Nissan Armada

rsholland

with you about the rear door handles. That's a feature I've never liked on any of the Nissan SUVs.

The truck looks great in person.

Bob

carpeople

Come from the original Pathfinder. You will notice it has the same setup as the PF Armada. That is probably why the are on the Armada, for some resemblance to the PF. Why does a little child need to open the door? The parent can open it, and I doubt a little could even OPEN the door.

2heeldrive

With all due respect, you obviously have no experience with kids.

bigorange30

I can just see a mother with 2 small children taking them to the grocery store and coming out with 5 bags of groceries in her hand and having to set them down and open the doors for the kids and then pick the bags back up to put them in the car. It is a big help if the kids can open their own door. Most children can open lower placed door handles with no problems by about 5 yrs old.

carpeople

Its true I have no experience with door handles and kids, but I just thought if it's not much of a problem on the PF(never heard anyone complaining about this) but it is on the Armada. Thats all I was trying to point out

rsholland

but I just thought if it's not much of a problem on the PF(never heard anyone complaining about this) but it is on the Armada. That's all I was trying to point out

Not only the Pathfinder, but also the Xterra too.

I never liked them, and have complained in other forum threads about this feature. It's a dumb design. What Nissan is trying to do is visually play down the rear door handles, so the vehicle comes across more as a sporty 2-door, and not a 4-door. It's almost as if they're ashamed to admit the vehicle is a 4-door.

I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about, as I've been a graphic designer and a design educator on a college level for years. Even so, you're welcome to disagree with me. No hard feelings.

Bob

ck2003

The rear door handles definitely are not my favorite but the way Nissan designed the rear door, it would look even stranger to put them in the traditional position.

I think the center window and rear window are much more disconcerting since the lines go in different angles.

Here's my fix to gel the window lines better:
http://www.idesign2.net/armadamod.jpg

Even so, I'm looking forward to hearing about some real reviews on this beast.

02whttrib

I saw one of these trucks today up near the new Nissan plant in MS, was white. I must say I thought it was horrid in pics but actually looks great on the road. Had manufacturers plate on it. Too large for me to consider but if I was in the market for a larger SUV this might be it. I'm very, very interested in seeing a new Titan.

Nissan; loose the Pathfinder name here, a marketing nightmare!! Nissan Armada sounds so much better.

Ray

rsholland

I suspect you will see something like that on the sister-ship, Infiniti QX56. It has a "hint" of the FX35/45's rear quarter window.

Bob

rsholland

I think losing the "Pathfinder" attachment will happen, once the all new mid-size Pathfinder debuts; at least I've read that somewhere.

Bob

clpurnell

My dealer says they will begin to arrive in about 45 days. I have hear that a dealership in california has preproduction models on display. I think it is concord Nissan. If anyone is in that vicinity pleas take picks of it.

clpurnell

For the new armada are available here. I just wish pricing would come out.

http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/nissan2004/pathfinder.shtml

carpeople

Nissan is supposed to start taking orders for it in August and it will be arriving at dealers on September 29.

mrwhipple

Anyone know what the mileage and ground clearance is for the 4WD models?

stever

We show ground clearance of 9.8 inches and estimate mpg at 29. link

Ok, so we don't estimate mpg at 29 - but the tank will hold 29 gallons and when the gas tank needs to be that big, well, the mileage is probably going to be typically SUV. Assume Nissan is shooting for a 300 mile range and that would translate to ~11 mpg city. I suspect they really are shooting for 14 city, 18 highway, like the Tahoe.

Any better guessers out there?

Steve, Host

jeff186

That should help the highway mileage estimate some. 20 mpg highway seems to the the holy grail for the builder of full-sized SUVs. But really, function is why I'm looking at buying this bad boy, mileage could be Hummer-like and it wouldn't phase me.

califjohn

at Capitol Nissan in San Jose. The S.J. Mercury had an ad today that said the Armada and Titan were "on display" at that dealership. I did not see any other local Nissan store make the same claim but I have a feeling these two will be "rotated" around to different dealerships (much as the Volvo XC90 was early on). The long wait is drawing to a close it seems.

clpurnell

mrwhipple

Thanks for the info.

I did see the 9.8" ground clearance on the Nissan web site, but it listed it for 2WD and had a "?" for 4WD.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

bowke28

anyone notice how the new trucks BOTH look like the old frontier up front?

stever

And here I thought it was just the Ford Escape that kept everyone confused about ground clearances.

Steve, Host

mrwhipple

I've noticed in the 4Runner forum as well.

dhh

to see this thing in person! I love everything about it, except for one thing: NO POWER REAR WINDOW! I know this sounds petty, but as a former owner of a 1998 4Runner, I can tell you that this is a VERY useful feature. Sure, I can live without it, but why is it that only Toyota has this? Cost?

Anyway, until I became aware of the Armada, I thought that the Excursion was my only option (I own an 8000 pound boat). Does anyone have any details on the brakes? I know it has four-wheel discs, but I was more interested in their size. As other people who tow will tell you, it's not so much the engine that counts, but the transmission and brakes.

Cheers!

dhh

http://www.carseverything.com/content/article/1497

Best summary I've found yet.

importfan14

They don't have anything just yet on the size of the brakes, but should when it comes closer to its debut.

