need advise regarding nissan California

[boycheng]

Hello po mga Tsikot Masters,

Im a newbie here. Just want to get your honest opinion and your inputs about the nissan california wagon. when I was in highschool gusto ko na magkaron ng ganitong kotse, ngayon kaya ko na makabili ng california but im not sure kung practical pa ba bumili, coz i dont see many california on the road nowadays. mga tsikot gurus please help naman po sa performance ng car na to kung ok po ba. I use to own a 1989 B12 LX sedan, very reliable naiakyat ko sa baguio with A/C turned ON, medyo bitin lang ako sa power nya kasi 1.3 engine 12Valve lang. gusto ko malaman kung yung California ganun din kareliable and yung power po ba niya will suffice pang family use. yung bibilhin ko kasi nag change engine na. Twin Cam 16Valve 1.5L na yung engine. I hope you can help me by giving your inputs on this engine and performance ng nissan California..

Thanks in Advance sa lahat po.

[speed unlimited]

Para sa akin B13 na lang kunin mo matibay ang kaha , magandang ayusan , maraming aftermarket parts na piyesa at mura na presyo ngayon.
Sample ng picture Nissan Sentra B13.

[boycheng]

Sir Speed,

thanks sa reply, nagustuhan ko kasi sa california yung spacey na likod nya pang family ang dating. I think kasi sa likot ng kid ko mas kakailanganin ko yung space na meron ang california, but im also worried of the durability and performance of the california coz aged na kasi yung model. sa mga nakakaalam marami pa po ba available parts ang nissan california sa market? practical pa ba bumili or should i let go of my nissan california dream?

thanks in advance

[renzo_d10]

let go of it.

get a b13 sentra then slap some bad ass engine in it.

may trunk naman ang b13, so no worries about the space.

o diba ? pwedeng family car at weekend warrior. haha

[niky]

The B12 California was a great car in its time... but if you want it in new-ish condition, you'll have to spend a lot of money on body repairs and restoration. And you'll have to spend a lot of time looking for body parts, lights and fixtures.

The B13 is more common. It's a better car, more durable, more powerful, better loaded. And because they were used as taxis for so long, parts are everywhere. The engine remained basically the same (with minor differences... VTC on the Exalta, more power for later cars... different variations of carbuertor and EFI) from 1992 to 2001... because it was a good engine.

If your heart desires the California for restoration... go for it. But if you're looking for a practical family car and don't have much time or money to spend underneath, buy something newer... much newer, preferably.

[nnninnno]

Ang pang araw-araw [reliable pa] ko na car is my Nissan California '88. Halos lahat ng parts napapalitan ko na. Kailangan pa ayusing ang konting kalampag but it is still running well and now with new 15" mags and a new coat of maroon paint. Cannot let go of the car kasi I believe swerte sa akin yun [at babaratin lang pati pag binenta]. Marami pang parts sa Banawe. I guess I will take care of my Nissan California hanggang maubos ang spare parts sa Banawe.

Nino

[gunner]

I owned both cars before. Pareho sila reliable. Depende na lang sa budget at kung ano talaga gusto mo. Mas maraming cons sa california because of its age and parts availability pero kung maayos pa yung auto it will still serve you well. Regarding sa engine na sinabi mo, siguro yan yung JDM ga15 carb. Ganyan yung makina na pinalit ko dati sa california ko. Malakas at matipid yang makina na yan. Sa budget mo na 70k swak yan sa california may sukli kapa. Meron ka rin matyempuhan na B13 na 70k pero malamang may mga pagawain. Its your call bro. You cant go wrong with both cars basta check mo lang mabuti...

[nickriingen]

Para sa akin B13 na lang kunin mo matibay ang kaha , magandang ayusan , maraming aftermarket parts na piyesa at mura na presyo ngayon.
Sample ng picture Nissan Sentra B13.

Better consider B13 series, 1992-1995 models, ECCS variants. They have better engines, good underchassis, and more parts available in the market.

[dr. d]

the california is 20 years old. i tell you, you'll spend more time chasing for spare parts than using the car.
save up some more and than get a newer car. you'll be way ahead than if you get that california now.

[boycheng]

Better consider B13 series, 1992-1995 models, ECCS variants. They have better engines, good underchassis, and more parts available in the market.

Sir I made some research dito sa tsikot on b13's and after reading some threads nagbago na isip ko i want the sentra ss na. sabi nila mas maganda daw yung facelifted na SS lumabas ng 93 tsaka yung SE saloon. ask ko lang how much ba presyuhan ng b13 SS ngayun? sabi nila matipid daw sa gas, pero yung mga thread na nabasa ko 2006 pa. possible ba makakuha ako ng b13 SS sa 70K? medyo low budget kasi ako eh. naghahanap ako ngayun ng 1992 or 1993 SS ok pa ba tong mga ganito?thanks po and sa mga nagbigay ng suggestions salamat po

[techsupporter]

Hello sir,
I currently own a 1988 California. My car has the e15 1.5 liter 12 valve engine. I have brought my car to Abra twice with full of passengers and baggage, so much that the the rear tires scrub off the fenders on some bumps.

