MrOlaf

I have 2 twin boys (18 months) and 3 girls 9yrs,11yrs,12 yrs + 2 dogs

I can tell you the things I like about the Nissan NV Passenger.

• Backup camera, it's huge and this is a must for tight parking
• storage drawer under driver seat for baby wipes and diapers
• passenger seat folds flat into a work desk AKA baby changing table :)
• Seating configurations are nice
• side curtain air bags

things I didn't like

• seat directly behind driver is not meant for rear facing car seats (front facing is approved)
• no mirrors in sun visor (an easy DIY fix)
• not much room behind rear 4 seats (probably won't fit stroller unless you take some seats out)
• no factory remote car starter available

Thanks for the information.  I don't know how to weld but nuts and bolts with lock washers should be nearly ass effective if I do decide to make my own.  I was brainstorming and thinking of square tube as well and since I would be using the rack for coolers, luggage bags, and totes etc.  I was pondering the idea of an expandable rack,  by which I mean when not in use the rack is low profile and when you want to use it for luggage you can drop walls into place (think of a stake body truck).  I also had the idea of instead of separate walls, walls that are on a hinge and fold down flat when not in use.

Another issue is getting stuff onto the roof of this 7 foot beast.  I did find a ladder for the rear door, but I'm not sure if it requires drilling (I hate making holes into my shiny new toy) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0240973895  (I sent an email and asked if there is any drilling needed)

I was also thinking I could make my own ladder and have it hook onto the roof rack with a hook and the base of the ladder would stand on the entrance of the side door when it was open, that way you wouldn't have to worry about the ladder hitting any paint

I'm looking to get a roof rack for the NV passenger.  I want something that would hold luggage or other totes when traveling long distances to free up room in the interior.  Are there different options?  Maybe even DIY?

I found out that you can't put a rear facing car seat in the seat behind the driver in the first row, only forward facing car seats are allowed according to some nissan documentation.  Right now I am using a configuration of 1st row in limo position, 2nd row removed, 3rd row seats all in place.  The stroller can fit behind the first row although it is a tight squeeze getting it behind the seats with the 1st row in limo position.

There site says around 11k or so

I'm from PA, NV was in reference to current vehicle :-)

He didn't mention much, at least not the salesmen.  When talking to the paperwork guy (official title? eh?)  That's when they started going through the options of what is covered and what is not and then mentioned that stuff they can spray on.  I got middle of the road warranty, no fancy fabric or paint protections really.  Do you recommend those options??.  I kinda feel like if I did get a mark from bird crap or something that I wouldn't be bothering in making the time to get it "repaired" anyways.  It's been a hassle enough to take it back down to get a new glue pad for the hood protector and now I have to wait for a new side door entry step thingy.  That was a reason I wanted the hood protector / bug guard.  I noticed on my sante fe and my wifes suv that the hood does get a bunch of chips while my 2001 dodge ram with a bug guard has no visible marks on the hood.

I traded in my 2007 Sante Fe which had AWD and was awesome in the snow.  I literally only got stuck once in mud as all 4 tires sank into marshy grass in a field.  In fact right before I traded it in I used my tow hooks to pull 3 cars out of snow this year with all the snow storms.

Not having 4x4 was one of my major gripes with this vehicle but there isn't much that compares to this vehicle (chevy, ford etc) in terms of look and function.  

It's cool that there is a company out there that can do the aftermarket 4x4. Right now that is out of my price range and to be honest I get nervous screwing around with transmission stuff  now.  

The transmission went on my 2001 dodge ram and it has less than 60k.  I got it repaired and it runs and everything but occasionally you hear a weird noise in reverse (that of course the transmission place can figure out what that is)  and it feels a little different when driving.  I don't know, I'm definitely not a motorhead guy so who knows.  Replacing the transmission just didn't feel like brand new, ya know?  

I don't travel off road (yet? :-) ) but if i do I will have to take a look into them.  I also figure that if the roads are that bad that I would need 4x4 I should just stay off of them and not endanger all the kids as even if I did have 4x4 not all the other cars on the road do and some people drive like nut bags trying to make up for that fact.  

The major purpose for this vehicle was a solution for our summer travels.  We have a trailer on lake Cayuga in NY and we would typically have to take 2 vehicles and my wife can't drive long with out nearly falling asleep at the wheel.  Also summer vacations to the beach will be a lot easier now that we won't be squishing 2 car seats and 2 kids onto a bench seat in the crew cab of the dodge ram.  Not to mention having a car seat behind my driver seat meant that I could literally rest my elbows on the steering wheel as I drove.  

