Ford Focus vs. Nissan Almera

Ms. Pingui

Hi, I'm just looking for a few opinions from people more knowledgeable than I!

I have to buy a new car asap, so I've been searching on carzone. The most suitable I've seen in my price range are these two:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/1.6-I-GH/38813905857338210/advert?channel=CARS

and

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/Almera/1.5-ABS-/39113908406256510/advert?channel=CARS

Which of these looks better? I'm also looking for opinions on tax and fuel consumption, as I really don't have much of a clue!
The nct on the Almera being up in July is a bit iffy but it's location is much easier.

Any thoughts, info. or completely different suggestions welcome.

punisher5112

Look up donedeal also as carzone has over the years got very expensive and mostly dealer prices.

Almera are no longer made.

I would take a Focus any day as they have a great suspension which in turn makes them a very good handling car.

Whats your budget and engine size?

corkgsxr

The rest are useless now. Its donedeal all the way.

The almeras of that era were a very soft car with loads of issues.

Focus all the way

MuppetCheck

Had both at home a few years back. The Focus is lightyears ahead. Almera wasn't that bad in isolation, bit tight in the back and rough on the road but the Focus had it we liked.

But on a car of that age you need to look at each individually. One could be a dog, the other a minter. The Almeras weren't all that reliable and had more niggly problems.

Ms. Pingui

punisher5112 wrote: »

Look up donedeal also as carzone has over the years got very expensive and mostly dealer prices.

Almera are no longer made.

I would take a Focus any day as they have a great suspension which in turn makes them a very good handling car.

Whats your budget and engine size?

Thanks for your reply.

My budget is only about 1,400, engine size 1.6 max.
I'd be wary of buying from a private seller, basically because I'm not that clued in about cars and don't really know what to look out for.

punisher5112

Ms. Pingui wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

My budget is only about 1,400, engine size 1.6 max.
I'd be wary of buying from a private seller, basically because I'm not that clued in about cars and don't really know what to look out for.

For that budget your only going to be getting rubbish off dealers and if you were to buy from a dealer I would still say bring a mechanic.



As said look through donedeal and get an ida of prices and try and pick out a few.

If you can get service history that would be a bonus and nct.

Ms. Pingui

punisher5112 wrote: »

For that budget your only going to be getting rubbish off dealers and if you were to buy from a dealer I would still say bring a mechanic.



As said look through donedeal and get an ida of prices and try and pick out a few.

If you can get service history that would be a bonus and nct.

I wish I wasn't so poor!

My boyfriends brother is a mechanic, I'll see if I can drag him out for a look at a few.

bazz26

Ms. Pingui wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

My budget is only about 1,400, engine size 1.6 max.
I'd be wary of buying from a private seller, basically because I'm not that clued in about cars and don't really know what to look out for.

In that price range and age from a dealer, you are looking at the bottom of market cast offs with little or no warranty as there simply is no profit in giving a warranty on a 13/14 year old car. In this price range you need someone who knows their stuff to look over a car whether it be from a dealer or private sale.

Ms. Pingui

So I'd be better off looking around privately with someone who knows their stuff?
I basically just need a car to tide me over for a few months, but I don't want something that's going to fall apart after a week!

punisher5112

Ms. Pingui wrote: »

So I'd be better off looking around privately with someone who knows their stuff?
I basically just need a car to tide me over for a few months, but I don't want something that's going to fall apart after a week!

Best idea.
Get your mechanic to go along even get a few you like have him look at advert and tell you whether to check it out or not.

hellyeah

Have had two ford focus cars and found them reliable. As above would rule out the almera, ok car if you get a good one but have known friends who have bought absolute dogs and lost the price of the car in a couple of months come nct time. Bring mechanic with you if you can.
all the best.

bazz26

I would narrow down a list of about 4 or 5 cars that you want to go view and test drive. Bring someone like a family member/friend who has an idea of what is a good car or not. Settle on 1 or 2 cars from that list and have them looked over by a mechanic. Once the mechanic gives you the thumbs up/down then decide on one.

No point bringing a mechanic to look at every car you like as it will end up costing you money for his time. You or someone a bit car savy need to vet out the rubbish from the decent stuff first, and trust me there is a lot of rubbish for sale out there.