Do 97 Nissan micras have power steering?

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 12:31pm #1

Im trading my car for a micra today but forgot to ask if it had power steering. I checked out a few 96 micras and none of them had power steering so im wondering if 97 micras would either. Hes not availible on phone till 6pm so im hoping to find out here before then.

Mycroft H · 25-05-2012 12:37pm

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Im trading my car for a micra today but forgot to ask if it had power steering. I checked out a few 96 micras and none of them had power steering so im wondering if 97 micras would either. Hes not availible on phone till 6pm so im hoping to find out here before then.

They may and may not. To be honest it is so small that power steering really isnt too necessary

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 12:51pm

BX 19 wrote: »

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Im trading my car for a micra today but forgot to ask if it had power steering. I checked out a few 96 micras and none of them had power steering so im wondering if 97 micras would either. Hes not availible on phone till 6pm so im hoping to find out here before then.

They may and may not. To be honest it is so small that power steering really isnt too necessary

Right ok, iv never driven a car without power steering so i just didnt know what to expect by driving a car without it. Gonna hate driving a micra anyway, my current car is a 1.3 colt that drives like a dream. Gonna hate driving a 1 litre lol. Just cant afford to continue paying insurance, tax and petrol on the colt.

lifer_sean · 25-05-2012 1:08pm

Irish spec Micra 1.0 did not have power steering until 99. Might have been fitted as an option to a minority of cars. Jap import micras did have power steering, even 95 and earlier.

colm_mcm · 25-05-2012 1:09pm

97 GX models do. If it doesn't have colour coded bumpers then its unlikely to have power steering.

Gx models have slightly better seats, more speakers, power steering, coloured mirrors and bumpers and opening rear windows on 3 doors over the basic l model.

Micras without power steering are a pain

Who buys a car without test driving?

Nissan doctor · 25-05-2012 1:10pm

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Right ok, iv never driven a car without power steering so i just didnt know what to expect by driving a car without it. Gonna hate driving a micra anyway, my current car is a 1.3 colt that drives like a dream. Gonna hate driving a 1 litre lol. Just cant afford to continue paying insurance, tax and petrol on the colt.

Have you been on to your insurance company about prices etc?

The tax will be cheaper for sure, but insurance, fuel and maintenance costs will be almost identical between a 1.0 micra and a 1.3 colt.

As for power steering, in 97 the basic models didn't have it but some higher spec ones did. As mentioned though, The only time you will ever notice a difference is when parking. You'd have taken a test drive though surely??

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 1:27pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Right ok, iv never driven a car without power steering so i just didnt know what to expect by driving a car without it. Gonna hate driving a micra anyway, my current car is a 1.3 colt that drives like a dream. Gonna hate driving a 1 litre lol. Just cant afford to continue paying insurance, tax and petrol on the colt.

Have you been on to your insurance company about prices etc?

The tax will be cheaper for sure, but insurance, fuel and maintenance costs will be almost identical between a 1.0 micra and a 1.3 colt.

As for power steering, in 97 the basic models didn't have it but some higher spec ones did. As mentioned though, The only time you will ever notice a difference is when parking. You'd have taken a test drive though surely??

Priced out insurance. Right now id be paying 115euro a month until december on the colt. On the micra, il be OWED 50euro. Huge,huge difference in price. Also il be viewing the micra and test driving it. Will also be bringing my friend, a mechanic, with me to make sure its all good. If it is, il be swapping.

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 1:31pm

Basicly im insured on the colt for 950 a year. The micra works out at about 500-550 a year. Which will go down further when i get a full licence, and down yet again when i renew my policy in december.

colm_mcm · 25-05-2012 1:36pm

Watch out for rust, many micras of that age are rotten underneath.

Mar4ix · 25-05-2012 1:40pm

jap import nissan march use to have power steering and air conditioning system, i had one for parts recently. If you want pick up march, get clearance with insurance company first, as march have no security system build in, and those mostly are targeted by thieves, could be insurance on them higher.

regular micras has a chip in key, so wont start when hotwired.

Nissan doctor · 25-05-2012 1:42pm

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Basicly im insured on the colt for 950 a year. The micra works out at about 500-550 a year. Which will go down further when i get a full licence, and down yet again when i renew my policy in december.

Well if its that much cheaper, and the tax will be, what, half the price and your doing a straight swop then it makes financial sence.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Watch out for rust, many micras of that age are rotten underneath.

The only place you'd ever regularly see rust is the front rad panel, as with most Nissans of the era. The only time you'd see rust elsewhere on them is after poor accident repairs.

