I needed a new car, well a car newer than the one I had, it also needed to be able to accommodate my growing family comfortably.
Apart from the fact I didn't want the car to look like your normal people mover or van, it also needed to have;
1. 7+ seats. I mean real 7 seats and not 2 pop up seats at the rear that if I were to sit in it my shoulders will be touching the ceiling of the car with my knees up around my ears, clearly seats better suited for children with no legs or small handbag dogs.
2. Sliding Doors. Sliding doors is just the best thing when getting kids in and out of the car, especially in parking lots and next to other parked cars.
3. Storage. The car has to have boot space even with the 3rd row of seats up and in-use, ideally other clever storage space as well.
4. Reversing Camera. With a larger car anything to assist in parking and reversing has to be a good thing.
5. A Good Drive. The car had to be a comfortable drive, not like other cars I have driven.
6. Fuel Efficiency. Lets face it, the price of fuel is not likely to be going down, and I hated visiting the fuel pumps, so fuel efficiency is very important in my car choice.
I Googled and Googled again the options I had for the location I am at, I visited car lots and checked out online reviews.
It really came down to 2 cars at the end the Honda Odyssey and the Nissan Presage.
Obviously I went with the Nissan Presage, but these are the main reasons why;
1. Sliding Doors
2. Easy access. the Presage being a Mini Van is easier to get into and out off.
3. 50% cheaper on average for the same year and mileage.
The Nissan Presage is a joy to drive and very easy to operate;
it ticks all the boxes and has other cool features like a Navigation System and TV... there is just one thing!
I do not speak or read Japanese!!!
I have started this Blog Page to share information about this awesome car in English, as I discover things about this car.
Watch this space.
- Eric
Well, I bought the 3.5 V6 Presage just yesterday! and I think I'll subscribe to your blog. Given that A. Bought car for same reasons as you did. B. My name is Eric too!
ReplyDeleteHave you figured out the entertainment system yet?
Hi Eric and Eric..I bought a Presage last month. There was no research as you had I just seen it and fell in love with the looks and style.Mine is 1999 therefore earlier than yours and with different doors ect. It has the YD25DDTI Diesel Engine.Im tring to work through sourcing information on parts for engine and body with little success for the body at least.Engine parts should be fine.The A/T Swith information was of great help and i'll stay in touch for sure.
ReplyDeleteHi Eric,
ReplyDeleteIf you are in New Zealand, you can get a full translated user manual for the car and entertainment unit from trademe, I haven't purchased the entertainment manual, My son knows a little Japanese from school, and we have just made do, and tend to just listen to CDs anyway.
Cheers,
(the other) Eric
Hi Colum Curran,
ReplyDeleteI have been monitoring parts for Presages, and there are more available for the U30 Chassis than the later U31 Chassis.
If you are in New Zealand there are many Nissan parts traders that also trade on trademe, just add a watchlist for Nissan Presage parts.
I have found a few more great things about this car, that I have been meaning to update to here with, so watch this space.
Cheers,
Eric
Any news on the updates?
DeleteHi Eric. We just purchased a 2004 model too....love all the pros about it (our checklist was same as yours)...but no, we also don't speak any Japanese either!! Love to follow your blog to see if you have any help with locating an english manual, so we can operate the dashboard etc, and the entertainment system. :)
ReplyDeletei have nissan presage tnu31 2003 ,very good car
ReplyDeletei got a nissan presage awd 2003,
ReplyDeletevery good car,
had to change the crank and cam sensors though,
it started to stall suddenly sometimes and the tacho meter response was slugish, was worried at first since there was no cel light,
until when the prob got more the cel light came on and was able to diagnose the problem were the cam and crank sensors.
mine has a QR25DE engine...
Hi Hussein, I just had the same issue with those sensors. Picked it up today and seems to be running fine. Does anyone know how to turn off the service screen on the dsplay though as the guy at Pitstop has no idea. have found instructions on the net but as the car is in Japanese I can't find where to start.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0f4fdgA0I
DeleteHope this helps.
Deletei have a 2003 presage and it have a slow take off it sounds like when a engine flooding any suggestions
ReplyDeletejulian thanks
Try servicing it, it maybe something as simple as changing the air filter.
DeleteHi there i purchased a 2004 presage and i am looking for any info on the navigation system as i do not understand Japanese cheers any help would be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I was just wondering how to fully fold the back seats down so they are flat? I just cant get the middle section (the back of the seats) to drop down into the space. Any help would be appreciated as a cant read the Japanese panel :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThere should be a diagram on the back of the rear seats which should hopefully help you, just do it one step at a time and slowly lol. It confused me at the start too.
