Thinking of getting a 1.4

NNissan

NNissan

Hello I'm new here and don't actually own one yet unfortunatly. I've just turned 18 and I intend to get one soon moving on from my awful 55bhp 1994 fiesta.

I'm torn between a mark 4 fiesta 1.25 zetec or the 1.4 almera.

Fezzy 1.25= 0-60= 11.9, top speed= 106mph 73bhp 110nm
Almera 1.4= 0-60= 12.2, top speed= 107mph 85bhp 116nm

The performance figures are practically the same, can't imagine 0.3 of a second counting for much, except the Almera is more torquey.

Got a few questions about the car is all. Is it powerful enough to overtake easily on the motorway and is it nippy enough to allow a little fun? If i decided to take it for a random blast down the lanes, does it handle ok for its size? I'm leaning towards the Almera because I think it looks better, will be more reliable, has good features and my dad knows about every inch of them hence repairs are easier.

Worth getting? Thanks.
 
the 1.4 almera is not a bad car i got one as my first and loving it still. They have enough power to over take and and a lot of fun most of the time. hope this helps you a little.
 
My 1.4 is powerful enough to overtake on the motorway. And the Almera is a very good handling car for its class. Almera is also my first car, and I'm dead pleased with it. Definitely out handles a lot of other cars.
 
I always enjoyed my 1.4 almeras, not quick, but quite usable. If it was a toss up, I'd be realy tempted by the fiesta. I learned to drive in one, the handling was lovely; small steering wheel, felt nimble. On the other hand it had a horrible gearbox. The almera was a bit more refined.

Both were absolutely fine at motorway speeds - realistically you'll have to drop down a gear for overtaking, but you'll have to do that with anything small engined.
 
I would recommend you get hold of a 1.6, not a huge difference at all really but having the 1.4 I noticed once the load was increasing and more passengers were in the car any performance there was sunk, you would have to rev the car harder which consumed more fuel! The 1.6 having only about about 15 bhp more had that little extra bit of power which meant you not having to drive it harder! Although when your driving on your own the car goes well haha. For handling If your on a budget just get hold of a pair of GTi alloys and get a good set of tyres on them! Overtakes only ever happen if your on your own or a low gear or you just gradually get there lol!
 
get the almera and have a laugh with it... comfortable reliable and they go really well with the right kit on it ;)
 
Defo the almera! i had a 1.4 for my first car - i thought that everything about it was better than a fiesta - definately in terms of looks, space inside, driving position (Fiesta was too cramped for me) Also, every other car on the road is a fiesta, i dont know anyone else that has ever owned an almera round where i live. I lowered mine, put some gti wheels and an exhaust on it and it was awesome! Obviously its just my opinion but i enjoyed mine alot! oh... and i had mine for 2 years and it didnt ever go wrong!

Dan
 
I have had the 1.25 zetec and the 1.6 almera i had now . I would say defo get the Almera It handles a lot better and drives a lot better. Plus the clutch has gone on both. It set me back £290 on the Fiesta and £180 on the Almera. Plus with an exhaust and induction kit the Almera sounds miles better than the Fiesta did with the same kit on.
 
Thanks alot for the replies, all of you. Is the driving position ok for tall people btw? The steering wheel looks huge like it could get in the way.

For about £800-£1000 i can get a decent example so looking to get one i think. The Almera seems more respectable than an old fezzy as well.

Hopefully I'll see if there are any cheap 1.6's available and if the insurance isnt 2 bad on them.
 
Is the driving position ok for tall people btw?
Click to expand...

Im 6ft 1", the almera is very spacious so the driving position is very comfortable... Whereas the fiesta was too small (for me) - pedals too close together, felt quite squashed in... If you are tall, i think you would find the fiesta too small...
 
Thats the main benefit I've found in the Almera, the pedals are well spaced, the driving position feels mint, and there's loads of space in front and back!

Try and get a 1.6 SRi if you can..
Insurance isn't too bad suprisingly.
But with the SRi you get luxuries straight from the GTi like the interior including seats.

Joe
 
You won't regret getting any Almera, even the 1.4, I had a 1.4 (which is now for sale lol) and it was a complete hoot to drive and when I got it lowered it handled like it was on rails!

The driving position is very low to the road, you feel very in touch with the car and what it's doing!
 
i paid 1350 for my 1.6 GX, but it had ridic low mileage,

whoever asked the tall person question, i can't get my legs under the steering wheel of a fiesta.

in the almera i can actually be too far away from the pedals... and im pusing 6'4"
 
Thanks alot for all the replies again. Definitely going to pick one up. At 18 with 1 years driving experience and 0ncb what would you expect for an insurance quote? Admiral gave me £1360 on third party fire and theft with my dad as a named driver, this quote was the same for the 1.4 and 1.6 for some reason, also.

Just a thought aswell, whilst the fiesta's a tad nippier to 60, the almera should pull more than the fiesta between say 65-100 shouldn't it, due to extra torque and hp?
 
I was 18 with a claim that was my fault, and got insured on my 1.6 SRi on my own policy for £1200 with Elephant :)

and ask Tommo about his 0-60 times... I bet he's beaten a few zetec S times.
 
shaggy_master said:
Try and get a 1.6 SRi if you can..
Insurance isn't too bad suprisingly.
But with the SRi you get luxuries straight from the GTi like the interior including seats.

Joe
Click to expand...

Quoted for truth.

I've got a 1.6 SRi as a first car, insurance really isn't that bad and they're quite a bit quicker than the 1.4s.

Almeraraje: You must have a really odd shaped body... I'm 6'3", find that my knees hit the steering wheel and i need to have the seat further back than the furthest position. On long journeys it can start be ache up my foot.
 
Almeraraje has an odd shaped body...?

IMG_1941.jpg


Sorry mate couldnt resist! :D
 
JClark said:
Quoted for truth.

I've got a 1.6 SRi as a first car, insurance really isn't that bad and they're quite a bit quicker than the 1.4s.

Almeraraje: You must have a really odd shaped body... I'm 6'3", find that my knees hit the steering wheel and i need to have the seat further back than the furthest position. On long journeys it can start be ache up my foot.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. That can't be good. Wouldn't enjoy knee banging like in my old fiesta.
 
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