Nissan Micra (1993 - 2002) 1.0 S 3d (00) (2001/51) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That quite obviously I'm a student. Screamy motorway performance and shockingly high fuel consumption hindered my penny-saving schemes, sadly.. Unfortunately has the 'mumsy', granny-car image which is hard to shake off, despite flashy hubcaps and flame red colour.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Parents love it for its reliability. Friends aren't huge fans due to limited space in the back (i'm about 6' tall, so anyone sat behind me ideally should have no legs) and slightly comedic appearance.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No, I'd prefer to buy something with more power and more mod-cons. Also something that's a little safer.

What are you likely to buy next?

'00-02 Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 '99-03 Yaris T-Sport 1.5

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

August 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

I'd call free a very good deal.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

It was given to me by a family member, as they no longer drove it. Instant, free first car.

What was the dealer like?

Friendly as your aunt can be.

What's it like to drive?

Once you get used to the very limited 998cc engine, and the comparatively large gearstick for the size, a fair bit of fun to drive. Not quick by any standard, but nippy around town, and 0-30 is surprisingly quick. 30-70 however does take an age, and the underpowered engine is screaming at motorway speeds, making long journeys tiresome and stressful. Fair bit of body roll on tight corners and roundabouts, making for comedic handling at times. Not hugely adept at tackling rough terrain, all potholes are felt quite severely, and the wheelbase is only about an inch wider than most speedbumps, meaning the tiniest error in judgement leads to a nasty jolt. Despite these shortcomings the car has a great deal of character.

What's it like to park?

Excellent rear visibility, and general very airy cabin, large windows. However side mirrors are on the small side, which can affect parking visibility.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Electrics proved themselves slightly dodgy. Was running with just one headlight for a few weeks, but a new wiring loom fixed it. In the 3 years I owned it that was it.

What's most practical about your car?

Surprising amount of space given the diminuitive size of the car. Great headroom, and although rear seats only semi-fold flat, more than enough room for a large amount of cargo. I'm a professional musician, and was able to squeeze both a double bass and keyboard (with heavy amp) in the back. Wouldn't attempt that again though..

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

As the car had basically no gadgets at all, I'd have to opt for the only button I had to play with, which adjusted the headlight height. Worked great.