Dont buy 550 navara

[Jase V9X]

Yea the D40 is already at the bottom of the muddy hill with its driver shitting themselves from the ride they just got while I am still crawling along in control halfway down the slope.

Life's too short to be in control all the time

edit:
Or should I say, married with 2 kids - No control is everyday life

 

[LLadnar]

Sent my letter of to Nissan about two weeks ago, got a phone call from them today, told me the same bullshit story as when I rang them. Really not impressed in the way they don't even listen to there customer and their right we're wrong.
Think this will be my last Nissan.

 

[big zetor]

should of bought a Dmax lol

 

[The Woo]

Well I absolutely LOVE mine, as do the four mates that have them

Sorry you few blokes aren't enjoying yours.

A DMax is a rattly old truck compared to a 550

 

[bobys]

Off the gearbox topic but?

Auto box aside, what's everyone take on the rest of the vehicle? Is the engine good on hwy cruising, fuel, creature comforts, towing on made roads etc, compared to the 4 pot D40. Thanks

 

[nathand22]

There has to be away to fix the auto for low range driving, one of these Auto specialists will soon figure out there is a market for kits to sort theses things out like they do for just about every auto ever made.

 

[LLadnar]

Well I absolutely LOVE mine, as do the four mates that have them

Sorry you few blokes aren't enjoying yours.

A DMax is a rattly old truck compared to a 550

As a car it great. As a 4WD it shit. The auto can't be trusted and I'm sorry, but anyone who think having it change gear at 1800rpm while goin down a step decent is ok doesn't now what their talking about. It goes against all standard 4wding practices.

 

[LLadnar]

should of bought a Dmax lol

I'd buy a Jeep.
I've owned 4 Nissan so I'm very disappointed with them.

 

[jjohn]

I would be dissapointed too, its kind of important.
If the v6 pathfinder has the same box but with hill descent, maybe look at whats added to control that?
Is it in the ecu, wiring, or switching?
The wiring diagrams may show the difference?

 

[The Woo]

As a car it great. As a 4WD it shit. The auto can't be trusted and I'm sorry, but anyone who think having it change gear at 1800rpm while goin down a step decent is ok doesn't now what their talking about. It goes against all standard 4wding practices.

Changing up when you've selected 1st (especially in Low Range) is a mistake, no doubt.

BUT, if I were doing serious 4WD-ing, I'd have chosen another vehicle. A 550 is an epic tow/beach/daily, but a rough and tumble off roader, it is not. Neither is a 4 clyinder D40 in my opinion. It's far too compromised for that.

 

[thefoz]

Having owned 2 tritons,both GLXRs, and had a Ranger at work the 550 is heads and shoulders above them in terms of comfort,noise levels,power and economy.
I have only done 3000 ks in mine and in terms of a cruising 4wd dualcab it is hard to beat.I travel down a few dirt roads and sometimes have to use 4wd to get where i am going but it returns around 11 litres per 100 km towing around 1.2 tonnes and much less if i am not towing.
You can turn on the seat heaters in the leather seats if its cold or use the reverse camera to hook up the trailer so IMO if you are not doing any hard core 4wd its the truck to be in.

 

[nathand22]

if I were doing serious 4WD-ing, I'd have chosen another vehicle. A 550 is an epic tow/beach/daily, but a rough and tumble off roader, it is not. Neither is a 4 clyinder D40 in my opinion. It's far too compromised for that.

You dont need a "ROUGH AND TUMBLE OFF ROADER" to expect low range to work properly,. for eg there is a place down the NSW south coast called Bendethra and the drive in to that place and allot of the fire trials around there are VERY LONG STEEP <but relatively smooth well maintained dirt roads but at the bottom are a few river crossings, the last thing i would want to be doing is driving down there with my foot on the brake getting the discs red hot then having to wait for ever for the disc to cool and it would be three times worse towing a camp trailer.
The same thing for heaps of tracks around Lithgow or Yalwal mate you dont need a "Tough Truck" to need LOW RANGE

 

[LLadnar]

Changing up when you've selected 1st (especially in Low Range) is a mistake, no doubt.

BUT, if I were doing serious 4WD-ing, I'd have chosen another vehicle. A 550 is an epic tow/beach/daily, but a rough and tumble off roader, it is not. Neither is a 4 clyinder D40 in my opinion. It's far too compromised for that.

A properly set up Nav is more capable then most 4wd's. I've had a GQ Patrol, D22, D40 STX and now the 550 and my last D40 was more capable then the patrol. You might need to spend some cash but what standard 4wd don't you these days. All the manufacturers are run by poof these days. I love people who see Nav as just a daily driver, you don't need a 4wd to tow a caravan etc. go buy a commodore or falcon.

