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A Real Dark Horse 10 of 10 Ciao Users found the following review helpful
Rating from stevesst 5 Stars ()

Advantages Price, Handling, Build Quality, Rare

Disadvantages Strange Looks, Ride Comfort, Tyre wear

Nissan Almera Gti [Bodykit]
1999 T plate
Red
Bought May 2003 -£5400, 42,000mls
Sold May 2005- £3200, 58,000mls

List Price When Sold New: £16,647
Production of Almera Gti [Bodykit] - 01 Aug 1998 until 01 Feb 2000

Technical Stuff

CC/Cyl - 1998/4
BHP - 140
MPH - 131
0-60mph - 7.9 seconds
Miles per Gallon - 34
CO2 - 211
Insurance Group - 14


Good Points

Can't be beaten on value for money
Looks - with full bodykit
Fuel Economy (when driven sensibly)
Equipment
Performance
Handling
Reliability
Rare


Bad Points

Ride comfort
Rear Torsion bar can limit load carrying space
Parts can be expensive
Can eat through front tyres quickly
The ones with the smaller bodykit look hideous


A long time ago…..

I had hit 21 and was in the market for car with a bit of go about it. I looked at the Saxo VTS - too common, Golf Gti - to boring and the golf VR6 - to hard to find a decent one that has not been thrashed. I decided to look elsewhere after seeing one too many hammered Golf's and a colleague of mine recommended an Almera GTi as he had owned one for 5 trouble free years.

I had a look around and found they were pretty cheap. After a fair bit of hunting through the Autotrader I eventually bought mine in May 2003, second hand from a nice Glaswegian fellow, it came with all the original 15" alloys and a new set of 17" Alloys which looked stunning on the car. He had tinted the windows slightly and fitted a stainless steel exhaust; not to everyone's tastes I know, but at the time I thought it looked the business.


Styling

The Almera's looks are a matter of some debate, the car is longer than most hatchbacks, which can give it slight van characteristics, I have to say that I would not have touched any of the non bodykit models, without the bodykit the Almera just looks …well…. crap! What makes the Gti look so much better is the nice aggressive front bumper and grill and the moulded side skirts, with a fantastic large back bumper, made all the nicer with a stainless steel exhaust popping out the back.

Most people see the Gti and don't know what it is, I quite liked this aspect, it sets it apart from the Saxo, Corsa, Clio and Golf brigade. It was nice when people used to come and ask what kind of car it was; I wonder how many golf drivers get asked that question?

Performance/Handling

As a Gti this is where the car should shine, and it does.

The speed won't exactly blow you away, 0-60 in 7.9secs, but it does put a smile on your face when you consider what you paid for it. The 1998cc engine will get you to around 130mph should you feel the need, and the 140bhp it put out serves you well through all the gears but is best beyond the 4000rev mark in 3rd and 4th.

The car does struggle sometimes, with trying to steer and put down the power, all with the front tyres leading to some under-steer in the bends but nothing horrific and you have to be pushing pretty hard to notice. In the wet the front wheels have a tendency to loose traction on pick away especially if you've put on bigger wheels beyond the standard 15" Alloys.
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Comments

Maybe you have a question about Nissan Almera Gti? Ask here
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 3 | 1 - 5 out of 11 comments
  • matto228 25/10/2006 18:55

    Hi, I used to own one of these cars and was going to write a review as I liked it so much, thing is you covered everthing i was going to say!

  • donovan74 07/10/2006 16:45
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
  • christopher077 06/09/2006 22:40
    Rated this review as
    Exceptional

    Covered everything i need to know and more! great review!!

  • gst_1987 06/09/2006 18:11
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
  • smellyhelly77 25/08/2006 12:46
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
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