Girls, the car is for you! It is dangerous to buy a new car for study, but this car is the best. Even if you buy a younger car, you still need to invest in it, because a used car is a used car, but here the option is great. The car is small, very comfortable, it is very convenient to learn to “feel” the dimensions of the car, learn to understand the car. The salon is very simple, nothing superfluous, but everything is very convenient. The oven is just amazing.
Nissan Micra, 2001
The Nissan Micra is an easy-to-drive car, convenient for suburbanites, despite the small size of the trunk, it easily transports long loads, it is light in those. service. A car for residents of a big city, suburbs and novice drivers. For comfortable driving there is everything you need hydraulic booster, ABS, air conditioning, power windows, steering wheel adjustment. Advantages of the car: Economical, high seating position, easy to drive, including in the parking lot. Cons: Two doors.
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Nissan Micra, 2009
I'll be brief: the maneuverability and handling are very good, the driver's excellent visibility, the automatic transmission impressed me with its work, in a good way. Economical both in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance. In a big city where parking spaces are in great demand, you can park in small lots almost anywhere where it is allowed. In general, I am very satisfied, for the entire period there were no problems pah-pah-pah))), neither with the chassis, nor with the suspension, nor with the transmission, and with the engine !!!
14.01.2017
Nissan March/Micra) has its own unique style that cannot be confused with any other. The name of this car fully corresponds to its size, the design of this small car turned out to be funny and designed mainly for a female audience. The main advantage of this little car is that it does not have a large number of electronic systems and complex solutions, thanks to which its cost is not high. But what to expect from this small and inexpensive car, and what to look for when buying a third-generation second-hand Nissan Micra in the secondary market, now let's try to figure it out.
A bit of history:
The first generation of this model debuted in 1982. At first, the car was only available as a three-door hatchback, the five-door version appeared on the market in 1987. The debut of the second generation took place in 1992. This version was in good demand almost from the start of sales and lasted 11 years on the assembly line, more than once became the best-selling car in its class (more than 2.5 million cars were sold). The third generation of the car debuted in 2002 at the Paris Auto Show. Compared to its predecessor, the current Micra has become shorter by 21 mm, but wider by 65 mm, also, the machine has grown by 100 mm, and the wheelbase has been increased by 70 mm. Thus, the reduction in the length of the car was not at the expense of the volume of the cabin, but due to the front and rear overhangs.
The design of the car was developed by Japanese designers and engineers, but the interior - by European designers of the studio. At home, the car is sold under a different name - Nissan March. Despite its compact size, the car is quite roomy, plus, the car has good comfort and handling. In 2005, a charged version of the Nissan Micra "160SR" appeared on the market with a 1.6-liter engine (113 hp). Also, on the basis of this version, a convertible coupe was created. During its stay on the market, the car was repeatedly updated, but the most significant restyling took place in 2007 - the design changed slightly, equipment was added that was not previously available for this model. For the European market, the car is assembled in the UK. In 2010, the premiere of the fourth generation of the model took place at the International Motor Show in Geneva.
Reliability Nissan Micra with mileage
The body of the Nissan Micra endures our winters and copes with the onslaught of the red disease without any problems. The only thing you can find fault with is the thickness of the metal, here it is quite thin and bends even with slight contact. Also, the paintwork is not famous for its durability, as a result, chips and scratches on the car body are a common occurrence. Before buying, be sure to check the condition of the exhaust system, the fact is that it does not have good anti-corrosion protection and quickly rusts.
Engines
Officially, in the CIS countries, the third generation Nissan Micra was sold only with gasoline power units - 1.0 (65 hp), 1.2 (65, 80 hp), 1.4 (80, 88 hp) and, as mentioned earlier, 1.6 (113 hp). On the European market, you can also find Micra with a 1.5-liter diesel engine. Buying a car with the most powerful engine should be taken very seriously, since such an engine turns this small car into a sports car that is not bought for a calm and accurate ride. Also, you need to be careful when buying a car with a diesel engine. The fact is that this type of power unit has a very sensitive fuel system, and, as you know, the quality of our diesel fuel is far from ideal. Because of this, the owners of such machines are often faced with the failure of fuel injectors, high pressure fuel pumps and the EGR valve.
