I loved how good of a mechanical package the Terrano/Duster were - I like it plain and simple - less drama.

BHPian barath_rudraksh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After months of mental toil, I have found my love in a Pre-worshipped Nissan Terrano XLD. The car is '15 made and has clocked 83k kms.

My journey to the Terrano

I have always been a very confused person while choosing my car. My shortlist has always been a mix of cars from different categories since the car didn't have any purpose to solve. The only criteria I had was to buy a driver's car with a good GC and also with a decent FE (hence it had to be a diesel). So my primary search was to buy a fiat (punto/linea) since they handle great (my previous car was a petrol figo and I loved the way it handled and drove - except for the not-so-powerful engine).

My quest to find a well maintained fiat took close to a year and Still I wasn't happy with any of the cars I TDed. They were either abused, or poorly maintained or just not available for sale

So I slowly started TDs of the other cars in my list -

1. Maruti S-Cross 1.3D

2. Renault Duster 1.5dci

3. Ford Figo 1.5tdci

I liked all the above cars for one reason or the other but they just didn't make it to my home for obvious reasons - the S-cross was way out of my budget, the Figo 1.5tdci was amazing to drive but the issues reported by 1.5 TDCI owners scared me off the figo.

The Duster made it to my list as it was good to drive and also had a good GC and the k9k diesel had a good reputation. Though I liked the duster, the Injector issues and the EGR issues that are said to peep in after 80 to 90k kms left me worried and made me stay away from the duster.

I came across a Nissan Terrano that was up for sale. I had never driven a Terrano untill then. But I was pretty sure it was just another duster with a Nissan badge. I spoke to a couple of mechanics and somehow they all were more likely to recommend a Terrano over a duster any day. When I asked why, they told the Terrano has seen lesser issues when compared to the duster. I didn't do further research and went straight away to TD the Terrano.

May be because of the intro I was given, I seemed to like the terrano more than the duster (slightly better aesthetics). I loved how good of a mechanical package the terrano/duster were - I like it plain and simple - less drama (though many hate this, I seemed to like it).

The car had a proper service history and after an inspection I booked the car. Despite of having a proper service history, the car had it's own niggles - creaking noise here and there, hard clutch etc. Otherwise, the car was amazing to drive (it is the 85ps variant). The hydraulic steering amused me but it takes some time to adjust to (coming from an EPS). But I feel the steering feel is not consistent throughout the travel - in the middle it feels vague but on turns it feels like it handles well. I will leave this doubt of mine to be answered by experts.

Reasons I chose the Terrano:

• The Looks - Definitely Masculine

• The k9k engine - even though I have never owned one, the reputation it has gained gives me hope.

• I heard it throws decent FE numbers (would love to hear your's)

• The drivable nature - almost no lag

• Spacious

• Humongous boot space (I love it even though I don't have a need for it yet)

I welcome advice and suggestions on how to ensure a happy relationship with a Terrano, tips on maintenance, good and bad to expect from the car etc.

I am planning to drive it until the odo reaches 1.5L at least. Wish me luck and make me wise. Thanks in advance.

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I love this car to bits and I know I wouldn’t trade it for the world, not even a Fortuner!

BHPian deb_sen recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Nissan Terrano: An underrated beast

I have always been a vehicle aficionado (anything with Wheels!!) but I have never been a speed freak, nah! Driving (or riding) for me is just being in the moment … not competing with anyone… not racing, but to be in a trance like moment where you can only hear your thoughts, the sweet rumble of your engine and the wind gushing by; roads are irrelevant.

I wanted to start earning as soon as I completed my education, solely so that I could get hands on my own vehicle and kickoff the journey. In fact I purchased my first bike 6 months into my 1st job and my first car, 2 years into my first job (Imagine the savings I did to accomplish this, no vada pao for 2 years)

It’s been almost 20 years now that I started working, and my first car believe it or not was a second hand Ford Ikon 1.3 Petrol that gave a lousy mileage of 6kmpl!

I know the reactions I am getting now when you read this cause that’s the same response I got when I told people about it. But I guess that purchase only showed my motor philosophy… I don’t want to own a very reliable car or a car with outstanding mileage or a “Value for Money” car or for that matter follow the crowd, but a car that had some personality, which stood out on its own!!

Since then I purchased a more sensible (just an excuse) but an ever exciting option nonetheless, the Maruti Suzuki Swift 1.2 Petrol Zxi (writeup to follow soon).

Which brings me finally to my current love and the hero of the topic; the Nissan Terrano 1.6 Petrol, My “Hermit”.

This was always my eventual goal to buy a SUV or a compact one for that matter, but not something that could necessarily climb rocks (read.. Jeep)! But something more suited to my demure stature (you see I am 5’6”) In 2017 when I finally decided to take this plunge, I had a very small pool of vehicles to choose from. My list of suspects included (and not in the exact pecking order per say)

• Honda BR-V
• Renault Duster\ Nissan Terrano Petrol
• Skoda Fabia
• Isuzu D Max V Cross

Looks like the cast of the Brady bunch eh!

