Nissan Murano 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • jpiresjpires Member Posts: 4
    Why is that when you turn on the heat, the A/C light comes on?

    You can turn it off manually. But if the heat is in the "internal circulation mode", you cannot turn the A/C off manually (it will turn off the heat as well).

    Probably a design reason, just wondering what it is.
  • dklaneckydklanecky Member Posts: 559
    My understanding of the XM Radio installation is (in the Murano) you need three parts:

    1. Satellite Radio Antenna
    2. Satellite Radio Tuner
    3. Satellite Radio Receiver (Capable)

    (And of course the service at 9.95 month)

    The Murano comes with #3 but you must add #2 (not available yet from Nissan) and there is some dispute whether or not #1 is already up on your roof.

    I've had an aftermarket Pioneer unit (FM modulated type) since June 2002 and it is really nice compared to the typical AM/FM bands.

    Everyone who has riden for more than 10 minutes in my car asks what CD I'm listening to and can't believe it's an FM modulated installation of XM radio coming through the Bose system.

    Programming is what your paying for and it is well worth the 30 cents a day it costs IMO.

    I just hope Nissan gets us some difinite answers soon about the Murano capability in this area. I won't be able to make myself buy one until they resolve this.
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Only days after seeing the SI print ad, a Murano ad shows up on TV! (Fox broadcasting last night).
    The ad was similar in that it was a 45+ guy looking for a rare book, finds it, then gets in line to buy...in front of him is the AUTHOR and he signs the book for the guy.

    Actually few shots of the car. But an ad, none-the-less. And a VERY different ad from your typical Nissan "0 cars like it" Maxima add. Very little flash.
  • bkprattbkpratt Member Posts: 16
    Thanks to those who responded about cloth seats. I finally saw them in at a dealer in NJ. Looked nice, but I think I prefer the cloth on the 350, which also seems more durable.

    Asked some people at work (men and women) for opinions about the Murano based on the original brochure (didn't want to show the yuppie version). Most liked the interior, but not the exterior. One said it looked like a "family car" (aka minivan). A few guys said it looked "feminine", not for a man. Since I'm a man, I suggested to one of them that we stop over at the local Nissan dealer to take a look in person. We saw one outside, but they didn't have one in the showroom, and my friend thought the Quest on the floor must be the Murano. Back outside, he thought the black version looked more masculine, but still wasn't too impressed, and thought the wheels were way too large.

    I've looked at several cars/SUVs and still come back to the Murano, as it isn't as boring as most SUVs and has several very nice features. I prefer the black exterior with the charcoal cloth (or black leather) interior. The black/gray/silver seems to work well together and tone down some of the more radical elements.

    Just can't seem to get over the sloping nose and smiley grill. It really stands out against the black. Would seriously consider painting the grill black to match, leaving the Nissan logo (or center section) silver. Don't know it that would work. Anyone else had this idea, or another?

    DKLaneky, where did you get the 8.5% from MSRP number?

    And anyone have prices on replacement tires?
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    I have finally calmed down enough to reply - you are so right!! I have had two really bad experiences concerning quotes over the phone and I should have paid attention to the old addage - if it sounds to good to be true...

    Both the Toyota and Nissan dealers thought they could mussle me into buying their cars for the price they want and not what they quoted over the phone.

    If the weather was a little better, I'm tempted to fly to a Carmax dealer back East because they seem to be the only dealers willing to make a reasonable deal.

    Also, I'm a little surprised that Nissan is not taking advantage of the Los Angeles Car Show being in town - they have done very little Murano advertising (one ad in the newpaper last week) and not mentioned at all in their tv ads. I still haven't seen but 1 Murano on the road. And yet, the dealers are asking anywhere from $37,800 to over $39,900 for a fully loaded Murano.

    This is becoming a very frustrating process - I wish the Freelander TD4 was being sold in this country - I really enjoyed driving it in Italy (the rental-TD4 I drove was really beautifully appointed with interior wood trim and all the modern conveniences) and it got nearly 50 MPG. The V-6 they sell in the USA only gets about 18MPG and it isn't nearly as nice.
  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    special order the Murano from the factory just the way you want it. Takes about 3 months. It is what I am going to do. I will call local dealers first and give them the price carmax quotes me, so they have a chance to beat my special order price (I don't think they will). They will have to beat it because I am going to save about $1500 in sales tax just by buying it in SC vs FL.

    Ppower
  • badbillyboybadbillyboy Member Posts: 3
    dklanecky, drembo, et als . . .