All power units are quite reliable and equipped with a timing chain drive, the chain resource is quite large 200-250 thousand km. But the chain tensioner, most likely, will have to be replaced with a run of 100-150 thousand km (replacing the chain and tensioner will cost 200-300 USD). The first signal that the tensioner and chain need to be replaced will be a metallic rattle during a cold start of the engine. If you are not sure that you can identify this malfunction yourself, ask the service to check the level of chain tension at each maintenance. Also, the thermal clearances of the valves should be checked regularly, as they are mechanically adjusted. The disadvantages of gasoline engines include a small resource of the throttle valve block (it is not repairable and changes entirely), oil seals leak and failure of the crankshaft position sensor. It is not cheap to replace spark plugs, in order to replace them you need to remove the exhaust manifold. The fuel filter is structurally made together with the fuel pump, and it will not be possible to replace them separately.
On instances with high mileage, unstable engine operation is observed, often the problem lies in clogged fuel injectors (cleaning is required). If the idle speed began to “walk”, most likely, the idle speed sensor needs to be replaced. Today, these motors are no longer young, and many of them have more than 100,000 km of run, therefore, most of them begin to eat up oil. You need to fill in the glass washer fluid very carefully, as there is a big risk of flooding the generator, at best the belt will whistle, at worst it will close the generator. A squeak can also appear from sand and dirt getting on the belt. Many mechanics mistakenly think that the belt is stretched and tighten it, which, as a result, leads to a warp of the idler bracket.
Transmission
Nissan Micra was equipped with one of two types of gearboxes - a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. Both transmissions are quite reliable and rarely give unpleasant surprises to their owners. Investments in mechanics are required on average once every 120-150 thousand km, this is how much the clutch kit serves. Closer to 200,000 km, it may be necessary to replace the third gear synchronizer (be sure to turn it on during a test drive) and oil seals. An exception can only be cars with a 1.6 engine; in such a duet, the transmission resource depends on the driving style. Automatic transmission, with timely maintenance (oil change every 60,000 km) and careful operation, will last 200-250 thousand km.
Weaknesses of the Nissan Micra
The Nissan Micra suspension has a fairly simple design, a MacPherson strut is installed in front, and a beam in the back. If the car is used in normal urban mode, intervention in the chassis is required infrequently. One of the advantages of this suspension is that most parts come from, which are slightly cheaper than Micra. If we talk about the reliability of the suspension, then, most often, they require replacement of the strut and stabilizer bushing, on average, once every 50-70 thousand km. Shock absorbers and thrust bearings live a little longer - 80-100 thousand km. Approximately the same amount, 90-110 thousand km, will serve the front levers. The rest of the suspension consumables, with careful operation, nurse 100-150 thousand km.
The rear suspension can go without repair for more than 150,000 km, the only thing you should pay attention to here is the condition of the rubber bushings, anthers and beam silent blocks. One of the weak points of the steering mechanism is the electric power steering. The fact is that the amplifier has a small resource and changes only when assembled with a steering column, and this is not a cheap pleasure (about 500 USD, for a used one they ask from 200 USD). Brake pads are enough, on average, for 30-40 thousand km, disks - for 70,000 km. To prolong disc life, many mechanics recommend lubricating the caliper guides when replacing pads.
Salon
Despite the simplicity of the interior design of the Nissan Micra, finishing materials of a fairly good quality are used here, thanks to this, even on cars older than 10 years, extraneous noise and squeaks are rarely bothered. Basically, the backlash of the glass of the front doors serves as a source of noise in the cabin (this drawback is not treated). The only remark on the quality of finishing materials concerns the steering wheel braid, it wears out very quickly. Often, owners complain about the fragility of power windows, the ignition switch (the key sticks in the “start” position) and the tailgate. In addition, on many instances, the airbag control system malfunctions, and moisture appears in the rear light terminal connector.
