The Best Handler I've Had (Nissan Primera (1996-99))

Member Name: Nibelung

Product:	Nissan Primera (1996-99)
Date:	08/04/01 (1267 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Build quality. Handling. Reasonable economy

Disadvantages: Needs GT trim to lift it from the mediocre

I got my Primera GT 5-door in April 1998 as a company car. Then, when I left, I bought it for £11000 at one year old – not a bad deal I think you’ll agree since it cost about £18500 the year before. I had always presupposed that the Primera would be a good car, and was not disappointed – fortunate for me as I didn’t test-drive it!

So what made me choose it?

1.It was on our firm’s shopping list and was about 35p below my maximum spending power, before having to make a contribution myself! Me? Tight or what?

2.Reputation for solid construction

3.Specification at the GT level had plenty of boy’s toys. 150 bhp engine, A/C, half-leather seats and other trim, ABS, 6-CD player, electric sunroof, fuel computer, two-tone leather steering wheel, sports body pack, spoiler etc. The ordinary Primera’s styling was a bit ordinary to say the least, but the GT’s add-ons lifted it out of the mediocre to look the part.

4. Also, you could at least pretend that it bore some resemblance to the current racing saloon car champion at that time, whilst making brrrm brrrm noises!

So, did I like driving it? Yes, definitely. The Primera’s already good reputation for handling was further improved by wider alloy wheels, lowered suspension and enhanced ABS. To use that much over-used phrase, it cornered like it was on rails, having something close to “1G” adhesion on corners before sliding. This was my first sizeable car with power steering, and at first it took a bit of nerve to push it hard, since I wasn’t used to the reduced “feel” when cornering. After a while it became second nature, like driving a Mini on steroids.

For all it’s 140-odd mph top speed, it was a practical car, with good fuel consumption figures – particularly impressive for a 2-litre 150bhp engine.

Thanks to the added spur to efficiency given by the fuel compu
ter, I managed to nurse about 55 mpg out of it on a drive from West London to Southampton, slipstreaming removal vans as I went! In case it was the computer telling “porkies”, I also ran a full-to-full check, which produced similarly impressive results.

The seats won praise from all who sat in them, including people with back problems. Boot space was good but limited in height in common with most “5-doors”

Why haven’t I got it now? Well, I would, but some prat towing a caravan (bloody shed-draggers!) rammed into the back of me on the M6 whilst I was stationary in a traffic jam. The damage was too extensive, and my neck has only just recovered.

I miss my lovely silver Primera GT – I always sigh longingly when I see another one. The only thing that put me off buying another with the insurance money was the thought that a stranger with a lead foot might have been the previous owner. I knew where mine had been!

My only gripe related to Nissan dealer prices for servicing which, in my case came at 9000 miles AND one year, since the anniversary of both tended to occur at the same time. If I recall, they had an A and a B service – one being under £300 and the other being over £300 – a bit steep I thought.

Other than that , the lads from Sunderland done well!

I’m not sure if it has an equivalent in the newer body shape. There is a sport model, but all the 2-litre cars seem to have the standard 130-odd bhp engine irrespective of trim level.

Summary: