95' Nissan Micra k11 1.0 16v

[squareflops]

cheers for the replies guys

I wish my one felt slightly more robust at the moment, the fragile clutch and knocking from the CVs is not confiedence inspiring but they should be getting done soon enough!

The CVT is a little cracker, when I drive that one it almost makes me miss the PAS, but I decided to go for poverty spec for mine and I'm sticking to it. new tyres and a simple alignment will sort things out. as will new bilstein B4s if I decide to go that way

Oh, first 'mod' on my car, silly but I like the irony of it



As an aside, I've started to contemplate selling the M3. I love it but does it need to sit in the garage not being used until say March / April next year? I don't know.. That's gonna be a tough one..

[Barchettaman]

I would keep it - you've got a great combo there, anonymous but reliable mini-shed and a weekend weapon lurking in the garage.

What are the financial implications of keeping/selling the M3?

Obvs the Micra is well beyond shedness with the work you've put into it, that was just the best description I could think of.

[JakeT]

I rattled around in one of these a few years ago and loved it. Base model too but with a sunroof. The lack of PAS was quite nice, as was the 7300RPM redline! Second gear was all that was needed around town, and it seemed to run on air. Never needed to fill the thing. The one I was in had white paint, and was sold new to a Mr. Singh.

[J4CKO]

My auntie has one of these, a 1 litre, I think its about her third car in almost 40 years of driving (First two were Datsun Cherrys which I have a soft spot for, the first shape ones), bought nearly new in like 1998 or something and it looks the same as it did when new, they are amazingly robust, I drove it once but I am not sure I could cope with the 1 litre engine, maybe hers needs a good running in but it felt so sluggish, our C1 feels a lot perkier.

[Morningside]

This is what the Mini replacement should have been.

[omgus]

95 fiesta si said:

Good job.

its nice to see even the smallest and under powered cars on PH are getting the love.

I had a 1.0 16v 2002 model in mint green some years back and was a solid reliable little car

I think the only people i know who don't like them seem to have never driven them.
Amusingly brilliant little cars, with hindsight Nissan just got the K11 right, except for that front crosmember being made of cardboard.

[Morningside]

Damn you! Damn you all...I am now looking at Micra's near to me on eBay.

I don't really need one or want one but you never know.

What is the newer model like (K12)? I know they have that 'scared rabbit' look about them and not as appealing as the bubble shape but they are a bit newer.

[molineux1980]

I did my first official driving lessons in the 1.3 16v? version of this on our school playground when I was about 14 - We did it in groups of 3 with a local driving instructor. I remember it been sprightly.

And I also remember being slightly terrified sitting in the back when another pupil had to stare at his feet as he didn't know which pedal was which when the instructor told him to brake with a wall looming......

[mr shoddy]

We recently bought a 2002 K11 SE+ for my wife, to replace an older 'S' version. The SE+ has 1.4L engine which works really nicely on the motorways and the interior is actually quite nice - air con - electric windows/mirrors - sunroof - side airbags.
These may not be 'pistonheads' cars but they are seriously underrated. With some decent tyres on the handling is good enough to be enjoyable, the gearbox is great and the driving position is spot on.

[Jellyfish]

ScoobyChris said:

Not to be confused with the special edition Micra Wave (ours was M306 CCD) in metallic blue

Chris

Haha, no way! I bet they knew of the 'exhaust becomes a cooker' trick and named a special edition accordingly. Bloody Japanese!

[squareflops]

all interesting to read again guys. It's surprising; this thread has invited so many more comments than the m3 one. That's great isn't it m3 yea yea.. But the Micra I think has a place in so many peoples lives and it's such an endearing little thing that it encourages comment.

Barchettaman said:

I would keep it - you've got a great combo there, anonymous but reliable mini-shed and a weekend weapon lurking in the garage.

What are the financial implications of keeping/selling the M3?

Obvs the Micra is well beyond shedness with the work you've put into it, that was just the best description I could think of.

interesting question. It is no doubt a great combo. The financials of the m3 are it owes me nothing. It can sit there not costing me a penny over the winter and shouldn't cost anything to recommission in the spring all being well. There are things I'd like to do to it to 'bring it up to standard' vanos overhaul, all new brakes, new suspension being the main points. All expensive. With my current contract not being guaranteed long term at the moment I just can't see me having to the spare change to do exactly what I want to it next year potentially which is a concern. I can maintain it but I want to do more than that.

It's all based on work really.

mini-shed is a great way to describe it hell it doesn't even qualify for shed status as it's well under the 1k mark.

J4CKO said:

C1

I can see a C1 in my future dude, seems like the natural progression, especially as Dale @ Bridge to Gantry is/was having success (and lots of fun) in his @ Spa as part of a spec series. If I ever feel like going super luxury shed I'll consider it

Morningside said:

Damn you! Damn you all...I am now looking at Micra's near to me on eBay.

I don't really need one or want one but you never know.

