Nissan Note (2006 - ) - Nissan Note - just got it

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Fri 25 Sep 2009 12:32
Nissan Note - just got it - ohsoslow
Herself has just got her new Nissan Note 1.4 N-tec, bought with the help of scrapping my well used and abused but trusty and rusty 12.5 YO Daihatsu Sportrak which was getting to the stage of needing a lot of money spending on it. Our motoring needs have changed considerably now, no large dogs to destroy the insides, nor regular ferrying of children, now more transporting elderly MIL with wheelchair etc. Nor do I need any more the basic 4WD etc that the Sportrak had.

The story so far....

The choice was made solely by Herself although I did the initial work by looking around the numerous showrooms for potential candidates and obtaining a library full of brochures. The potential list was reduced to a handful of cars, NOT including the Note, as on seeing the Note's brochure it was declared a non-runner due to its looks.

On the designated day of inspecting new cars we happened to stop near the Nissan dealers, there being a group of dealers in close proximity to eachother. As we were passing we (she, to be more exact) decided to look in anyway, having almost dismissed the Mazda and Hyundai due to various degrees of unsuitability of their cars for her needs.

As soon as she sat in the Note it was declared a definate possibility so we went on our merry way to inspect other hopefuls. I must explain that Herself is not very confident at jumping into any car and driving it, she has to feel just right before she will entertain any form of progress in any car.

Having done the rounds of the rest of the dealers we returned home to discuss the day's work, reducing the list to just the Note and the Jazz. Test drives were organised and the Note won due to her being most happy at driving it. (Test drives in any other cars were declared unnecessary!) Fortunately reviews for the Note are positive and it ticked all of the boxes for her needs, so it now sits on the drive.

My initial thoughts are that it drives nicely enough, it is no racer but that is not what is needed, the comfort, space and access are what is required, some of the plastics and swtches are ....plasticky (!) but not too bad.

Will report again after a few months of ownership. The plan is that this car needs to last her until she can't or won't want to drive anymore, 10 years possibly, neither of us being spring chickens.



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Fri 25 Sep 2009 12:39
Nissan Note - just got it - Happy Blue!
I really like the Note - the way it looks, the space and comfort. It just hits the right buttons for me if I needed or wanted that sort of car.

Remember that the back seat slides so that the boot can be made bigger as the expense of rear seat leg room, but equally you can have a great deal of rear leg room with a modest boot.

Enjoy
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Fri 25 Sep 2009 12:54
Nissan Note - just got it - perro
>>>I really like the Note<<<

I'd 2nd that Senor - the looks do nothing for me though, but then nor does the Jazz ... and yes - that rear seat going hither & tither is a grrreat idea ...I've had my beedie eye on a 1.6SE with auto trans of late :)
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Fri 25 Sep 2009 12:42
Nissan Note - just got it - TheOilBurner
Hope you get on well with it. I really like the Note, thought it was a very well thought out car with decent equipment levels too. Never got on with the seats mind, but other than that it was a winner.
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Fri 25 Sep 2009 13:15
Nissan Note - just got it - LikedDrivingOnce
A very nice report, with just the right amount of humour, and a lesson for all of us to consider all the possibilities when choosing our next car.

Sounds a typical Nissan really. A bit plain on the outside, but with many hidden strengths.

I was completely satisfied driving Nissans for many years, until they stopped making the Primera. They replaced it with the Qashqai - obviously a good car, but not "me".

Best of luck with the Note! I'm sure that you and "Herself" will enjoy it.
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Fri 25 Sep 2009 13:52
Nissan Note - just got it - Bill Payer
Interesting. We just bought another Jazz. I tried to get Mrs BP to look at Note but she wouldn't entertain it. Gave up talking about it in the end, didn't look at anything else just bought a Jazz.
I console my uncertainty about it by thinking that at least I didn't waste much time hunting around and mulling over choices.
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Fri 25 Sep 2009 16:20
Nissan Note - just got it - ohsoslow
Espada - the rear seat did impress, as did the false floor to the boot. Also the width of the doors and tailgate are what is needed when loading MIL c/w wheelchair. (Does one load a MIL or should she be embarked?)

