USED Nissan Micra Hatchback (02 - 11)

My car

A car accident meant my Toyota Avensis was to spend three weeks at the repairers. My hire car was a Nissan Micra. As I was handed the keys,the young man suggested 'I wouldn’t like the Micra'.

He was right. The shape is acceptable, but inside Nissan had achieved the impossible. What appeared to be durable plastic has been made to look cheap and nasty with imitation inlaid ivory. The seating was comfortable and adequate for me at six feet tall. The footwell had plenty of space for my size-10 feet.

The drive, however, is truly awful. The car feels every bump in the road, the light gearchange is spoilt by a click or a knock as the cogs change. The steering is too light with no feel and at speeds above 60mph, the engine feels as though it is going to explode.

Petrol consumption was poor with mixed driving achieving 35mpg and the low fuel warning buzzer errattic. The car felt tinny and noise levels were unacceptably high at motorway speeds.The brakes were harsh and not at all progressive.

I was lucky: after three weeks and 1000 miles I was able to give it back!

My car

I have always had Nissan cars, so I decided to buy a brand new Micra when the new model came out in January 2003. So far it has been recalled twice - the first recall was the immobiliser, which was faulty. The second recall was two years later for the engine strap.

In between these, it has had a new engine management system, due to the car not been able to travel above 40 miles per hour. I have had problems with the cental locking not working properly, too. Touch the brakes and they nearly throw you threw the window, and at this very moment, the car is at Dixon's dealership having a new camshaft fitted, and the cental locking is broken again.

This car has done less then 15,000 miles. The car is three years old on the 31st of this month. I would not recomend the new micra to anyone. It's the worst Nissan I have ever owned.

My car

I've previously posted on this section with respect to the Micra, and now we have one, we can comment further. We too have the same 1.4 SVE Micra three-door auto, as a previous contributor. I can add that, along with all the advantages of the car stated by Michael Witherden, the car is 'made in England', drives superbly, has precise steering and parking with the rear sensors a doddle.

I have even managed to get around 51.3 mpg, better than the official extra-urban figures I would have liked heated mirrors, though (for winter), and the air-conditioning could be better, but overall it's a lovely small town and country vehicle that is pleasing to the eyes (in its emotion red), and has a VW Beetle look about it.

Interior storage is very good, with places to store things everywhere, and the three-door model has better rear wheel arch storage pockets than you get on the five-door model. Also, we would have liked opening rear quarter windows, but you can't have everything!

We added an alarm for £165, so I feel that with the security and safety packages, it is one of the best small cars on the market. Its acceleration is better than our previous 1.6 Vauxhall Zafira (the Micra has a better power to weight ratio, and the auto box's torque is vastly better delivering maxium pull at 3200 revs).

My car

I have had my Nissan Micra E for a year and a half and am not as happy with it compared to the last Micra I owned (old shape 93-03).

I bought my car when it was over a year old and in the first two months of ownership it was back to the garage six times to get the airbag and battery light fixed. Then the car broke down twice resulting in a new battery.

Car was fine until christmas 04 when the electics packed up and another bcm chip had to be fitted (3rd one) in four months of ownership.

Car was fine until summer 05 when the ignition gave up and by this time my faith in the garage where I bought the car was at breaking point.

Aside from all the problems car is very spacious, airy and a delight to drive, the switches are easy to use and close to hand.

When the warrenty runs out I might consider another car mark 6 ford fiesta.