    Don't count on getting any info from Nissan - not if your dealer is like mine - lots of "we'll get back to you" and no information (how does the song go - a little less conversation and a little more action?).

    I called Bose - no information there, except that the head unit is made by Clarion (by the way, the lady at Bose I spoke to said that adding an Infinity BassLink could "blow the entire system," which is total BS - when I asked her why, citing a number of people who have had it done successfully, she stammered around and then admitted she didn't know why. But that's another story). Clarion did not even have anyone who knew vaguely what I was talking about.

    I finally talked to a couple of local car stereo installers (I know, I know, I should have done that to begin with) who said (1) you need an FM Modulator, like the Pioneer GEX-FM903XM, and an antenna; (2) the installation takes about an hour or two; (3) it sounds great; and (4) a direct connection, as opposed to one though your FM, is not possible with the Bose system. I still don't know who to believe, but since I really don't plan on using XM as a substitute for CDs, but rather to be able to avoid endless and mindless commercials and ridiculous programming on FM and to be able to keep a station as I drive long distances, I'm going to go for it and get the Pioneer unit.
    If anyone cares, I'll let you all know how it comes out.
  • dklaneckydklanecky Member Posts: 559
    Carmax.com has Nissan Muranos listed on their site at between 7-8.5% off of MSRP. The higher the MSRP, the higher the discount percent.

    Problem I'm having is that they just don't seem to have any with the Nav units since I have yet to see one sticker over $36k.
  • dklaneckydklanecky Member Posts: 559
    I think there is a direct connection on the newer head units in the Murano. It's got an SAT button on the face of the head unit so it must have the capability to control the add-on tuner.

    I'm expecting that sometime Nissan/Infiniti will announce the tuner for the Bose unit will be available and then it will be a direct plug in to the back of the head unit.

    For the record, the FM modulated sound isn't bad but after listening to the XM for a while (I have the add on Pioneer unit you named) I switch over to a cd and there is a noticeable improvement in frequency response.

    I am willing to wait for the direct XM availablility before I buy the Murano.
  • badbillyboybadbillyboy Member Posts: 3
    That's what I would have thought, given the presence of the SAT button on the head unit - I also would have thought that a Nissan dealer would know that information, especially if the XM tuner is going to be an available accessory. If the dealer ever gets back to me, I'll let you know what he says.
  • aftyafty Member Posts: 499
    Don't count on saving any sales tax by buying a car out of state. You pay sales tax on a car purchase based on the state you register it in, not on where you bought it.
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Sophie. Do you belong to a credit union? Would you consider it? Because I went to get loan approval from my credit union and they gave me the name of a broker.
    I don't know if it works the same for every CU, but I could buy a Murano today for $25,400!!! No kidding!

    I know, I was shocked too. Basically they sell almost any car for a couple of hundred over invoice. They can sell some cars under invoice (but not the Murano, it's too new). He said I might have to wait 90 days to get the color I want, but heck!
    I'm very excited.
    I will probably need to wait a little more than 90 days (I want a credit card paid off before jumping into this car payment) But it's WONDERFUL to know I don't have to pay MSRP or above.
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Can someone who has the brochure answer this question: What interiors are available (cloth) with the Peuter color and Bourdeux Murano.

    Thanks.
  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    My sister lives in SC. Other thing is according to Florida state tax code you don't have to pay sales tax on a car if you took delivery of the car from the dealer in another state.

    Ppower
  • aftyafty Member Posts: 499
    Wow! That is a nice law. Wish we had it up here in Massachusetts, especially with New Hampshire, a no-sales-tax state, right next door. :)
  • wildcorgiswildcorgis Member Posts: 84
    Regarding Carmax, what is the total of all the fees associated with buying one of their cars? I'm sure it's still a great deal considering most places are still asking MSRP.

    Nice to know Nissan is doing some advertising. even though I've yet to see some. I wonder who they are targeting?

    On the interior color combinatio n, acccording to Kelly Blue Book 's descriptions: For non-leather Murano's

    Pewter= Cabernet and Charcoal
    Bordeaux= Cabernet

    steve
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    That helps a lot. The broker needs to know the interior I'm interested in. I've not seen the cabernet cloth yet. I guess I need to..

    You have Corgis? Pembroke or Welsh? i LOVE those dogs. Don't have one, but it's on the list of possibilities.
    Are they okay with kids?
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    Thanks for the info, if I do buy the car through Carmax, I'd better do it soon because California is raising taxes, but I wonder if I'll have to pay any fees or taxes in SC too. (although the guy I talked to in SC said that I didn't have to worry about the smog/emissions for CA).

