The Car That REFUSES to Die - Nissan Almera Review

Today we've borrowed a Nissan Almera from a fellow named Connor Jones, packed with a 1.5L engine pumping out no significant number of horses. A truly standard every-car but with a twist: the thing refuses to die. Nothing about the car stands out as negative but at the same time, nothing stands out as a large positive either. This vehicle is the definition of an appliance, and I respect that.
Please enjoy!
Instagram: / raspberrycai
#Nissan #Cars #nissanalmera

[@sonofjak1971]

Had the dubious honour of owning two of these, a 1996 mk1 1.4 litre, reliable and forgettable other than the standard fitted Sony cd player and really decent speakers. Then a 51 plate 1.8 litre which was excellent and economical for bombing up and down the motorway, 165k on the clock when it died. So my memories really do match your description and outlook. All in all, decent, reliable and dull. Enjoyed your video.

[@CaiKeys]

Thanks, it's always great to hear other people's thoughts on the cars I review, glad both almeras were good workhorses, and thanks for watching!

[@johnm9845]

Your shirt should have its own review channel.

[@justplanecrazy5575]

Ever since my mum bought a mk2 almera waay back in 2015, I've been obsessed with almeras. Sure they're about as interesting as a box of roses chocolates but they got the job done and quite honestly they're fun to drive. Yes I will be buying one the moment I can.

[@Fizhy]

The mighty Nissan

[@captainduck3421]

Wasn't expecting you here! Did you drive one of these?

[@Fizhy]

@@captainduck3421I edited this video

[@MechanicCompetence]

I love my Almera, I have a '55 plate 1.5 as my daily, so basically the car in this video. As you rightly said the timing chain is well known as the weakspot on these, I changed mine recently along with the gears, tensioner etc, for peace of mind. About 3000 miles later, it rattles on startup again... So I've decided to just live with that. Another thing which is so true and really is the biggest "eh" part of this specific Almera, the MK2 facelifted, is that climate control unit. Its all integrated into the radio, so no option for a custom radio which really sucks in todays world. The controls are fiddly and even now, after two years of driving it and being very much used to how to work the controls, its still dangerous because you do need to LOOK at what settings you're changing as opposed to feeling them like you do on the old manual style. The lack of tactile feedback leaves you taking your eyes off the road... But yeah, on the whole, never had any real issues with it. It is a Nissan at heart, even though Renault started sticking their unwanted fingers into the pie. Oh! And my gearstick is also sentient haha, I think its just how they are :P

[@CaiKeys]

Really glad you liked what I had to say on the almera, and thanks for sharing your experiences! I've found some of the early Nissan/Renault alliance cars are still rock solid, I've always considered the downfall of Nissan reliability to be ~2008 or so, but even then, some models are still decent for longevity. Glad we agree on the climate controls too, they're clumsy. I think a screen *can* work, but only in conjunction with genuinely tactile dials so you don't ever have to look at it unless you want to. It's still better than a C3 I had the pleasure of driving the other day where you had to go into a touchscreen menu to change climate!

[@speakeasy4823]

The radio and air system is mind boggling. So complex.

[@Leehuss5582]

I also had a 1999 Almera 1.4 manual and these cars were ARE so reliable. This was NISSAN before the tinkering that Renault did and ruined. My Almera was given to me by my mum and I NEVER serviced the car just changed the oil and filters The car kept going on and on....

[@CaiKeys]

Solid cars. Bit of a shame how Renault had such an effect on Nissan's reliability, I've found early Nissan/Renault cars are still for the most part fairly solid, but present day Nissan are letting their brand and historical reputation do a lot of heavy lifting.

[@TezTezTezTezTez]

We need a new video Cai !!

[@DecadesVideos]

For the algo

[@A_Manc_Abroad]

Loved the intro , did you get the wheel trim back

[@Fizhy]

a small chunk snapped off when Cai rolled over it on the rear wheel but it clipped back in to the opposing wheel where it was originally from, we contrived it to fall off

[@senitnelav]

Thumbs up for the intro, haha.

