Does anyone drive a Nissan Murano?

[Terri_A]

I may be buying a new car soon. I've been driving company cars for a LONG time and the most recent cars that I have personally purchased were an Audi TT ( pre-weeone ) and a Nissan Maxima. I loved my Maxima, so it seemed natural to look at Nissans for potential cars. I like the size of the Murano. I've been in a Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner for the past 4 years and like that size car.

So, if you have one - have you had problems, if so, what? Do you like it? What kind of gas mileage does it really get? What upgrades do you like, not like, wish you had?

Thanks so much for your help!

[SandyM]

Eva does. I love her Murano, and I think she does too. If I wasn't employed by my current company, I'd probably be driving one. ;)

I'm sure she'll report in. :D

[slknight]

Eva does. I love her Murano, and I think she does too. :D

I like Eva's Murano too. :) When I was in Phoenix, I remember seeing them everywhere. I almost never see them around here though. It's odd how cars can be so regional. I wonder if they're not good in the snow or something. Terri, I know you don't care about that since you're in Houston, I just think it's weird.

[Robyn1007]

Well, they're popular around here so I don't think the snow part is the difference. I always laugh when I leave Colorado. Here, there are Subarus everywhere. You can't drive a block without seeing at least one (and I now have one) but when I go to Houston I can go the whole trip without seeing one.

I feel like there's someone else who has a Murano but I can't put my finger on it. Hmmm, hopefully they'll check in.

[jabelt]

My MIL has one. This is actually her 2nd, but she loved it so much, she got it again.

[cocoa'smom]

Check out the Mazda CX-7. It is very similar in looks and size to the Murano, but a lot less expensive. In June, I traded my Nissan Quest mini-van with 208,000 miles :eek: on it for a 2007 Mazda CX-7 (gently used with 5,000 miles) in the Icy Blue color (a light metallic blue - I get so many compliments). It was under $20,000 sales tax included. They are SO cool-looking, similar gas mileage to the Murano (which I couldn't afford). Even brand-new, fully loaded, with leather, I believe they are under $30,000. The more basic model (which has everything I need) are around $24,000. I've always had Toyotas, Hondas and Nissan's....the reviews on Mazda's are mixed, but I think most of that is based on past models and they are really getting better. I have to say, that once I saw the CX-7 I fell in love with it. Only had it 3 months, but so far, its been great. Gas mileage is advertised as 24 hwy/19 city - not great, but MUCH better than my old van, and again, I think similar to the Murano, Highlander, etc.

[aggie94]

Thanks for the heads up, Sandy. :)

Yes, I have a 2003 Murano (the first year model), and I *love* it. Linda (HejazSunKat) has one too. There are probably more bells and whistles available now than when I got mine, i.e. I know that they are now pre-wired for Sirius and/or XM connections but they were not at the time, so I have to use all the external hardware to play my XM. Other than that, I've had very few complaints. And my model came pretty fully loaded, which is one of the reasons I bought it. For its features, the price was very reasonable -- power adjustments on both driver and passenger seats, driver-side seat memory (remembers 2 different settings), HomeLink, auto-dim rearview mirror with built-in compass, heated seats and mirrors ('cause that's important to have in Arizona :rolleyes: ), sunroof, 6-disc in-dash Bose CD changer, etc. The only thing I don't have in mine (which was available, but I passed on) that I think I would have liked is a navigation system.

I had some issues with vibration which turned out to just be the high-performance tires I had on it, which I replaced. Besides that, I have it serviced regularly and it still drives like a dream. I *love* driving it. :D I am not a fan of SUVs because I don't like how trucks and truck-based SUVs drive. This one drives like a car and there is plenty of room - tons of cargo space and a very roomy backseat that will easily seat three adult passengers without crowding. The backseat flips down easily if you need to haul bigger stuff.

Gas mileage isn't great. I average 18-19 mph city driving, not much better freeway (maybe 21 tops). Of course, I don't drive in a very fuel-efficient manner either. :o

I have considered replacing it, but I can't bear to part with it. I don't even want to replace it with another Murano, because mine is so purty. They only made it in my color the first year, so I see very few if any of them around. And I get compliments on it all the time. :D

[ellery]

Another owner checking in. :)

I have a 2004, with all the same bells and whistles as Aggie94. I've had essentially no problems with it at all (had a steering line break recently, but I think that's just a fluke). It drives very smoothly, holds a lot and is very reliable.

Happy car shopping. :D

[HealthyinMN]

I want one! We have a couple friends that drive a murano and they love the car - it's good to hear that others like them just as much!

[aggie94]

One more comment on my car, which occurred to me when I had to leave my office midday for an errand today. The front windshield is HUGE. When you live somewhere as hot and sunny as Arizona, you definitely feel it. My car heats up very quickly, and it takes a long time to cool off. My DH has a truck, which has an almost vertical and smaller windshield, and even in the heat of the summer, his truck cools off quickly and at some point, you can turn down the air because it gets too cold (yes, even when it's 118 outside). Mine never gets too cold in the summer. The windshield is huge, and it's more angled, so it takes a lot of the brunt of heat when parked outside. Fortunately, I park my car in the garage at home and I have a covered garage at the office, so it doesn't spend a lot of time in sun. But I do notice a huge difference on the weekends when we run errands.

In your line of work, where I imagine you are doing a lot of short drives and parking (probably uncovered?) in between, like when I'm running errands, the car stays pretty d@mn hot unless you have a good stretch of time in between turning off the car to let the AC cool it down.

[HejazSunKat]

Yes, I have one too (a 2004 like ellery) and have been very pleased. I've had a couple of recalls on mine: One was for a problem with the alternator that could cause the car to suddenly lose power. The problem actually happened to me (fortunately just in city traffic not on the highway) and I hadn't been notified by Nissan. The other one I did get a notice on and they took care of it before I had an issue. Other than that I haven't had any repair problems and I'm now going on 3 years as an owner. I did take it in for it's 37,500 checkup recently and was told that I now need 4 new tires, an alignment and front AND rear brakes. Hmm...is it just a coincidence that my 3 year 36,000 mile warranty just ran out? I'm really diligent with taking it in for scheduled maintenance and this was the first time they'd recommended anything let alone over $1,000 worth of repairs so I smell a rat.

I've had a very positive experience with the vehicle, I love driving it and would consider another Nissan. It's very comfortable and what I really like about it is that the size is perfect for me. Alot of SUV's have an extra rear seat so that you can seat about 7 people. I don't need to transport a soccer team or haul a boat so I didn't need anything that big but I wanted something that had a generous cargo area. It's just perfect for what I'm doing with it. There, food for thought!

[Gumbeaux]

Terri_A,

The Nissan Rogue is coming out this month and there is already some advertising out there about it.

This vehicle is often described as a "mini Murano".

http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/2008/Rogue/Rogue_3.jpg

[Kevlar]

My daughter in Dallas has a Murano and loves it. She has had no complaints. Its very comfortable to ride in and is very roomy.
K