Nissan Problems

I'd question their diagnosis of the engine coating burning off; I think it could be deeper than that.

The vibration could be coming from a variety of sources on the engine and in the transmission.

The dealer is doing the correct thing in getting the car in for a proper investigation that will hopefully reveal the cause of the problems.

At this stage, as the car is new you should co-operate with the dealer while they are trying to resolve the issues, but at the same time maintain a watching brief to make sure there is a genuine attempt to fix your car.

There are few choices in the medium SUV market when it comes to a manual gearbox, and even fewer options when you add in your towing needs of 2000kg. Most medium SUVs have automatic transmissions; the few that offer a manual mostly don't meet your need to tow 2000kg. The only one that meets both your requirements is the Nissan X-Trail, which has a 6-speed manual option and is rated to tow 2000kg. It has a space saver spare.

Space-savers are intended for emergency use to get you to a place to repair or replace the punctured tyre. They're not intended to be driven on for long distances, or at high speeds. Nissan has undoubtedly tested them and they are rated for the X-Trail, so I don't have any problem with them, although I would prefer a full-sized spare.

You first need to decide the level of off-roading you will be doing because that will determine if you need a four-wheel drive or you only need an all-wheel drive SUV. From what you have told us I suspect that an SUV, such as a Kia Sorento, Toyota Kluger, or a Nissan X-Trail would be the best all-round vehicle for you. All of those would fit your budget, they will all go off-road to a reasonable degree, and they're all reliable. The Mitsubishi Triton is a hard-riding ute, which I don't think is what you want, but the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a good vehicle and would also fit your needs.

You are right to be suspicious when on average a car of that age would have done well over 200,000 km. Check the car's service book to see when and at what odometer readings the car has been serviced since it was new. That should give you an idea if the odometer is correct. With so little use it should be pristine inside with little wear on the seats and the carpets.

You won't get anywhere with Nissan, the car is too old, and the dealer is the one that did the work anyway. So it's the dealer you have to negotiate with. You don't say how much money is involved, but I would suggest you consider going to VCAT.

The Trax is good value for money and stacks up well against all comers in the class. The 1.4 turbo is the best engine, and it has a conventional auto instead of a CVT that most of its rivals have. Others to look at are the Suzuki S-Cross, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru XV.