Not what car, but what to look for? (Almera GTI)

[xscottxx]

As said above I'm going to look at a 1998 Almera GTI tomorrow.

As far as I can tell it's been owned by a mature gentleman (35+, and obviously no clue as to how it was driven anyway) for the last 9 years and it is 100% standard apart from possibly a head unit.

Now I've never looked into Almera GTIs and although I have seen them before it just sorta popped up when i was looking at GTI's under 2k on Autotrader, so I'm not too clued up.

I would imagine look for rust under the arches and in the boot/under the bonnet etc, but is there anything major that I need to look for?

AFAIK the engine should be pretty solid being an SR20DE, but again anything to look out for?

Any help much appreciated!

P.S one final question - as I currently have the massively overpowered 90bhp 2.0 HDI 307, whats more likely to fail an MOT?

[moxy89]

why would you want one there awful!

[Aly]

As said above I'm going to look at a 1998 Almera GTI tomorrow.

As far as I can tell it's been owned by a mature gentleman (35+, and obviously no clue as to how it was driven anyway) for the last 9 years and it is 100% standard apart from possibly a head unit.

Now I've never looked into Almera GTIs and although I have seen them before it just sorta popped up when i was looking at GTI's under 2k on Autotrader, so I'm not too clued up.

I would imagine look for rust under the arches and in the boot/under the bonnet etc, but is there anything major that I need to look for?

AFAIK the engine should be pretty solid being an SR20DE, but again anything to look out for?

Any help much appreciated!

P.S one final question - as I currently have the massively overpowered 90bhp 2.0 HDI 307, whats more likely to fail an MOT?

Strut top bearings always, my dads had 3 and failed on them on each one lol

[jasonmayall]

Being a nissan, I'd imagine it to be fairly reliable.
Only ever hear praise about these things really, I'd be mainly concerned with rust TBH.

[xscottxx]

Yeah I thought rust would be the big one.

@moxy i don't think they're that bad from what I've read they handle really well and are a bag of fun to drive?

[josh11490]

Not sure if I'm thinking about the right car but I'm pretty sure these can look awesome with good power for not too much?

[mattknight1984]

They are so dated and shit, why would you want one?

[Gandi699]

Last place I went to have an MOT they had one in needing a new driveshaft. Said they couldn't get hold of one anywhere as they aren't made anymore

[Nik_L]

Quite like these, but prefer face-lift.

Not common either, and handle well even as standard. They have factory fitted strut braces front and rear also.

As to what's more likely to fail an MOT, well, that depends on both cars and what could be wrong with them. An MOT is a generic test that is the same for all cars, not singled out depending on the car.

[xscottxx]

http://www.1stchoice.co.uk/cars/nissan/almera/3-door-hatchback/2.0-gti

seems to be a fair few parts on there so I'm not too worried.

reason I'm looking at it: I don't have a huge amount of money (well, none, apart from my car) and I want something fun on a budget. failing buying another saxo (of which I have a broken one on my drive), or a 2.0 gti golf which has truly shocking performance, I cant see anything better? and it has the SR20DE engine, so if I wanted to turbo it, very easy.

also, with a few choice mods (mani back, breathing and low) I'll be looking at 160bhp.

[xscottxx]

Quite like these, but prefer face-lift.

Not common either, and handle well even as standard. They have factory fitted strut braces front and rear also.

As to what's more likely to fail an MOT, well, that depends on both cars and what could be wrong with them. An MOT is a generic test that is the same for all cars, not singled out depending on the car.

On the MOT front I was thinking more common problems. For instance the 307 is a bag of shit and I'm 99% sure that the way I've driven it (at and through anything in my way) will nearly guarantee that it's fucked in ways I can't see.

[smiith]

I had a play with one on country lanes, in my 306 HDi, with a 125bhp map, and it soon went backwards...

Always think old nissans seem to be so dated inside, horrible grey plastics!

[johnr32]

A mate had bought one for £450, cheap as chips but needed a new clutch, had laquer peel and slight bubbling on the rear arches. Very reliable and handles pretty well tbh, its well made and handles better than a crappy saxo.

[dave_1]

Old dear had one for years.Part ex it and mechanic in the garage bought it spoke to him the other day body work mainly round the rear arches has rotted but the engine is still sound so hes putting the engine into a different shell

[Jazz]

The N15 Almeras are fairly reliable cars in general, paint can fade on them and being an older car look around very carefully for rust.

SR20DE is a good engine, easily turbo'd or swapped with a Pulsar or 200sx SR20DET boosted engine. Even with basic breather mods you'll see 150+hp and then apparantly they hual ass- I've heard of Almera GTi's out-dragging Focus ST170s and the like so not too shabby.

Its a rare and underrated car, if you can find a good one cheap I would take a punt.

[bboy90]

Make sure you check under the back seats and seatbelt mounts for rust. If you could find one a pulsar vzr would be better (same car but an import with a 1.6 vvl engine).

[Nik_L]

Somehow i don't think his budget will stretch to a VZR N1.

[xscottxx]

Nik you are 100% correct. I would love one but...wallet says no as does Aviva!

Well I bought it. Pics tomorrow when it's light. Needs the tracking sorted but other than that it runs well for a car with 160k on the clock.

[gtipower]

I had a black ph3 one owner from new original condition old couple had it, fitted s14black leather started sourcing parts to turbo it then a friend made me an offer I could not refuse.......regretted it ever since lucky for me he is going to Mexico next month and has given me first refusal on it so if I can shift my ax vts ill be boosting that :)
Get pics up mate.

[xscottxx]

http://i.imgur.com/kVy3MNEh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HgF1oX2h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VaLd0uYh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/buAMYTEh.jpg

Tracking got sorted today and sorting the stereo out ASAP.