@op, If the micra you are looking at is a standard Irish spec one, why not search for the similar deal on a Japanese import Nissan March? There are loads of them around and they always have power steering, A/C, electric windows etc etc.

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 1:53pm

Well its not a straight swap, may have to throw 100euro along with the colt. The colts 96 with NCT till january 2013 and tax till july. 4 good tyres and alloys. Bits of paint peeling off around the body and bits of rust on the hood. The micra is 97, NCT till febuary 2013, looks brand new in the pics and not a mark on it inside or out, said he just recently fitted 4 new tyres, new battery and new cd player. My friend the mechanic reckons id need to throw about 100euro with my colt if the micra is as good as the guy claims.

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 1:56pm

Thanks for all the input guys.

Mar4ix · 25-05-2012 2:01pm

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Well its not a straight swap, may have to throw 100euro along with the colt. The colts 96 with NCT till january 2013 and tax till july. 4 good tyres and alloys. Bits of paint peeling off around the body and bits of rust on the hood. The micra is 97, NCT till febuary 2013, looks brand new in the pics and not a mark on it inside or out, said he just recently fitted 4 new tyres, new battery and new cd player. My friend the mechanic reckons id need to throw about 100euro with my colt if the micra is as good as the guy claims.

Very strange, usually good micras are cash deal, and no problems to sell, apart colts. If you put yourself as car dealer/nixer or running small business owner , would you do the business with that swap ? I dont think so, .. unless person looking particularly for colt... aka colt enthusiast , or micra on the way to lemon.

ianobrien · 25-05-2012 2:06pm

lifer_sean wrote: »

Irish spec Micra 1.0 did not have power steering until 99. Might have been fitted as an option to a minority of cars. Jap import micras did have power steering, even 95 and earlier.

The facelifted standard '96 one we had did have power steering......

OP, to check if there is power steering, open the bonnet and look for a dirty black cylinder (fluid resevoir) about the height of a tin of beans and slightly fatter. It's located on the upper right hand side of the engine bay and there is a couple of pipes leading out of it.

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 2:09pm

Mar4ix wrote: »

shligo.bulker wrote: »

Well its not a straight swap, may have to throw 100euro along with the colt. The colts 96 with NCT till january 2013 and tax till july. 4 good tyres and alloys. Bits of paint peeling off around the body and bits of rust on the hood. The micra is 97, NCT till febuary 2013, looks brand new in the pics and not a mark on it inside or out, said he just recently fitted 4 new tyres, new battery and new cd player. My friend the mechanic reckons id need to throw about 100euro with my colt if the micra is as good as the guy claims.

Very strange, usually good micras are cash deal, and no problems to sell, apart colts. If you put yourself as car dealer/nixer or running small business owner , would you do the business with that swap ? I dont think so, .. unless person looking particularly for colt... aka colt enthusiast , or micra on the way to lemon.

The seller seems to have a few cars for sale coz when i rang about the car he said which one. Im guessing the guy buys and sells cars a lot and wants to make money on the colt.

shligo.bulker · 25-05-2012 2:15pm

ianobrien wrote: »

lifer_sean wrote: »

Irish spec Micra 1.0 did not have power steering until 99. Might have been fitted as an option to a minority of cars. Jap import micras did have power steering, even 95 and earlier.

The facelifted standard '96 one we had did have power steering......

OP, to check if there is power steering, open the bonnet and look for a dirty black cylinder (fluid resevoir) about the height of a tin of beans and slightly fatter. It's located on the upper right hand side of the engine bay and there is a couple of pipes leading out of it.

Cheers mate, il ask when i ring at 6 anyway. I think from what iv read here its doubtful if it will have power steering anyway. I just hope i get used to it lol

mitchaul · 25-05-2012 2:30pm

See attached, think the answer is yep..they do have p/s
http://www.buyandsell.ie/motors/cars/wicklow/nissan-micra-for-sale-29

2138412_03_product_detail_large.jpg?1333284333

2138412_03_product_detail_large.jpg?1333284333

http://www.buyandsell.ie/motors/cars/dublin/96-nissan-micra-march-automatic-1l

I wouldn't agree with it being such a small car that it doesn't been power steering. I had a Micra with no p/s and it was a (mini) pain in the hole without the p/s

Leonard Hofstadter · 25-05-2012 2:34pm

mitchaul wrote: »

See attached, think the answer is yep..they do have p/s
http://www.buyandsell.ie/motors/cars/wicklow/nissan-micra-for-sale-29

http://www.buyandsell.ie/motors/cars/dublin/96-nissan-micra-march-automatic-1l

I wouldn't agree with it being such a small car that it doesn't been power steering. I had a Micra with no p/s and it was a (mini) pain in the hole without the p/s

That's a Jap import March, so it should definitely have PAS.

mitchaul · 25-05-2012 2:38pm

captainspeed wrote: »

That's a Jap import March, so it should definitely have PAS.

