Nissan Almera N16 1.5 or Ford Focus Mk1 1.6
Discussion
Timing chain stretch can occur on the Almera if it has been consistently run on low oil level/crap oil. Also front suspension cross-members can fail at MOT due to excessive rot, so check underneath thoroughly. Bodywork not prone to rust however. They have big fuel tanks for a small car, 60L iirc, so expect comments like 'It costs a lot to fill up' 
Can't speak for the Focus, other than watch for rust, and listen out for worn bushes, which they go through with aplomb.
Can't speak for the Focus, other than watch for rust, and listen out for worn bushes, which they go through with aplomb.
V88Dicky said:
Timing chain stretch can occur on the Almera if it has been consistently run on low oil level/crap oil. Also front suspension cross-members can fail at MOT due to excessive rot, so check underneath thoroughly. Bodywork not prone to rust however. They have big fuel tanks for a small car, 60L iirc, so expect comments like 'It costs a lot to fill up'
Can't speak for the Focus, other than watch for rust, and listen out for worn bushes, which they go through with aplomb.
She's coming from an ageing 850 T5 estate which has a 70l tank and does 20mpg, so anything will be fairly economical compared to that! Can't speak for the Focus, other than watch for rust, and listen out for worn bushes, which they go through with aplomb.
Hmm. Trying to think of what, beyond its dynamics, attracted me to my Focus. Economy and refinement are both pretty average. It's been pretty reliable, but an Almera should be too. Ah... two things! Comfortable seats - the leather seats on the special editions are sublime - and boot space.
Never owned/driven an Almera, but I believe it's a fairly decent car too. In this instance perhaps the sheer number of Focuses around is an advantage? More to choose from, easy to resell, plenty of dealerships. Okay, an Almera is hardly exotic, but the Focus is ubiquitous.
Never owned/driven an Almera, but I believe it's a fairly decent car too. In this instance perhaps the sheer number of Focuses around is an advantage? More to choose from, easy to resell, plenty of dealerships. Okay, an Almera is hardly exotic, but the Focus is ubiquitous.
DJC said:
She's coming from an ageing 850 T5 estate which has a 70l tank and does 20mpg, so anything will be fairly economical compared to that!
Not so bad then!The Almera should do 35mpg easily on short journeys, with a useful range should it be needed.
£3000 should see a very tidy late model (05-06) that my brother will have built, er hang on....
As above the N16 1.5 suffers from timing chain stretch (first sign is the cam and crank sensors switching on the engine warning light repeatedly). Coil packs, one on each plug, are prone to failure as well.
Mrs H67 had one for a short period. She hated it for its sluggish performance (not surprising) but it was worse on fuel than the Almera GTi she had beforehand. The GTi did 35mpg whereas the 1.5 was 32mpg on a 40 mile half crosscountry, half fast A road daily commute.
The 1.8 engine is a better bet both performance and fuel wise but the best by far is the 2.2DCi 136 SXE if you can find one with sensible mileage.
Mrs H67 had one for a short period. She hated it for its sluggish performance (not surprising) but it was worse on fuel than the Almera GTi she had beforehand. The GTi did 35mpg whereas the 1.5 was 32mpg on a 40 mile half crosscountry, half fast A road daily commute.
The 1.8 engine is a better bet both performance and fuel wise but the best by far is the 2.2DCi 136 SXE if you can find one with sensible mileage.
I don't know anybody who's had any issues with their Focuses. Good cars. Relatively comfortable. Very reliable. Nice to drive. The only one I had any dramas with was a 3 year old hire car that had been well and truly fecked in its life. It was also a diesel. Put my foot to the floor in it to get it up a long dragging hill in Devon and the engine mgmt light came on at the top. It was also producing clouds of black smoke as I accelerated away from roundabouts.
Drove a 1.5 almera once (another hire car). Dull, slow, bland, awful. Anybody who drives both cars will choose the focus.
Drove a 1.5 almera once (another hire car). Dull, slow, bland, awful. Anybody who drives both cars will choose the focus.
