Nissan Largo Friends

Hello forum,

Long time Nissan fan and owner here. Have worked my way through from younger Datsun days, to Nissan sports cars, to family cars, currently an Almera Tino, but due to expanding family I need something larger.
Obviously looking at what Nissans are available first... that led me here!

Hoping to find out the best options/trim/engines for the UK in particular. Also whether to consider the Elgrand.

Best trim option is the Nissan Largo Highway Star. They come with all manner of options though, like folding electric mirrors, ABS, clock above the lighter socket, electric parking pole (one of mine even has a "SONAR" option though I've no idea what it does or if it works!)

Parts are generally cheaper than the Elgrand, but the Elgrand has bigger engine options. Largo mid-engined, Elgrand front-engined.

Most popular is the 2.0TD Largo (same engine as the Primera diesel of the same age) but a 2.4 petrol is available.

They come in 4wd and rwd.

Diesel economy is low 20s about town to 30s on a long run.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for that info, it's a bit confusing as the price for both the Largo and the Elgrand are within reach, and I think I am tending towards the Largo as it seems a bit cheaper overall as well regarding general maintenance, parts and upkeep - am I right in thinking this?
I have never owned a Diesel Nissan, are the engines as good/reliable (and modifiable) as the petrol engines, especially after so many years? And is the maintenance as straightforward as a petrol engine (including accessibility being a mid-engine)?
My mix of driving is either really short (less than 5 miles) or really long (over 100 miles), and no regular hills (living in mostly flat Suffolk) so will this suit the petrol or the diesel character more?
How easy is it to move the seats around in the middle?

Diesel engine is nice and tough, no cracking head problems like certain Toyotas *cough* Estima *cough*
Reliable yes, modifiable - not sure why you'd want to, it's a rather dull diesel lump!


Can't comment on the petrol/diesel differences as only owned diesels.

Seats come in two flavours:
- rotating middle bench seat with rear seats folding up against sides
- middle bench seat on sliders that run front to back shared with two rear seats (all run forward to make it into a van)

I've come across a decent one, with the leather interior, rotating seats, no rust, about 90000miles, diesel automatic. It's a 1995 Highway Star, and everything works (aircon with remote control, electrics etc)
Only concerns are - even though it is in good condition, there is no service history with it, and smokes a little bit on startup and when accelerating hard (foot down). Is it normal to have this, or should the exhaust be completely clear? The owner claims he gets about 400miles to a tank, is this about right?
Comes with loads of free camping accessories, and even an awning, priced at £2500 ono.

A bit of smoke isn't unusual at all. They're old school diesels.

Not sure on the 400 miles per tank. 30mpg tops.

Any clue when the cambelt was last done?

No clue, as he has owned it for a year and used it every day with no problems, but he is emigrating.
How much does it cost to do the cambelt (is it an accessible job), I'll just get it done asap anyway. Anything else I should check on, I shall be going to see the car tomorrow evening in better detail.
By the way, thanks a million for all your help, it is much appreciated!

Don't know on garage cost, the kit to do the front from Gates (K015309XS) which includes belt, tensioner and idler pulley is £70, and there is another timing belt at the rear which is £27 plus £18 tensioner, so parts alone is just shy of £120. It takes me a day to do both (with tea breaks!) so I suspect labour is the costly bit.

If you're feeling hands-on here's a guide I wrote up on the subject:

http://nissanlargo.info/wiki/Timing_belt_fitting

It's nowhere near as complicated as it sounds (but you do need an impact wrench to get the crankshaft bolt out!)

tttonyyy wrote: http://nissanlargo.info/wiki/Timing_belt_fitting

That's an awesome write-up! Are you an Engineer?

I'm an engineer but in the embedded electronics sense, not the mechanical one (which is just a hobby)

Aside from some very dry technical documents I couldn't find anything like it for the Largo so felt compelled to record the process - the photos are from the second and third Largos that the belts were changed on (the first belonging to a mate, so a lot of credit is owed to him for figuring out which parts needed removing for access).