BTW, the article you posted is the exact article from nissannews.com.

rugeti

When are these things being released for sale?

mrwhipple

I think they're due out the end of September, unless that has changed.

mrwhipple

I just received a teaser brochure from Nissan on the Armada, and it says October release on it. But who knows how long ago the material was printed.

goose1207

Nissan dlrs will begin taking orders on 8/17 for September delivery.

mrwhipple

Thanks for the updated info.

rajibaji

Very nice car, I like the GPS and the extras.
it has a 9100lbs towing capacity, very nice,
I have a 8300 boat I tow. Until now, a
suburban type SUV was the only option. I think
this car will be a nice replacement.

PROS:
=====
1. excellent towing 9100 lbs
2. nice integration with GPS
3. sun roof nicely done
4. heated seats
5. nice looks
6. very progressive interior
7. comfortable front and second row seats
8. very stylish looks outside
9. extra power ports

CONS:
=====
1. 3rd row seat not very comfortable
2. access to third row seats very clumsy and
lots of heavy metal in 2nd row seat to
knock your knees on when getting in 3rd row seats
3. very cheap plastic pieces that seem to fall
off very easily in back areas of car
4. back window doesn't roll down.
5. missing laser guided cruise control
6. no rear view camera

Overall
=======
this is a completely new design, Nissan may
have been a bit aggressivee in getting this car out.
There are a still a few needed refinements needed
which should come in the next year or two.
Overall, I like the car. I think it will be the
hottest SUV next year. However, I think I'll
wait for the few minor refinements that Nissan
will follow up with in the next year or two.

nitemask

http://www.nissanusa.com/buying/libs/RTCevents_armada.html

bowke28

pricing is imminent...we are expecting prices to rival that of the expedition: $32000 up to $49000. difference: armada will have the same powertrain for every unit.

goose1207

Rajibaji: Cons #5 & 6 will be addressed by the Infiniti version of the Armada, the FX56.

I'm not sure if NNA is going to offer incentives on the Armada but they did reveal that the new Titan pickup from which the Armada is derived will be launched with incentives. This was announced at a Detroit press conference yesterday by Jed Connolly (sic?), the top dog of NNA.

carpeople

it will be called the QX56.

bowke28

the titan will have only the financinc incentives with the rest of the nissan lineup: 0.9% for 36 months and 1.9% up to 60 months. they are working hard to go away from the rebate game.

people buy hondas without incentives, and pay more in many cases than competitors. the same will be true of nissan.

clpurnell

are there 2 and 4wd models or are all models 4wd.

bowke28

not sure yet, but all other nissan SUV's offer 2WD, so i would assume the armada does as well.

nitemask

From what I get, there will be 6 versions.
SE - 2WD, SE Off-Road - 2WD, and LE - 2WD
SE - 4WD, SE Off-Road - $wd, and LE 4WD.

bowke28

no 2WD off-road...how can you have an off-road vehicle without 4WD?

BTW...the "LE" is no longer from what ive heard...all nissans are going to the SE and SL types from now till they decide to change the letters again...lol.

hairong

Ok, I deleted my last post, in case someone saw it, and replacing it with this one:

Nissan just released the official engine power ratings for the Endurance V8:

http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/news/2003/relmatt200308139531- 6.shtml

"In the Pathfinder Armada, the engine will produce 305 horsepower @ 4,900 RPMs, and 385 lb-ft of torque @ 3600 RPMs. In the Titan, the Endurance V8 will provide 305 horsepower @ 4900 and 379 lb-ft of torque @ 3600 RPMs. "

stever

Your link doesn't mention it, but the first Armada was produced on the assembly line today, 10 days ahead of schedule:

Nissan begins SUV assembly today (Clarion Ledger)

Steve, Host

ricksterq

One think I can surely say is it's one ugly looking hunk of metal. It ranks right up there with

Acura MDX
BMW X5
Cadillac SRX
Any Land Rover
Cooper
and any Hummer ever made

for the ugliest cars on the road.

Looks good inside, though.

rsholland

and your pick for best-looking would be??

Bob

pathfinder13

bowke28

anyone who thinks the X5 is ugly should be ignored anyway.

clpurnell

When I read all the cars he called ugly I just laughed. You know this guy probably drives an Aztek. :P

mrwhipple

...or a Pinto

importfan14

Don't feed the troll!

willimjo

I worked the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival in Oshkosh WI this past weekend. Was volunteering at the Off-Road Village; a fairly radical dirt track that allowed festival-goers to test drive 4WD vehicles.

Nissan had the Titan on the track for Friday and Saturday, with the Armada sitting in the display area open for people to crawl through. On Sunday, they replaced the Titan with the Armada.

My overall impression - I was sure my next vehicle was going to be an Expedition EB, now I'll have to give serious consideration to the Armada. It drove nice, has adequate space, and offers most features I was looking for (all options except Nav)in the Expy EB.

Features missing:
- No Heated/Cooled seats available, only Heated
- No Power Fold on the third seat (and it was a pain to get in a position to flip it back up - can't be done from the rear of the vehicle, have to reach through the second row door).

Items I didn't care for:
- DVD is in the front center console and takes up most of the room - why wasn't it placed on the ceiling with the screen like most others?
- As mentioned above, the third row seat isn't split, decreases the flexibility
- Not sure I like the transmission shifter on the floor, but it didn't seem to be particularly in the way; the gated sequence is a bit odd.

Items I really liked:
- Available side curtain air-bags in all rows, only one in class to include third row.
- Sucked up the dirt track like it was driving on pavement, much smoother than the other vehicles I drove on it (granted the others were a Suzuki XL7, Dodge Ram 1500, and Dodge Ram 3500 dually)

Now looking for pricing information and any restrictions on option package combinations.