Hello!
I recently bought a 1997 Sri 3 door abs model in red with 120k on the clock, full service history and a years MOT from a dealer for £600.
I have been riding bikes for 6 years and am currently riding a 1999 Suzuki SV650 if you dont know what it is all ill say is 0-60 in 3.2 and im only 10stone so I recon its slightly faster lol. I only passed my car test last september so the missus didnt have to do all the driving lol. This is my first car that I have bought as my new job means I have to travel 50 miles a day which on the bike would cost ALLOT in fuel and maintenance.
The car is in really good nick for its age the paintwork isnt amazing but that doesnt bother me, a bit of cleaning already has made it look 5 years younger. The car is 100% standard and the last owner had it from 2003.
The only really bad points are the drive belts need doing, the front and rears discs and pads are both about 40% worn, the tyres have good tread but are cheap and chearfull, the sunroof tilt button has a bit of an attitude and only works when it feels like it, the OSF fog light bulb was gone but I changed that, small bits of bubble rust here and there but nothing major, the OSR shock has a slight leak but seems to be solid still, The cd player isnt reading CDs I think a lens cleaner will sort it and I think one of the middle exhaust mounts is a bit worn as i get a bit of a rattle sometimes in reverse.
The engine has no knock or rattles it starts happily everytime and still doesnt mind a bit of stick. The gearbox feels old but solid no crazy noises there either.
So far I have changed the sparkys, put in a new fram airfilter, de restricted the intake and airbox (see pics), got some oil and filter for an oil change and given her a good clean.
So far the only things that I don't like about the car are the towbar although as you can see in the pics it stops people parking right up your arse, the steering wheel feels like it should be on a lorry not a hothatch, the car does seem quite heavy but that might just be cos im used to bikes and the missus drives a puma which is basicly a road legal go-cart and finally the backbox is most likeley going to blow in the first 1000 miles of me driving it... I mean what were nissan thinking putting that piddly little thing on the back of an engine that revs to 6.5k rpm!
Overall though for £600 I love the car and think its going to last me quite well for the next year. (hopefully much longer)
Few thing I wanted to know were:
I read the ABS model had bigger brakes. When I do go to change them can anyone reccomend any discs and pads?
Has anyone got a small but bigger than standard backbox for sale? lol
Is there a quickfix for the sunroof tilt button not working everytime?
What really common problems should I look out for?
Cheers, Tom.
I recently bought a 1997 Sri 3 door abs model in red with 120k on the clock, full service history and a years MOT from a dealer for £600.
I have been riding bikes for 6 years and am currently riding a 1999 Suzuki SV650 if you dont know what it is all ill say is 0-60 in 3.2 and im only 10stone so I recon its slightly faster lol. I only passed my car test last september so the missus didnt have to do all the driving lol. This is my first car that I have bought as my new job means I have to travel 50 miles a day which on the bike would cost ALLOT in fuel and maintenance.
The car is in really good nick for its age the paintwork isnt amazing but that doesnt bother me, a bit of cleaning already has made it look 5 years younger. The car is 100% standard and the last owner had it from 2003.
The only really bad points are the drive belts need doing, the front and rears discs and pads are both about 40% worn, the tyres have good tread but are cheap and chearfull, the sunroof tilt button has a bit of an attitude and only works when it feels like it, the OSF fog light bulb was gone but I changed that, small bits of bubble rust here and there but nothing major, the OSR shock has a slight leak but seems to be solid still, The cd player isnt reading CDs I think a lens cleaner will sort it and I think one of the middle exhaust mounts is a bit worn as i get a bit of a rattle sometimes in reverse.
The engine has no knock or rattles it starts happily everytime and still doesnt mind a bit of stick. The gearbox feels old but solid no crazy noises there either.
So far I have changed the sparkys, put in a new fram airfilter, de restricted the intake and airbox (see pics), got some oil and filter for an oil change and given her a good clean.
So far the only things that I don't like about the car are the towbar although as you can see in the pics it stops people parking right up your arse, the steering wheel feels like it should be on a lorry not a hothatch, the car does seem quite heavy but that might just be cos im used to bikes and the missus drives a puma which is basicly a road legal go-cart and finally the backbox is most likeley going to blow in the first 1000 miles of me driving it... I mean what were nissan thinking putting that piddly little thing on the back of an engine that revs to 6.5k rpm!
Overall though for £600 I love the car and think its going to last me quite well for the next year. (hopefully much longer)
Few thing I wanted to know were:
I read the ABS model had bigger brakes. When I do go to change them can anyone reccomend any discs and pads?
Has anyone got a small but bigger than standard backbox for sale? lol
Is there a quickfix for the sunroof tilt button not working everytime?
What really common problems should I look out for?
Cheers, Tom.
I'm going to be down exeter way in a few weeks, near christow if you know it?