    Thanks Cookie01 for the Credit Union idea, but I'll be paying cash (home equity check [tax deductible interest]). Dealers don't seem to care anymore about cash - they get their money anyway and it is no longer bears any weight that you can pay cash.

    I saw two Nissan commercials yesterday, one advertising just the Murano and the other advertising all of their cars.

    I'm wondering what will happen to the SUV market (starting to hear rumblings about driving gas guzzler SUV's is unpatriotic and supporting terrorists) - should this country actually go to war and our gasoline supply becomes even more limited (regular has jumped from a low of $1.36 to $1.59 this week and that's just about the Venezuela mess).

    Sophie
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    shoot, I've been paying $1.49 since about X-mas, no noticeable jump here (yet)...

    We can't pump our own, so it usually is the most expensive in the country.
  • wildcorgiswildcorgis Member Posts: 84
    cookie01,Glad to help! We have a Welsh Pembroke corgi the other one with the tail is the Welsh Cardigan. They are great dogs with lots of energy and great with kids if you get them when they are puppies .

    Gas in San Diego is about 1.69 for regular and about 1.87 for premium .

    There was some hoopla in the paper today about a couple of TV stations that will not broadcast certain anti-SUV commercial . Event though they are not as big of a market as the SUV's there are also a lot of light duty truck, luxury and exotic cars that get mileage similar to some large SUV's. Gas would have to go up quite a lot( I think $3.00 or more) before people stoppped buying gas guzzlers. My warped way of thinking is the faster we use up the oil supply the quicker we will go to alternative sources ; ) Fortunately I think the Murano at 20-25 is not that bad about the same as most other V6 cars

    Steve
  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    went to $2.00 range for regular, you can be sure people would start looking at not wanting to put gas in guzzler. At $2 all consumer merchandise prices would also rise, so something has to give.

    Ppower
  • dkc0dkc0 Member Posts: 1
    That $25,400 price does sound a little too good. The lowest invoice price I have seen on the web is $25,490 for a 2WD SL w/ no options. That price doesn't even include the destination charge of $540. Was the credit union by any chance first tech? I am eligible to join, but haven't so far. If they can really get the car for that low, maybe I'll join just so I can get a good deal.
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    at some gas stations has gone past $2.00 (Mobile, 76)in Los Angeles (I usually buy my gas at Arco which generally has the best prices). The Murano really has the best gas mileage of the suv's.

    re: price!!! by dkc0 - The salesperson I spoke to at Carmax offered me a fully loaded 2wd SL (sunroof, traction control, leather, 6cd changer) for around $29,588 and I'm pretty sure he said he wasn't charging me the destination fee. (which is a great price until I factor either shipping to Los Angeles or flying to the east coast and driving it back myself - either way, I'm looking at least another $2,000).

    Am going to the Car Show tonight - maybe I'll fall in love with some other vehicle.

    Sophie
  • john_bayareajohn_bayarea Member Posts: 2
    I wouldn't completely trust the brochure for the available interior/exterior color combination. I bought a silver SL AWD a month ago and it has Cabernet interior. According to the chart at the dealer and on-line, only grey and beige interiors are supposed to be available w silver exterior.
  • knockoffknockoff Member Posts: 72
    Saw a silver last night...was beautiful. Is it correct that the only difference between SL & SE is the SE has a stiffer suspension & different wheels?

    About the SUV vs. gas war. I caught on talk radio today a host (don't know who) talking to a lady in LA, that is heading this anti SUV stuff and saying all that drive them are supporting terrorism. The host asked her if she had ever ridden in a private plane. She answered yes, she just went to NY but....the plane was going there already! The host had a hay-day with that. He also kept asking her how big her house was to heat & cool...she would not answer but later in the program a producer came up with an article about this famous lady purchasing a mansion (9,000 sqft) in Brentwood, CA. It was gr8 how he took her to task...let's not get swayed by some "rich" activist asking us to sacrifice unless they show by example! Fair enought?
  • jahwrenjahwren Member Posts: 4
    All the people attacking Huffington are just avoiding the issue. It doesn't take some elite white conservative to connect the dots. The link between oil consumption and terrorism is only three well-known, completely obvious steps:

    1) Oil gives money to the Saudis use more oil, give more money.
    2) The saudis give some of that money to the Wahabis as a political concession and repress their population.
    3) The Wahabis tell the repressed population that it is American money repressing them and they set up radical islamist schools that parents send their kids to for free thinking that any school is better than no school.

    That's a pretty direct connection between American use of oil and the rapid growth of violent anti-american youth in the muslim world.

