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- Nissan Almera 1.5 SE
- almeraseowner's review
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| Performance | 6.7/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 9.7/10 |
| Reliability | 9.7/10 |
| Value for Money | 9.7/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 8/10  |
By almeraseowner
on 30th Apr 2005
| Year Manufactured | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Length of ownership | 6 Months |
| Performance | 6/10 |
| Practicality | 10/10 |
| Reliability | 10/10 |
| Value for money | 10/10 |
| Overall value | 9/10 |
 almeraseowner's recommendation | |
Fantastic value for money; unbeatable realibility; excellent standard equipment; sips petrol gently; magnificent all round disc brakes; relatively good grip; internal storage areas; large boot; three 3-point rear seatbelts; longevity and dependability.
Severe lack of torque; poor acceleration; noisy at high speed; choppy and firm ride - neither very sporty nor very comfortable; very dated gearbox with unsmooth changes; stubborn clutch wants pushing all the way down (type feature); cheap feeling plastics; horrible stereo buttons; large turning circle for such a small car.
The Nissan Almera 1.5SE is a lot of car for your money. Comfort and safety equipment are standard in abundance. ABS, CD Player, multiple front and side airbags, active head rests, electric windows, velour seats, four reading lamps, heated electric mirrors, air conditioning etc are all standard and very nice.
Few cars at this price offer such features, let alone the realiabilty and longevity of a Nissan.
However, the car is by no means 21st century modern. It is very much a tarted up mid 1990's hatchback. The exterior is far better built than the interior, which feels distinctly cheap although relatively attractive by class standards.
The first indicator of the aging design will be the gearbox, which is surpassed by the lovely unit in the Ford Focus (which I have also had company with and dislike in comparison to the Nissan). 1st and 2nd are virtually useless, with the car more at home in 3rd and 4th. 5th is awkward to select smoothly.
The 1.5litre petrol engine is good although too weak for the weight of the car and is exceptionally lacking in low down torque. Acceleration is poor and hills are a pain to go up.
The clutch is tiring to use and the car is very awkward to judge in proximity to the kerb for some unknown reason. Grip is reassuringly good while steering is positive with the exception of the car's reluctance to want to turn in large ratios. The Almera loves centrifugal force and obides by it to the fullest extent.
The ride is unsettled. Neither tailored to sport nor comfort, it feels choppy and makes the car horrid over speed bumps and across Britain's endless pot holes. ABS assisted all round disc brakes are very strong and responsive.
Costs are good for fuel and parts if not sourced by Nissan. 8,000mile interval servicing at dealers is over £240, for something which you can do or have somebody else do for less than £50. Wiper blades are £5-8, oil filter £7, air filter £6, set of 4 spark plugs £5, brake pad sets £23, SO DON'T GO TO NISSAN.
As a 22year old male in London, insurance is well over £2000! This is horrendous, so make sure you can afford to run it before opting for a bargain car.
Overall the Almera SE is very likeable despite some drawbacks predominately because it is a very cheap and dependable means of transport (insurance excluded). It offers all you could want at an unbeatable price and will last you many decades if well looked after. The Ford Focus does not and costs a lot more.
buy for: VALUE, RELIABILTY, EQUIPMENT, LONG-TERM
don't buy for: PRESTIGE, IMAGE, DRIVING EXPERIENCE
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