Wanted: Jap 4WD

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 23 Sep 2009, 2:37 pm

Oh-kay, I spoke to Arabian Auto/Nissan, and they said they don't service American specs/imports, short of changing the oil and air filter. So I called up an engineer I know personally there, and he gave me an example of a guy who bought a Murano in excellent condition, driven only 8000 miles (this happened recently), for servicing...it got serviced, but a couple of days later, the engine started to jerk, and oil started to leak, and they discovered the engine was cracked.

He also mentioned coming across US imports that had their electricals bypassed to make it seem like they worked when they weren't, and this includes fried sensors, etc.

So American imports for me.

So now I'm thinking about this:

http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/au ... 5-sedan-2/

Spoke to the guy, the price of 48k is negotiable, it has all options excluding Nav (the US specs had it since 2004!), and has after market rear bumpers and side skirts, plus after market rims and a Borla Cat back exhaust. Serviced after 60k at a service center in Al Awir called Dollar, and passed by Tasjeel a month ago, will be going to check it out tomorrow during my lunch break.

TNT · Post by **TNT** » 23 Sep 2009, 3:30 pm

Sounds like a good deal, best of luck!

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 23 Sep 2009, 3:35 pm

Ah, FINALLY, a vote of confidence, thanks bud!

I'll most likely remove the Borla later though...he says it's messing with his fuel economy, he gets 550kms on a full tank which costs AED 100 to fill.

TNT · Post by **TNT** » 23 Sep 2009, 3:36 pm

That isn't bad to be honest ^

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 23 Sep 2009, 3:55 pm

It's cool it's cool. Just pray the ride's decent, and he negotiates his price to affordable levels

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 24 Sep 2009, 3:56 pm

Met the guy, drove the car, need your advice:

Good news -
1) Good overall condition
2) Leather can be cleaned from a specialized touch-up center
3) Reduced the price to 45k
4) Electronics top notch, everything works fine, has a Bose system, to which he's added an aux-in
5) Performance is pretty good!
6) Driven 109,000 kms, most of which are highway kms.

Bad news -
1) If you leave the steering, the car veers towards the right slowly, even though he's changed the front assembly a month ago using original Infiniti parts (has the receipts)
2) Smoked tail lights are actually painted over, but can be removed
3) Has an after market rear bumper
4) Has Lenso rims, need to change the front tyres, treads almost gone
5) I MIGHT need to change a sensor in the power steering later, will cost AED 500
6) There's a lumpy noise coming from the front wheels, the sort you get when you drive over brick. He says the front tyres are messed.

What say guys?

TNT · Post by **TNT** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:22 pm

I say go for it

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:28 pm

But what about the steering veering towards the right? And the fact that that the Borla exhaust is as loud as a truck! I don't mind the exhaust, but the steering issue makes me wonder if he ever had a frontal accident or not...

DLock · Post by **DLock** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:33 pm

Ozimandius wrote:
Bad news -
1) If you leave the steering, the car veers towards the right slowly, even though he's changed the front assembly a month ago using original Infiniti parts (has the receipts)
6) There's a lumpy noise coming from the front wheels, the sort you get when you drive over brick. He says the front tyres are messed.

What say guys?

dude....these 2 points are some clues that the guy may have been involved in an accident...i say this for the following reason:
- even after a thorough allignment the car should travel perfectly straight...i have seen cars that have been involved in accidents that damage their steering racks, axles ,suspension and even after after replacement n repair and proper allignment have the same steering problem u describe....
- the noise...another giveaway

my suggestion if u really like the car ...get a proper mechanic to hve a look at it...after all its an investment with ur hard earned money...

P.S: say you do get a steering sensor, do u know a good mechanic coz i AA are not gonna lay a finger on an American Import for such work

DLock · Post by **DLock** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:34 pm

lloks like while u were typing out your reply iwas gonna say the same thing,....lol

TNT · Post by **TNT** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:37 pm

Is it GCC? Get a 100+ point check on it.

DLock · Post by **DLock** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:47 pm

TNT wrote:Is it GCC? Get a 100+ point check on it.

Not so sure....i remember Ozi saying it was imported from Baltimore,US...unless he was refering to another one....

TNT · Post by **TNT** » 24 Sep 2009, 4:50 pm

He was referring to another one.

Ozimandius · Post by **Ozimandius** » 24 Sep 2009, 5:10 pm

Sorry for the confusion folks, the first 2 I considered were US imports (both salvaged according to carfax.com). This one's a GCC-spec, not an import.

But to tell you the truth, the previous US import I drove was slightly smoother, even though it had 260 (2004) horses compared to the 290 in the one I saw today (2005).

You see, I'm not in a hurry to buy a car, my Tiida is perfectly fine. I just wanted an Infiniti due to its WAY better interior, drive, performance, etc. At the same time, if I'm going to spend so much, might as well something reliable. The US imports MAY be reliable, but its a risk I'm not willing to take. Besides, this GCC spec'd ride is costing me 5k more, but has also been driven 35k more.

DLock · Post by **DLock** » 24 Sep 2009, 5:16 pm

Then like "TNT" said...go for the 100+ poitn check....

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Wanted: Jap 4WD