BP - the Jazz was good but the Note suited H/S better, who am I to argue?

Being made in the UK (as is the Jazz I believe) we have done our little bit to help the economy instead of choosing totally foreign stuff.

It certainly looks better on the drive than the old Daihatsu did.

Edited by ohsoslow on 25/09/2009 at 16:21

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Sat 26 Sep 2009 18:48
Nissan Note - just got it - Jim Sharpe
We have had a Note Acenta Automatic for 3 years and we love it. The boot would be a bit constrained for holiday luggage but we don't drive on holiday we use a coach. It is the first Automatic we've had and the luxury of no clutch is fabulous but I rammed the wall of the house by misplacing my right foot when manoeuvring so my next Note yes, I liked it that much which I'll soon order will be a nTek model which has blue tooth and sat-nav but will be 5 gear manual.
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Sat 26 Sep 2009 19:15
Nissan Note - just got it - gordonbennet
Only driven Note's a few times, but as the good lady 'Herself' found, it just drives nicely.

One thing that stood out a mile was just how comfortable the ride is, pot holes and speed humps ridden easily, probably as good as Berlingo for ride IMO.

Hope it's a good 'un.
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Sat 26 Sep 2009 20:30
Nissan Note - just got it - Andrew-T
Can't comment personally on the Note; can only report that my daughter moved hers on smartish because she found the seats uncomfortable. This doesn't always show up on a test drive unless it lasts an hour or two.
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Sat 26 Sep 2009 21:22
Nissan Note - just got it - bazza
We has a 1.4 for a couple of years, good car, not a thing went wrong and good mpg - about 43 average. Handled pretty well for a tallish car and very practical, great boot, rear seat room. Much preferred it to the previous Focus, much more refined and much better on petrol, would have another.
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Sat 3 Oct 2009 16:17
Nissan Note - just getting it! - Quacker1964
I'm liking this thread. After what seems like an eternity, mine will be arriving next week. I too chose the Note NTEC but decided on the 1.5DCi flavour. My main worry is mis-fuelling lol.

I also considered the Jazz, but ultimately it came down to "the deal" and as I was able to get the Nissan 20% deal (family work @ Sunderland plant) it became increasingly obvious the Note was the car for me. It is only my second car - The first being a Micra so I guess already I am showing brand loyalty. In fairness it ticked a lot more boxes than that.

One complaint I have heard from a Quashqai forum is the Nissan Connect system and its lack of LW (longwave) radio. Not that it bothers me as only the cricket of any worth on there and I'm not that great a fan.

For a Supermini, I was impressed with the standard kit. Built-in Sat nav/bluetooth/handsfree etc. a nice touch (my other half inherited my TomTom - brownie points). All the other touches are just extras for me, such as can-cooler in the glove box, 3 x 12v points, front, rear and boot. My first experience with Air Con and alloys. Maybe I'm easy pleased, but after a bog-standard 1.0l Micra - this seems like the flightdeck of Concord in comparison. I mean on-board computer and cruise control and speed limiter. I ask you! lol.

Hope I'll still feel the same after a few months of "reality" and enjoy it as much as the Micra I owned (from new) for 5.5 years.
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Sat 3 Oct 2009 16:42
Nissan Note - just getting it! - ifithelps
...this seems like the flightdeck of Concord in comparison....

Always nice to hear of someone climbing the automotive ladder.

I know one person with a Note and she reckons it's the best car she's had for a long time.

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Sat 3 Oct 2009 17:50
Nissan Note - just getting it! - k9dan
Quacker-buy a mis fuelling device, stops unleaded pump going into the tank orifice, I bought one for me new Octavia diesel, for the small cost not worth risking the £££££'s to fix a new modern misfuelled diesel. 3 or 4 on the market just do a t'internet search.
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Sun 4 Oct 2009 13:14
Nissan Note - just got it - sooty123
Anyone find the clutch difficult to get a smooth gear change? I thought it was just me but someone else had a drive in one and said the same thing. Also is the throttle FBW it seemed a big change from my mech system, seemed to find myself revving it too much especially at low speeds.
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Sun 4 Oct 2009 14:25
Nissan Note - just got it - Honestjohn
Demo video at:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=379

Shows most of the features rather than skidding round some airfield.

