By now, you're probably sick of me waxing lyrical about the Nissan Almera. Well, I'm not quite done yet. Yes, I think that this car is the real deal, one that I myself will buy and live with. Time and again, I have recommended this car to anyone shopping in this segment, and am overjoyed every time someone ends up taking my advice. 

Problem is, whenever I recommend the Almera, the first reaction I get is, "A Nissan Almera, are you sure? Is it THAT GOOD?" To really convince them, I'd have to stop merely talking and bring them to go for a test drive. After that, they usually come around and change their opinion of the Almera. By now you're wondering, why is that?

You see, when many people hear the name 'Almera', they don't think of the handsome, refined, and elegant car that we get today. No, the mental association is of the severely underwhelming predecessor, the N17. A car so depressing, it makes you question its raison d'etre, and yours at the same time. 

So, here's my suggestion. Start with a clean slate. Ditch the Almera name. It's doing more harm than good. It's an absolute injustice to such a wonderfully brilliant product. In fact, I had a personal friend who swore never to go near anything bearing the name 'Almera' because his ownership experience with the N17 model was so horrendous. He ended up buying the current Honda City. 

So, if there's any chance that the powers that be in Nissan are reading this, do consider doing away with the 'Almera' nameplate. You have a genuinely world-beating product in your hands. "Change? To what name?" At this point, anything is better than 'Almera'.

In the directory of good Nissan names, you spoiled for choice. Call it the Versa, Tiida, Sunny, anything. Better still, call it the Pulsar. Now that's a name that brings back the feelgood factor to Nissan products. One thing's for sure, the 'Almera' nameplate is a massive disservice to the current car. Pulsar? Well, what an evocative name it would be.

In saying that, local Nissan guardian Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has no decision-making powers in this matter. Nissan Motor, please, do your job, help your distributors and make the brand great again. You have a winning product right here, at your doorstep now. A name change is the least you can do, don't you think?