    I haven't even read or heard what Huffington is saying, but its been obvious to anyone with the brains to see through the Bush Baloney about, "they hate us because of our freedom." But I guess, "shoot the messenger, ignore the message" is the American way when it comes to self-examination.

    Meanwhile - Sophie, why $2K to bring it cross country? I fly from LA to Boston all the time on tickets that cost in the neighborhood of $300 - roundtrip. I'm sure you could pick up the car and drive it back to Cali for a total of less then $1000 including ticket, gas, meals and lodging. Almost assuredly a round-trip ticket will be cheaper than a one-way, but it doesn't make you a terrorist if you don't use the return leg.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I'm thinking flatbed shipping would be $1,000 or so?


    Before you folks get farther astray about the anti-SUV ads in here, please take it to the I don't like SUVs, why do you? discussion where we're already talking about them. Thanks.


    Steve, Host

  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    go pick the Murano up at carmax. They can't ship them due to franchise restrictions.

    And if they quoted you that price it is just over invoice by about $100. This being without $540 in destination charge. Which I would think they would need to charge you anyway on top of that quoted price. Since, it is added to the price of the car from port to them and they have to pay it. What carmax gave you that quote the one in SC or the Baltimore/DC one?

    Ppower
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I started up a new discussion on the topic. You can join in here: Are SUVers Unpatriotic?

    tidester, host

  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    about your silver coming with that color interior? Was it a screw up at the factory? I might be interested in trying to get a silver one if I could also get that color interior with it. Right now I am looking at Polished Pewter with Cab leather interior.

    Ppower
  • andrews928andrews928 Member Posts: 64
    Wow!! Your first post (I believe) on the Murano board and 4 out of 5 paragraphs are your simplistic views of the world and American's. I really liked your last quote.

    ." But I guess, "shoot the messenger, ignore the message" is the American way when it comes to self-examination.

    I guess were all just fat,dumb and happy!!!
  • wildcorgiswildcorgis Member Posts: 84
    I guess no one answered my carmax question? so I'll ask again. Do they tack on any fees , like documention and state fees? I know when I look at ebay motors most out of state vendors have fees that range from a few hundred dollars or more. that goes to the state governemnet

    My wife said she saw the Murano commercial about the guy looking for the book by Kurt Vonnegut. She ia huge Vonnegut fan but doesn't like the Murano. What was the message ? She made it sound like a Visa commercial with the slogan "autograpgh book...priceless" line.
    I'm not sure what kind of people are into Vonnegut? My wife thinks he's a modern classical writer. One of the best literary writers alive .
    Maybe the Murano will be modern classic, too?

    Steve
  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    on the site. Just take and look at individual Murano and they are listed on the webpage. Think it is like $99 + there could be more like state fees.

    Ppower
  • lanny4lanny4 Member Posts: 1
    can murano 2-wheel drive (not 4-wheel drive) owners please e-mail me (my address @ bottom) with following feedback?..
    *what mile-per-gallon murano's get?
    *do they come with Bose stereo/cd and X-Radio capacity?
    *is the ride smooth or SUV/truck like?
    *has anyone seen a dark blue exterior/lite grey interior murano?
    *does it have room for a woman's purse between the 2 front seats? (when i have passenger, i have to put my purse in back seat of pathfinder)

    i have a 98 nissan pathfinder with 63,000 miles & no car payments (only gets 17 mpg & starting to "surge") so trying to decide whether to trade in... if it's worth the additional insurance costs & car pmt as i'm on a VERY limited budget!!!

    e-mail me pls: lannytops@yahoo.com
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    The Cabernet color whether it is cloth or leather is really a strange color. Imagine what red/brown would look like in a tray of "Play-Dough". In the brochure, the color looks more brown (like the color of a good leather sofa), but in actuality, it is more on the red side and rather neon. I think Nissan really missed the boat on this color.
  • brydymondbrydymond Member Posts: 41
    Now that people have had the Murano a while I was wondering how you find the fuel economy. Is it better than expected? worse?
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    The guy I've been dealing with at Carmas is in SC, who has been extremely helpful and although I don't have my notes with me, I'm almost certain he said he wasn't going to charge me the $540 destination charge.

    I know that flying to SC and driving it back to Los Angeles shouldn't cost that much, but I'm on limited vacation and it would be out of my pocket any time I take to drvie the car back.

