Heya

[monkey_matt]

Hey, i'm very interested in looking for a N16 Almera, and are looking at the 1.8 Sport+ model to replace my Megane coupe, as the french reliabilty leaves alot to be desired.

Anyone know of anything i should look out for in the way of major problems with the model and such.

thanks

Matt

 

[wraith]

Hi.

If you're going for an N16 definately go for the 1.8. The 1.5 is a bit underpowered IMHO (I have one) but otherwise the N16 is a good car if a bit unexciting.
Mine is 6 years/60,000 miles old with no problems so far other than the hubcap badges falling off in the first week and a few stone-chips.

From what I hear rusty arches and trashed gearboxes are the main things to worry about but there are others on here far more knowledgeable than me.

 

[dub_almera]

to be honest mate, i think your best off getting an n15, maybe a gti, alot of users on here have had MAJOR troubles with their n16's...

also, renalt are now joined with nissan, hence the build quality of the n16 is.. well... SHIT.

the gti will be a much more reliable car, you just got to be patient and wait for the right one to turn up!! good luck mate!

 

[monkey_matt]

well i would like a N15 GTi, but i cant get the gf insured on it, which i need to be able to do, so an N16 is the best out of what i can insure her on.

And you dont need to remind me about the french build quality (grrrr at my megane)

 

[dub_almera]

well i would like a N15 GTi, but i cant get the gf insured on it, which i need to be able to do, so an N16 is the best out of what i can insure her on.

And you dont need to remind me about the french build quality (grrrr at my megane)

you'll be grrrrrring at the n16 if you get one!
maybe try another few insurance companies!?
also, how much does performance mean to you? if its not that much, then go for an n15 sri (1.6 model - cosmetics are the same as the gti, only difference is the engine) the insurance on one of these will be cheaper than the 1.8 i'd say..
trust me, the n15 is a lot more reliable than the n16!!

 

[monkey_matt]

the gf is a 19 yr old student with no no claims bonus, thats the prob, and in my exp, insurance companies dont like forces personnel like me. Thanks will look at a lower engine N15 as well now, but liking the look of the N16 more.

 

[dub_almera]

the gf is a 19 yr old student with no no claims bonus, thats the prob, and in my exp, insurance companies dont like forces personnel like me. Thanks will look at a lower engine N15 as well now, but liking the look of the N16 more.

my g/f got insured on my pulsar vzr and it didnt cost me anything! they actually gave me a discount of 50 euros! shes 20 with no driving experience and a provisional licence.. when i asked them why its gona cost cheaper, they said statistics proved that women are more careful and less prone to accidents and because she will be drving the car, the overall risk will be lower!?!?

its all up to personal preference i suppose, i thought the n16s looked alright aswell.. but apart from looks, its about the drive aswell.. maybe you should test drive both, n15 and n16 and see what you think..
also, there are owners on here with n16's that want to sell up and get an n15 gti!!!

 

[monkey_matt]

kool, well going to look at a N16 Sport+ soon in Rotherham, and will test drive it then.

Guy at work had a Pulsar, and had so many problems with it, was costing him around a £1000 a month to keep it on the road, kinda why i was put off the N15, as well as i prefere how the N16 looks

 

[Rick]

I'm gonna be the guy that sticks up for the N16.

I've had no problems what so ever with build quality or any engine trouble what so ever.

However, i am selling my N16. See the 'For Sale' section.

 

[TallPaul86]

Pound for pound, the N15 is better than the N16 full stop...

The 1.5's are underpowered, i have no experience on the 1.8 however the mechanicals are 90% identical to the 1.5's (which means dodgy gearboxes - mine blew up after 60k )

The Almera is a reliable car - the problem being is when something goes wrong with it, it's a fucking royal potato of a problem... I'm not saying the N15 is faultless - there are a few common problems with em - but this forum is full of sound people with an even sounder knowledge of what to do then it happens, how to prevent it from happening and making sure it don't come back to bite you in the arse...

Like dub_almera say's, get an SRi or anything with a 1.4/1.6 - the 1.4's i've been told are quite nippy for there size... Also the GA**DE engines have been praised for being smooth and responsive (judging by the other user's responses)


To sum up - avoid the N16 (unless you want piece of mind warranties and all that) and go for an N15

Hell even get a 100NX - Kelv's got one and he's still on the site...

Also - :welcome:

 

[Deleted member 939]

Hell even get a 100NX - Kelv's got one and he's still on the site...

shhhhh! a mod might notice and throw me off!

I can definatley recommend the GA16DE engine (found in almera SRi's) they were designed to be so quiet and efficient that there's almost no end of tuning potential, in fact - check out the standard manifold, and how shit it is!

lots of bhp to be got from a aftermarket high flowing one! but yeah, n15's are cheaper, more reliable, and (arguably) better looking - not that n16's are bad cars or anything.

Paul are you going to sell the n16 then and get an n15? i think its about time you did

 

[monkey_matt]

but this forum is full of sound people with an even sounder knowledge of what to do then it happens, how to prevent it from happening and making sure it don't come back to bite you in the arse...

sounds like my other club i have with my megane coupe, had loads of help off of them, and given loads back, tis very handy with renault as its a fortune to get anything fixed or done

Thanks for all the welcomes

PS just noticed something, you all say to buy the N15, yet in your for sale section, there are loads of N15's up for sale and almost no N16's that i can see, lol

 

[dagnut]

I regulary drove both..and i cant believe the that a newer model could be so much worse to drive. drive both and you'll know what i mean...i would take a n15 sri over any n16...but in saying that the n16 2.2 diesel aint bad

 

[Corbalicious]

Have you thought of getting the higher powered diesel model N16?

I think that on this forum (And thus the for sale section), N15s outweigh N16s, but to be honest, I would go for the N15. In my family I have 3 almeras, N15 SRi, N15 GTi and N16 Tino, and by far the SRi has been the most reliable (Had the GTi a week so no feedback on that yet). We've owned the SRi for 10 years (Since it was built) and very little trouble with it, apart from general maintenance like clutch and exhaust replacement.
My stepmum (Who owned the SRi and now has the Tino) says that compared to the N15, the new one is extremely boring to drive and has none of the spark of the original, yes I know it's a sort of people carrier but it was such a step down from the 1.6 SRi.

Thats just my 2 cents, however, just get the one you want!

 

[TallPaul86]

shhhhh! a mod might notice and throw me off!


Paul are you going to sell the n16 then and get an n15? i think its about time you did

Obviously!! LoL and yes im gonna convert myself to the light side of the force... or the more reliable side anyways!! LoL Seen some cheap, cheap N15's for sale in the trader so i might snap one up supposing my engine doesnt decide to give up the ghost :roll: :roll:

Which is what i expect from a french product - ask it to work and it just goes on strike with its hand up in the air shouting "i cannot work under these conditions!!"