Faults:

The Timing Chain and Tensioner assembly wore prematurely at only 49650 miles, causing the timing to be out and poor running. This is, according to my local dealer, a fault that they have seen on five other Almeras with this engine over the past few years, and is a very expensive job to fix. The bill for this repair just touches on £1000.00, but my dealer shouldered some of the costs involved to lessen the blow to my wallet, but I am nevertheless still reeling from the cost of the repairs. If you're considering buying one, it would pay you to get it inspected very closely, and if offered an extended warranty, pay it, because it just might save you a lot of money later on. Wish I'd listened to my own advice 6 months ago!

General Comments:

It is quite economical, returning an average of between 39 and 43 mpg.

The petrol tank is quite large, so this means less frequent trips to the garage for a fill up.

It's reasonably comfortable, with a nice set of seats, but has a slightly harsh ride quality. This makes for a sometimes bumpy ride, but excellent handling around bends.

Engine and road noise are quite loud inside the car, and trim tends to rattle and squeak a bit too.

There is a large load area, with the rear seats down, in which to carry plenty of things, and, on a plus point, the seats are very easy to collapse, with just one pull cord for each seat back.

Since I've had the car, it has started first turn of the key, never broken down, and fulfilled all the requirements I've needed.

I am, however, disappointed that, at such an early point in its life and mileage, it has cost me so much money for what would appear to be an inherent fault with the engine.

Faults:

Has one very slightly binding rear disk brake.

Nothing else has gone wrong with the car.

General Comments:

Almeras are very under rated cars. People who have not owned or driven one don't know what they are talking about, they also think that they are dull, which they are not. Good points are, excellent reliability, well designed mechanically and aesthetically, excellent handling the sport version has harder suspension, brakes and ABS are very good in all types of weather, men and women often give me good comments on it. Now the bad points, I don't like the pattern on the seats, one of the rear disc brakes has a slight overheating problem this might be because of binding or the disc is warped, when I looked at the brake caliper and bench tested it worked fine no binding so I do not know how to fix it, might be disc warped, also the engine although good on fuel and emissions does not suit the sport badge as it's no pocket rocket, but does 100mph with ease.

Faults:

Noisy door locking solenoid at 20000 miles.

General Comments:

This is the first car I have ever owned on which everything works as it is meant to.

Unlike all my previous cars except one this car does not leak.

The car has every accessory that a reasonable owner could possibly want and this for considerably less money than its competitors.

The driving position is perfect and has never given me backache.

It behaves impeccably in town.

On the motorway it goes like a rocket and is almost completely unaffected by strong winds.

The doors open very widely and my disabled father in law has no problems getting in and out of it unlike my brother in law's German limousine.

I cannot understand why these cars get such a poor press.

I intend to keep mine until it or I fall to bits.