Perhaps they need another version of those TV commercials.
"Do you speak Micra?" intones the voiceover seductively. Then the blue lips pout....FUGLY
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Although I wouldn't want one myself I do think the Japanese do retro-cute very well (Nissan Figaro, S-Cargo etc)and I do like the look of the new Micra.
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I have an 03 Micra SE. I bought it because the front dashboard is low and gives better visability than my previous Fiesta that caused me to clip curbs of left hand bends when entering some car parks.
As to acceptable car shapes, many shock at first and then become acceptable.
Overall I am quite pleased with the car. The ride is comfortable and quieter than my 5 years old Fiest Ghia. I have not noticed the window rattle previously reported. But as I have A/C I do not have windows down very often.
The SE is a bit odd in that you keep the key in your pocket and the car reads it. You can press little black buttons on door handles to open and lock the car or the boot. One problem to be aware of is it conditions you to walk away and leave keys in the ignition with other cars, if not careful. As I did once when I borrowed my wife's car and popped into a shop for a paper!
To start the car you just put a foot on the brake pedal (essential) and turn a knob. When you first get hold of the knob the word 'KEY' shows in green as it reads the key. It then goes red as you start it.
I was concerned that perhaps coins and other things in the pocket might screen the 'key' but after tests with putting the key under a metal part of the seat and in various other test places, and it starting with no problem, that concern has gone.
I did have one frightening occassion on a garage forcourt when it would not read the 'key' and I could not turn the knob, and so the steering stayed locked. HELP !
I tried locking and unlocking the car from the inside. Hoping that would do something to the electronics. Nothing. I got out and did the same. Got back in and all was OK !
Was the lorry driver behind me using his mobile ? (i.e. signal blocking) I only thought of that after I got home. So I don't know. Any scares since have been just false ones of steering pressure holding the lock and a waggle of the wheel has freed the lock and all was ok. The previous failure definately showed a red non-read-the-key signal.
Had the car now for 5 weeks. Quite pleased. I like it a little more than than my previous 5 year old Fiesta Ghia. Gearbox is on a par with it and is a much better box than on an 18 month old T11 (previous) micra wife-mobile.
Computer readout of petrol consumption typical 50.5 mpg, actual mpg is 45. So computer lies.
Brakes are nice. Smart wipers in drizzle work well changing frequency according the wetness. Had a couple of 'steamed up' front windows when starting from cold but too early to say whether this is a freak or a problem. (I had a heated front window on the Ghia)
The biggest dissapointment for me has been the incompetance of Nissan to properly instruct the garage/s how to fit anti-door-bashing plastic stripes to the sides of the car. (To find out who's fault it was I obtained a copy of the official Nissan fitting instructions).
Common sense says fit the plastic strip/s at a height where the car bulges sideway the most. On the SE, that is about 26 inches up from a level road. But Nissan say fit them well below that where the door/bodywork is so far inwards as to be unlikely to fend off anything. Useless. £86 wasted. Not even suitable for parking next to their own T11 Micra. How can they get it so wrong ?
I am already suffering door bang marks ! What do I do ? If I try getting them off the paintwork will be damaged. The only option seems to be I pay, yet again, for another set but this time fit them myself at the correct height. That is midway between where they are now and the bottom of the door handle.
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I think those plastic strips are just for styling. The Primera ones used to be fitted way down the door too.
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Aprilia, that's the problem. Not appreciating the protection they offer and not knowing where they should be fitted to get it.
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Once my friend's Micra had a new engine fitted I thought it was a really nice car, very quiet on the road, much more so than any other small car I have been in, and it felt rock solid.
Maybe you've got one with more than it's fair share of niggles PoloGirl, I know my friend thought that when the engine needed replacing in her's, but since then it's been ok.
Blue
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Opinions on New Micra? How about Nicolle, who is after all the target market and a current Clio Owner.
When looking to change my car I considered the Primera. Toddle off to Nissan dealer, Nicolle, young Jaques, and Fifi the dog in tow. While in dealer spied new Micra.
"OO this is cute" I say
"Dont like it - ugly" says Nicolle
I sit inside "ooo this is nice I say sit inside mon cheri"
"Dont want to its ugly"
(managed to get Nicolle to sit in car)
"Dont like it, its ugly outside and ugly inside" retorts Nicolle.
"I like it" says young (13) Jaques.
So in RF's eyes Nissan have managed to completely switch the appreciative audience round 180 degrees. RF men like its funky looks but the ladies dont.
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I have now checked for window rattle on my 03 Micra. There isn't any. Wound front window halfway down, grabbed it and tried rattling it. Rock solid. No play. No rattle.
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I have now checked for window rattle on my 03 Micra. There isn't any. Wound front window halfway down, grabbed it and tried rattling it. Rock solid. No play. No rattle.
The windows on the one I've got are electric.. and also make an annoying bang as they seal shut. Maybe I've got a dud one, but on the other hand I'm used to a VW so that could be it.
But anyway... another day another niggle! Went to fill the big red frog with petrol today and had one hell of a struggle! Combine the fact that the "spout" to put the fuel in is angled towards the back of the car with all the garages up here now having those quick-retractable hoses and you have one unhappy Pologirl. I'm not small by any stretch of the imagination but i gave up trying to hold the hose in the car by the time I'd got to £15.
Come back Polo, all is forgiven!
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It looks like a fat Polo [the car, not the mint or the game].
Maybe it's designed for women [because it's 'cute' [so are all ugly men when you have to compliment them]], blind people or BMW owners who can't stretch to a new 5series.
Lots of learner cars round Sheffield, maybe they'll look better when bumped a bit more [like BMWs look].
They also look massive and have a very fat bottom.
Kev
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Pologirl, windows rattling and windows going bang, sounds a bit like it had a broken window and they forgot some of the trim when they put a new one in. My electric windows just thud as they go shut.
As to petrol filling, yes it is a bit fussy over the angle you point the filler nozzle. So a many other cars.
The other point you mentioned earlier of remote locking confusion, is best sorted by always looking at the flashing lights when you operate. It shows one flash for lock/ed, two for open/ing.
Also, with a locked car, pressing the boot small button to (then press the boot open button) get boot access first, does not get you access via the driver's door.
And one press on the driver's door one only gives access via that one door, for anti-highjack reasons, although you can change this by re-programming involing pressing two things on the key at once. You can also press twice quickly. Yes, I did feel it was a bit different/odd to use at first but it does not bother me at all now.
It says something when my main gripe is about the plastic strips.
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>The other point you mentioned earlier of remote locking >confusion, is best sorted by always looking at the flashing >lights when you operate. It shows one flash for lock/ed, two >for open/ing.
Ahem... there's no confusion - it just doesn't work!
Doesn't matter anyway, it's going back tomorrow!!!!
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"many shock at first and then become acceptable"
How true. It's hard to believe now, but the design of the Sierra was regarded as risky when it came out. I can't say I like the Micra, but I applaud any mainstream manufacturer who dares to be different. I saw an S-Cargo recently, and it still amused me.
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