HJ
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Sun 4 Oct 2009 17:33
Nissan Note - just got it - ohsoslow
Sooty,

I have no problem with the clutch on ours, but this being the first FBW car we have owned I find the throttle a bit woolly. Not a great problem which I am sure I will get used to.

Doing 30 mph seems very slow, due I suppose to being fairly high and I regularly drive an MX-5 which being low gives a more exagerated sense of speed.
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Mon 5 Oct 2009 17:59
Nissan Note - just got it - 1400ted
Boiught a 1600 Auto a couple of weeks ago to replace SWMBO's C3 Sensodrive.
Just got back from a weekend in it in the Eden Valley. Very impressed with it's performance and versatility. Did the 100 miles home in 90 mins including a fuel stop.
Very quiet both at speed and on bumpy surfaces. Only comment...it's a British car, so why no 30, 50 and 70 mph on the speedo ?
I think we're going to like this one !

Ted
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Thu 4 Feb 2010 12:04
Nissan Note - just got it - ohsoslow
Have had the Note for about 5 months now but have nothing much really to report. Both Herself and I are very happy with the car, how it drives, its comfort and practicality.

We needed sufficient space and ease of access for MIL transport with her wheelchair which the car provides very well.

Even eldest daughter and husband were impressed with it, after their initial response of 'You've bought what?' when told.

Unfortunately we haven't done very many miles in it yet as it wasn't used during the Big Snow. (We still have an ancient Corsa for things like trips to the tip and journeys that involve transiting the very muddy and pot-holed lanes around here).

We have averaged 45.5 mpg so far, it lacks a bit of grunt for overtaking etc, but once used to its performance it goes well enough.

Problems....none.

Disappointments....none.

Dislikes......windscreen washer bottle lid is very flimsy and not attached, it is probably slightly more robust than a foil milk bottle top. Also as Ted mentioned previously the speedo is not the clearest at the most important speeds for this country.

The built-in sat nav has a more refined voice and seems more polite / less abrupt than our portable jobby but doesn't have speed camera alerts. (Now christened Sybil, being more posh than Sally, being the other. Apologies to any Sallys out there). It does however warn of road works / delays etc and seems to recalculate a route quicker if her initial advice is ignored. Sally has been known to sulk for ages after several demands to complete a U-turn have been ignored.

Will report again if there is anything worthy of a post.

To sum up, it is a very practical car for us, it is comfortable and pleasant to drive but not exciting in any way.









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Wed 19 May 2010 20:42
Nissan Note - just got it - Quacker1964

Like Ohsoslow I'm posting an update having used mine for approx 6/7 month.

Being only my 2nd car (after my Micra), I found the "jump" from 1.0 to 1.5 quite a bit as well as the change from petrol to diesel. Both of these were quickly overcome, just the initial change was confusing, especially when idling at lower speeds. The Micra would easily go to 4th when the same thing with the larger Note had me reaching back for 3rd or even 2nd.

I have no compaints and love the gadgets this car has. The 1.5 NTEC spec is quite generous and I now have a virtual jukebox fitted (Ipod hidden away in one of the many cubbyholes). The SATNAV is excellent, and well-used, though I am not sure how to add POI's - but that's a whole new forum! Even the Bluetooth mobile phone works a treat even if I do look stupid driving along and apparently talking into the courtesy light! - Boys and their toys makes Nissan Connect's system a winner - Bosch technology apparently, rather than the usual Garmin/TomTom.

Biggest bonus for me however is the astonishing fuel economy. I am not a high-mileage driver, but I do the odd very long journey from time to time. I have found the on-board computer a little over-generous, possibly by as much as 10-12% of actual economy. On a recent bird watching trip with 3 hefty lads and associated optics etc. from Tyneside to Suffolk and around the East Anglia area we managed 568 miles before the refuel light beat me. By the time I refuelled and did the calculations, it was an incredible 67MPG (can't recall the exact figures) I scoffed at the 62MPG "official" figures, but actually bettered them. Even (a genuine) 50MPG around the doors and work commute is achievable. In fairness I am no leadfoot and much to my mate's anonyance, I like to stick to speed limits. - This diesel literally sips fuel, and £35 road tax means running costs will be better than the 1.0 Micra - and then some! Similar 60+ figures were returned from recent trips to Nottingham and the Highlands.

