The Parkers guide seems to think so but I was just wondering what you chaps thought?
A mate has suggested haggling to £5500.
I appreciate any suggestions.
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Mike Farrow
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A new (but possibly pre-registered) 1.5S 3-door can be had for £7k from www.new-car-discount.com The 1.5SE 5-door is £8,433.
Make up your own mind.
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Getting rid of the Escort Mike?
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Adam
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Getting rid of the Escort Mike?
I'm afraid not Adam, this is for a friend who's buying his first car. With Nissan reliability he hopes the Almera will last!
He really can't stretch his budget (student loan) to anything above £6000. Ideally he would like to spend £5000 and have change for insurance, but 01 plate Almeras are as rare as clay pidgeon poo and all the one's he was interested in sold over the weekend! The car will come from a Nissan (not franchised) dealer with 1yr warranty, 12 month MoT, 6 months tax, and a service.
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Mike Farrow
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I was going to say! You don't strike me as an Almera person.
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Adam
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The 1.5S, even the current model does not have ABS - but it does have aircon. You have to go to SE spec to get ABS. Must be one of the few new cars that doesn't have ABS.
The new model comes out very soon I believe, and presumably there will be a few of the old(unused) models available.
I think for under £7,600(for the 3 door SE) it is a very good buy for someone who wants a reliable, but mundane, car.
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Cardew wrote:
The 1.5S, even the current model does not have ABS - but it does have aircon. You have to go to SE spec to get ABS. Must be one of the few new cars that doesn't have ABS.
Not quite. I don't think there is a single car without ABS in current Nissan range. Even basic Almera "S" comes with ABS/BA and ABD by default. Difference between S and SE in cars made between 2002 and now is that SE has Climate Control (S has manual aircon), computer with 6" central mounted display, rear parking sensors, front side impact airbags, steering wheel mounted audio controls and slightly better trim.
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02 plate Almera SE with 34k on the clock is worth about £5000-5500, however keep in mind there were also phase1 N16 Almeras on 02 plates - the underspecced pre-facelift models - they don't have climate control, computer and IIRC the engine is slightly weaker (marginal horse power difference, but still...). You shouldn't have any problems finding 03 plate SE for £6000
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That price sounds high - i've got a 1.5 Activ on a Y coming in as part exchange in the next few weeks which only owes me £2k
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There are a few 51 and 02 plate Almeras with low (sub 50k) mileages in the low £4ks, or even slightly below, in the Trader.
If the budget is £6k then if he can live with a smaller car and wants a Nissan, I'd get a 54 plate Micra with 2 1/2 years warranty and cheaper insurance.
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Thanks guys.
It looks like he's going to have to do a bit of haggling then! He hasn't seen the car yet because it's in Aldershot but will be in Coventry by Friday we hope.
v0n,
We were told by the salesman that only the SE and above would have ABS that's why choice is so limited. He said it has aircon but I don't know about the other toys.
DavidHM,
He's 6ft something tall so Micra's out of the question. I think he's going for Nissan purely for reliability than brand loyalty (other cars in household are Mondeo and Clio)!
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Mike Farrow
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mfarrow wrote:
We were told by the salesman that only the SE and above would have ABS that's why choice is so limited. He said it has aircon but I don't know about the other toys.
In which case he's probably trying to sell you pre-facelift model (in which case it's not worth more than £4500). Almera N16 had facelift and revision of specs in september 2002. It's fairly easy to tell both apart - older versions have characteristic white headlamps with separate indicators and light strips on rear clusters. New models have headlamps and indicators as one unit with dark surroundings around "spider eye" lamps. Rear clusters have round light arrangement. Or simply have a look in autotrader and compare closeups of 2001 and 2003 models. Don't buy older model if you have £6000 to spend, it's simply not worth it. Go for full spec phase 2 "SE" on 03/53 plate and it will have everything they ever put in Almeras with exeption of satnav, sunroof and alloys.