[@CaiKeys]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Midnight.k1]

Nice review as usual 👍

[@CaiKeys]

Thanks for watching!

[@adamwoodward2003]

I owned an 02 Almera Twister 1.5l Petrol for a couple of months, and it was the worst car I've ever owned/ driven. It was so horrifically slow, and the engine would go into limp mode under hard acceleration. It got hit by a lorry on the M1 and is now probably a washing machine. Credit where credits due, it took the hit from the lorry pretty well, myself and the two other people in the car weren't injured at all.

[@CaiKeys]

Perhaps it's because my daily is a lethargic 1.0 Yaris, the 1.5 in this felt adequete, but certainly not swift. From what I've been told by the owner, the does come in two variations however, so you could have had the even slower one... Thanks for watching!

[@adamwoodward2003]

@@CaiKeys I think my Almera had a clogged catalytic converter, hence why it was so slow. Something definitely wasn't right with it 😂😂

[@23rdian]

These are good cars and decent to drive. Quite light for the space available inside but they can have some faults with electrics. Mine has had to have the ECU replaced and developed the immobilizer issue. The climate screens and the stereos are actually okay. The only problem is excessive car tax. But that's not the cars fault. Who cares about tech in cars? It's distracting.

[@CaiKeys]

In contrast to the citroen C3 I drove the other day, the lack of tech is a breath of fresh air, though I don't think the monochrome display is superior to bog standard climate control knobs and isn't very intuitive - the last almera conner owned didn't have the screen, and he felt the climate controls were far less convoluted than this one. Thanks for watching!

[@dwaynekelly2266]

Here come the renault comments in 3 2 1

[@andycurtis1329]

Want to review my X type Jag before I get rid of it for something less beige?

[@CaiKeys]

I would be very interested in that actually, would be interesting to compare it to my old 75 - if you wanna shoot me a message on Instagram @raspberrycai (if you don't have Instagram we can do via email) we can hopefully get something organised!

[@MarriedToTheKGB]

They are probably a very good buy being that they are so forgettable

[@CaiKeys]

Definition of a white goods car, unremarkable and forgettable but very reliable - as always, cheers for watching!

[@somervillearron]

The 2.2 diesel is good can be quick

[@CaiKeys]

I'd imagine the 2.2D would be a swift engine especially in something as light as the almera - I would have focused a bit more on the diesels but having had no experience with them, there's not too much I could have said! Thanks for watching

[@somervillearron]

@@CaiKeys yeah man get the egr off and the dpf or cat bypassed and deep clean the intake etc to get rid of the sludge there like new again that goes for all modern diesels..... The egr system rerouted exhaust gas back through the intake and is mixed with pcv oil vapour etc and causes all the holes to narrow just choking a diesel over time cleaning all of that out and getting rid of egr does wonders

[@elisehoward3755]

0:25 gta intro

[@mishalchotai4721]

You're clothes are like the interior of some of them pal. Lol 😆 I had a 1.8l sport NG51 HNY Was great. Never let me down.

[@CaiKeys]

I'll take that as a compliment! I can imagine the 1.8 being a pretty swift thing, as the 1.5 didn't even seem particularly lethargic. Thanks for watching!

[@mishalchotai4721]

@@CaiKeys I thought your attire was for that very reason. Great review, brought lots of memories back. I looked around for the same car I had. Nothing about.

[@CaiKeys]

@@mishalchotai4721 cheers, glad you enjoyed it - ebay is always worth a look for cheaper, older cars, but just keep an eye out, something will probably pop up sooner or later, but I think the vast majority of almeras are the 1.5

[@Stoff1]

Putt Putt Ding Ding £2.99

[@Kennynwten]

Awful things i could never sell them

[@CaiKeys]

What didn't people like about them? Was it reliability concerns or did people just not like the idea of owning one? They don't really inspire any particular feelings

[@Kennynwten]

@@CaiKeys They were just boring old mans cars and nobody wanted to buy them

[@CaiKeys]

@@Kennynwten makes a lot of sense. Reliable as they may be they don't inspire any feelings whatsoever