Outcome:
Today, one of the best and most affordable options on the secondary market among cars for city trips.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your review that will help readers of our site when choosing a car.
Sincerely, editorial Autoavenue
The compact three-door hatchback Nissan Micra began selling in the European market in 1983 (the Japanese version debuted a year earlier). The car was equipped with engines of 0.9 and 1 liter paired with a manual or automatic transmission. In 1989, the car was modernized, the model range was replenished with a five-door version, and a 1.2-liter engine with 60 hp appeared under the hood. With.
2nd generation (K11), 1992
In 1992, the second generation Nissan Micra was introduced, which in 1993 received the title of "European Car of the Year" - the first of Japanese cars. Cars for the European market began to be produced at a factory in the UK. New petrol "fours" 1.0 and 1.3 with a capacity of 55 and 75 liters were installed on the Mikra. With. respectively. After restyling in 1997, a modification with a 1.5-liter Peugeot turbodiesel appeared on sale.
3rd generation (K12), 2002
"Mikra" of the third generation of the 2002 model was still produced in Japan and the UK. The car received an expressive recognizable design and became a little larger. This model was officially sold in Russia with 1.2 (80 hp) and 1.4 (88 hp) engines, and in other countries there were also versions with 1.0, 1.5 gasoline engines and a 1.5-liter Renault turbodiesel. In 2005, the "charged" Micra 160SR with a 1.6-liter engine with 113 hp was put into production. With. A coupe-cabriolet was also created on the basis of this model.
4th generation (K13), 2010
The fourth-generation Nissan Micra hatchback has been produced since 2010, and in 2013 the model was restyled. Cars are made in factories in China, India, Thailand and Mexico. Micra is not officially supplied to Russia.
The car is offered only with a five-door body. Nissan Micra for the European market is equipped with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, which develops 80 hp in the atmospheric version. s., and in a turbocharged one - 98 "horses". An alternative to a manual transmission is a continuously variable variator.
In other markets, Mikra is equipped with 1.5 (99 hp) and 1.6 (108 hp) gasoline engines, as well as a 1.5-liter turbodiesel.
The third generation Nissan Micra debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2002. The silhouette leaves no doubt - this car is designed with an eye on the fair sex. Three years later, the model experienced a facelift. The changes took place mainly at the front: the bumper and headlights were retouched, and the direction indicators changed color - from orange to white. The rear bumper was decorated with a decorative strip.
However, Nissan was not satisfied with the results of the update, and therefore in 2007 carried out another restyling. This time, only the most meticulous could notice the changes. The most obvious innovation is the grille.
A year later, a special version was presented, created in honor of the 25th anniversary of the production of the model. And in 2010, Micra of the next fourth generation appeared in the salons.
Engines
Petrol:
R4 1.0 (65 HP)
R4 1.2 (65-80 HP)
R4 1.4 (88 HP)
R4 1.6 (110 HP)
Diesel:
R4 1.5 (65, 68, 82-86 HP)
1.4 liter petrol engine.
The gasoline engines that Micra got are very successful. The best choice would be a 1.4-liter engine. It is quite economical, practically does not break and provides quite decent dynamics.
You should not consider specimens with a smaller volume - 1.0 and 1.2 liters. The 1-litre unit is too sluggish, and the 1.2-litre consumes as much fuel as the 1.4-litre, but is less dynamic.
The 1.6-liter aspirated, like the 1.4-liter, has a long service life. The only small drawback is fuel consumption, sometimes reaching up to 9-10 l / 100 km. Of course, if you are very careful with the gas pedal, then the appetite is sharply reduced.
All gasoline engines feature a typical Nissan design that is highly reliable and durable. Valve clearance adjustment is mechanical, and the timing drive is chain. As a rule, the timing does not require attention, but sometimes the owners notice extraneous noise after 200-300 thousand km. Mechanics diagnose timing chain wear. In some cases, the chain tensioner gives up much earlier. Problems with the timing were typical mainly for individual copies with a 1.2-liter engine of the initial production period. The cost of replacing the timing chain is about $ 200-300.
Diesel is also available. This is the famous 1.5 dCi made by Renault. The French unit has a timing belt drive and hydraulic valve clearance compensators. Many, for sure, believe that a diesel engine in such a small car is a real misunderstanding, because gasoline engines are already quite economical. Yes, but diesel consumes even less fuel. However, such specimens are a rarity in our market, and sometimes they are not in the best condition. Savings at gas stations for diesel units ends with the replacement of injectors, which cannot be avoided even after 150-200 thousand km. In addition, the EGR system valve often requires the intervention of a mechanic.
Problems with manual transmission were found only in diesel versions.
Regardless of which engine you choose, you need to carefully inspect the bottom of the car for oil leaks. They are found in samples with long runs. In addition, sometimes the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors fail.
Design features
The car was offered in three body styles: a 3-door and 5-door hatchback, a convertible with a hard folding top. The latest version was assembled exclusively at the German Karmann plant. Other modifications were made in Japan and England (for the European market).
It's hard to believe, but K12 is shorter than K11 by 1 cm, but wider and higher by 7 and 12 cm, respectively.
Like most competitors in the segment, the subcompact has front-wheel drive. Two boxes: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Gearboxes are quite reliable and there are no complaints about them.
MacPherson struts are installed on the front axle of the little Japanese, and a twisting beam is installed at the rear. These are simple, reliable and cheap solutions.
In crash tests EuroNCAP Nissan Micra K12 earned 4 stars.
Typical malfunctions
The most sore point of this model is the electric power steering. Not only is it not eternal, it is also assembled with a steering column. It may cost up to $500 to repair it. The cost of a used steering column with built-in electric power steering is at least $200.
The steering column with integrated electric power steering is the most important miscalculation of Nissan engineers.
Some of the suspension elements are also unstable: stabilizer struts, steering tips and silent blocks of levers. The upper support bearings also wear out pretty quickly. Many of the chassis elements are borrowed from the Renault Clio III, making spare parts cheap and readily available.
The average resource of the front lever is about 100,000 km. Ball joints can be replaced separately.
Some owners complain about the rear suspension being too loud. The cause of knocking must be sought in the rubber bushings of the lower shock absorber support and the silent blocks of the beam.
Shock absorbers and rear wheel bearings are quite durable.
A faulty ignition lock (key sticking in the start position) quickly kills the starter. Lambda probe, tailgate lock and power windows are also not durable components. In addition, from time to time there are errors in the airbag control system or moisture is detected in the rear light terminal connector.
The ignition switch may be stuck in the "start" position, and ...
... burn the starter (photo below).
A rapidly corroding exhaust system is a typical problem with this model. Nevertheless, the defect is typical for many cars operated mainly in the city. Fortunately, the car body is well protected and not prone to corrosion. However, red spots can sometimes be found on the bottom of old specimens.
Surface rust on exhaust system components remains “benign” for a long time. A good muffler will cost $40.
Micra owners complain about the low resource of pads and brake discs - about 30-50 thousand km. The interior does not differ in wear resistance, especially the upholstery of the seats and the steering wheel braid. Many people notice the shaking of the front windows - the poor design of the guides.
The old plastic of the base of the air conditioner control knob becomes so brittle that it cracks under slight pressure.
On versions with "Intelligent Key" (Intelligent Key) from time to time on the dashboard the green key icon flashes. This means that the battery in the remote control needs to be replaced as soon as possible. In some cases, the immobilizer may lose the key - in this case, you will need the help of a dealer.
Dirty braiding and scuffs in grip areas are common.