Mates dad has an almera. N reg. 1600.
Owned it since was 2 years old..... serviced and MOT'd yearly. Does something like 4-5k a year.
Was in shock the other week as it needed it's first ever replacement exhaust, and 2nd set of front tyres ...... in 13 years of ownership.
As for rot: he takes it down a steelworks dirtiest areas 5days a week, washes it monthly, and has no concept of a car being anything other than a white good.
It's never broken down, never failed to start, never been garaged, and just keeps soldiering on.
Even when his 2x sons borrow it, and abuse the living daylights out of it, never complains, jus plods on. Rumour has it some lepton type dash' across country have happened in it, and it's done them ok..
Sound like what your mam/sister want?
Owned it since was 2 years old..... serviced and MOT'd yearly. Does something like 4-5k a year.
Was in shock the other week as it needed it's first ever replacement exhaust, and 2nd set of front tyres ...... in 13 years of ownership.
As for rot: he takes it down a steelworks dirtiest areas 5days a week, washes it monthly, and has no concept of a car being anything other than a white good.
It's never broken down, never failed to start, never been garaged, and just keeps soldiering on.
Even when his 2x sons borrow it, and abuse the living daylights out of it, never complains, jus plods on. Rumour has it some lepton type dash' across country have happened in it, and it's done them ok..
Sound like what your mam/sister want?
The OH's 2001 Almera 1.5 was scrapped last year due to terminal rot. From the front seats back it was totally and utterly rotten. But mechanically nothing went wrong in the 90k it did, and she did minimal servicing (oil and filter and nothing else). The original brake pads fell apart at 70k, and the original spark plugs were in it when it went for scrap.
HellDiver said:
The OH's 2001 Almera 1.5 was scrapped last year due to terminal rot. From the front seats back it was totally and utterly rotten. But mechanically nothing went wrong in the 90k it did, and she did minimal servicing (oil and filter and nothing else). The original brake pads fell apart at 70k, and the original spark plugs were in it when it went for scrap.
What the hell did she do to it in that time to rot it?a steelworks is up there in terms of "corrosive environments" and coke ovens on there being even worse, and family friends 1995 version hasn't even managed to acquire a rust scab or a dodgy brake pipe.
mgmrw2003 said:
What the hell did she do to it in that time to rot it?It may have been destined for S. Africa originally or something - that was a common issue with the Opel Astras around then that the local dealers were selling cheap, they all rotted to death within 6 years where the proper Vauxhall Astras of similar age are still rust free.
Chris71 said:
Hmm. Trying to think of what, beyond its dynamics, attracted me to my Focus. Economy and refinement are both pretty average. It's been pretty reliable, but an Almera should be too. Ah... two things! Comfortable seats - the leather seats on the special editions are sublime - and boot space.
My Focus had heated leather seats as it was a special 'Ebony' edition. They were absolutely fantastic, and felt like something out of a much more expensive car. Very comfortable, well stuffed and well finished, one of my favourite things about the car! Downsides were the pretty lame fuel economy. On the other hand, it handled fantastically, it looked good good, the gearbox felt great and the interior trim was good. It was also cheap to fix when it went wrong (clutch slave cylinder and thats about it!). If you can find a decent special edition Focus near you I'd go for that. When I sold mine the buyer got a good deal; heated leather seats, reverse parking sensors, upgraded stereo and speakers, tinted windows and climate pack, all factory standard for £2000.
HellDiver said:
mgmrw2003 said:
What the hell did she do to it in that time to rot it?It may have been destined for S. Africa originally or something - that was a common issue with the Opel Astras around then that the local dealers were selling cheap, they all rotted to death within 6 years where the proper Vauxhall Astras of similar age are still rust free.
£300 a year insurance (im young) and 1400 running costs along with cheap to service.... 5door and ideal for the dogs
Starting to wonder if having a 2litre straight six for the works commute (10miles a day) and dog walking 4days a week is a little excessive
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff