i am considering of getting a serena due to the uncertainty of the next year tax excemption and the RM 8000 accessories offered. is it a good choice to buy now? i believe the newer facelifted serena will be here next year.

http://paultan.org/2013/11/20/nissan-seren...led-tokyo-2013/

(switching accord to serena because of the serena space and accord waiting period is too long)

driving my serena for about 2 months now and feeling good

went for a long trip last month going through all types of kampung road, highway, hilly, bumpy from KL - Arau - Grik - Pasir Mas - Kota Bahru - Kuala Terengganu - Kuantan - KL total milage around 1900km.



in terms of body roll at sharp corner..defenitely can't match with my previous persona..but it does deliver a fair handling job at cornering..but..hey what do you expect to an mpv..some more mini van type? hehe..but superb handling is a bonus though for an MPV.

Just to share this..you might know it already..just sharing:
- S-hybrid will not function during idle time if you not buckle up seat belt
- S-hybrid will stop function during idle time if your move steering
- the car will consume more fuel during idle time..especially when waiting people while the engine start
- During D or N mode (idle time)..pushing brake pedal a bit hard will start the S-hybrid function
- S-hybrid will not function during early driving period..i assume its charging the second battery first before its start operate
- to get better fuel consumption, try get more green score at eco mode panel..hehe..the gas pedal panel.

So far..i am happy with my serena. it fullfil my needs..practicallity, functionality and flexibility 

How does it compare (cornering and quietness) to 2007 models Estima or Alphard?  I mean for the same cost?

Considering Biante which is wider and having rear multilink suspension.waiting for test drive next week.

Which is roomier - biante or serena??

Me check and double check and triple check, no CKD plans in the near future.

If no tax exemption, Serena price go up to estimated 180k.

Me check and double check and triple check, no CKD plans in the near future.

If no tax exemption, Serena price go up to estimated 180k.

No need tripple check or quadro check bro, paultan mentioned again the s hybrid ckd by 2014.

Read this link to paultan post about the ckd plan and others  paultan 2013/12/08

Its the lastest facelift we will get for ckd, seemd TC 6K year end cash rebate not so attractive now..

Should wait for new facelift next year, cheaper and newer version...

Understand TCM quite well. For CKD, some specs will be downgraded...you may expect 4AT instead of CVT 

Somehow i would say it's not a bad thing getting CBU from JP. their QC and finishing will be more promising 

Some additional info ,about the CVT, Its china users response over the JATCO earlier version cvt gb used on sylphy and renault clio with the model JF011E & JF010E.Mostly the gb oil leak and failure are related to overheating issue..
But sorry its written in chinese. http://www.12365auto.com/dcbg/2013-11-27/2...7075927_3.shtml

For that price range not such thing like 4AT speed gear to happen lah.
Did you see any sylphy comes with 4AT? or TEANA getting 4AT ?

Uanble to deny that some parts will be locally supplied such as seats, shock asorber  and air cond compressor. But as core technology of S-Hybrid, engine and gearbox are not able/ready to manufacture locally yet.

I own a grand livina, mostly locally manufacture , but i dont see much problem with the car except the low resale value.

Which is roomier - biante or serena??

When biante lunch at 1 Utama, I went and have a look there. I feel that Serena room leg are better than Biante. I feel serena are roomier than Biante (maybe because of the high roof). I am 5'9" tall. I try seat at the 2nd roll and driver seat. I feel its smaller compare with serena.  For Serena I seat at the last roll still very comfortable. Its my personal view only.

The latest Jatco CVT 8 which so much optimised for high fuel efficiency does have plenty of premature failure in US for Altima  end Pathfinder. The same technology was used in the SERENA too.
Worried about the reliabilty. Check here and u will see both cars using the same CVT8 gb http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/products/cvt/cvt8.html
The issue is now burning hot in US untill the Jatco vice President, Tomoyoshi Sato was removed from his post immediately...