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So you are looking at buying a car that is almost 20 years old taht is and never will be a classic and was not even popular when new.
The Nissan 100NX was not a popular car in its youth for very good reason, it was very expensive and being based on one of the most tedious (yet reliable) cars of the day was not a good drive. You could buy a Golf GTI for less, most people did. It was certainly not quick even by the standards of 20 years ago.
Look at newer cars for similar money with more friendly insurance groups for a new driver. A Corsa, Fiesta or Micra may not excite you but any will be a better drive than a 20 year old POS.
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I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Again, the standard, original versions look the best -- not interested in modifications..Google images doesn't really do the car justice having just looked..lots of American ones looking worse for wear and lots of NX's looking like they've been in 2Fast2Furious. Not my cup of tea!
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The fact it wasn't popular when new doesn't really bother me, nor particularly how it drives or how much power it has, i'm a new driver so i'm not expecting to sit behind the wheel of a Ferrari. I like the way it looks (standard) and of course, after 20 years the car now costs pennies to buy, so not such an expensive proposition. Parts should be cheap (based on a Sunny) so I don't think it makes a completly wacky proposition? Granted, Fiestas, Corsas, etc. are sensibl, but oh so Zzzzzzzz
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If you fancy one, go for it, you only live once! There is nothing inherently wrong with them...But do buy on condition. Check very hard for structural rust as Japanese cars can and do suffer from the brown stuff. If you cant find a decent one, how about looking for an earlier Honda Prelude too for example.
They are strong cars and hopefully you can find a private sale one owned for a long period by a more sensible older person. The mark up on a garages trade in will be horrendous for one of those!
I agree about more usual small cars being tedious though, and insurance for me on a Fiesta or Corsa etc never actually turns out to be much cheaper than my A4, not enough to ever buy one anyway!
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Thanks countryroads. I find it so frustrating that the more "sensible" options, i.e. the Corsa, Fiesta, Polo etc. are well over a £1,000 more for the car alone, vehicles which I don't have much enthusiasm for, certainly compared with the stylish NX. It all depends on the financial side of things,
Say a "good" NX approx. £1,000 to buy,
A "good" Fiesta approx. £2,000 to buy,
Is buying an NX really going to cost me anymore in the long-run in terms of maintenance, fuel etc? Yes the insurance is more, approx. £500-600 but you have to add on maintenance and fuel costs ontop of the already more expensive Fiestas and Corsas. Of course, an NX's depreciation is not an issue either...unless it takes a dip! I really can't look any higher than the NX's already "big" engine 1.6 and insurance group (11!) for a first car though! If someone can prove to me that buying an NX is going to exceed the costs far beyond that of a Fiesta or Corsa then I'll have to think otherwise...
Edited by Bluenose20 on 04/02/2013 at 14:06
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Fact. A 20 year old car is likely to cost more in repairs than a 10 year old car but if you are lucky with a good Nissan 100NX it could well be more reliable than a 10 year old alternative. With 10 and especially 20 year old cars you just have to hope and remember the previous owner probably sold it because it has faults.
Fact. A 10 year old car like a Fiesta or Corsa or yaris or Micra is unlikely to have much in the way of corrosion but a 20 year old Nissan 100NX is highly likely to be riddled with rot in areas you cannot see.
Fact. Parts for a 20 year old 100NX will be very difficult to get hold of. OK, many of the service parts will be just parts off mainstream Nissans but specialist parts will be rare and very expensive.
Fact. In 2 years the extra insurance you have paid at £500 a year will buy you a newer car.
Fact. When you buy your first car you have to be sensible and accept that you cannot afford to buy something fast and fancy. That comes later in life, I had been driving 10 years before I got what I would call a really nice motor.
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I second skidpan's sensible advice, especially his last sentence. I had a succession of old cars, only got to afford to pick and choose new after 30 years motoring.
At the end of the day you will probably go for what you fancy anyway, we are just pointing out the possible pitfalls.
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Ah! It's so difficult! As I say, a head vs. heart type decision!
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You're (I assume) in your early twenties... you're going to have maybe 10+ cars in your life, get something 1.0 and boring to get your NCD up, plenty of time for interesting cars later!
Play the long game ;)
Edited by tanvir on 04/02/2013 at 20:20
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Hmmm thanks everyone for your responses,
On reflection (and as much as it pains me to say it) I think I may just opt for a 1.2 Seat Ibiza and build up some NCB -- perhaps after a few years it will then be the best time to opt for something like this (Volvo 480 better still!!). I just hope i'll see the benefit + these cars are still around in good enough condition!
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Well the Seat is the most interesting choice I would say out of the small cars, but dont get a ratly 1.2, they can have timing chain issues among other things! Much nicer to drive than equivalent Polo though.
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The thing is with 1.2 is its insurance group -- a 1.2 S is Insurance Group (2), a 1.2 SX (the model I would prefer, alloys, climate control, etc Insurance Group (3), and the 1.4 is Insurance Group (4). I've been quoted a reasonable £836 from Diamond Insurance for a 1.2 SX, Comprehensive cover, limited annual mileage 6,000 -- not bad for a 20 year old student with no NCB, 1st car?
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No its not a bad deal at all and a nice car they are, but be careful with the 1.2, if you test a couple and the engines seem overly rattly, walk away. If you get a good one, change the 5w40 fully synthetic oil every 5-6k miles and they are capable of high miles. Dont get one that has been on extended service intervals, its asking for trouble with these!
Good luck, the Seat is a really nice little car to drive, and yeah the SX is a much nicer car to live with than the base ones.
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