Not for enthusiastic drivers... (Nissan Micra 1.0i 16v S 3dr)

Member Name: jon10

Product:	Nissan Micra 1.0i 16v S 3dr
Date:	26/04/04 (1886 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reliable, fairly cheap to run

Disadvantages: No fun to drive, Heavy steering, Expensive dealer servicing

This is my first review on Dooyoo, so to get into the swing of things I thought I would unburden myself about my Nissan Micra.

I currently commute 50 miles per day, mainly on a dual carriageway and the M25. My mode of transport for this daily delight is a Micra 1 litre Persuasion “special edition”, although I have never worked out how it differs from a normal Equation model except for the badge on the boot, or what is supposed to be special about it.

My wife and I bought the car for her 5 years ago when she was commuting 6 miles a day through town traffic and for that purpose it was fine. We got a good deal on it from the garage and it seemed like a sensible idea at the time. Since then, however, our circumstances have changed out of all recognition and I find myself lumbered with it on a daily basis, while my wife has the V6-engined people carrier (plus, to be fair, care of our three children).

So what is so wrong with it? Well nothing, really, which is the principle reason why we haven’t changed it. Other than annual servicing, which at main dealers at least is surprisingly expensive, it has needed no attention at all and not a thing has gone wrong. It is economical (40ish mpg however you drive it) and easy to drive, at least until you come to park it. I never thought such a small car would need power steering but I was wrong and always feel I have had a good workout after manoeuvring it into a tight parking space.

Many people would be perfectly happy with the Nissan, but for me things start to go wrong when you first look at it. My car was the last version with the old body before the Micra was completely redesigned and is not an attractive car from any angle, being completely free of any style or charisma. The front is where things really go wrong though, particularly the headlight design that gives the car a permanently surprised look. At least it is less ugly than the latest Micra though, on which
the headlights look not so much surprised as amazed.

The biggest problem in my view is the “driving experience”, as the motoring press call it. I have always enjoyed driving and have been fortunate enough to use some good cars in the past, but the Nissan saps any enthusiasm within seconds of getting inside. The seats are not particularly comfortable and the whole interior, while sturdy, is basic, uninviting and dominated by a dashboard which looks as if it were designed for a 4 year old – lots of large knobs and dials and acres of grey plastic.

As for performance, first gear is quite promising, second not quite so good, then after that forget it. Over 40mph it sort of gathers momentum rather than accelerates and to call it sluggish, especially when full of petrol, would be quite offensive to your average-performing slug.

Overtaking requires about a week of planning and a fair dose of optimism, especially if the person you are passing is driving a more powerful car (as most people are) and demonstrates their objection to being crawled past by putting their foot down. It happens a lot and all I can do in those circumstances is move back to the outside lane as quickly as possible and try to forget the whole sorry experience. The handling is at best uninspiring and always leaves me glad when I can drive in a straight line again.

What else? Well, the brakes are good and the gearchange is probably the best thing about the whole car. It is practical and does everything that could reasonably be expected of it (except park) perfectly well. It just lacks any kind of fun factor.

This doesn’t have to be the case in a small, low powered car as until recently my sister had a 1.1 litre Peugeot 205 which was old and tired but still fun to drive. Even a 1.1 Citroen AX I had for a while could put the Nissan to shame and that fell over every time it went round a corner. I realise the Micra is hardly suppo
sed to be a sports car, but I expected more having driven these other, much older, small cars without noticing any lack of performance.

Having said all that, I will stick with the Micra for now. Yes it’s boring to drive, but it is very reliable and generally cheap to run, despite the high servicing costs. If money were not a consideration I would change the car tomorrow, but unfortunately it is so if you happen to find a red Nissan Micra trying to overtake you on the M25, please let me get past. You’ll probably make my day.

Summary: