qashqai

davej · 09 February 2015, 22:11

I am looking for a new car and one that is capable of towing my Tornado 5mtr RIB and the vehicle I am considering is one of the latest generation QQs. The model I am thinking of is a 1,6 dci Diesel 4X4 model with the 130hp motor. Now I know all you 4X4 guys will come back and say its a hairdressers car etc and not a proper 4X4 and after doing a lot of towing with a Nissan Patrol I would completely agree. However, will it do the job and has anybody got one and used it on the occasional beach like Abersoch, Morfa Nefyn or a weedy slip somewhere and can comment first hand what they are like?

I recall somewhere reading that the 4X4 system on the QQ is the same as the X-Trail, which I have seen recover various small power craft off beaches all over the coast.

My RIB comes under the 750 Kg weight limit so it isn't big or heavy.

Any thoughts!

Thanks

Dave

M.Thornton · 10 February 2015, 08:08

Had 2ltr Qashqai to tow a 7.5m Vipermax with a 250 Evinrude on the back.
Great car ,no problems

telcowilliam · 10 February 2015, 09:58

I have qashqai 1.5 diesel and occasionally use it to tow my 5.8 tornado. Very sluggish but don't know if 1.6 would be any better

Ovey · 10 February 2015, 11:01

I would guess a 1.6L will struggle a little up some of the steeper slips/beaches. I had a 2.0L Honda CR-V which is similar in terms of being a "soft-roader" and its occasional 4WD system. It was fine on concrete slips, but struggled to grip at low tide with slippy concrete.

It also nodded lots over bumps in the road with the boat on the back (although it is around a 1300kg trailer which was getting towards the 1800kg max capacity tow weight).

Xk59D · 10 February 2015, 12:21

750kg boat it will be fine, get it bought.

If you are not happy, get the thing remapped, i got my xtrail done not long ago purely for towing...WHAT a difference.

cheers

Dan Gurney · 10 February 2015, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ovey

I would guess a 1.6L will struggle a little up some of the steeper slips/beaches.

I think it'll be the torque you miss rather than overall power. Father in law recently replaced his 2lt QQ for a 1.6 diesel model. Apparently the peak power is about the same but you have to rev it harder due to the smaller displacement. You'll have to work it harder but think of all the money you'll save when you're NOT towing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ovey

It also nodded lots over bumps in the road with the boat on the back (although it is around a 1300kg trailer which was getting towards the 1800kg max capacity tow weight).

I'm going to be towing a 1600 trailer behind a Seat Exeo ST shortly. The Exeo (which is basically a rebadged old model A4) is rated for 1600 - 1800 depending on the gradient according to the handbook. I guess I'll need to pay special attention to the hitch weight.

mick · 10 February 2015, 13:46

Chap opposite me HAD one for his tintent said it was a great car but wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding any hills he was into 3 & 2 gear so he swapped it for a Hyundai which is similar to a Kia sorento I think

C2 RIBS · 10 February 2015, 18:04

Have friends with two different models, they love the cars except the load space they both say is crap, They cant even carry their dogs easily

mick · 10 February 2015, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

Chap opposite me HAD one for his tintent said it was a great car but wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding any hills he was into 3 & 2 gear so he swapped it for a Hyundai which is similar to a Kia sorento I think

Almost forgot he had it breathed on as well big waste of time according to him

Xk59D · 10 February 2015, 18:23

chip and remap are obviously very different things. chip is indeed a waste of time....remap costs 3-4x more for a reason.

i got my xtrail remapped 2 weeks ago, i was a non believer but 30 day money back guarantee i thought why not.....amazing difference. a friend with the same xtrail as me was so impressed he booked his in too!

cheers

mick · 10 February 2015, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xk59D

chip and remap are obviously very different things. chip is indeed a waste of time....remap costs 3-4x more for a reason.

i got my xtrail remapped 2 weeks ago, i was a non believer but 30 day money back guarantee i thought why not.....amazing difference. a friend with the same xtrail as me was so impressed he booked his in too!

cheers

Is it blimey I never new that

Boatnomad · 10 February 2015, 19:43

5m RIB - 60HP
Tow it easy.

davej · 10 February 2015, 21:13

Great thanks for all the feedback, I think my mind is made up now to go for a QQ, if I buy something out of warrantee than I will be tempted to re map it. What are they like on the beach? My experience of 4X4s is older vehicles without smart drive systems like traction control etc but with diff locks, . Are these intelligent 4X4 systems good in soft going on all season tyres, which is what I would intend to run?

Any thoughts about where to get one, my local Nissan dealer doesn't seem to have heard of the words 'competitive quote'

Thanks All

Dave J

The Black Pig · 10 February 2015, 21:40

[QUOTE=davej;666544]I am looking for a new car and one that is capable of towing my Tornado 5mtr RIB and the vehicle I am considering is one of the latest generation QQs. The model I am thinking of is a 1,6 dci Diesel 4X4 model with the 130hp motor. Now I know all you 4X4 guys will come back and say its a hairdressers car etc and not a proper 4X4 and after doing a lot of towing with a Nissan Patrol I would completely agree. However, will it do the job and has anybody got one and used it on the occasional beach like Abersoch, Morfa Nefyn or a weedy slip somewhere and can comment first hand what they are like?

I recall somewhere reading that the 4X4 system on the QQ is the same as the X-Trail, which I have seen recover various small power craft off beaches all over the coast.

My RIB comes under the 750 Kg weight limit so it isn't big or heavy.

Hi Dave,

Yes it is rather here nor there but perfectly adequate for the job it has to do, I had a peugoet partner combi that had that job with a similar weight and it was fine, diesels are torquee and with an extra bonus of 4 wheel drive you won't go far wrong.

spartacus · 10 February 2015, 21:55

Not even sure if this is 4 wheel drive. Nissan have got too many variants it's confusing. First thing I'd do is check it's got a bleed'n prop-shaft!

Used Nissan Qashqai in Specialist Cars | Specialist Cars Nissan

Have you thought about a Honda CR-V? I've driven an older (2008) model before, but it was a petrol 2.0 litre with a a bit of drink problem. Attractive car and comfortable with auto box. The new 1.6 diesel (118PS) is very frugal, but it's only 2WD. Base 4x4 model is 2.0 I-VTEC (S level specification) for £23,100.

BogMonster · 11 February 2015, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by davej

My experience of 4X4s is older vehicles without smart drive systems like traction control etc but with diff locks, . Are these intelligent 4X4 systems good in soft going on all season tyres, which is what I would intend to run?

I haven't specifically tried towing a trailer up a beach with them but in general I would guess no, because the new systems often require wheelspin to activate, which is not what you want in sand or gravel with a trailer on the back...

It will depend on the specifics of the system - if it includes viscous coupling(s) like the old Freelanders then in practice these allow very little wheelspin, but pure electronics that rely on simply measuring wheel speed and pulsing the ABS to brake spinning wheels are much less effective in some situations than positive drive through difflocks. The test tracks that the manufacturers invent which make them wave wheels in the air are not at all representative of real life! Out of the current crop of vehicles I'm honestly not sure what is fitted with what, but none of them are a match for a driver with a brain and difflocks, they are mostly just designed to make 4x4s fairly idiot proof for the mass market.

Ovey · 11 February 2015, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

Have you thought about a Honda CR-V? I've driven an older (2008) model before, but it was a petrol 2.0 litre with a a bit of drink problem. Attractive car and comfortable with auto box. The new 1.6 diesel (118PS) is very frugal, but it's only 2WD. Base 4x4 model is 2.0 I-VTEC (S level specification) for £23,100.

+1 for the CR-V!

The load space was immense on my '52 Reg 2.0i petrol and easily fitted me, my wife, two boys and 4 dogs! The main reason I got rid of it was due to the "nodding" with the 1200-1300kg(ish) trailer on the back. If I had a lighter boat then I'd probably still have the CR-V now. It was FWD most of the time but switched into 4WD automatically when it sensed the wheels slipping. It did slip a little at low tide on a steep wet-seaweedy slipway but still got the boat up with little trouble. I'm not sure how it would have done on a beach as I never tried. But I just prefer the LR Discovery3 I swapped it for (and now my RRS) with the increased towing capacity since the nodding has gone away and the permanent 4WD never falters.

andyjcox1 · 18 February 2015, 15:11

Hi Xk59D, could you describe the difference the remap made. I have an xtrail and was thinking about doing the same. Mine does all I need it to but would be nice to see the fuel consumption go down if that was affected.

Cheers, andy

Xk59D · 18 February 2015, 18:08

Hi Andy,

pm'd

cheers

gtflash · 28 February 2015, 07:37

I don't have a Nissan but a Renault 1.5dci which is the same as nissans 1.5 engine. It is the single most gutless engine I have ever driven. I once got stuck trying to reverse over a sleeping policeman and had to rock it over it. No torque at all and huge lag