Save me from monotony (Nissan Almera Tino)

[Eski1991]

In January/February next year the OH will be getting rid of her Fiesta and getting something we can fit a car seat and buggy into without folding seats down, she is after an Almera Tino, please help me find something to convince her otherwise.

Looking for - Petrol N/A Manual 5 door sub 2k less than 10 years old and less than 80k miles. It doesn't have to be great on fuel as she will only do 50/60 miles a week but obviously the more MPG the better as far as she is concerned. I have tried to tempt her with Mk1 Discoverys with LPG kits, S40 Turbos, Panda 100HP/4x4, early A6 Quattros. For my future driving sanity please save me from the Nissan!

[Monkeylegend]

As you were, thought you said monogamy.

[Eski1991]

Monkeylegend said:

As you were, thought you said monogamy.

And if I had your response would be different? :/

[Monkeylegend]

No, I think it's a good thing.

My other half also has a Renault Scenic, which as much as I hate to say it is very practical, and surprising reliable.

[Bill]

Eew! My FiL has one,it has never broken. We have a Mazda 6 estate, it's has never broken and isn't bad to drive. As a bonus the 2l petrol engine has a camchain.

[Eski1991]

Bill said:

Eew! My FiL has one,it has never broken. We have a Mazda 6 estate, it's has never broken and isn't bad to drive. As a bonus the 2l petrol engine has a camchain.

Have been trying to find a nice 626 estate as the 6 on low miles is hard to find within budget. The Almera 1.8 is also chain drive and meets all the criteria we want, I need headroom being nearly 7 foot tall, she wants a decent driving position and interior space, good ones can be had at low miles and decent prices but they are just so dull.

[danp]

Honda Civic Type-S.

[gtidreamer]

The Tino sounds perfect!

[Eski1991]

gtidreamer said:

The Tino sounds perfect!

On paper yes. Hence why I am struggling to sway her.

[GreatGranny]

But you are trying to sway her with old Discos, cars that are too small for her needs,
Panda, and sheds :-)
She's after a safe, practical and reliable car to ferry her baby around in.

[gtidreamer]

For a similar role but more kids and more miles we have a petrol Honda FRV. I'd guess they are also more money... But maybe not much more for an early model?

[shoehorn]

Eski1991 said:

The Almera 1.8 is also chain drive

I replaced a few of those,the chains suffer from stretch so the cam/crank signals go out of synch which results in intermittent failure to start.
Quite a few Tinos I have looked at have had worrying amounts of rust around the seem in the rear door shuts where the outer sill meets the rear quarter/arch section.

[Eski1991]

Compromise reached, sort of. As mentioned above, some of the Almeras we have looked at have been rusty and as I expected boring, cramped interior and not the amount of load space we expected. I think I have convinced her with a crew cab van/car cross over - Caddy Life, Berlingo, Kangoo type thing. Anyone have any experience of these?

[anonymous-user]

Have a look at a SEAT Altea or a Mazda 5