going to seriously damage the Juke, potentially leading to its demise in time.
I think this Car will be a seller. It will be bought by people that can't afford a Qashqai but the Note/Juke is too small for them. Nissan have been losing buyers in this market for a while now.
I actually know a guy that has had Nissan for many years and has recently bought an i30 for the above reason

vectra

Wonder what the nismo pricing will be like ?

irishmover

irishmover wrote: »

It's so cheap for one here in Australia. Brand new 2013 ST-L sedan for $18k AUD drive away.

Almost tempted.

Is there a vat equivalent there ?

here there is 23.5% added on and then they add the VRT on after all the other taxes are applied thieving gits.

I bet you don;t know yourself there ?

There is so much tax on cars here It must really hurt car sales.

I believe if you reduce tax more people will buy, but the Government don't realise this or care, they just think the highest tax they can lamp on the more money they'll make.

Zubeneschamali

Deleted User wrote: »

Most people prefer, value for money, and the new reg than power, handling or looks.

See how the Koreans have taken their whole range upmarket in image and price, and are now selling shedloads of cars compared to when they were cheap tat.

People may not want power or handling, but they won't buy crap anymore.

Unless it is priced like a Dacia.

Zubeneschamali

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

See how the Koreans have taken their whole range upmarket in image and price, and are now selling shedloads of cars compared to when they were cheap tat.

People may not want power or handling, but they won't buy crap anymore.

Unless it is priced like a Dacia.

No I did not say people want to buy crap, this isn't what I meant when I said value for money.

Kia have improved greatly and I do like the look of the sportage, but I prefer the Quashqai and the interior of the quashqai over the sportage. And probably more than most Kia's, I would prefer the Leaf interior over the Kia Soul interior, but the Soul Ev is a better E.V.

I wouldn't drive a Dacia if I was given one, they are horrible inside and out. I would rather buy 2nd hand for the same money a far better car. But I can see how they would appeal to drivers who want cheap and new and the most basic of basic, usually it's people 50+ I see driving Dacias because they're cheap, no gadgets or climate control they can't ever figure out how to use and it's a new car in the drive.

Zubeneschamali

It needs to be better than the i30, or else cheap like a Dacia. I don't think it will be either.

Zubeneschamali

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

It needs to be better than the i30, or else cheap like a Dacia. I don't think it will be either.

I think the Pulsar interior is nicer than the I30 tbh.

vectra

This will definitely be an option for me next year.

CianRyan

Man, that looks mental!

BMJD

I'm guessing it will have proper power, judging by those brakes anyway :cool:

MuppetCheck

If the base car was good looking to begin with they'd have had a home run.

vectra

BMJD wrote: »

I'm guessing it will have proper power, judging by those brakes anyway :cool:

Talks of a nismo pulsar 1.8T - 260 bhp
and a Pulsar R with 280bhp.

MuppetCheck wrote: »

If the base car was good looking to begin with they'd have had a home run.

I actually sat in the bade model today and it was not half bad at all.
Was hugely surprised with the leg room in the back once I settled the drivers seat to my liking.
Definitely more room than the back in my Octavia.

Nothing wrong with the Base car TBH,

Certainly better looking than a Golf.

vectra

Deleted User wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the Base car TBH,

Certainly better looking than a Golf.

Looked at one side by side with a Focus today and have to say the Focuse looked wider from door to door.
No shortage of space inside though.

Old diesel

MuppetCheck wrote: »

If the base car was good looking to begin with they'd have had a home run.

What id be more wondering is will the actual car be able to compete (as the sporty model) with the likes of Golf Gti as a drivers car.

Btw - for anyone whose not seen one in the flesh yet - I personally think it looks nicer in the flesh.

Old diesel

Old diesel wrote: »

What id be more wondering is will the actual car be able to compete (as the sporty model) with the likes of Golf Gti as a drivers car.

Btw - for anyone whose not seen one in the flesh yet - I personally think it looks nicer in the flesh.

well for starters it would need about twice the power. 115 hp just isn't enough.

The 1.2 petrol looks very impressive as a bog engine though.

Old diesel

Deleted User wrote: »

well for starters it would need about twice the power. 115 hp just isn't enough.

The 1.2 petrol looks very impressive as a bog engine though.

Was referring to the Nismo concept above - someone mentioned something about a 1.8 260 bhp turbo on that

Apologies

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

vectra

Old diesel wrote: »

Was referring to the Nismo concept above - someone mentioned something about a 1.8 260 bhp turbo on that

Apologies

As far as know there is talks of around 260 and 280 in the nismo versions.

Lord Trollington

BMJD wrote: »

It looks alright to me, I can't help thinking that it's main rivals will be the Nissans Note and Juke though, rather than making inroads into Focus/i30/Ce'ed etc.

That makes absolutely no sense as its not even in the same class as the Note let alone price range.

Gael23

Sat in one today and was reasonably impressed, it's a revolution compared to the Tiida but then that's not hard.
But if I was given the choice of an Auris for similar money it would be a tough one.

pm.

Looks like a nice car but imo Nissan have really lost a hell of a lot of market share its like they have failed to keep up with the times ( tida ) and using Renault engines :mad: I think they are a long way from Toyota in terms of style and reliability

I used to love the old Nissans and some of the old stock like the patrol and the old sunny where great for there time..

Gael23

Well they just got it wrong with the Tiida and took too long to come up with the Pulsar. I know a guy would have bought one at the beginning of the year but instead went and bought an i30 after owning Nissan for years.

colm_mcm

I've seen one in the flesh this week and can't believe how accepting people are of it.

Old diesel

colm_mcm wrote: »

I've seen one in the flesh this week and can't believe how accepting people are of it.

I hear you.

To look at them in pictures they aren't anything special.

I did GENUINELY think they worked better in the flesh and aren't a bad looking thing.

But I can certainly see why the styling doesn't work for many others.

I think the driving position is excellent though.

As for Tiidas - i regularly have the option these days of driving an 08 one of those with something like 70 or 80 k kilometres - 1.5 dci - or a 99 Corolla 2.0 diesel with 180,000 miles.

Id always pick the Corolla out of the 2 tbh - much nicer car imo

Gael23

The Tiida was an embarassing failure for Nissan. The one I was in was a higher spec model but I imagine the majority sold here will be entry level so no alloys or anything.