Nissan Navara Problems

You should have it checked to see if the rust has affected the structure of the car, as that would impact its roadworthiness and slash the resale value.

The Navara would seem to fit your requirements, there’s no reason not to go for it. Another one would be the Toyota HiLux.

The service interval for the Navara is 10,000 km or six months, whichever comes first, which is what I expect you must follow. I assume the Service Advice Records relate to the maximum number of mechanic visits you are covered for within a three-month period, which seems more than generous. If you are in doubt about the provisions of the warranty, call the company and clarify your concerns directly with them.

You need to get the air out of the system by pressing the priming valve, which is a big button on top of the fuel filter housing. You’ll have to do it up to 50 times or so, slowly, once every two seconds. If it doesn’t start then, prime it again.

I would rank the Hilux marginally better than the Navara, but there’s little to separate them. Both are similar for safety, rated at 4 stars they have the most essential safety gear in terms of airbags and ABS braking, the Hilux gets the nod on reliability, running costs are dependent on which engine you chose, and I would suggest you don’t buy a V6 petrol Hilux as they are thirsty, but the Toyota has capped-price servicing which makes it attractive.

The chances are it will get worse, and leaving it is likely to make the repair more expensive when you finally have to do it. Find out what is causing it and fix it.

At this stage you should work with the dealer to resolve your concerns. They are already switching tyres to see if the higher speed vibration is due to the tyres, which is a sign they want to work with you. With the other concerns I would urge you to demonstrate them to the dealer, so they are in no doubt as to what it is you don’t like, and press them to find and fix the cause.

 Both have a 3500kg towing rating, so will tow most caravans with ease, but you also need to be aware of the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) and make sure you don’t exceed them when loaded.

It’s at the high end of the range, but it seems fair.