Thinking of buying a Rogue

[kbz1960]

Hi, I just joined and haven't had the chance to drive one yet but I have been researching online etc.

I would like to know how well you all like your Rogue and if you would but one again? Also how do they ride, I have a bad back and an 08 Ford Focus SES w/leather heated seats and keep my seat high. Also do they blow much in the wind, my focus gets blown crazy. I'm wanting something that is larger and better riding.

Also I have contacted dealers online and was interested in an 08 one had but when he called me they had sold it so he gave me a quote for an 09 SL FWD w/premium package and the leather package that list at msrp for $26,470, the quote he gave me was $24,388. I know that sounds like a good price but with the economy the way it is and cars are not selling well........ new at least do you think that would be a good deal or not.

Thanks

[philipa_240sx]

RE: Seats & comfort, you really need to take one for a test drive to see if it works for you. Some have commented that the seats were not comfortable for them. I have no issues however.

BTW, it's spelled ROGUE not Rogue. It's a common spelling error.

[ahhbeebee]

When you compare, pay particular attention to the difference in lumbar support among the leather and non-leather version. It is a significant difference and based on your comments, should affect your decision.

[kbz1960]

Thanks, I was also reading further in the forum and saw the one about heat to the feet. Is it that bad? If it won't keep my feet warm in the winter that may exclude it for me all together. I have to turn the fan all the down and the temp down in my little focus or I get too hot and I'm cold blooded.

[kerrton]

It's such a matter of opinion and perspective, that I think you just need to pay really close attention to this when you test drive. For example, you're coming from a car that has great heat to the floor, so you will likely think the Rogue sucks when it comes to feet heat. Me, I think it's adequate, as my previous car was about the same, I don't have issues with cold feet, and every purchase is always a compromise and each individual will have a different list of "must haves". Good lower heat was not on my list of must haves, so it didn't factor into the decision, and the Rogue met and exceeded all of my must have list so I bought it. For you, this may not be the case. On the test drive, once the car is warmed up take lots of time to evaluate the heat, see if you have cold toes, get out and put your hand down by the heat vent and then you can judge if you can live with the heater or not. I think you'll be a lot happier with your final decision that way....this forum is great for pointing out potential issues and things to look at in detail when you test drive, but ulitimately you have to evaluate them yourself and hold them to your own personal standards. Good luck!

[2009 Indigo Blue]

I've had my '09 Rogue S for almost 6 mos & it doesn't feel like I've had it that long at all. I LOVE it! I had a '93 Honda Civic before for 15 yrs. What I immediately noticed is how smoothly it drives! It's so nice & fun to drive & I look forward to driving it. One little thing I had to get used to was the brake & accelerator pedals are pretty close together, but I've gotten used to them.

I love the body style & it comes in the perfect shade of blue, which I got (Indigo Blue). I feel safe in it. It's not too big & not too small & I'm a single person on the short side.

It takes regular unleaded gasoline. I wanted a compact SUV this time around & this was the only car I test drove. I've always liked the car since before I saw it at the 2008 auto show.

If you can afford the Murano, you may want it...but it doesn't come in as pretty a shade of blue, that is, if blue's your color!

[IdaCrue]

I've had my Rogue SL AWD for about 1 year now and I love it as much today as I did when I first got it. It performed wonderfully during the winter on the roads, and in the summer it is just a fun car to drive. I have the leather option and the adjustable seat with warmer is just great. I love how the seat warrmer on high is just like a heating pad on my lower back. I haven't had any issues with the seat being uncomfortable ( I am 6' 1" and 200 lbs). I have driven it all winter and I haven't noticed that the heat to the feet is a problem. My feet didn't get cold on my drive to work at -20 F this winter, so I guess it will never be a problem. Test drive one and make your decision. All in all it is one of the best cars I have ever owned.

[kbz1960]

Thanks, I am going to test drive one tomorrow and I'm excited. It is an 08 and they are going to let me take it for a couple hours. If I do like and want one I will be buying an 09 though for the new tax benefit plus the transmission thing with the 08's. I did get a quote for an 09 that isn't much more than they want for the used 08.

[kerrton]

Another thing I'd recommend paying attention to when you drive it is the ride quality/suspension, in my opinion it is very stiff which is fine for me but it's something you have to be comfortable with. I've always thought the suspension is a little noisy when going over bumps, but again I'm just bringing it up as another item to check while you're test driving. Remember that all vehicles in this class with the hatch will have a lot of noise from the back, compared to a car with a trunk, so don't judge the Rogue too harshly on this as all of the competitors are as bad or worse...but it does help to drive lots of competitors to compare such as the RAV4, CRV, Forester, Escape, Mazda CX7 to name a few. Good luck.

[takeshi]

I would like to know how well you all like your Rogue and if you would but one again? Also how do they ride, I have a bad back and an 08 Ford Focus SES w/leather heated seats and keep my seat high.

There is a lot of subjective decision making to be made when car shopping. Definitely test drive, test drive, test drive!

When asking subjective questions words like "better" aren't very meaningful. I love the Rogue's ride and handling compared to other CUV's and SUV's because it is very carlike, fairly firm for the category, and has a pretty good road feel. What I consider "better" probably isn't what you'd consider "better". My car is a Honda S2000 and it's ideal for me. Based on the context of your post I'm guessing that you're looking for a more plush, detached ride. You'd probably consider my car spine shattering.

