is almera 1.8 auto what i should be looking for?

MarcinG

Hi.
I'm looking for car to replace my 1.6 '00 passat.
Price range 2-3k
engine max 2.0
should be good on fuel (max 10l/100km with 2-3 people at motorway)
Driving 100-500km/week (mostly on motorways).
Will be used for towing and launching 17" lake boat during season (around 100km trip each way if i won't find place to keep boat safe somewhere closer to midlands)

Just got an offer for '01 almera 1.8 auto with low milage (50K miles AFAIR to be verified). My mechanic is recommending is as in perfect condition.

price is right (slightly over 2k) automatic and 1.8 sound ok for retrieving (won't burn clutch) and towing. Chain may make it cheaper to run and wife have '03 almera which is making no problems at all)

always wanted subaru so though about impreza 1.5 estate auto but i'm afraid of cost of spares/service.

What do you think?
Is almera matching my criteria?
anything better for the job in my price range? I'm not looking for suv as they expensive to run (fuel etc) and towing/retrieving will be 10% of use.

unkel

MarcinG wrote: »

Chain may make it cheaper to run

Not on an Almera it won't

They have a terrible reputation for needing the timing chain replaced at very low mileages...

Atlantic Dawn

Go for the Nissan Maxima instead, it's 2 litre, much better spec of a car and probably year for year cheaper to buy than the Almera.

Here's a few around the 2k mark...
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1783861
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1883348
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1840779

alias no.9

You should be looking for something else. I like autos, my current and last car are autos, but spare yourself the misery if an almera auto. I had on as a rental once, the damn thing could never find the right gear.

Kersh

almera 1.8 auto what i should be looking for?

Something better.

Bmw 318
Saab 9-3

MarcinG

Kersh wrote: »

Something better.

Bmw 318
Saab 9-3

bmw (presume RWD?) is not an option for retrieving a boat.
Saab is too "exotic" for me ;P
Hmm I was very enthusiastic about this almera (my wife has '03 1.5 one)...
how about 1.5 subaru (jap import less than 3k for '04 and 80kkm incl delivery+vrt and nct guess 4k?/1.6 grand vitara? am I right about high hidden costs?

Another idea was to get some little diesel commercial (berlingo 1.6 hdi as heard that 1.9d will be way too weak for a boat) but I'm afraid of clocking (I was driving small commercial myself - average for 2,4 yrs 8kkm monthly
with record of 15kkm this is closer to 300 000km for '07 one than to 180 000 km advertised for '03 ones on web pages.)

or should I better buy panda/atos which should have relativelly low mileage and simply refrein from towing till collecting money for "propper car" (in which cause what would you recommend? taking to account:
good on fuel, reliable, cheap on service (passat drained me better than my wife
capable of retrieving boat without help/burning clutch and as big boot as possible- no need for more than 2 seats in resonable money around 5-6K)

Ps does anyone know what would be if i would tax small van privatelly (i mean should i do nct or doe then?) tax office and aviva said - it should be possible.

Atlantic Dawn

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Go for the Nissan Maxima instead, it's 2 litre, much better spec of a car and probably year for year cheaper to buy than the Almera.

Oh yes
Good idea Sir :cool:

Daegerty

almera 1.8 manual?

I'll get my coat...

MarcinG

alias no.9 wrote: »

the damn thing could never find the right gear.

i was convinced that almera has CVT box continuously variable transmission
so no such thing as gears at all?

unkel

MarcinG wrote: »

i was convinced that almera has CVT box continuously variable transmission
so no such thing as gears at all?

You're half right

The Micra and Primera of that time had CVT iirc, but the Almera had an old fashioned 4 speed slush box...

kerten

Almeras and maximas have 4 speed conventional torque converter type boxes.

Post 99 2.0 lt primeras uses CVT boxes. I drive a 2.0 lt primera cvt and it has a towbar with a lot of dents on bumper. Looks like previous owner was towing with it. It may suit you and you will find one very cheap. Just make sure transmission oil is changed every 40k. if it is not changed run away.

It is light on petrol but it is not a performance machine. It may be slow while towing but not worse than almera I guess.

I would go for a maxima if petrol consumption is not a issue. most comfortable and most reliable possibly.

MarcinG

>Post 99 2.0 lt primeras uses CVT boxes.

ok thanks for info.

>Just make sure transmission oil is changed every 40k. if it is not changed >run away.

how do i check it ?

>I would go for a maxima if petrol consumption is not a issue.

it is an issue as driving without trailer is 90% of my driving.
I just lost hope in finding decent irish 10yrs old car (some of cars with NEW nct has all upholstery in mould, mess inside and damaged safety belts - just wondering how they passed nct? other cars advertised with new nct has no nct/tax at least for few months (so advert few months old at least and just repeated?) this is a second time i'm looking for car and every time have enough after 3 cars....

this is only reason i got stuck with this almera it is realy clean car with low milage.

> most comfortable and most reliable possibly.

hmm this sound ok would sacryfice some fuel for it - but just judging on my wifes almera they are ok too (her car is '03 1.5 or 1.4 not sure - her car ;P has around 70k miles and not even bulb replaced since last march).

kerten

MarcinG wrote: »

>Just make sure transmission oil is changed every 40k. if it is not changed >run away.

how do i check it ?

>I would go for a maxima if petrol consumption is not a issue.

it is an issue as driving without trailer is 90% of my driving.
I just lost hope in finding decent irish 10yrs old car (some of cars with NEW nct has all upholstery in mould, mess inside and damaged safety belts - just wondering how they passed nct? other cars advertised with new nct has no nct/tax at least for few months (so advert few months old at least and just repeated?) this is a second time i'm looking for car and every time have enough after 3 cars....

this is only reason i got stuck with this almera it is realy clean car with low milage.

> most comfortable and most reliable possibly.

hmm this sound ok would sacryfice some fuel for it - but just judging on my wifes almera they are ok too (her car is '03 1.5 or 1.4 not sure - her car ;P has around 70k miles and not even bulb replaced since last march).

For transmission oil change proof, you need receipts with service history. But you can also check color of oil in box by second oil stick in the engine for this cvt boxes. it should be red/pink not brown/black.

mine had full service history but no proof of oil changes. I bought it because there was receipt of reconditioned box 15k miles ago and oil in it was new. It works without problem for 10k miles now.

Almeras are reliable after 2003-2004 years but their engine and brakes may not be suitable for towing.

R.O.R

MarcinG wrote: »

how about 1.5 subaru (jap import less than 3k for '04 and 80kkm incl delivery+vrt and nct guess

Would that be the 2wd Impreza? If so, steer well clear.

During the snow I would pass one every morning, happily spinning his wheel to fcuk on the slight incline outside his house. Probably cr@p tyres, but can't help but smile at the irony that the only stuck car in the estate was a Subaru.

Doubt that would be capabable of pulling the boat up the slip.

Old Forester would be perfect if you can handle higher than average fuel consumption. I think I'd rather drag the boat myself than try to do it in a 1.5 Lamera Auto.

MarcinG

>Would that be the 2wd Impreza? If so, steer well clear.

no 4x4 SAWD whatever you want to call it and auto is only option (AFAIK 1.6 was offered as manual). but i decidet to waith for subaru till i get proper job.

> but smile at the irony that the only stuck car in the estate was a Subaru.

well it all depends od driver - i was passing many range rovers etc in my FWD 1.6 passat this christmas -and i was driving on unswiped part of a road.

>Old Forester would be perfect if you can handle higher than average fuel >consumption.

With forester i'm more afraid of servicing and other costs (long timing belt, self leveling suspension, tax) than fuel

>I think I'd rather drag the boat myself than try to do it in a 1.5 Lamera
> Auto.

Lamera which i'm talkin about is 1.8. in 1.5 i wouldn't even like to drive with 5 people on board