Conclusion
The Nissan Micra K12 has its own distinct style that cannot be confused with any other. The car fits into the flow very easily, especially in large metropolitan areas. Its advantages: active headrests, high durability of gasoline engines, a stylish glove box under the front passenger seat, an adjustable rear sofa and decent dynamics with "big" motors.
But there are also disadvantages: poor sound insulation, mediocre driving performance, high cost of some spare parts, mediocre interior, poorly profiled seats and problems of copies of the first years of production.
Contrary to popular belief, replacing headlight bulbs is not that difficult. It is necessary to unscrew the screws and move the case a little.
It is worth noting that, despite the large list of possible malfunctions, the third generation Nissan Micra is considered a completely reliable car with low operating costs. For this, he liked the men. However, in terms of reliability, it cannot be compared with its predecessor.
Specifications Nissan Micra K12
|
Version |
1.0 16V |
1.2 16V |
1.2 16V |
1.4 16V |
1.6 16V |
1.5 DCI |
1.5 DCI |
|
Engine |
Petrol |
Petrol |
Petrol |
Petrol |
Petrol |
Turbodis |
Turbodis |
|
Working volume |
998 cm3 |
1240 cm3 |
1240 cm3 |
1386 cm3 |
1598 cm3 |
1461 cm3 |
1461 cm3 |
|
Cylinders / valves |
R4/16 |
R4/16 |
R4/16 |
R4/16 |
R4/16 |
R4/8 |
R4/8 |
|
Max power |
65 HP |
65 HP |
80 HP |
88 HP |
110 HP |
65 HP |
82 HP |
|
Torque |
90 Nm |
110 Nm |
121 Nm |
128 Nm |
153 Nm |
160 Nm |
185 Nm |
|
Dynamic characteristics(manufacturer's data) |
|||||||
|
Max Speed |
154 km/h |
156 km/h |
167 km/h |
172 km/h |
183 km/h |
155 km/h |
170 km/h |
|
Acceleration 0-100 km/h |
15.7 sec |
13.9 sec |
13 sec |
11.9 sec |
9.8 sec |
17 sec |
12.9 sec |
|
Average fuel consumption, l/100 km |
|||||||
Starting and shutting down the engine, starting to move
Preparing for a car trip
Before getting into the car, make sure that its windows, mirrors and lights are clean. Check the condition of the wheels, look under the car and make sure there are no fluid leaks.
Check the engine fluid levels (engine oil, coolant and brake fluid) and the windshield washer fluid level according to the maintenance schedule (see the Maintenance chapter).
Once in the car, do the following:
- Close and lock all doors;
- Adjust the position of the seat (see chapter Airbags (SRS)) and rear-view mirrors;
- Make sure the outdoor lighting fixtures are working;
- Check the operation of the devices;
- When the ignition is turned on, check the serviceability of the K / L located in the instrument cluster;
- Fasten your seat belt and remind existing passengers to do so;
- Release the parking brake and make sure that the corresponding K/L is off.
Engine starting
First, make sure the parking brake is fully engaged and all auxiliary systems are off.
On models with AT move the AT mode selector lever to the position "P" and depress the brake pedal. On models with manual transmission depress the clutch pedal. If your vehicle is equipped with the Intelligent Key system, fully depress the brake pedal to move the ignition switch out of the LOCK position.
Turn the ignition key to the "START" position and hold it until the engine starts (but no more than 15 seconds), then release the ignition key - it should return to the "ON" position. With the starter engaged, do not press the gas pedal, except when the engine starts with difficulty at very low or very high temperatures, as well as in summer, when starting a warm engine within half an hour after turning it off.
If the engine stalls after trying to start, repeat the above procedure again after waiting about 10 seconds. If the engine cannot be started, check the fuel pump fuse.
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 seconds before driving. Until the engine has warmed up, avoid running it at high speeds and under heavy load, especially in cold weather.
After a prolonged high load on the engine, do not turn it off immediately, let it idle for a few minutes first to avoid a sharp temperature drop in different areas of the engine.