The stock California has adequate performance, not that fast compared to newer cars but still gives excellent mileage.

getting this car is still somehow practical, as long as the car is well aken cared off. Have a mechanic check the condition of the engine, check the body for rust, and the suspension and steering for parts that may need to be replaced.

The parts that are hard to find are the rear hatch assembly and rear interior trim. For your budget, try to find a california or sedan, preferably all-manual, in a good condition rather than try to fit your budget in a b13. B13s are good, but something is fishy if a b13 is being sold for 70k.

[dbhollanda]

Hello po mga Tsikot Masters,

Im a newbie here. Just want to get your honest opinion and your inputs about the nissan california wagon. when I was in highschool gusto ko na magkaron ng ganitong kotse, ngayon kaya ko na makabili ng california but im not sure kung practical pa ba bumili, coz i dont see many california on the road nowadays. mga tsikot gurus please help naman po sa performance ng car na to kung ok po ba. I use to own a 1989 B12 LX sedan, very reliable naiakyat ko sa baguio with A/C turned ON, medyo bitin lang ako sa power nya kasi 1.3 engine 12Valve lang. gusto ko malaman kung yung California ganun din kareliable and yung power po ba niya will suffice pang family use. yung bibilhin ko kasi nag change engine na. Twin Cam 16Valve 1.5L na yung engine. I hope you can help me by giving your inputs on this engine and performance ng nissan California..

Thanks in Advance sa lahat po.

When I was still working in a local bank in the 90s and service car ko non is Nissan California.

Wala akong masabi sa performance and durability coz ito ang ginagamit ko pagpunta sa mga provincial branches namin na via land ang travel i.e. laguna, dau, ilagan -isabela, batangas, pampanga, la union, vigan, etc.

very good ang performance and durability nya and binili ko na rin yung unit kasi ganda ng performance, durability and the look nung time na yun.

[boycheng]

Dear Sirs,

Thanks sa mga post ninyo, sa mga advise. at least i got honest opinions on the california. til now im still in denial gusto ko pa din maniwala na maganda yung california. pero you all have a point. the california is a 20 year old car... aged na nga talaga siya. i'm thinking nga if I dont get the california and just save for a B13 na lang.

*nickriingen
sir just want to clarify something bout your comment, you said ok yung 1992 to 95 ECCS variants. I heard some stories and feedback na hindi daw ok yung ECCS sirain daw and malakas sa gas tsaka mahal daw parts. is there any truth in these stories? please enlighten me po mga Tsikot gurus.

*Dbhollanda
Sir nice story bout your California service, medyo bitin lang yung story mo. so what happened sa california mo? would you recommend buying a california nowadays? thanks.

Mga sirs please give more of your comments... thank you very much...
would it have any difference kung naka Twin-cam 16Valve na yung california? nag change engine na daw yung owner nka 1.5L engine na siya mas matipid daw pero malakas kasi naka twin cam... what can you say po?

[dbhollanda]

Dear Sirs,

Thanks sa mga post ninyo, sa mga advise. at least i got honest opinions on the california. til now im still in denial gusto ko pa din maniwala na maganda yung california. pero you all have a point. the california is a 20 year old car... aged na nga talaga siya. i'm thinking nga if I dont get the california and just save for a B13 na lang.

*nickriingen
sir just want to clarify something bout your comment, you said ok yung 1992 to 95 ECCS variants. I heard some stories and feedback na hindi daw ok yung ECCS sirain daw and malakas sa gas tsaka mahal daw parts. is there any truth in these stories? please enlighten me po mga Tsikot gurus.

*Dbhollanda
Sir nice story bout your California service, medyo bitin lang yung story mo. so what happened sa california mo? would you recommend buying a california nowadays? thanks.

Mga sirs please give more of your comments... thank you very much...
would it have any difference kung naka Twin-cam 16Valve na yung california? nag change engine na daw yung owner nka 1.5L engine na siya mas matipid daw pero malakas kasi naka twin cam... what can you say po?

sold it after 3 yrs kasi pinalitan ko ng mitsubishi lancer gsr back in 1998. maayos ko pa rin nung binenta ko sya that time and hindi ako binigyan ng problem importante lang talaga regardless of brand and model is yung religious maintenance mo. layo ng narating non kaya bilib ako sa performance and durability.

[mazingerZ]

Our Nissan Sentra (wihch is basically a sedan California) is still alive and kicking. 12 valve and is very efficient. If you want to pursue it, by all means. Its nice to see old school cars going strong nowadays IMHO.

[jds]

Gaya ng kay Mazinger Z, our Nissan California 1.6L 12V is also very much alive and still reliable.
Sa parts naman maraming available dyan. Gusto ko yung spaciousness nya sa likod, marami kaming nailalagay.

HTH.

[Rajhan Lennon]

Hi mga sirs! New nere sa Tsikot.com. I don't even know how to drive yet pero balak ko na rin kumuha ng car (used) and at first look sa mga pics, I instantly fell in love with a Nissan California! Planning to buy a 1991 model (used) so I'm getting as much as info as I can about the performance of this car. Kamusta na po ba ang topic na ito? Hihi, penge rin po ng helpful advice mga sir! ^_^v