Hello and abit of buying advice!

I

iCraig

Hi All,

I'm new here, so please be gentle with me.

I'm currently in the market for a new car and I've settled on an Almera, purely due to the reliability factor and that they handle well.
I'm coming from a Skoda Octavia, which is infinitely reliable but is getting long in the tooth and needs a few wear and tear repairs.

The car I have seen is a 1999 V Plate 1.4 Ambition for £1100, firstly is that a good price? Its done 63,000 miles and has part NSH and full MOT.

Also another thing concerns me, I've heard there are issues with timing chains on Almera's, is this model affected? As the chain was one of the things that got me looking at the Almera, as it would save me a few hundred pounds on replacing the cambelt. Which is what I always do when I buy a new car and don't know the history.

Thanks in advance!

Craig
 
Welcome Craig - timing chain issues are mostly concerned with the 00-02 model 1.5 models. They tended to stretch & need replaced + a new tensioner. The guys with 1.4 models might give you some more gen about them specifically. :)
 
Hi Craig, welcome to the AOC. I'd say £1100 is a bit high for a 1.4, they go for next to nothing these days. But if it's in especially good condition it might be worth it. Timing chain is not an issue in the 1.4 engine, it's a very solid engine and you probably won't have any trouble with it, mines on 119k and is flawless. Check for rust in the arches, sills and under the boot carpet around the suspension top mounts. Also, have a look and see if you can see an antiroll bar at the front, some model's didn't come with one and it really does make a big difference.
 
go for it. as phil said look for the rust!!!!!!! plust heater risisor card is another comman fault. if u only have speed 4 and off then card is gone about 40 from nissan. i got a 1.4, done 170000 and still going strong.
 
Thanks guys, I'm now the proud owner of a 1999 1.4 Almera Ambition with 64k on the clock. :)

Handles very well indeed, and only problem with the car is the clutch is a little heavy but there gonna look into that before I collect it. :)
 
Yeah, check for rust, not just on the paintwork around the arches, but especially inside the rear arch right up by the suspension turret, and along the sills.
 
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