What is the newer model like (K12)? I know they have that 'scared rabbit' look about them and not as appealing as the bubble shape but they are a bit newer.

stop messing about MS and go K11 I'm still looking on Gumtree daily at new ones that pop up in Wales, it's a fun little past time. I'll check the MOT history on my phone app as a matter of course on most of them as I find it gives a really good indication of general condition. If I see lots of previous red (MOT Fail) and the words Excessive Corrosion I feel.. well I wouldn't have bought it now anyway but it's still fun to see what's out there!

Not sure on the k12 tbh, think they're generally the same in terms of reliability etc, I know they had the option of a 1.2 engine which is an unknown to me. I feel like the k12 is the mk5 Escort of the Nissan world when what you really want is the older, less safe, more fun Mk3 - does that even translate as a metaphor

mr shoddy said:

We recently bought a 2002 K11 SE+ for my wife, to replace an older 'S' version. The SE+ has 1.4L engine which works really nicely on the motorways and the interior is actually quite nice - air con - electric windows/mirrors - sunroof - side airbags.
These may not be 'pistonheads' cars but they are seriously underrated. With some decent tyres on the handling is good enough to be enjoyable, the gearbox is great and the driving position is spot on.

I wasn't even really aware there was a 1.4se+. Seems otherworldly I'll have to keep my eye out for those, never see them come up! Agree though, driving position is perfect in my 1.0. and I still maintain it shifts better than the M.

Maybe that's why I'm contemplating selling the M, the Micra is all the car I've ever needed, who knew..

[CX53]

Great thread! A colleague has one of these for sale at the moment. I'm aware I'm slightly ruining my beloved old Saab 9000 hammering it through 20k miles a year on top of its already high 170k. I'm quite tempted to buy it to rag to work & back.

[davepoth]

J4CKO said:

My auntie has one of these, a 1 litre, I think its about her third car in almost 40 years of driving (First two were Datsun Cherrys which I have a soft spot for, the first shape ones), bought nearly new in like 1998 or something and it looks the same as it did when new, they are amazingly robust, I drove it once but I am not sure I could cope with the 1 litre engine, maybe hers needs a good running in but it felt so sluggish, our C1 feels a lot perkier.

You aren't revving it enough. If it was one without a rev counter the chances are you're changing up 15mph too early - it revs absurdly high for a glorified shopping trolley.

[Morningside]

davepoth said:

J4CKO said:

My auntie has one of these, a 1 litre, I think its about her third car in almost 40 years of driving (First two were Datsun Cherrys which I have a soft spot for, the first shape ones), bought nearly new in like 1998 or something and it looks the same as it did when new, they are amazingly robust, I drove it once but I am not sure I could cope with the 1 litre engine, maybe hers needs a good running in but it felt so sluggish, our C1 feels a lot perkier.

You aren't revving it enough. If it was one without a rev counter the chances are you're changing up 15mph too early - it revs absurdly high for a glorified shopping trolley.

Exactly. I used to scream the guts out of mine and it always had more oomph than expected.

[mickyveloce]

Ive just bought one! It's a 1.4 Active 51 plate with less than 60k, loads of history and no advisories on the mot.

My friend who's leaving the country has had it in the family from new and it's a belter. It will be cleaned up and sold though, unless it gets under my skin....

[squareflops]

ooh 1.4! sounds about as clean an example as you'll ever find. Rare too; not like us peasants with the 1.0. Please keep it, or let me know if you're thinking of selling

Any pictures

[squareflops]

Not much been doing over the last few weeks with the Micra. After the service I still have a very slight air lock in mine I think, heaters get hot but I can hear a gurgle on start up behind the dash that I can't shift - bit annoying.

So new tyres fitted yesterday. Since buying it the steering has been very very heavy and insistent on returning to center quite aggressively but I'd sort of got used to it. I noted the old tyres were wearing quite unevenly so plumped for an alignment too. The difference is amazing. The steering now feels almost PAS-like and it no longer pulls wildly to the left which is nice, really really pleased.

The tyres fitted are Toyo Nanoenergy 3s, no doubt they'll be a massive improvement over the miss-matched, cracked 20 year old things that were on there. £20 each from Demon Tweeks on offer! amazing! £94 for fitting and the alignment though that'd be fine for the weekend car but seems far too much to spend on the Micra









I'm currently toying with the idea of bolting a 34" light bar to the front of the bonnet for watching night events / the winter generally, will look ridiculous - but watch this space

Oh edit: I did sell the m3



http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by squareflops on Sunday 4th December 15:07

[Morningside]

Hahahaha. I was thinking of putting a light bar on my scenic. Cannot think how to mount it yet.

[squareflops]

I'm thinking this



^one of the rally boys cars.

£38.99 for the same bar on eBay - he rates it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231795063384

Looks purposeful on the subaru, 34" is almost the width of the bonnet on the Micra

Would look 'reet on the Scenic

[GrantB5]

Ha clean pair of K11's.

I'm a parts advisor at Nissan so message me for anything you fancy and see what I can do.