Although this list doesn’t conform to a single vehicle type (although they certainly fall in the SUV category in some way or the other), they all had something in common…Character! (The Thar never made it to the list cause it was more a impractical 2 seater back then and I would have been kicked outta the house!)

I ruled out the Fabia eventually as it was almost getting phased out at that time and Skoda as we knew was a bit difficult when it came to maintenance and spares. The Honda BR-V (people may call it a soccer mom’s car for all I care) had a reliable engine and the looks and stance of that car still held good for my liking. But it was the 3rd row that led me to drop this car although to was a close second in the race to purchase. The Isuzu was… well a pipe dream that I just had to have and although it did not fit my budget, it was a hoot and a half to drive!! The leaf spring suspension, the basic plad cabin and the pickup styling... no wonder it was being sold as a lifestyle vehicle… But the high cost, the impractical mileage returns (yeah yeah... I still do consider mileage though I denied it previously... guilty as charged) and most importantly the behemoth size… Parking would be hell in Mumbai, eventually led it to it becoming a dream for the future.

And that brings us to the “car” of the hour; the Terrano. I test drove the Terrano as I knew the duster and it shared the same underpinnings (I still don’t get this complicated relationship that auto motive manufacturers seem to get in sharing a platform as can also be seen with the Baleno). And I just wanted to have the experience of owning a Nissan (too many Fast and furious movies I guess; read Nissan 370Z)

Look wise, I would give both the Terrano (and the Duster a 9/10). The Terrano felt a bit more “Butch” as compared to the duster back then. The whole body looks so balanced, right from the massive but subtle rear end, to the sloping but gradual side profile with the roof rails, the massively wide bonnet and the linear front not forgetting the slightly bulged out wheel arches for an offroader look…Ah! It’s just purrrfect!!!

The entry and exit angles of this car (marketed as a road based SUV) could give many a so-called off-roaders a run for their money and so would the ridiculous ground clearance (205mm), which was primarily one of the reasons I brought it to avoid scraping Mumbai’s notorious underbelly scrapers (the Speed bumps).

And although this isn’t a 4x4, this two wheel drive has suspensions which are unbelievable and are an absolute hoot with them handling Indian roads as though we are driving off the German autobahn! It’s Strut and Torsion setup of the front and rear suspensions, puts many other higher priced SUV’s to shame with its performance. And perfectly complimented by the in today’s world rudimentary, Disc and Drum front and rear brake setup.
The interior is so simple and clean and the absence of most electronic wizardry (something that I must mention nowadays has robbed most of us from the pure pleasure of driving) besides your standard ABS, EBD (Electronic brakeforce distribution for the uninitiated like me), Power steering, 16” tubeless rims and Power Windows, make it the perfect man-machine combination with no out of world intervention between that bond(ELECTRONICS!!).
The boot is another notable mention with 475l of usable space.

However, there are a couple of things which just lead to me falling short of calling this vehicle a “PERFECT” drive.

One, the absence of driver side safety airbags (it is a big miss for such a huge vehicle, one that may probably compel me to upgrade) and the second (probably more important being a petrol head!) is the subdued power output of a 102bhp from a 1.6L Naturally Aspirated engine I may try and address this however in the near future; read tuning!

The torque is amazing on this can and although it’s a behemoth at 1.7 tons, it’s 145NM worth of torque can still pull you out of tricky situations when needed...speaking from experience! However, DO NOT BUY this car if you are looking forward to a very relaxed, automated, robotic driving experience where you put it into drive mode and you get from A to B!

Buy it only if you want to feel connected to your machine and i control over every aspect of it’s behavior, be it changing gears and holding the clutch and brake while you go over a slope (no hill assist!) or just pushing the pedal to the floor to cruise at 130 odd KMPH on the long highways while manually adjusting the AC to set the mood! It’s the sheer simplicity of this beast that causes it to be so endearing! It is a driver’s car for sure if my 5+ years of owning this beast has taught me anything.

Maintenance wise (read service and spares), its nothing out of the ordinary and does not cost a huge bomb. I have had only one service bill of 12K+ rupees till date and that too because rats chomped away to glory at my engine ignition wires

It also helps that Duster and Terrano share the same spares, so if it’s not available with Nissan, you may get it at Renault.

This models now off production with the Nissan Kick (followed by the Nissan Magnite) replacing it. However I don’t think they can ever replace the true driving experience this car provided ever. Period

I love this car to bits and I know I wouldn’t trade it for the world!! (Not even for a fortuner)

Till next time!

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Cruising on highways in this Nissan is just a pleasure. The SUV has got enough power & offers a smooth ride with hardly any body roll.

BHPian ripy002 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi Everyone!

I got my Nissan Terrano 110 PS XVD variant in 2015. After 7 years of ownership (2 years under covid) it has got 54000 km on its odometer, mostly on long-distance drives.

The journey has been full of ups and down. We have had the most memorable trips with it. And a few problems as well.

Having driven only Maruti WagonR that my folks owned back then, the jump to Terrano was a massive and exhilarating one. This was a pre-Creta time and in this range, only a few options were available viz. Duster, EcoSport which we considered. Everyone in the family was of the opinion that Nissan offered better looks and presence. We finally got it in Aug 2015.

Loved the ride quality and comfort it gave, and love it even today, especially while driving on bad roads. Hated the fact that it didn't have steering-mounted controls, still miss them.

In 2018 we made a trip to Laddakh from Delhi. It was a round-robin trip Del - Chandigarh - Manali - Leh - Srinagar- Amritsar - Del. One of the best experiences I have had in my life till now. The whole trip was full of interesting encounters and events. Thankfully we were prepared for all of them and managed to complete the trip without any hiccups. Loved the way Terrano handled on those high mountain passes and rugged terrain.

Here are a few pics

Highway cruising on Terrano is just a pleasure - got enough power, smooth ride, hardly any body roll.

Switched to Continental AT tyres for our Ladakh trip. There was a little more tyre noise in the cabin but over time we have gotten used to it now. Another thing that I changed was the engine oil which I switched from mineral to fully synthetic while staying within the manufacturer's recommendations. Have been using only fully synthetic since 2018 and I noticed a major difference in the noise of the engine. It's way more smooth and revving it is more fun.

Problems that I have faced in these 7 years

• Had to change the passenger seat belt as it was getting stuck every time you pull it to put on the seat belts.
• Got the front left axle changed as it was making noise on the tight turns. This was the most expensive repair that I had to get on Terrano. Apparently, the rubber cup that covers the axle joint with the wheel came off and the grease inside it was half gone and the remaining was full of dust. Got it replaced, but I was warned that it won't last long and eventually I will get the dreaded axle noise and will have to get the axle replaced. After the axle replacement, I have been constantly checking it on every service, and everything holds tight and in place. Looks like I just got unlucky with the last one.

Apart from these two major ones, a proper yearly service has helped to keep it running without any issues till now, keeping my fingers crossed.

Over the years I kept adding a few accessories to it as well

• Got new seat covers, custom-made with PU leather. It has been three years and still looks good as new.
• The floor of the car was also recarpeted. This helped a lot in keeping the floor clean and dustfree. Topped with Noodle Floor mats (that's what I think they are called).

• Recently got the window visors for it.

We still have three more years on it within Delhi NCR as it's a diesel vehicle. Fortunately, the registration is from Punjab, and it can still be driven out of Delhi NCR.

It has been a fun and beautiful experience driving it all these years, but every now and then I am tempted to upgrade it to a more superior SUV in the market. Thanks to the 10 years limit set by the government for diesel vehicles, I have been on a constant lookout for a new car. Somehow I have managed to keep my feelings under the leash by saying to myself that a better car is coming in a few months and I should wait for it. Right now awaiting Hyundai Tucson, and future Honda SUV in India. Let's see what the future holds.

Till then, I am gonna enjoy driving my Terrano. Might add a new infotainment system in it, a touchscreen one. I am willing to spend 20k for it, could you guys suggest something that would fit and is of good quality and would run for a good period of 3 or more years?

Thanks!

Happy driving everyone!

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The total time taken for this exercise was 3 hours & Rs.1200 worth of labour was charged.

BHPian RedTerrano recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Guys I have a strange problem and need help.

Yesterday, I moved the A/c vent knob and now I can't bring it back to the original position (the extreme right, where the air is blown on your face).

The knob is stuck at this middle position. I can move it freely to the left, but when I try to do it on the right I feel physical resistance. I think I can apply more pressure to force it, but it feels like I might break something.

This is the first time this has happened in 8 years.

Can I fix this at home or do I need to take her to a garage?

Here's what BHPian mygodbole had to say on the matter:

I have the same issue with my Duster. The solution is to access the area behind the knob and clean it up. Time-consuming, but simple.

This video explains it. The relevant section starts from 4.12.

This is where the AC direction knob's pulley/winch is located, behind the dashboard of my Duster. The technician's thumb is going through the vent opening and his forefinger is trying to manipulate the lever/winch/pulley (the white plastic thingy).

And to access this, he removed the entire dashboard and the steering wheel.  He first tried by just removing the radio console but ended up here.

The upshot was that one plastic gearwheel was bent. So the issue was partially fixed with existing part and the dash was put back on. Total charged was Rs3k.

The technician said because of non-usage of the knob, it had got jammed up and the gearwheel got bent because of the debris that managed to get it.

Here's what BHPian SideView had to say on the matter:

Try joining the duster group.

Issue has been traced to:

BHPian RedTerrano had the following update to share:

As suggested by you, I visited Climate Engineers.

Initially they tried fixing it via the port hole at the base on the driver side, but some plate was blocking access. Ditto when they tried by removing the music system. So finally, they ended up taking out the dashboard to expose the vent flap mechanism.

In that condition, the technician moved the knob and every thing worked smooth as silk! After scratching our heads for some time, we finally concluded it had just been one of those things. He cleaned everything for good measure, and reassembled the dashboard.

Total time spent: 3 hours

Total expense incurred: A mere 1200/-

For anyone having A/c issues in Pune, I highly recommend:

Climate Engineers

Sai Kunj Society,

Lane Number 7,

Dahanukar Colony,

Kothrud, Pune, 411038

The staff is well trained, and the owner, Mr. Randive is a very knowledgeable and a nice gentleman.

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