So it is no hot-hatch, but has all the convenience, technology and economy to last me a while. So much space in such a small car and with the secondary boot and seat movement it becomes even bigger.

My only grievance is the colour black and alloy wheels mean too much cleaning;-) but other than that it handles really well, is very comfortable on 300 mile journeys and touching wood here, not a problem so far....no doubt the first service will probably be jinxed now.

Edited by Quacker1964 on 19/05/2010 at 20:46

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Wed 15 Sep 2010 15:40
Nissan Note - just got it - spammie

My wife has a 59 plate ntec diesel and the clutch went at 800 miles and has since been back to Evans Halshaw doncaster 7 times to be fixed and it still slips when they give us it back.

Nissan uk etc wont take responsabilty nor will nissan finance as we have found out now that as the car is on nissan fineance its not in nissans interest to help us.

Edited by Avant on 03/10/2010 at 23:41

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Sun 3 Oct 2010 15:38
Nissan Note - just got it - ohsoslow

We have now had the Note for just over a year. There have been no problems and the car has performed well for our needs. It has only done 4500 miles as it is mainly used for longer journeys, short and messy journeys are undertaken by our aged Corsa until something expensive breaks.

My wife, not being a very confident driver, actually enjoys driving the Note rather than being a chore in other cars.

I just wish we had lashed out on the parking sensors as when I feel that I am very close to a car behind when reversing I am about a metre away. My problem I think rather than the car's.

We have managed 48.5 mpg over the year which I am quite happy with.

I still haven't grown to like the ugly front of the car so doubt I ever will after this time.

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Tue 5 Oct 2010 16:00
Nissan Note - just got it - Ethan Edwards

I have a 1600 auto Note N tec- since March. It's simplicity itself to get the Sat Nav to import POI and the Greed Camera locations. All detailed in the manual but basically you put all the information into a specific directory that you create on a USB memory stick. You plug the stick into the USB socket located in the top dash cubby hole. Then use the menu tell the system to import the data.

Only tricky bit is you must create a specific name directory on the memory stick.

Googled this. See www.pocketgps.co.uk for a better set of instructions and the actual data files with locations etc.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD NEW POI'S AND SPEED CAMERAS ONTO THE CONNECT SYSTEM 1) first make a folder called "myPOIs" on your usb memory stick 2) then make another folder INSIDE THAT called "myPOIWarnings". PLEASE NOTE YOU DO NOT USE THE APOSTROPHE'S THEY ARE JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE TITLE'S 3) You then put the downloaded poi file inside that second folder 4) pop it in your cars usb port,connect will ask if you want to download new poi's just hit yes and its done 5) if your not automatically asked to install new poi's the you need to manually download them by selecting setup then navigation on your connect then scroll down to install new poi's and click on it

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 05/10/2010 at 16:02

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Tue 12 Oct 2010 10:50
Nissan Note - just got it - WELLBRAN

My wife and I took a Note 1.6 SVE for a test drive this week and the stories of noisy petrol engine is really not true it was so quiet, the seats were comfortable well the ride is a bit firm over bumps but no worse than any other car with our roads. also one thing when in a twisty section of road there was a rattling or vibration sound and the dash light came on the sales guy said it was the traction control working?? anyone throw light on that? apart from that its a cracking car. Plenty of "go" on the dual carriageway and okay in the small lanes great vision in front with a high seating and the windscreen is very flat but once you get used to it it is a better arrangement than a swept windscreen. Rear seats is loads of room I am 6ft but even with the front seats right back there is still plenty of room for my legs. hight is very good also as for 3 in the back? hmm well not too sure on thatits a bit tight. as the note is long and a bit narrow, but the road holding is very good for the shape of it.

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