    Now for the new: I was at the Car Show last night and Nissan has hiked the sticker price for the Murano SL to $31,000. I didn't notice any SE's. Also, Infinity had a new FX45 with a sticker price of $41,000. Looks just like the Murano except for a slightly different grille. The interior leather was a nice color brown, sort of the color a good leather couch would be.
    Sophie
  • ppowerppower Member Posts: 93
    with in SC? Bill? Or Bob? Or someone else?

    Ppower
  • bmarkobmarko Member Posts: 8
    2wd SL model - getting 14.5 mpg with heavy city driving and got 27 mpg at steady 65miles per hour for about 30 miles on the freeway.

    Nissan Customer Care told me that the "drag" I feel when I take my foot off the gas is normal for the CVT Transmission. I drove another one at the dealer and it did not do this, so I think they are wrong or the tranny's are inconsistent based on the way the belts are adjusted.

    I would love to hear from others about mileage and the trany drag if you have feedback.
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Folks who have bought one. What happened with your insurance?
    I found my company quoted me the max for a vehicle that price because it is untested and they don't have figures on repair costs.

    dang.

    She did say that about a year after a new model is out, they adjust the levels based on repair cost and change the vehicle would be stolen.
  • kwyoonkwyoon Member Posts: 25
    This month's Car and Driver has test results of the Murano SL AWD. They got a 0-60 time of 7.5 s, 170 ft 70-0mph braking, 0.81g road grip, 19 mpg.

    That's pretty good considering the price (no matter how much people have been complaining about it on this forum), and that it is only a V6 and weighs almost 2 tons.

    Just go buy one!
  • jpiresjpires Member Posts: 4
    Just got insurance for my Murano, AWD SL.

    $493 for 6 months.

    My Honda Accord 98 gets $416 for 6 months.

    I'm in Michigan but same as California rates (as far as my Honda is concerned), good driving record, agent optimized premium between both cars.

    In summary, you should not pay a whole lot more for the Murano.
  • jpiresjpires Member Posts: 4
    Driving for about a week now. It looks like that I am getting about 19.5 to 20.5 MPG on cruise control (78 MPH) over 45 miles. Had one occasion with 21.5 MPG (wind direction?)

    Probably better at lower speeds.
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Your quote is actually not much less than the quote I received $550... and I have a "claim" on my policy that will go off in March. So I should slide back down to $490 or so after that.

    And the gas mileage sounds about right too. A car this heavy can't be expected to get better than 20 in the city.
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    Oops - I'm not sure, l have to check my notes (which I left at home). I do remember we were talking about the college football game and he was a Buckeye fan.

    Sophie
  • al63017al63017 Member Posts: 149
    Response to above post:#757 bmarko

    I would think if you drove one that did not feel like transmission was dragging then you would sure want to get that corrected. Any drag like that would affect gas mileage.

    Going between Highlander and Murano. Can buy Murano for 400-600 over invoice Highlander is 700-800 over. Other Nissan dealer says he will beat the 400-600 but doubt that. They have dealer price adjustment stickers on their Murano windows and when I see that I want nothing to do with them usually.
  • ojaijohnojaijohn Member Posts: 7
    I live an hour North of Los Angeles but might as well be on another planet when it comes to getting a deal on the Murano. Test drove the car and liked it until the dealer informed me that not only are they charging full msrp, they tacked on an additional $1000.00 as a "dealer premium". My response was that I'm not one of the fools that paid 2-3 thousand over msrp for a Miata when they first came out. I have never had a dealer turn down my standard offer of a nickel over invoice (500 bucks in dealer jargon) until now. I'm in no rush to buy and Nissan will keep making them. I keep hearing the Rolling Stones singing "Time Is On My Side".
  • cookie01cookie01 Member Posts: 369
    Dealers in Oregon are doing the same thing... BUT!
    when I went to check for a loan at my credit union (3.75% loan) they gave me their auto broker number and he quoted me $25,400 for an AWD... which I believe is right around invoice.
    If you don't belong to a credit union, I think you can still go through a broker. Check it out.
  • sophie5125sophie5125 Member Posts: 13
    I was just over at the Highlander discussion and discovered Costco.com. Apparently several buyers have found good deals (one person reports paying $100 over invoice) for a Highlander through the dealer on Costco.com. I just pulled up what Costco figures a 4dr SE 2WD CVT, Leather Trim Pkg, 6dc changer, Pwr Sunroof, vehicle Skid control, Convenience Pkg, Invoice=$30,409. Will see if Nissan will go for $100 over invoice. Wish me luck!!!!
  • ojaijohnojaijohn Member Posts: 7
    Thanks for the info. I belong to a credit union and Costco so it will be interesting to compare the price quotes I get back from these sources. Sure wish we had Carmax out here.
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