How can you tell their imports?

Leonard Hofstadter · 25-05-2012 2:40pm

mitchaul wrote: »

How can you tell their imports?

The first one isn't, but the second one is:)! It even says 'March' on the back of it;)!

mitchaul · 25-05-2012 2:43pm

captainspeed wrote: »

The first one isn't, but the second one is:)! It even says 'March' on the back of it;)!

Nice one, well spotted Captain.

Nissan doctor · 25-05-2012 3:36pm

mitchaul wrote: »

How can you tell their imports?

Square plate(with side facing reg lights and no boot handle like Euro models)
March badge on rear
Japanese dealer sticker on lower right of tale gate
Different tail light units
Colour(jdm cars had different colour options then euro models)

They'd be the give aways from the pic you posted.

Leonard Hofstadter · 25-05-2012 3:42pm

The imports will also have kph instead of mph clocks as well.

lifer_sean · 25-05-2012 3:56pm

ianobrien wrote: »

The facelifted standard '96 one we had did have power steering......

OP, to check if there is power steering, open the bonnet and look for a dirty black cylinder (fluid resevoir) about the height of a tin of beans and slightly fatter. It's located on the upper right hand side of the engine bay and there is a couple of pipes leading out of it.

I've had 98's, pre the 99 (end of 98 ?) facelift, with factory alloy wheels and no power steering.

AFAIK power steering is only standard on the 99-onwards facelift model.

kermitpwee · 25-05-2012 4:48pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The only place you'd ever regularly see rust is the front rad panel, as with most Nissans of the era. The only time you'd see rust elsewhere on them is after poor accident repairs.

I looked at 8 micra's last year for a local lad and 6 of them had holes in the sill, they do go in the sills quite often.

colm_mcm · 25-05-2012 4:50pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The only place you'd ever regularly see rust is the front rad panel, as with most Nissans of the era. The only time you'd see rust elsewhere on them is after poor accident repairs.

My OH's last 2 micras (both 97) had bad rust on the sills.

Mar4ix · 25-05-2012 8:33pm

I sold to my friend micra ('97 ) with march engine in it(Actually he is thinking sale it after couple months) , no any holes anywhere. perfect chassy, body bit rough , but no rust .... at least couldn't spot myself, and in garage, where went for checks. it had some suspension problems alright, but body was grand. ... i sold it for 300 with nct till july and tax till august. sills was absolutely perfect, but car came from middle if country though.

Nissan doctor · 25-05-2012 9:09pm

kermitpwee wrote: »

I looked at 8 micra's last year for a local lad and 6 of them had holes in the sill, they do go in the sills quite often.

colm_mcm wrote: »

My OH's last 2 micras (both 97) had bad rust on the sills.

Strange, I can't remember ever doing a service or NCT check etc on a Micra and seeing holes in the sills. My 96 one with 100k on it hasn't a hint of rust anywhere.

K10's used to rust badly alright but K11's, especially the UK built ones(which were better undersealed then the JDM march's) have always been fine in my experience.

I wonder if the problem is, because they are a very popular and easily sellable, there are lots of botch repaired ones appearing now.

ianobrien · 25-05-2012 9:09pm

lifer_sean wrote: »

I've had 98's, pre the 99 (end of 98 ?) facelift, with factory alloy wheels and no power steering.

AFAIK power steering is only standard on the 99-onwards facelift model.

There was a small facelift in late 95. The differences were rear anti roll bar, centre brake light, updated trim, change in front grill design and changes to the wiring and ecu. That's the one we had with power steering. I've seen pre facelifts with '97 reg plates.

There was a major facelift for '99, with changes to dash, lights etc

kermitpwee · 26-05-2012 12:01am

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Strange, I can't remember ever doing a service or NCT check etc on a Micra and seeing holes in the sills. My 96 one with 100k on it hasn't a hint of rust anywhere.

K10's used to rust badly alright but K11's, especially the UK built ones(which were better undersealed then the JDM march's) have always been fine in my experience.

I wonder if the problem is, because they are a very popular and easily sellable, there are lots of botch repaired ones appearing now.

None of the cars were crashed but they had holes in the back of the sill towards the arch. I think its because the sill is very unusual shape at this point and picks up a lot of water and dirt. They look to be very poorly sealed tbh, it seems to be very problematic in the years 99-02 for some reason. I wouldn't have believed it till I seen it myself.

Do 97 Nissan micras have power steering?

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