Today I am driving ... a Nissan Micra 2016

[monkeyhanger]

Apparently they’ve just announced a new 1.0l engine for it with a warm hatch version that has 115bhp and is getting a facelift as well.

Nice.
Probably get it chipped up to 130bhp or more easily enough.
When it's around 150kgs lighter than a Polo, should be a match for the Gti?

Being 11% lighter won't make up anywhere near the 42% power shortfall, not to mention much less torque (At stock)- add 15 -25ps with a chipbox and it still won't touch it -you might get the 0-62 time down to circa 8.5s.

Some people do consider their rear passengers, especially when family is concerned. Are you going to tell your 85 year old great aunty to stop moaning about the lack of headroom or access to the back on a 3 door model?

[Andy Beats]

Some people do consider their rear passengers, especially when family is concerned. Are you going to tell your 85 year old great aunty to stop moaning about the lack of headroom or access to the back on a 3 door model?

Yes.
It's my car, I'm the one in it 90% of the time and, quite frankly, stuff occasional passengers.
I heard of a guy ordering an MX-5 last week, despite having two dogs.
He said he'll get them in the thing somewhere.
I applaud his lack of compromise, good on him.

PS I had a Mini Cooper when we had two small kids.
The whole family and a week's shopping in it, no problem.
People want palatial space in their cars now, I'm old skool when 6 of us were crammed into an Austin 1100.

[Leif]

I assume it is the lowest end engine since it is a courtesy car,

There is a 1.0 litre 70BHP normally aspirated engine.
Really, the 0.9 turbo is the minimum engine you need in the Micra.
I expect the NA engine will be discontinued before long.

You're confusing it with the new Micra. This one is the old style with a 1.2 L non turbo engine.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ni ... ive-review

The new Micra is a totally different beast.

[Andy Beats]

You're confusing it with the new Micra. This one is the old style with a 1.2 L non turbo engine.

Oh, they've given you an old style Micra?
Oh dear, the district nurse/pensioner one.
Shame, the new one is light years ahead in terms of styling.

[Muldoon]

I assume it is the lowest end engine since it is a courtesy car,

There is a 1.0 litre 70BHP normally aspirated engine.
Really, the 0.9 turbo is the minimum engine you need in the Micra.
I expect the NA engine will be discontinued before long.

You're confusing it with the new Micra. This one is the old style with a 1.2 L non turbo engine.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ni ... ive-review

The new Micra is a totally different beast.

Ah didn't realise you were driving the previous model, as you say a totally different car to the current Micra. It was slated in the press as a non-car but I can appreciate it's charms as a no nonsense small car, last of the line before they all became grown up and a size bigger.
Would make a reliable run about and cheap car if not bothered about latest image. They did a CVT automatic in a few, always fancied one of those for some reason as a super simple car for driving round town.

[Andy Beats]

My mother's Micra is a 2002 1.4 and it soldiers on, reliable as hell.
Their 'frog' styling means they're not so popular with youngsters and bargains can be had.
When our eldest turns 17 in a year, I'll steer her towards a Micra if I can, instead of the usual Corsa/Fiesta.
I occasionally borrow the 'mighty Micra' as I call it.
It's noisy, it rattles like hell, but it's surprisingly fleet (as you'd expect with a 1.4 engine in a light body).
New headlight fitted the other week.....£34......brand new

[Cadwest]

Some people do consider their rear passengers, especially when family is concerned. Are you going to tell your 85 year old great aunty to stop moaning about the lack of headroom or access to the back on a 3 door model?

Yes.
It's my car, I'm the one in it 90% of the time and, quite frankly, stuff occasional passengers.
I heard of a guy ordering an MX-5 last week, despite having two dogs.
He said he'll get them in the thing somewhere.
I applaud his lack of compromise, good on him.

PS I had a Mini Cooper when we had two small kids.
The whole family and a week's shopping in it, no problem.

People want palatial space in their cars now, I'm old skool when 6 of us were crammed into an Austin 1100.

I think most people buy a car based on their personal circumstances, mine is I look after a family member with Alzheimer’s so a five door car is essential. My brother has just sold his beloved M140 because he needs a 4x4 for his hobby, he tried to convince his wife to have both but she refused.

[monkeyhanger]

Some people do consider their rear passengers, especially when family is concerned. Are you going to tell your 85 year old great aunty to stop moaning about the lack of headroom or access to the back on a 3 door model?

