Nissan X-TRAIL 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.

The fan only comes on when the temperature reaches a certain point under normal running, but always runs when the AC is turned on. It could be the thermostat sticking, but I would be getting a mechanic to pressure test the system first.

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.

From your description the leak sounds quite a severe one, but that means it should be reasonably easy to find. A couple of things you could try would be to drive it through a car wash and watch for water coming in, or you could have a friend hose the car while you sit inside. If you can't see water entering, check the various problem areas after the car has been hosed down to see if the leak has occurred while it has been hosed. It could be a case of trial and error until you can locate the source of the leak. If you think it could be the sunroof start there. You could also check the various seals for damage.

So long as you are still driving the car regularly, and it looks as if you're covering more than 5000km a year, the tyres should be fine down to the tread-wear indicators. They are not sticky high-performance tyres or special soft-compound winter tyres that need special treatment.

You have clearly done your homework, from which you should be able to decide which is best for you. Without knowing what your needs and wants are all we can advice is that the three cars you have honed in on are good choices.

You will get great value and a classy car in the Suzuki Grand Vitara. The CR-V also goes well and is slightly better value than a RAV4.

The transmission you've got is a CVT type auto, and I would suggest it's got a problem, possibly the computer that controls it. Take it back and demand they properly assess it.

There are lots of SUVs to choose from, it's a very crowded market, which works in the favour of the buyer. The Territory of the vintage you are considering is a decent car, the diesel is economical and it would tow up to 2700 kg. Also consider the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V.

You are not alone, as the mapping in every factory installed GPS is going to be a little outdated — I get emails every week from unhappy owners. The problem is the delay in getting the Australian mapping coded, sent to HQ and then uploaded on to hard drives. The quickest and easiest solution is to use Google maps on your phone. Nissan has previously said it gets the mapping updated as soon as possible.