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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 15:02:54

Title: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 15:02:54
As above really. i found some nice very cheap examples on gumtree. little 1L engines. easy to work on. just for bombing about really.
what do you think?
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Nick W on 25 October 2012, 15:21:47
Avoid the CVT Micra at all costs.
A 16v Fiesta is a much better car alltogether.
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: omega3000 on 25 October 2012, 15:29:21
Avoid the CVT Micra at all costs.
A 16v Fiesta is a much better car alltogether.

Whats wrong with them nick so we can rule them out  ;)
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: aaronjb on 25 October 2012, 15:55:12
Avoid the CVT Micra at all costs.
A 16v Fiesta is a much better car alltogether.

Whats wrong with them nick so we can rule them out  ;)

IIRC the CVT transmission is just woeful, rather than any specific failure points..
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: tigers_gonads on 25 October 2012, 16:19:32
My sister had a 99 model for a few years.
1 ltr manual box iirc.   Been told they burn a bit of oil with high miles (100,000 ish) but that was about it tbh.

Well it was until she wrote the thing off that is  ::)

Put it this way, she replaced it with another one
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: henryd on 25 October 2012, 16:39:22
As above really. i found some nice very cheap examples on gumtree. little 1L engines. easy to work on. just for bombing about really.
what do you think?

Mechanically not bad but watch out for rot,especially under the rad at the front :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: albitz on 25 October 2012, 16:44:35
Is that the one that the engine needs to come out to change the camchain ?
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: sassanach on 25 October 2012, 16:46:52
wherever there is a queue of slow moving traffic you can bet that there is a micra at the head of it ;D
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 18:12:12
was looking at this....

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/bargain-r-reg-micra-low-milage/112371774
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 18:45:58
or this one even better!

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/nissan-micra-1996-model-auto-petrol-mot-but-tax-will-be-removed-good-for-export-drive-lovely/112677879#gallery-item-full-1
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: aaronjb on 25 October 2012, 18:52:48
My better half has a Micra - though hers is a facelifted K11C, I'm fairly sure they're mechanically identical across all the K11s. For her it's been reliable and gets close to 50mpg, and she doesn't exactly drive sedately (she fairly well wrings it's neck the whole time!) and the handling has (so far) kept her out of the weeds.. (Better than the 'rally' prepped Ford Ka at the experience day yesterday, anyway, where she collected a cone as it understeered toward the grass bank ;D)

I think in the last few years it's needed a new exhaust and new radiator besides basic servicing. Eats a little oil (as someone already said) and occasionally smells of hot oil (rather like my Omega) but seems bulletproof.

If I fitted in the thing I'd be tempted as a runaround too ;D
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 18:56:25
sounds spot on mate. jap reliability!  :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 19:45:34
Oh my god. just done ins quotes....

third party only £900  :o :o :o :o

fully comp.... £400  ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Crazycarzowner on 25 October 2012, 20:20:36
SWMBO Has had a few of em. Lovely little nippy car to drive, surprisingly roomy even for me at 6'5. Ours suffered from the usual tin worm to both sills and near the rad as said before. Quite easy to work on, ours didn't have PAS when she got it but it was easy to gather the parts and swap. MPG wise very good 50+ but they are a town car not a motorway muncher and I felt a bit vulnerable when I used it on the m/way. The later one we got was a lot better specced. C/L leccy windows & CD player (WOW) and of the 3 we have had, we had no brake downs  in any of them.
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 20:24:53
thanks jason, thats a good account  :y

when you say ''the usual rot'', obviously sills get rotten (a natural gathering area for water) but a rotten radiator?  :o is this a one off or common occurence?

cheers guys  :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: henryd on 25 October 2012, 20:41:35
thanks jason, thats a good account  :y

when you say ''the usual rot'', obviously sills get rotten (a natural gathering area for water) but a rotten radiator?  :o is this a one off or common occurence?

cheers guys  :y

Its not the rad which corrodes,its the crossmember below it ;D :y :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 21:00:51
thanks jason, thats a good account  :y

when you say ''the usual rot'', obviously sills get rotten (a natural gathering area for water) but a rotten radiator?  :o is this a one off or common occurence?

cheers guys  :y

Its not the rad which corrodes,its the crossmember below it ;D :y :y

cheers henry  :y :y :y hey if you dont ask!  ;D
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Crazycarzowner on 25 October 2012, 21:29:35
Sorry Webby, Didn't make myself clear. I meant the crossmember as said previously  ::)

The newer model I wouldn't have, its no where near as good as the older one.  ;)
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 21:35:56
cheers mate, ill be sure to check the underside for this.... i can always cover it in vaseline  ;D
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: omega3000 on 25 October 2012, 21:38:30
Cheap as chips (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Micra-1-3-inspiration-5door-/230868481974?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35c0d577b6)  :)
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 21:43:19
thanks steve... really want an auto though  :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: omega3000 on 25 October 2012, 21:44:49
thanks steve... really want an auto though  :y

Ooops yeah i forgot , soz  :-[ :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 October 2012, 21:50:32
thanks steve... really want an auto though  :y

Ooops yeah i forgot , soz  :-[ :y

lol its alright mate... does mean i'm a bit ''restricted'' in terms of choice though  :'( ::) :y
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: omega3000 on 25 October 2012, 21:58:38
Seems to a fair few about with buyers all looking for cheaper running costs and road tax which bumps things up a bit , downside to searching is i just found one myself that would be ideal but no funds available at mo  ::) a waiting game but sure you will get one soon enough , my old nissan sunny was a great car ...not many of those around for sale at the mo  ;)
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: symes on 25 October 2012, 22:18:58
Ive welded 3 micra's front crossmembers so would say a very common problem
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 October 2012, 22:29:12
Only thing I know about Micras is that a tow bar on an MV6 is ideal for removing the power steering pipework through the radiator, as long as you don't want to re-use the pipework. Or the radiator. Or the Micra. >:(
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: symes on 25 October 2012, 22:38:30
I did that-merc ran into back of my p6 wrote front of merc off ;D ;D got new cover for tow ball as it creased the chrome cover
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: jonnyboyws6 on 26 October 2012, 08:02:01
Horses for courses and that, but as little cars go I think Micras are fantastic. We had one that had done 160 000 when we sold it, and I still see it running around. I have never ever had to do any serious mechanical work on any of them that we've had, plenty of welding though... front crossmember/radiator support, back end of outer sills/inner arch/inner sills, rear footwells, front footwell/outrigger. Just general old jap car stuff really.

As for the CVT auto version, the boxes are a bit weak. I had one that was whining a bit by 40 000 miles, no idea how long they last because it got stolen and burnt out which kind of upset me because I was planning to either fit a manual box or break it. Also, the driving experience is a bit wierd if you are used to normal autos, but on the plus side they sap a lot less power than a conventional auto so in theory performance and economy isn't much different to that of a manual. All that applies to all CVTs, not just Micras.

To drive they are incredibly roomy and comfortable for such a small car. Of course they are never going to rival an Omega, but give me one over a Corsa, Fiesta, Ka, 106, Saxo etc any day of the week. 1.3s are suprisingly nippy too.

Great little cars, just check for rot.
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: omega3000 on 26 October 2012, 08:43:28
Quote
. front crossmember/radiator support, back end of outer sills/inner arch/inner sills, rear footwells, front footwell/outrigger.

I was going to ask if the auto's are noisy for such a small car ? The rot issue is a bit concerning , maybe thats why they are fairly cheap on the older ones ....still it gives webby an idea what to look out for all the same  :)
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: jonnyboyws6 on 26 October 2012, 09:22:16
I think all CVTs are a bit noisy just because they are belt drive, but mine was definitely getting louder. Also had a Rover that did it, had the bearings replaced on that one. So it's probably worth knowing what you are looking at so you don't get caught with "They're all like that sir" salesman trick!
Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 26 October 2012, 09:28:11
Given the age you are looking at I would say avoid, once they get past 10-12 years old the rot is a major issue (as seems to be the case for quite a few cars from that stable and the equivalent 'T' one).

The cvt transmission has 'issues' to.

Title: Re: Nissan Micra (P to V Reg.). Anyone any experience?
Post by: Andy H on 27 October 2012, 22:51:15
SWMBO has had two 1.3 CVTs.

On the plus side:
she loved them
light weight & quite nippy (with the 1.3)
economical
tiny on outside (so easy to park) but tardis like space inside.
CVT gives seamless gearchanges

on the negative side
no air bags
lightweight
image problem (people kept driving into her)
CVT really unhappy in creeping traffic.

The first one got written off on the M25 by a Lithuanian HGV that switched into her lane when she was level with the front axle.  >:(
The second one got written off when she got tail ended by a dickhead in a Audi that tailgated her for 10 miles before finally ramming her when she stopped at a roundabout. >:( >:(

No airbags means that the second write off wasn't seen as serious by the plod when he turned up. I didn't realise how serious until I discovered that I couldn't get the spare wheel out of the wheel well because the body shell was 3" shorter than it should be (amazing things plastic bumpers).

I persuaded her to get a Golf this time. She doesn't love it like she did the Micras but she seems be given more road space and the additional weight (and air bags) should provide more protection.