Great review Sir, this brings back many memories as my first car was a 1998 Micra Twister which was the second special edition alongside the Tempest, Twister spec was just as basic, you got Air Con over a Sunroof. Another special edition if you never mentioned it was the Dot aka Micra Dot. A few years ago I bought a inspiration model but it was too far gone to pass a mot, but the K11 Micra is a car I would have again in a heartbeat.
Oh sir, I had a list of trim levels, but it would not cover certain special editions as I think they even were restricted to particular areas of the country! I think the Micra Wave was only in this area, for example. We did enjoy this one, the problem tends to be the rust which kills them off (along with gearbox faults on the earlier cars), rather than anything like engine failure.
I do remember the tempest special edition. Probably the most memorable being the Micra Wave because, well it's a bit silly and therefore more memorable.
One of my favourite cars ever. The ultimate in shoestring motoring with frugal engines and dependable mechanicals. I had 3 - 2x 1.3s and a 1.0 - and they sort of became more endearing the more basic they were. This one looks great in Peridot Green. I keep checking the Classifieds and being very tempted, especially when a low miler with a sunroof and tape player comes up
Oh sir, I think you are probably right there! You can even upgrade them sympathetically like this one, with either mechanical or visual enhancements, or both. Their numbers are not what they once were, but clearly they are still around!
I like this Joseph! More rounded than the previously reviewed Micra. Excellent visibility! That Nissan steering wheel went into many global Nissan vehicles. Another excellent example as well as the review, thank you very much!
Yes, the early K11s did not have this steering wheel, as airbags were not standard on many models. This example is very, very good, just like Stuart's other cars!
I remember a neighbour buying one of these on a 93 L registration. They were a good little car though the styling was a little controversial at the time as not everyone liked the bubble styling. Some people preferred the boxy K10 body style. These were popular with elderly drivers, some driving schools and once no budget review money they probable ended up as takeaway delivery cars and for good reason. Very sensible and very reliable. The 16v engines punched above there weight and were more advanced than many of the competitor power plants. Love the colourful upholstery trim. It's easy to forget there was a time when manufacturers used velour or cloth in colours other than black.
Yes, the newly developed engines were generally very reliable, and are approved by Mr Coleman, which says a lot, really. The styling was very controversial at the time, although with cars like the Corsa B being launched at around the same time, it now just looks typical of its era. They aren't particularly masculine cars, but then they do not need to be for their target audience. One of the easiest cars to drive of anything I have ever tested, which is no surprise at all.
Good review. Very strong cars these. My Mum has had 2 of them and we still own the old one which is exactly the same as the one in review here, although ours is an 'Ally'. I noticed you mentioned that this car was a 'Tempest' in fact it is a Micra 'Passion'. The Tempest was on the later models (final K11 facelift 2000 to 2003). These Micras are so easy to up-spec with OEM 'posher' bits. I visited many a scrapyard in the mid 00s and picked up so many higher-spec bits and pieces such as a rear parcel shelf with speakers (some Micras didn't get them) tweeters in the A-pillars, OEM floormats, etc...
Thank you! Yes, lots of upgrades on this one. I am pretty sure it is a Tempest, as the owner has a massive collection of other 1980s and 1990s Nissans (and some rare Datsuns), so he is pretty knowledgeable about these cars, but he could be wrong, I suppose. Thank you for watching and commenting.
.with you on that front bumper and fog lamps Joseph. It does look better. Being a very soft bubbly shape it gives the car a more assertive looking face.
Yes, the upgrades that Stuart has made on this car are actually quite tasteful and understandable. They are the sort of things that Mr Coleman would agree with too, I think.
Joseph, some memories for me too, tough little cars. Back in late ‘98 I got my first OEM job with Nissan and the Micra was the single biggest nameplate we had, most of our Motability business comprised of the Micra. We imported some parts to convert for the severely disabled from Nissan in Japan, however only at the point I asked my tech colleague to fit them did we realise the Japanese market car floorpan was a bit different, whoops.
Yes, sometimes there were weird differences like that on cars sold globally but tailored for different markets. Really strange to think that these are quite nostalgic now for a number of people! Thank you again for commenting, sir.
What great content I've discovered! Really like your style of review; and really like the cars. I'm sure I'll ask for your help when its time for me to buy a car here in the UK; and I'll enjoy the videos in the meantime Best of luck
Thank you ever so much indeed, Dan! Glad you enjoyed the video. No Budget Reviews came about two years ago after an urgent need to save money when filming reviews, and has since become very popular, although we also do other types of reviews for more expensive types of car, No Budget Reviews Sensible Secondhand Reviews/Classics and Tweed Jacket Reviews all have their own playlists if you want to see more. If and when you wish to have some help finding a car, then please do get in touch, my e-mail address is shown about a minute into this video....
