Nissan Almera Hatchback (2000 - 2006) 1.5 Elegance 5d (2001/51) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Probably that I am a bit older than I look. Or that I have borrowed my dads car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My parents like it - mainly because it is a sensible and practical family car which is cheap to run.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Possibly, but most likely the one I have will become a second car and I will buy something a little more refined.

What are you likely to buy next?

Looking at a Rover 75.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£5,000

When did you buy the car?

March 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

I think I did. The car had only done 30000 miles when I bought it and came with a 1 year Nissan warranty. Also, they gave a good price for our trade in.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

What was the dealer like?

Very friendly. It was a small franchised dealer we chose to drive 50 miles to in order to avoid the much larger 'group' franchised dealer 2 miles from our house.

What's it like to drive?

It is very easy to drive and will grip well if needed, although it will also roll a lot and upset any passengers. The brakes are very good and the steering is responsive enough, although you would not call it a fun car to drive. The engine is reasonably powerful but makes a lot of noise when taken above 3000rpm. Wind and road noise are pretty poor which can become annoying, especially on longer journeys. The ride is better suited to motorway driving where is is comfortable and relaxed. Around town it seems to have suspension with the worst of both worlds. It rolls around corners and yet crashes about over bumps.

What's it like to park?

Fairly good. It is made easier with the electric mirrors. I have yet to hit anything.

Have you had any problems with the car?

A headlamp bulb failed which sounds trivial but took about 20 minutes to replace because it was extremely awkward to get at. The ABS ring on the front left wheel rusted through about 10 months after I bought the car - thankfully it was covered by the warranty.

What's most practical about your car?

There is a lot of space with the rear seats folded down, and they split too which helps when you have a baby. The best bit has got to be the amount of cubby holes and little touches Nissan put into the car. Things like the umbrella holder running underneath the rear seats and the 'curry hook' on the dash to keep your takeaways upright.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The Elegance model comes with half leather trim as standard and I love it - it is blue leather and so looks different from other mainstream interiors. The dash and carpets are blue to match too.