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Reliability – What can I say it’s a Nissan and in the 4 years we’ve owned the car it has never had anything go wrong, the only non-routine work it has had done was a recall to put some heat insulation above the heater matrix. Servicing costs are also relatively cheap, ... Read review
...can I say it’s a Nissan and in the 4 years we’ve owned the car it has never had anything go wrong, the only non-routine work it has had done was a recall to put some heat insulation above the heater matrix. Servicing costs are also relatively cheap, the last service it had at 39,000 was around £160, with the most expensive being around £300. Tyres are the one thing to watch out for, the speed rating of V (130mph) makes them extremely ... ...a lower speed rating you have to sign a disclaim absolving them from all responsibility should something happen.
Overall I think this car is a wonderful all round package, with lots to offer in every department. It is highly underrated by the public despite rave reviews in all the press when it was launched, and also more recently when it was in the top three best second hand hot hatch buys. I have just checked on Auto Trader and you ... more
My dad bought his 97P dark metallic green GTI back in 1998 for £10995 not long after they were launched, with around 9000 miles on the clock. It was only last summer when my parents went on holiday that I finally got to use it for 2 weeks.
Appearance – I think the original Almera shape stake some getting used to at first and from the rear it looks strangely oval. The GTI extras make the car far more aggressive and aesthetically pleasing than the standard models. It has 15 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels, side skirts, a deep front spoiler which houses front foglights and a rear roof level spoiler which houses the high level brake light. Two small red GTI badges on the front and rear give the only indication of it stature. This can be useful when you get boy racers at the lights, they get a bit of a shock when you leave them for dust.
Spec: – 2-litre 16v engine ABS All round disc brakes Air Con Sony CD / Tuner, with steering column controls 140 bhp, 135 mph top speed, 0 – 60 8 secs Electric Windows and Mirrors Height and Rake adjustment on steering wheel
Performance – This is obviously the key point of such a vehicle and the Almera is one of the most under-rated and unassuming cars in this area. The engine is extremely torquey and pulls superbly thorough all the gears. One problem especially in the wet is trying not to spin the wheels as you pull off. The car has wide fat tyres and hard sprung suspension so it seems to hold the road forever and a day. The exhaust note is quite an unassuming until you get above 4,000 rpm and then a great rasping quality comes thorough. The clutch and gears are surprisingly light for a performance car, making it one of the easiest cars to drive.
Inside – the car is characteristically Japanese with lots of high quality black plastic. The dash layout is functional and the leather cover steering wheel and gear stick are nice touches. There is easily enough room in the back for three adults with plenty of leg and headroom. The front seats hug and support you nicely as you go round corners. The seats are also fully adjustable to give you the best possible driving position.
Reliability – What can I say it’s a Nissan and in the 4 years we’ve owned the car it has never had anything go wrong, the only non-routine work it has had done was a recall to put some heat insulation above the heater matrix. Servicing costs are also relatively cheap, the last service it had at 39,000 was around £160, with the most expensive being around £300. Tyres are the one thing to watch out for, the speed rating of V (130mph) makes them extremely expensive and if you want the tyre place to fit a lower speed rating you have to sign a disclaim absolving them from all responsibility should something happen.
Overall I think this car is a wonderful all round package, with lots to offer in every department. It is highly underrated by the public despite rave reviews in all the press when it was launched, and also more recently when it was in the top three best second hand hot hatch buys. I have just checked on Auto Trader and you can pick up a similar car to my dads for about £5000, what a bargain.
Advantages: Loads of load space, very family friendly Disadvantages: Does not fit in a specific bracket. Quite expensive
...Astra/Focus style hatchback but the Nissan has so much more to offer than its two main rivals.
I can talk from experience here due to being both a passenger and drive of a beautiful Midnight Blue Almera. It belongs to my mother and if there is someone you need to impress to sell a car to her, its my mum! Nissan have come up trumps here.
Exterior Styling
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Just look at the Almera. Can you honestly tell where the designer was going ... ...is now reflected throughout the Nissan range. In fact, all Primeras, Almeras and Micras have a common front look. The recent revamp of the design has given the car a more rounded appearance. Head on it looks more like a cuddly teddy than a Snarling beast but still holding with plenty of power under its long bonnet. The space under the bonnet is quite large which enables Nissan to get some extremely big, powerful powerplants to sit comfortably in ...
andycharger 31.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Nissan Almera 1.8 16v Hatchback
Advantages: A womans car for sure! Disadvantages: None that I can find.
...for reading this and if you are thinking of changing your car and want a medium sized medium priced reliable comfortable car then don’t overlook the Nissan Almera, she is a lovely car, I like the look of her and love the comfort and drive she gives me.
Sue ...
solamarie 16.10.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Nissan Almera 1.8 16v Hatchback
Advantages: Driver comfort, general ease of driving Disadvantages: A little cramped in the back if you have longer legs!
As always, Nissan have appealed to the safety-conscious driver, but this engine size means that you feel a bit less staid. It's great knowing you can put your foot down and pull past traffic even though you're driving a car that is often thought of as a "woman's car".
There's plenty of space in the front for drivers (and passengers) with longer legs, although it can bit a little cramped in the back. However, the boot area is usefully large. This ... ...children (with all the accompanying paraphernalia) or those that don't carry passengers too often.
The car hugs the road well (much like the micra), ensuring that you feel safe during rainy and icy conditions. It also retains that 'crouching' appearance that appeals to some people.
It's a very practical, sturdy car for people that find a micra too small, yet don't want to go up to an Almera Tino or a Primera. ...
Mandy43 09.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Almera 1.8 16v Hatchback
Advantages: Fuel consumption OK Disadvantages: Everything else - awful
A colleague purchased this car on my company's behalf and having driven it for a period of a year (at the same time as also driving a Range Rover as my main vehicle and other cars as well), this is by far the worst car I've ever driven.
The seats are uncomfortable for long journeys; there is such limited room for passengers in the rear that there might as well be just two seats in the front; the handling is appalling; the build quality is the pits; ... ...car is so delicate. In car parks it got bashed beyond belief and where other cars would stand firm, the bumpers fell off, the mirrors broke; etc. etc. A small shunt from a car in a traffic jam resulted in this vehicle's rear end having to be totally replaced. Two months later, again, the bumper disintegrated.
This car, in terms of positive characteristics, has little going for it. One could argue fuel consumption is OK, but frankly that is about ...
matthewsteeples 09.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Almera 1.8 16v Hatchback
Advantages: everything Disadvantages: for some reason motoring journalists put future buyers off with bad right ups. funny name
I know I am Nissan biased and have owned them for years, One reason you can buy nearly new bargains and also you rarely get breakdowns and nasty bills. My present car is a 02 reg 1.8 Hurricane with most extras wide tyres alloys white intrument dials aircon ABS etc etc. Before buying it at an extremely good price, especially as it had barely 4000 miles on the clock.I was in no hurry to trade my old car which probably would have gone on forever with ... ...a go, especially after reading some of the motoring journalists Almera reviews. Eg: Slow. Boring .Noisy .Uncomfortable. Nasty plastic. etc .Well, After the various road tests of some of the competion.I came to the conclusion that these journalists have based this on the only let down I can think of , Yes. the name. Almera. sounds like all those things. But nothing can be further from the truth.Slow, I don't recognise my car from that, perhaps mine ...
rivergate 27.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Almera 1.8 16v Hatchback