Right now we are still tinkering with the seating configurations to see what will be best.  Right now I have 2 seats from the back row removed to allow room for storage of groceries and a stroller and if we have to transport of the dogs.  Since we are not taking the dogs anywhere until summer I think I will reconfigure it so that the 4 seats stay in the back and remove 2nd row entirely and move the 1st row back for more leg room.  That way the girls can all sit in the back where we can't hear them and the car seats can be side by side and still have an extra seat on that row and the last row.

I'm also interested in seeing what roof racks are available (ideally for luggage) and I'd also like to get a bambi bumper (brush,grille guard?  there doesn't seem to be a definite name for these)  If I ever do get some type of grille guard I would like a winch to help make up for the lack of 4x4 if I ever did get stuck in heavy mud or snow as I don't expect I can rock this beast back and forth out of a mud hole, lol.

Hello, I recently purchased the 2013 Nissan NV Passenger

• Graphite Blue
• SL Trim
• Technology Package
• Towing Package
• Body Side Moldings
• Splash Guards
• Rear Carpeted Floor Mats
• Hood Protector

The Animals

• Twin boys, 17 Months
• Girl, 12 Years
• Girl, 11 Years
• Girl, 9 Years
• Dog, 8 years
• Dog, 4 Years

We were in the market for a vehicle that could carry 5 kids and yet still have trunk space to carry our 2 dogs.  Sadly it seems that as soon as you utilize 3rd row seating trunk space is next to nothing.  I found the NV and my wife was hesitant as it's not the prettiest.  Although not having to climb over each other get into you seats has changed her mind.

So far I've been pretty happy with my purchase.  I did have some minor issues but the dealer was more than happy to fix them.  The first problem was that one of the adhesive pads that mounts the hood protector on came loose and also I had an issue with the clips that hold the plastic entry on the side door.  The plastic entry didn't come loose but when you stepped toward the rear of the entry you could hear it pop.

Can the 2nd row be moved into "limo" position and still have the 3rd row in place?  I understand there wouldn't be any leg room but is it possible at all or do the seats get so close that you wouldn't be able to lock them into place?

I closed the deal with $1000 plus an extra $500 off the dealer invoice.  He also threw in the rear carpeted floor mats.  What is dealer hold back?  If it's like money down so i don't screw him and not buy the vehicle he mentioned it but ended up trusting me without any money down.

Yeah there are 324 configurations, but if you think about it many of those configurations are basically useless (for example 1 of the configurations would be all seats out except for one seat in 2nd row)  In other words most of the configurations are just to build up that number.  I think they did this to keep cost down.  I too have heard the rumor about turning the front row backwards, but I have small babies with rear facing car seats so I would be attempting this feature any time soon.

They are making them. I was told by the dealer if I wanted a 2014 model it would be 8-12 weeks from the date of 2-20-14. No new features really, just reallocation of what features come with each trim level

Elfmaze, I wanted a winch mount grille guard but it looks like there isn't one available. How bad is it in the snow? I just purchased the passenger version and was hopeful the weight on the rear wheels would help a bit in the snow.

Thanks for the replies, I haven't signed anything yet but I know I want it.  I'm just not a good haggler.  He gave me a price of invoice and that $1000 rebate you spoke of.  I'll see if I can squish an extra $500 out of him.  I'm trading in my 2007 Sante Fe (I know you get less for trade ins) but he offered me 6,800 for the Sante Fe which isn't too bad in my eyes as the vehicle runs great but stupid shit has been breaking on it e.g. Fuel Sensor, 12V outlet covers, handle for the storage in the trunk, the plastic that connects the gas cap tether broke, the metal "flap" that the gas pump pushes out of the way when filling is missing somehow, the driver sunvisor falls down.  Annoying shit basically broke, which he can deal with.  I'm thinking of mentioning that my Sante Fe just got 4 new tires in Nov and it has an aftermarket car starter to see if i can get close to that extra $500 off.  Thanks fallingovertwice!

I know the front end of the NV is similar to the Titan, do you think a grille guard designed to fit a Titan would have any chance of fitting an NV?

The dealer is tracking down the van we want, we are looking at the 2013 NV V8 SL in the blue color.  The price he started off at was in the ballpark of what KBB said we should pay.  It's the price of the "dealers invoice" which I really don't understand.  Regardless should I be looking to get the van for less or something?  Any tips would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks