What To Look Out For - Viewing Car

kfrp

Hey All

I'm looking for a nice cheap saloon to do me for a year or two.

I've found a Nissan Almera locally 2006 with a years NCT.

Is there anything I should be looking out for on these cars as I'm going seeing it tomorrow?

1.5 petrol, new headlights as old needed to be replaced.

colm_mcm

That generation Almera wasn't nearly a class leader when it came out 16 years ago, by 2006 it was thoroughally outclassed by most of its rivals. It has poor standard safety equipment, dubious reliability, sun-par rustproofing - all wrapped up in a bland and cheap feeling car.

Unless it's very very cheap, get a corolla or something.

kfrp

colm_mcm wrote: »

That generation Almera wasn't nearly a class leader when it came out 16 years ago, by 2006 it was thoroughally outclassed by most of its rivals. It has poor standard safety equipment, dubious reliability, sun-par rustproofing - all wrapped up in a bland and cheap feeling car.

Unless it's very very cheap, get a corolla or something.

So the best thing to do would be to look past this car and not at it

Prob get it for about €1200 or so with NCT until May next year.

Prob be worth it at that price no?

colm_mcm

People buy they'll the time, and at €1200 for a 10 year old car it's good on paper, just get it properly checked, price the new (not scrapyard) headlights and add them to the price. They suffer from stretching timing chains which gives the symptoms of misfire and/or engine light. Make sure engine light comes on and then goes out once the car is started.
There are rust issues, but if the car has a recent nct, you'd hope it's ok.

Still though, an 02 onwards Corolla, or even a Mazda3 is a far more pleasant car. See if your budget wil stretch to one of these.

Also, a lot of Almeras dont have ABS. In my opinion it's a crucial piece of kit, I wouldn't buy a car without it. Maybe years ago when it was considered a luxury. But nowadays it's like power steering, it's a must have, but one that could save your ass.

bazz26

Corolla is a much better car than the Almera:

For a few hundred euro more you can have something like this:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4/12820307

colm_mcm

Or, if you must get something nasty, these are quite good value.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-tiida-for-sale/12972370

bazz26

I'd have one of these over an Almera too:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/05-mitsubishi-lancer-1-3-low-kims/13303282

Henry Ford III

The only thing about these older Nissans is there are still quite a few about, so they must be tough enough.

p.s. They are usually being driven annoyingly slowly but that's another matter.