The 150 quid Micra…
Discussion
Long story short, Mrs. Vince’s much loved Puma finally did what all Pumas do and failed catastrophically due to structural corrosion.
Currently looking for a mk1 TT225 but she needed a car to run round on while we find the right one.
Enter Myrtle, a K11 1.0 5 door Micra, “Hollywood” edition. 88k, 2 owners, favourable mot history and a bit mechanically neglected, but structually excellent. The sills and arches are like factory. Work mate had owned her for ages and by his own admission isn’t a car person. He’d just got in it and used it. Mot til August. 150 quid.
The plan was to get Mrs. Vince mobile while we look for her ideal car, but after a few tinkery sessions i’m inclined to keep it as a spare car/useful tool. I’m really enjoying how cheap and rewarding it is to own and work on.
Anyway, some pics…
Next job is to fit a new back box. For thirty five quid.
f
k it, i’m keeping it.
Currently looking for a mk1 TT225 but she needed a car to run round on while we find the right one.
Enter Myrtle, a K11 1.0 5 door Micra, “Hollywood” edition. 88k, 2 owners, favourable mot history and a bit mechanically neglected, but structually excellent. The sills and arches are like factory. Work mate had owned her for ages and by his own admission isn’t a car person. He’d just got in it and used it. Mot til August. 150 quid.
The plan was to get Mrs. Vince mobile while we look for her ideal car, but after a few tinkery sessions i’m inclined to keep it as a spare car/useful tool. I’m really enjoying how cheap and rewarding it is to own and work on.
Anyway, some pics…
Next job is to fit a new back box. For thirty five quid.
f
k it, i’m keeping it. Edited by V1nce Fox on Saturday 10th December 15:36
Really enjoying tinkering with it. Full service planned over xmas, coolant flush, gearbox oil, the lot.
Front wings have small dents but i’ll address those when weather is better.
Only real downside is the seats. Driver’s one is knackered and all are a bit tired. Some will turn up locally at some point no doubt.
Front wings have small dents but i’ll address those when weather is better.
Only real downside is the seats. Driver’s one is knackered and all are a bit tired. Some will turn up locally at some point no doubt.
sixor8 said:
Good little cars, and that was cheap! Probably worth more as scrap if it goes badly wrong. 
Friend I bought it off offered it for 100 as it needed a few bits but scrap at time was 200, so met in middle. I think he was relieved it didn’t get scrapped. Check out this clean underside action…
It’s mad how solid it is. Has rusty marks starting to appear on some surface stuff underneath but nothing close to proper corrosion so i’ll treat that bit by bit and poorboys the sills, arches etc.
We have more cars than people, and the cheap three are all worth £2k or less each and are 17 years old or more,
It just makes so much sense - different cars for different purposes, and when one spits out it's dummy, or just won't start, or is so frozen up you can't get the driver's door open when you need to be somewhere, there's always a spare.
What's not to like with a little run around?
Only question is, does Erin Dawes***, to whom you are related by marriage, actually like to drive it?
It just makes so much sense - different cars for different purposes, and when one spits out it's dummy, or just won't start, or is so frozen up you can't get the driver's door open when you need to be somewhere, there's always a spare.
What's not to like with a little run around?
Only question is, does Erin Dawes***, to whom you are related by marriage, actually like to drive it?
- * I am assuming you have watched at least one episode of Minder.
She wasn’t mad on it at first but has accepted that third class driving beats first class walking, especially at this time of year.
I fixed the dash lights earlier (put led ones it as an upgrade) and fitted her stereo as the old original one was buggered. It’s a nicer place to be sat now.
Weirdly, it’s really taking me back to my first car memories, over 30 years ago!
I fixed the dash lights earlier (put led ones it as an upgrade) and fitted her stereo as the old original one was buggered. It’s a nicer place to be sat now.
Weirdly, it’s really taking me back to my first car memories, over 30 years ago!
Edited by V1nce Fox on Saturday 24th December 18:19
Cheers.
Next jobs are flush cooling system and get proper coolant in it (including fitting new expansion tank and possibly thermostat) then oil/ filter and fuel filter change. Following that do exhaust and gearbox oil then just keep on top of it/ do cosmetic tidying.
Oh and get new seats and steering wheel.
Next jobs are flush cooling system and get proper coolant in it (including fitting new expansion tank and possibly thermostat) then oil/ filter and fuel filter change. Following that do exhaust and gearbox oil then just keep on top of it/ do cosmetic tidying.
Oh and get new seats and steering wheel.
Impressive sills, but the real rot point for those is the cross member under the radiator - even good looking cars can be completely rotten there, and it's a structural member.
If you hear an odd clunk from the front at times, it's likely the cross member is no longer attached at either end...
...but not a disaster - many garages have replaced/repaired loads of them, it used to be considered almost a service item!
Great buy though.
If you hear an odd clunk from the front at times, it's likely the cross member is no longer attached at either end...
...but not a disaster - many garages have replaced/repaired loads of them, it used to be considered almost a service item!
Great buy though.
I bought my daughter one of these as her first car.
On winter tyres it was practically unstoppable in the snow. Also one of those cars that i enjoyed 'improving' from time to time, stuff like adding central locking and electric windows.
Between us, we put 50K miles on it before the gearbox failed. Sold it for more or less what the OP paid and it survived for a few years longer!
On winter tyres it was practically unstoppable in the snow. Also one of those cars that i enjoyed 'improving' from time to time, stuff like adding central locking and electric windows.
Between us, we put 50K miles on it before the gearbox failed. Sold it for more or less what the OP paid and it survived for a few years longer!
I’ll be pulling the front bumper off to proof behind it at some point so will check the crossmember then, cheers for the tip.
Have to say, weirdly i’m enjoying how spartan it is. No aircon, leccy windows, power steering, central locking or even a rev counter. So simple and much less of the sort of kit that goes wrong on older, cheaper cars.
Have to say, weirdly i’m enjoying how spartan it is. No aircon, leccy windows, power steering, central locking or even a rev counter. So simple and much less of the sort of kit that goes wrong on older, cheaper cars.
I had one of these, was great everything worked perfectly until it failed its MOT due to corrosion at the base of the b pillar so give it a good poke around there
Was the same colour but a sporty 3 door. Can be got to lift off oversteer quite nicely in the wet.
Was the same colour but a sporty 3 door. Can be got to lift off oversteer quite nicely in the wet.
Edited by shalmaneser on Saturday 10th December 23:43
It’s definitely solid. Was cleaning all door shuts earlier and have been under sills previously. There’s no sign of any real corrosion at all.
Have been wondering what best thing to protect underside with is. Thinking kurust for any minor marks then just aerosol stoneguard but open to suggestions.
Have been wondering what best thing to protect underside with is. Thinking kurust for any minor marks then just aerosol stoneguard but open to suggestions.
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