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mfarrow wrote: We were told by the salesman that only the SE and above would have ABS that's why choice is so limited. He said it has aircon but I don't know about the other toys. In which case he's probably trying to sell you pre-facelift model (in which case it's not worth more than £4500). Almera N16 had facelift and revision of specs in september 2002. It's fairly easy to tell both apart - older versions have characteristic white headlamps with separate indicators and light strips on rear clusters. New models have headlamps and indicators as one unit with dark surroundings around "spider eye" lamps. Rear clusters have round light arrangement. Or simply have a look in autotrader and compare closeups of 2001 and 2003 models. Don't buy older model if you have £6000 to spend, it's simply not worth it. Go for full spec phase 2 "SE" on 03/53 plate and it will have everything they ever put in Almeras with exeption of satnav, sunroof and alloys.
v0n,
I have in front of me the Almera brochure(printed 2004) that my daughter picked up from the main Nissan agents earlier this month.
ABS is certainly not included in the Specification for the 'S' model. I have now looked at the website and ABS is now included on all Almera models.
I don't know when the uplift to upgrade spec on 'S' to include ABS took place. However if it was 2002 as you state then the 2004 Nissan brochure is wrong, the Nissan main dealer is wrong and there are a huge number of pre 2002 'S' models without ABS available at main Nissan dealers throughout the country.
C
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v0n,
I have just checked with Nissan GB and ABS became standard on their 2005 models - they sent out a bulletin to main dealers in August 2004. There were a number of other features included in the changes to the 2005 spec. Keyless entry etc
C
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v0n, I have just checked with Nissan GB and ABS became standard on their 2005 models
ABS became standard on all European new cars from July 1st, 2004.
www.autofinder.ie/asp1/afmain.asp?lnk=101&id=277
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www.autofinder.ie/asp1/afmain.asp?lnk=101&id=277
DD,
Interesting link.
It states all new cars SOLD in Europe. I can understand PRODUCED in Europe.
What happens to those cars that were not sold I wonder. There are still new unregistered 2004 model Almeras being sold without ABS - look at the Best Deals on this site.
C
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Thanks v0n and Cardew.
I think there's going to be either a bit of hesitation and shrugging or a lot of head stratching, but you've all certainly come up with some valid points, all saying the thing's a ripoff!
I've had a quick look on the Autotrader website and they all seem to suggest a price similar to what the garage wants, however these are all trade prices I presume.
Will keep you posted.
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Mike Farrow
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Thanks v0n and Cardew. I think there's going to be either a bit of hesitation and shrugging or a lot of head stratching, but you've all certainly come up with some valid points, all saying the thing's a ripoff! I've had a quick look on the Autotrader website and they all seem to suggest a price similar to what the garage wants, however these are all trade prices I presume. Will keep you posted. -------------- Mike Farrow
Mike,
My daughter is looking at a new one of these. If you look at the best deals on this site you can get a brand new 2005 model 3 door 'S' with ABS aircon etc for under £7k or 'SE' for £8k.
seems a no contest to me.
C
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Hi all,
OK he went to see the car, and all he could report back was "shed".
It was OK mechanically but was not well looked after. The garage hadn't valeted it but it looked shabby and had small paintwork chips/dents which the garage said they would repair if he agreed to take it. Also 6 chips in windscreen. And it had been smoked in, judging by the small burn on the passenger seat (not repairable) and the remnance of tobacco in the ashtray.
On sale for £6000. When he asked to have some money taken off, their response was ... £50! That was only to cover the windscreen replacement by his insurers and they wouldn't take any more off! Disgusting me thinks.
Anyhow there's another one of similar vintage coming down from Rochdale at £5500 so hopefully that will be a bit better. BTW he doesn't like the face-lifted version.
Will keep you posted.
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Mike Farrow
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Last chapter in this little tale.
The one from Rochdale is the one he bought eventually. Specs:
- SE trim
- 32,000 miles
- Light metalic green
- Pre-facelift model
- £5495
Engine sounds sweet and I think he's pleased. Had been serviced and MoT'd before he got it. Looks in good nick. Alloy wheels and has a full-sized spare.
Thanks again!
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Mike Farrow
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