DeleteJust brought a 2005 presage highway star yesterday. Same again navigation system. Does anyone know if it is able to translate into English for the features of the fuel and engine im not to worried about gps side of it but the engine management and stereo as well as cameras I am. Wondering if the whole unit can be replaced. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. aarongrimwood@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYou can replace the sound system as the screen is just that. A screen, the stereo is the part in the centre console where you put the CD's. If you use an Nissan to after-market adaptor then you can just plug another stereo into it. I have put a GPS/BT/Double-din system in by removing the single-din and tray. All the other controls work as they are separate to the stereo. And with the stereo in the centre console it is hidden when not in use.
DeleteDarin, any tips on how to get into the console to get at the stereo? Cheers.
DeleteJust brought a 2005 presage highway star yesterday. Same again navigation system. Does anyone know if it is able to translate into English for the features of the fuel and engine im not to worried about gps side of it but the engine management and stereo as well as cameras I am. Wondering if the whole unit can be replaced. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. aarongrimwood@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi. We had an 03 presage 2.5 litre which was a great car but did seem under powered with the same problems of all small engined nissans coupled with an automatic transmission, it could never make a good decision on which gear it should be in. We now have got the 3.5 ltr vvt V6 05 model with the cvt transmission. This is a car that can mix it with the big boys at the lights I can assure you that. This is the skyline engine and nissan got it right putting it in the presage. Fuel consumption is a little higher than the little 2.5 engine (which wasnt great) but its not working as hard to do the same job. The CVT transmission do seem to get a bit of bad press for not being up to the job with the bigger horse power wearing them out early. Its a good match to this engine other whys.
ReplyDeleteHi. We had an 03 presage 2.5 litre which was a great car but did seem under powered with the same problems of all small engined nissans coupled with an automatic transmission, it could never make a good decision on which gear it should be in. We now have got the 3.5 ltr vvt V6 05 model with the cvt transmission. This is a car that can mix it with the big boys at the lights I can assure you that. This is the skyline engine and nissan got it right putting it in the presage. Fuel consumption is a little higher than the little 2.5 engine (which wasnt great) but its not working as hard to do the same job. The CVT transmission do seem to get a bit of bad press for not being up to the job with the bigger horse power wearing them out early. Its a good match to this engine other whys.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis is a older blog but i just bought a car the other day, i dont suppose you figured out how to connect your phone
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor 3 months i have been driving my 2004 Nissan Presage.. Constantly having a prompt of vocal instructions in Japanese.. Don't know what for.. Apparently giving me directions.. Can anybody please give me guidance on how to turn it off...
ReplyDeleteHI,
ReplyDeleteDoes any one have issues such as steering shake when braking above 100km/h
That is a sign that your car is well in need of a wheel alignment. If you book it into a mechanic they will be able to fix that. Depending on the place it usually costs around $80NZD.
DeleteHow do you remove the centre trim and existing cd/minidisc player on the 2005 presage? Can the existing screen be used as an AV input from a new head unit?
ReplyDeleteI own a 2005 Nissan presage 2.5 highway star.I have a sticking speedo if I am going 80km or more and I reduce my speed to 60km the speedo remains at 80km this is frustrating. It will only drop down if I reduce my speed to 30km. Has anyone else experienced this? When I turn on my ac the auto radiator fans spins slowly almost like it is spinning at 50% I was wondering if this is the normal speed?
ReplyDeleteI've got a 2004 highway star and I just got the radiator changed after the last ones top cracked, it went fine the day after, then the day after that it won't start.... I bought a new battery thinking it could be that but nope. It's ticking over just won't quite start. Really wish I'd been a mechanic
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys are enjoying your Pressages. I would advise those with CVT's to ensure you only use the correct CVT fluid and ensure it is in a good condition. Do not top up with or use ordinary ATF fluid or you will kill it
ReplyDeletequickly.
Consider fitting an additional transmission cooler particularly if you or previous owner have changed the radiator for a cheap after market replacement. Listen for whines/drones on hot days which should not happen if tranny is kept cool. Heat kills Jatco trannys.
Hi Eric, i purchased 2004 Presage and likewise imported from Japan with no manual. I had to replace the fuse box attached to the Battery as someone had blown when they tried to put wrong battery on. Now the car is running but the radio doesnt seem to work. Any ideas on what i can do to get it going? thought is to replace the entire radio as the CD doesnt seem to work.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hi Does anyone know where I can get a Free copy of an English Manual for the 2004 Presage. Just purchased it yesterday and there is nothing to tell me how to use the radio or gps in it, however the backing camera works just fine. Oh and I do not speak or read Japanese so it definitely needs to be in English... Any help is appreciated. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi do you have the Google app on your phone you don't need to download it it just says google , in the top right corner next to the microphone the is a box like a photo box click on it and aim it at the Japanese writing in your presage and it should translate automayically or if you take a photo using the Google app it will translate on the photo I just figured this out as we have just brought a 2005 one and I too also wanted to work the radio and what not. Let me know if this helps
Delete