My first car was a beaten up 1998 micra 1.3 SI loved that little battle bus , it was dented up but the engine was solid never let me down. I was really sad that I had to scrap her in the end because idiots kept wanting to crash into her. I paid like £600 for her when I got the insurance pay for the first person that decide to rear end her I got £900 back and kept her on a cat c then a jag decided it wanted to ram into the side off me insurance then paid out £470 after that I decided she probably wasn't safe to drive so I scraped her and got £130 for her. I paid £600 for that little car as my first ever set of wheels and got back £1500 on her and she kept me safe when other drivers decided they wanted to play bumper cars with me , I had 6 months off fun with that little micra , that car will always have a special place in my memories. I would Rather have a micra mk2 over a crappy corsa C any day of the week
Oh sir, you wouldn't have been the only one with some stories to tell about a first car! The K11s were very difficult to kill, as you found out. The Corsa C is a very different type of car, even if they were sold alongside each other between 2000 and 2002.
I had 3 of these as courtesy cars when the Primera kept breaking. The 1L manual was fine, the 1.4 quite fun as what torque there is, is quite low down. But, avoid avoid avoid the 1L cvt, the slowest car I have ever driven. It had a sport button, which made the engine louder, but no faster. Some interesting upgrades to this car, I don’t think any grade of Micra came with a Rev counter until the K12.
Well sir, I am afraid that some of the higher trim K11s did have a rev counter, and this came from one of those! The automatics were quite slow, sir, but probably designed for town use. I drove a 1.3 automatic many years ago, and it was absolutely fine.
Nearly bought a 2001 1.3 version this year in New Zealand. Choose to stick with my Honda Civic sedan because I needed space for big trip. Micras are good though! Plenty of these around here in good condition!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes the one I looked at though had the smaller wheels. Good car, however not ideal for driving heavily laden along hilly roads and tight bends at 100 km/hr when helping Mum move house!
The best Micra of the lot, in my opinion. The pre facelift was a great little car but a bit basic looking. People tend to forget how good the 1990s superminis actually were. Peugeot 205s, Renault 5s, Clio's, Fiestas, Corsas, Polos, Rover Metros, Saxos, Seat Ibiza's, even Skoda Favorits and Felicia's along with these little Micra's. All of them were good enough to be first and only family cars or second cars. They could cover most bases. It's also overlooked how great the Nissan Brand was at the time and still is to this day. A Nissan Dealer could cater to most needs. For example, the Micra, the Almera, the Primera and Primera Estate, the Almera Tino, the 200 SX, the Serena, the Maxima, the Terrano II, the 300 ZX, the Navara, the Patrol. Quite simply, you need never buy any make other than Nissan.
These cars happen to be approved by Mr Coleman, so that does say a lot about them. The Micra K11, Seat Ibiza Mark II/Polo Mark III and Corsa B, which all arrived within about 18 months of each other, significantly moved the class on from the 1980s class leaders. I passed my test in a very early Saxo, which was still on sale new at the time, and it was really obvious that it was just a different version of the 106, which really wasn't very different from a 205. The greatest moment for Nissan in the 1990s in this country was probably being featured in two adverts which parodied The Sweeney and The Professionals, which got them a spot supplying cars for The New Professionals, although the less said about that series the better.... (Apart from the fact that one of my friends played a secondary regular character in it!)
@@jwan_1193 a hard choice because the Nissan Micra is so cute, so easy to drive and ultra reliable. However, my Brother owned a 1997 Ford Fiesta 1.3 Encore without power steering and it was cute, easy to drive and ultra reliable. My Son owned a 1999 Ford Fiesta 1.3 Finesse which was cute, even easier to drive with pin sharp power steering, amazing brakes, class leading handling, compliant ride and ultra reliable. I would pick the Fiesta because it drives better than the Micra, has better front seats, a lovely gearbox and the 1.3 Duratec engine is not high tech but any mechanical will tell you that it is bulletproof. The parts are also very cheap . If you do decide to go for the Micra then it is a fine choice, it is quieter than the Fiesta, its controls are really light and it will give you no problems . Sadly it does not drive as well as the Fiesta. Good luck whichever you choose.
@@seancooke7332thanks! yeah true the fiesta seems to have bigger seats, and more power? By the way fiesta 1.3 has automatic transmission The dealer says it only has 88000 km, unfortunately you can't make sure about that since the clock only has 5 digits, but it has only 1 previous owner, so that could be true. Otherwise it will be 188000 km
Honestly I’d love a micra for a first car, only thing it’s missing is a cup holder, so dunno where I’d put a bottle, might have to put it in the glove box.
I think you may have to find an aftermarket cup holder for one of these, I am afraid! Otherwise, they would make an excellent modern classic first car, for many of the same reasons why people bought them when they were new.
I had a 2000 X reg 1.0 S CVT 3 door. I must be the only person in the entire history of the universe that ever bought an unreliable K11. Apart from it's ability to let me down, I really rather liked the car. I much prefer my current 1991 J reg 1.0 Premium 4 speed manual 3 door though.
I have to say that I don't know much about the CVT gearboxes in these Micras. The engines do tend to be quite dependable, though, from what I understand. Sorry to hear that yours wasn't that great! I do have a review of a K10 as well, if you look in the video description. Also a 1.0 four speed manual three door with the final facelift, a 1989 LS.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thank you. Already watched and enjoyed your K10 video. The issue with my K11 was mass airflow sensors. It went through them at a ridiculous rate. I gave up on it and just got rid. The CVT gearbox was absolutely fine. But with only 60bhp it was hardly strained.
