Opel Astra or Nissan Almera?

GangGreen3

I am looking at getting a cheap used car, less than €1,000 and 1.4L is the biggest engine I want to go for fuel economy and insurance. Out of those 2 cars which would be the best option in terms of reliability, service costs, comfort etc... I will consider any car other suggestions.

I would prefer a Ford Focus but they are too expensive, I dislike Fiat and most French car manufacturers.

Col200sx

You'd never go wrong with a Honda Civic, saloon or h/b, with a 1.4 petrol, and well within your budget

GangGreen3

I was thinking of a honda civic but just wondering about insurance as it will be my first car.

2 stroke

I'd go for a pre 98 astra, should get 2 of them for that money, plenty of them still on the road, they're nearly indestructable. A second hand civic will probably have the **** drove out of it already imo.

CianRyan

2 stroke wrote: »

I'd go for a pre 98 astra, should get 2 of them for that money, plenty of them still on the road, they're nearly indestructable. A second hand civic will probably have the **** drove out of it already imo.

Yeah sure, why would anyone want one decent Almera when they could buy two **** Astras?

OP, have a look for a phase 2 Almera N15. That's the refined version of the old model Almera, the phase 2 came in after March 98.
Great DOHC engine, heaps better looking than Astras an insurance is easy on them.

Tea 1000

GangGreen3 wrote: »

I was thinking of a honda civic but just wondering about insurance as it will be my first car.

Wondering? Why wonder? Ring. Then wonder no more.

GangGreen3

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Wondering? Why wonder? Ring. Then wonder no more.

Sorry stupid choice of words. I did check online the other day about a Civic, Golf and Polo and they seem to be more expensive to insure than most other cars I have checked. Also a lot of Civic's that I have seen are in terrible condition for the price. I also checked for Corolla's but they seem to be quite expensive for what you get. I am a cyclist and that is why I am looking for a saloon so that I have a little more space in the car for everything.

That is why I am wondering which would be the better choice an Astra or an Almera?

Mycroft H

CianRyan wrote: »

OP, have a look for a phase 2 Almera N15. That's the refined version of the old model Almera, the phase 2 came in after March 98.
Great DOHC engine, heaps better looking than Astras an insurance is easy on them.

Great engine. Bland, bland car otherwise (though to be fair, the corrolla/civic was the exact same). MPG is okay, around 32-35mpg (motorway 1.4l) when I drove mine. Any rattles from the dual timing chain walk away (not uncommon in them due to the irish mentality with servicing). Look out for rust where the sills and the bootlid (mine had a rusty bootlid window when I sold mine).

Look for some of the run out models with alloys, electric windows, CD player and some other goodies cos most of them were boggo standard paddy spec otherwise.

CianRyan

GangGreen3 wrote: »

Sorry stupid choice of words. I did check online the other day about a Civic, Golf and Polo and they seem to be more expensive to insure than most other cars I have checked. Also a lot of Civic's that I have seen are in terrible condition for the price. I also checked for Corolla's but they seem to be quite expensive for what you get. I am a cyclist and that is why I am looking for a saloon so that I have a little more space in the car for everything.

That is why I am wondering which would be the better choice an Astra or an Almera?

I'm a cyclist too, you should get a hatch back. Trust me on this, the folding rear seats and massive opening is essential for getting bikes in and out.

BX 19 wrote: »

Great engine. Bland, bland car otherwise (though to be fair, the corrolla/civic was the exact same). MPG is okay, around 32-35mpg (motorway 1.4l) when I drove mine. Any rattles from the dual timing chain walk away (not uncommon in them due to the irish mentality with servicing). Look out for rust where the sills and the bootlid (mine had a rusty bootlid window when I sold mine).

Look for some of the run out models with alloys, electric windows, CD player and some other goodies cos most of them were boggo standard paddy spec otherwise.

Interior wise, I'd have to say I prefer it to an Astra/Golf/Leon of the same era and spec. Mine has all the goodies and it does help.

Nissan doctor

Both cars are extremely reliable but I'd generally have the Almera, for no other reason then its easier to find Almera's in good shape then Astra's of that vintage.

The Astra's feel more solid and are reliable once looked after but the problem with cheap cars is people don't look after them properly. Almera's survive poor maintenance much better.

GangGreen3

CianRyan wrote: »

I'm a cyclist too, you should get a hatch back. Trust me on this, the folding rear seats and massive opening is essential for getting bikes in and out.

Well I have bike racks and such but when going to races I bring a turbo trainer, gear/tools etc... so wanted the extra boot space and back seats. As of right now everything gets stuffed into my parents estate and they have a roof rack.

Mycroft H

GangGreen3 wrote: »

Well I have bike racks and such but when going to races I bring a turbo trainer, gear/tools etc... so wanted the extra boot space and back seats. As of right now everything gets stuffed into my parents estate and they have a roof rack.

I still think a saloon is not going to be any easier. I've crammed two touring bikes plus associated gear into the rear of a hatchback clio...

This?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3236372

Or these

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3321455

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3320289

CianRyan

Folding rear seats are a cyclists best friend IMO.
Every one's different I guess but I wouldn't like my bike being crushed if someone rear ended me.

Nissan doctor

Hatch backs are much better then saloons for fitting stuff into.

If you carry lots a biking gear, of your two choices, what about an Astra estate?

GangGreen3

So what would be the positive of going into a hatchback then? I wouldn't say no to one, want to keep my options open and try and find the most suitable car for what I will be using it for.

GangGreen3

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Hatch backs are much better then saloons for fitting stuff into.

If you carry lots a biking gear, of your two choices, what about an Astra estate?

I would go into an estate as well my problem is trying to find one around the €1,000 mark and one that has a 1.4L engine because of insurance.

Mycroft H

GangGreen3 wrote: »

I would go into an estate as well my problem is trying to find one around the €1,000 mark and one that has a 1.4L engine because of insurance.

A 1.6l is not going to be astronomically more then a 1,4. More depending on the car.

GangGreen3

Well for a first car it is a fair bit more. I was checking and a 1.2 is perfect and 1.4 is stretching it because there was a jump in insurance. I am also living just off campus at college during the college year so will be doing short spins to the shop, training and going home so a smaller engine will be better on tax and petrol.

Nissan doctor

GangGreen3 wrote: »

I would go into an estate as well my problem is trying to find one around the €1,000 mark and one that has a 1.4L engine because of insurance.

Most Astra estates are 1.4 Petrol in Ireland;)

GangGreen3

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Most Astra estates are 1.4 Petrol in Ireland;)

Thank you very much I will have a look for them

Nissan doctor

Examples....

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3248571

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3172906

Schorpio

BX 19 wrote: »

Great engine. Bland, bland car otherwise (though to be fair, the corrolla/civic was the exact same). MPG is okay, around 32-35mpg (motorway 1.4l) when I drove mine. Any rattles from the dual timing chain walk away (not uncommon in them due to the irish mentality with servicing). Look out for rust where the sills and the bootlid (mine had a rusty bootlid window when I sold mine).

Look for some of the run out models with alloys, electric windows, CD player and some other goodies cos most of them were boggo standard paddy spec otherwise.

That pretty much sums up Almera's perfectly. I've owned my '99 Almera for 5 years now, and it was my Dad's before that (he bought it new). 185k miles, 13 years and a few house moves later and it's never missed a beat. Always serviced on time and had the clutch replaced on 140k miles (& I would say my Dad would have been pretty hard on the poor clutch). As BX 19 said, fuel economy isn't fantastic, but it's not particularly poor either.

Not the greatest drive, but if properly looked after they can be bulletproof. I've never had any problems with rust either.

Jimdagym

At that price point you are better off camping out in the banger omits thread and swooping on the first clean 1.4 that grabs you.

Tea 1000

Civic hatches are trashed alright,but saloons are usually clean. Better than Almearas, but as said Almearas are easier to find.