 

[The Woo]

No need to get your knickers in a knot lads..... opinions are like arseholes, n all that

A Commy or Falcon won't tow my boat up the beach, nor can they pull it up a slippery ramp, nor are they rated to tow a heavy loads like my race cars, and I can't carry all my shit in the back.

No doubt a Nav can be improved upon with aftermarket gear. But in standard form, it's hardly a paragon of off-road ability. YES, I agreed the issue of it not holding 1st down hills is a failure if low range decents are your operating circumstances...... I'm not new to off-roading, having owned many 4WD's including twin locked 'Cruisers etc in the past; assumptions about people's experience aren't wise.

What I'm saying, is I chose the 550 because it does what I want it to superbly. I researched long and hard prior to purchase, and knew it would be the best of the bunch for me.
Maybe you guys should have researched your purchases too?

 

[nathand22]

Exactly!! I dont remember reading anyone commenting on your experience or assuming you had none, although you seemed to have done that yourself in regards to others about their research and there choice of 4x4 and how the D40 can not be used for any sort of "serious" 4x4 work.
mate i have had my nav's on tracks that are listed as so called double black trails on the "4x4 earth" forum and it not only surprises me at times but most of the people in patrols, 80 series cruisers ect, like i said before i dont think you need a twin locked 35' tire 6" lifted rig to do serious 4x4 trails you may want that stuff if you are doing EXTREME 4x4 stuff.
For me water crossings up to the top of the bonnet and hills with knee to waist deep rut lines and thigh high rock steps is serious enough.

 

[sparra04]

each to there own i suppose
nathans old d40 and lladners old d40 were very capable trucks (modded)
i own a d22(modded) and love its off road ability,i can live with its harsh ride and limited room
personally i would never buy a 550/ d40
for me i will upgrade to a patrol when the time comes
my 2 cents

 

[LLadnar]

No need to get your knickers in a knot lads..... opinions are like arseholes, n all that

A Commy or Falcon won't tow my boat up the beach, nor can they pull it up a slippery ramp, nor are they rated to tow a heavy loads like my race cars, and I can't carry all my shit in the back.

No doubt a Nav can be improved upon with aftermarket gear. But in standard form, it's hardly a paragon of off-road ability. YES, I agreed the issue of it not holding 1st down hills is a failure if low range decents are your operating circumstances...... I'm not new to off-roading, having owned many 4WD's including twin locked 'Cruisers etc in the past; assumptions about people's experience aren't wise.

What I'm saying, is I chose the 550 because it does what I want it to superbly. I researched long and hard prior to purchase, and knew it would be the best of the bunch for me.
Maybe you guys should have researched your purchases too?

Well I don't know about nathen, but I don't have my knickers in a knot, I don't get worked up easily, but if I was you'd know cause I'm not very polite when I do. So if you can't have a simple discussion of differing opinions with out Tryin to be a smart ass then don't bother posting.
I never made any assumption of your experience or knowledge so try again. If you pick a Nav cause it suits your needs then that great for you, but as for researching, no one know about the problem with first untill we bought them, Nissan don't advertise it and the 550 we all test drived at the last muster never did it I don't believe. So maybe you should list to your own advise and don't make assumptions

 

[nathand22]

Well I don't know about nathen, but I don't have my knickers in a knot, I don't get worked up easily, but if I was you'd know cause I'm not very polite when I do. So if you can't have a simple discussion of differing opinions with out Tryin to be a smart ass then don't bother posting.
I never made any assumption of your experience or knowledge so try again. If you pick a Nav cause it suits your needs then that great for you, but as for researching, no one know about the problem with first untill we bought them, Nissan don't advertise it and the 550 we all test drived at the last muster never did it I don't believe. So maybe you should list to your own advise and don't make assumptions

I gave my knickers back to the misses last week so no chance of that happening here, look

 

[sparra04]

I gave my knickers back to the misses last week so no chance of that happening here, look

so umm
were they her knickers to start with or yours
who's borrowing who's, ime confused

 

[jjohn]

And its a sh1t you didn't know b4 hand.
Who would conceive a thought that a manufacturer would build it that way?
Then not offer a solution when prompted?
Not all tractor's are equal, and this example makes me aware every question must be asked, including the obvious.
I'd be on Facebook ( with no venom) about it making everyone aware of it so they can avoid the costly misfortune.
I'm betting you will get your upgrade sooner rather than later