Yes.
It's my car, I'm the one in it 90% of the time and, quite frankly, stuff occasional passengers.
I heard of a guy ordering an MX-5 last week, despite having two dogs.
He said he'll get them in the thing somewhere.
I applaud his lack of compromise, good on him.

PS I had a Mini Cooper when we had two small kids.
The whole family and a week's shopping in it, no problem.
People want palatial space in their cars now, I'm old skool when 6 of us were crammed into an Austin 1100.

At 80 year old, with a dodgy hip and your license having been taken off a few years prior, I hope for your sake that your grown up kids (or grand kids) turn up to take you out to the supermarket in something bigger than an Audi TT, and being sat in the back seat, folded up like a deck chair to fit.

[Andy Beats]

At 80 year old, with a dodgy hip and your license having been taken off a few years prior, I hope for your sake that your grown up kids (or grand kids) turn up to take you out to the supermarket in something bigger than an Audi TT, and being sat in the back seat, folded up like a deck chair to fit.

Fine by me, I wouldn't want me dictating what car they drive.
PS I've already got a dodgy hip from motorbike racing.

[Cadwest]

Hey Andy when I used to ride bikes I had a MK1 Nissan Micra 1.4 as a cheap run around and really enjoyed driving until the mass airflow sensor broke and Nissan quoted me £650 to replace it.

[Andy Beats]

Hey Andy when I used to ride bikes I had a MK1 Nissan Micra 1.4 as a cheap run around and really enjoyed driving until the mass airflow sensor broke and Nissan quoted me £650 to replace it.

Yeah, there's a lot of fun to be had hassling people who think they're fast in a 15 year old Micra.

[Cadwest]

Hey Andy when I used to ride bikes I had a MK1 Nissan Micra 1.4 as a cheap run around and really enjoyed driving until the mass airflow sensor broke and Nissan quoted me £650 to replace it.

Yeah, there's a lot of fun to be had hassling people who think they're fast in a 15 year old Micra.

Don’t know about fast but some days me and my brother used to borrow my dads coats and pork pie hats and drive everywhere at 20mph, we used to see how long it would take to get blown or swore at

[Andy Beats]

It's not what you drive, it's how you drive it.
Although I must admit I don't drive anywhere near as hard now that it's my own cars and not company cars.
The company cars....boy oh boy they got driven hard.....

[Leif]

There is a 1.0 litre 70BHP normally aspirated engine.
Really, the 0.9 turbo is the minimum engine you need in the Micra.
I expect the NA engine will be discontinued before long.

You're confusing it with the new Micra. This one is the old style with a 1.2 L non turbo engine.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ni ... ive-review

The new Micra is a totally different beast.

Ah didn't realise you were driving the previous model, as you say a totally different car to the current Micra. It was slated in the press as a non-car but I can appreciate it's charms as a no nonsense small car, last of the line before they all became grown up and a size bigger.
Would make a reliable run about and cheap car if not bothered about latest image. They did a CVT automatic in a few, always fancied one of those for some reason as a super simple car for driving round town.

Yes, it's a bit ugly outside, and it is a small car with a small engine. And lights years behind the new one. However ... I do like small cars, and this one had a little bit of charm. Maybe my expectations were lowered by having a Citroen C3 on loan before. That was horrible. Quieter, more comfy, more toys, but horrible. A bit like that smooth talking well dressed uncle who is just that little bit creepy.

[Muldoon]

You're confusing it with the new Micra. This one is the old style with a 1.2 L non turbo engine.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ni ... ive-review

The new Micra is a totally different beast.

Ah didn't realise you were driving the previous model, as you say a totally different car to the current Micra. It was slated in the press as a non-car but I can appreciate it's charms as a no nonsense small car, last of the line before they all became grown up and a size bigger.
Would make a reliable run about and cheap car if not bothered about latest image. They did a CVT automatic in a few, always fancied one of those for some reason as a super simple car for driving round town.

Yes, it's a bit ugly outside, and it is a small car with a small engine. And lights years behind the new one. However ... I do like small cars, and this one had a little bit of charm. Maybe my expectations were lowered by having a Citroen C3 on loan before. That was horrible. Quieter, more comfy, more toys, but horrible. A bit like that smooth talking well dressed uncle who is just that little bit creepy.

A good description of the C3 It is style over substance. Better an honest small car like the Micra than something covered in flash gimmicks which don't really work well.