The Rogue is actually my SO's but I really like it and would definitely buy one again unless I had the budget for an FX or the Cayenne.

[tdboring]

Same here, thinking of buying one. Husband says rollover possibilities are great with this type car, Can I hear some input from long time owners?

[kerrton]

Absolutely NOT!! Older SUV's were more prone to rollovers, but these have been redesigned with wider wheel bases etc., and THE ROGUE IS NOT AN SUV, it sits on the Altima car platform, it's very stable and very safe......check out the Nationally accredited safety standards results, the Rogue gets 5 stars in every category. If you do some research you'll discover no issues with safety, and with standard vechicle dynamic control (stability control), and whole list of other stafety features, you will be far safer in the Rogue than anything that was built in the '90's for example, and on par with all current vehicle safety standards. Tell your husband he is OUT TO LUNCH on this one!!!

[Pescakl1]

It was the case on some 4x4 in the 90's.I remember hearing stories about the Suzuki Samourai for example, but look at its configuration:It is more a box high on wheels than a SUV.

The Rogue is a CUV, something between a SUV and a regular car. It is based on the Sentra chassis, which is the same chassis as the Renault Megane in Europ which is known to be one of the best compact car chassis.

At the time I leased a RAV4 in the past (which is a truck based chassis), the seller told me there was no risk of rollover because the height of the center of gravity of the car is too close to the axis of the wheels to get this problem.

The Rogue is lower and have a way better chassis than the RAV4. If you want to be sure, test drive one and shake it bad, you will be the limit, not the rogue (concentric turns are fun too).

[Cypress_1973]

Hi, I've had my Rogue for 5 weeks and am very happy I bought it. I myself have a bad back (5 herniated discs and surgery and spinal decompression therapy to boot) and I haven't had a single issue with my back since driving this vehicle. I'm 6'4 and it's so easy to get in and out of. My girlfriend also has a bad back (spinabifida and spondolythesis) and she's finding the seats very comfortable. The heat really helps her back relax too.

Overall it's very good vehicle. Smooth ride. Handles well. Very little lean on tight corners. Transmission is very smooth (I used to have a standard, and the shifting bothered the girlfriends back) now she says there's no jerking at all in her spine when the CVT changes gears. Very smooth. The car seems pretty solid.

[takeshi]

Same here, thinking of buying one. Husband says rollover possibilities are great with this type car, Can I hear some input from long time owners?

As stated earlier in this thread -- get out there and test drive. You can feel the body roll in the more rollover prone SUV's.

[Elton Noway]

Same here, thinking of buying one. Husband says rollover possibilities are great with this type car.

Wow! I should be a FBI profiler. Based on your husbands roll over comment I can surmise two things. 1) He's an old fart (relatively speaking) and he's basing his opinion on information he gathered in his younger days when SUV's where first coming on the scene and quite a few of them were very prone to rollover accidents. 2) He hasn't done "any" research on the Rogue (internet or otherwise.)

In an earlier thread someone reported it was built on the Altima frame, this was close... but incorrect. The Rogue is actually built on the Nissan Sentra frame. Also as already pointed out the Rogue IS NOT an SUV. The Nissan Rogue is considered a CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) Or as some refer to it a Crossover SUV. Here's Wikipedia description of a CUV : While body on frame construction and light truck platforms are used to build traditional SUVs, crossovers use a car's monocoque/unibody platform construction. The crossover combines, in highly variable degrees, the design features such as tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high ground-clearance, or all-wheel-drive capability of the SUV—with design features from an automobile such as independent rear suspension, car-like handling, interior roominess and fuel economy. Crossovers typically are designed for only light off-road capability, if any at all.

I've owned multiple cars, several pickups and Vans (in my younger days) The Rogue drives just like a car. Its a snap to get in an out of. No bending at the knee or ducking down to get into it and no climbing up like some SUV''s that require a step ladder.

Consumer reports states:______________________________________________________Based on the Sentra sedan, the compact Nissan Rogue is pleasant and competitive. The 170-hp 2.5-liter engine is raspy at high revs, but gets 22 mpg overall. The standard continuously variable transmission works well. The ride is supple, and handling is fairly nimble and secure. Convenience features include keyless entry and a removable, foldable cargo organizer for the rear storage area. Fit and finish is very good. Handling is fairly nimble, with little body lean and responsive steering. Some found the steering too light and vague on center. It posted a relatively high speed in our avoidance maneuver, with well-calibrated electronic stability control. Electronic stability control, curtain air bags, active head restraints, and antilock brakes are standard. First-year reliability has been above average. ______________________________________________________

Excellent performance in both the off-set and side impact crash test and with features like standard Electronic Stability Control is why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Rogue its top rating.

Safety features include front airbags, side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors, tire-pressure monitor, ABS with brake-assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, and anti-skid control! (we're talking about a safe car here! ).

If you're not ready to face the hassle of a dealership for a test drive here's a good video review. Notice the reviewer refers to it as a "Crossover" SUV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...e=fvw