New to 4x4 ownership

[PaleRider]

Hi Guys

Am about to buy a Nissan 2.7 Intercooled Turbo Diesel 1997 Mistral - Auto
Any opinions on these? Not really into hard out 4 wheel driving but I will be taking it on hunting trips etc. Will be mostly for carting the family around + a bit of towing. As far as I am aware they are basically the same as a Terrano so I figure it will be ok for a bit of the rough stuff from time to time??

Any basic mods I could be looking at to improve it a bit. I hate the look of the new style round head lights, I was hoping to get some bull bars put on to make it look more, well manly.

cheers

[Jerry]

Check any Terrano's / Mistrals for RUST...see here

http://www.lvvta.org.nz (then click on Nissan Terrano Rust....

[SupraLux]

I'm pretty sure the problem Jerry is referring to is for old terranos, but the major problem with those Mistrals is the autos shit themselves with alarming regularity... I don't know if I would trust one as a tow vehicle...

Do some research into the autos before you buy one

Steve

[Jerry]

The problem is with the Mistrals too ....read the info on the link there is a LTSA link there as well..... the desigh is the same

There is a problem with early Nissan Terranos and Nissan Mistrals in relation to floor rust around the area of the lower rear seatbelt anchorages.

Affected Mistral models, as advised by the Imported Motor Vehicle Dealers Association, are: -

R20 5-door, all models.

This Infosheet contains advice to vehicle inspectors and inspecting organisations about corrosion that can occur in Nissan Terrano or Nissan Mistral vehicles of the type whose rear floorpan assembly consists of a two-layer (double-skin) panel. The primary safety concern is that corrosion in the rear floorpan area may affect the rear lower seatbelt anchorage points.

Previous versions of this Infosheet required replacement of the floorpan if such corrosion is identified. However, Land Transport New Zealand now recognises an alternative to full floorpan replacement for Model D21 Nissan Terranos and for Nissan Mistral R20 5-door vehicles. This alternative is a modification called the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA) Rear floor load-bar seatbelt anchorage reinforcement system.

A vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation should consider this alternative when presented with a model D21 Nissan Terrano or a Nissan Mistral R20 5-door vehicle that has corrosion in the rear floor-pan area.

[SupraLux]

Ah, good find then - I read that some time ago and it said nothing about the mistrals - they've updated the info. Ok, so Mistrals crap out and fall apart from rust - safe to say you should look at something else...

Steve

[Jerry]

Cough .....Toyota

One of the Certifiers has heard of similar problems with the newer pathfinder/terrano as well but hasn't actually seen any, but then the newer 99-03 Diesels like to blow up

What about a Surf or a Prado or a Cruiser, or a Safari