Absolute differential elastic and vibrational excitation cross sections have been measured for N2 in the scattering angle ranges starting between 0° and 20° and extending to 180°, at energies between 0.8 and 5 eV. The results agree with many previous measurements, in particular for angles around 90°, but discrepancies were found in some cases for angles close to 0° and 180°. Integral and momentum-transfer cross sections have been derived and compared with previous beam and swarm measurements. The procedures for determining the instrumental response function and for assuring optimal beam overlap over wide ranges of angles and energies are discussed.