Advice on this Micra

KonFusion

Going to view this later today:

2005 1L Micra

Just passed NCT - Good til March 2019
70k km's on the clock (almost suspiciously low?)
No TAX (out by 61 days according to Cartell)
No service history

2 Owners

First owner had it from new, second owner bought it 23 days ago - What's going on there?

Any ideas? Looks clean, and will report back after viewing it, but some of the above irks me.

Toyotafanboi

Have you a link to the ad?

The story either reads like the car is passing through the trade which wouldn't be too bad or someone has bought it and is offloading.

These aren't the most loved Micra model but they are an ok car.

KonFusion

Link to ad here: https://www.donedeal.ie/adview/view/18394403

Thanks

Toyotafanboi

Seller is clearly a part time trader, not that that really matters, but it'd be nicer to meet it's actual previous owner.

That said the car looks tidy, low mileage and a nice bit of NCT, if it's driving well you could do a lot worse. €1250 would be the price to aim for IMO.

JohnBoy26

They are a dreadful car and they are actually 1.2 not 1 liter. A yaris can be had for similar money these days and is a far better car than a micra.

KonFusion

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

they are actually 1.2 not 1 liter.

How so? This is definitely a 1L.

Cartell says so, seller says so, why do you disagree?

KonFusion

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Seller is clearly a part time trader, not that that really matters, but it'd be nicer to meet it's actual previous owner.

That said the car looks tidy, low mileage and a nice bit of NCT, if it's driving well you could do a lot worse. €1250 would be the price to aim for IMO.

Thanks. Will do.

Funny, I thought the same regarding part time dealer - but how they communicate really gives a different vibe.

JohnBoy26

KonFusion wrote: »

How so? This is definitely a 1L.

Cartell says so, seller says so, why do you disagree?

Never knew they came in a 1 liter tbh. Only ever seen them with the 1.2 engine. Still a very poor car though. Not one of nissans strongest efforts, even considering renaults involvement.

KonFusion

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Never knew they came in a 1 liter tbh. Only ever seen them with the 1.2 engine. Still a very poor car though. Not one of nissans strongest efforts, even considering renaults involvement.

Poor car how so?

For context I do less than 3k miles a year, and it's my first car (with my own name/policy).

I just want something that'll last a year so I can have my years NCB and get something better. Don't really care about performance etc. Won't be commuting or doing much motorway. 1L Micra was one of the cheapest on insurance quotes.

Can't find a 05 or newer Yaris for less than 1500 that doesn't have huge mileage, and I've been looking a good while.

LD

KonFusion wrote: »

Poor car how so?

For context I do less than 3k miles a year, and it's my first car (with my own name/policy).

I just want something that'll last a year so I can have my years NCB and get something better. Don't really care about performance etc. Won't be commuting or doing much motorway. 1L Micra was one of the cheapest on insurance quotes.

Can't find a 05 or newer Yaris for less than 1500 that doesn't have huge mileage, and I've been looking a good while.

I had a 1 litre 03 Micra (same model as this) for 3 and a half years. The 1l was discontinued in favour of the 1.2 but they'd the same power outputs. Not a terribly refined car but easy to drive, cheap to run, cheap to repair and a wonderful choice for someone doing low mileage, provided you can get a good example of one. Mine was very reliable, I would have kept it except I started doing more motorway miles and needed the comfort of a larger car

Toyotafanboi

I had one for about two years, it was an 04. I took it from 80k kms to 130k kms. Yeah, 25k a year in a Micra :pac:

It was definitely a 1.0 cg10de or something like that.

Perfectly acceptable car. Sure a Yaris would be nicer but it wasn't bad and never have any serious trouble. The actuator for the bootlid lock went and so did the ignition switch but that was it, both are common issues with them but neither was an expensive fix.

I know one swallow doesn't make a summer all the same.

bazz26

Those headlights are very cloudy for something that has only covered 65k/70k km in 13 years. Timing chains also stretch on those engines so if it sounds like a bag of spanners or rattles then run away.

colm_mcm

Would the mileage affect how cloudy the headlights are? I’d imagine it’s mainly UV damage that does it?

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would the mileage affect how cloudy the headlights are? I’d imagine it’s mainly UV damage that does it?

Yeah it's uv damage. Mileage has no bearing on it. An old civic I had and my e12 corolla both had cloudy headlights despite having low enough mileage.

JohnBoy26

KonFusion wrote: »

Poor car how so?

For context I do less than 3k miles a year, and it's my first car (with my own name/policy).

I just want something that'll last a year so I can have my years NCB and get something better. Don't really care about performance etc. Won't be commuting or doing much motorway. 1L Micra was one of the cheapest on insurance quotes.

Can't find a 05 or newer Yaris for less than 1500 that doesn't have huge mileage, and I've been looking a good while.

The electrics aren't great on them, timing chains can stretch. They are hard enough on fuel, well the 1.2 is. I cant imagine the 1 liter being much better. They are also a car that look and feel like they were built to a budget and they aren't great to drive.

The yaris might be a little more expensive but they are a decent car, much better than a micra in everyway. Mileage wouldn't concern me if the car was in good condition and well looked after.

Still if you're only keeping it for a year a micra might be ok.

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would the mileage affect how cloudy the headlights are? I’d imagine it’s mainly UV damage that does it?

I always went off the assumption that the cloudiness was caused on the inside of the lense due to heat from the bulbs as opposed to outside elements.

JohnBoy26

bazz26 wrote: »

I always went off the assumption that the cloudiness was caused on the inside of the lense due to heat from the bulbs as opposed to outside elements.

If that was the case you wouldn't be able to polish the cloudiness out of them without taking the headlight apart.

KonFusion

Went to view it this evening.

A fair/average amount of rust on the engine, or rather, in the engine bay. Especially where the exhaust curves down under the body from the engine, however it mostly seemed cosmetic.

Had a good look under, chassis was ok, shocks ok, not much rust surprisingly, brakes ok (gave em a good test while driving too).

Belts ok, power steering fine. All the knobs inside working, lights ok.

The guy is indeed a part time dealer. Seems like he recently bought it off the original owner (who had it from new) on the cheap after it failed it's NCT - failed on the two front tyres which he said were almost down to the wire, and also on the lambda/c02 sensor. Both tyres and sensor replaced and it passed without issue. He said he got it for a song off some old lad.

Tyres being down to the wire doesn't inspire confidence that the car was well maintained though.

Oil levels were fine and no milkyness. Was dark but not tar. I've seen worse.

Ran fine. Went through all the gears and it seemed fine. No rattles. Gear change was a tad clunky from 2nd to 3rd but honestly no worse than an old 03 corolla my folks had for years.

Mileage was in fact 70k MILES though not KM's.

Very little power. I've not driven a 1L before - only a 1.4 Corolla. Put the foot to the floor in 2nd and it went nowhere, was thinking there might be something wrong but I guess it's just a weak ass engine? Acceleration was poor anyway, but I've very little comparison.

Unknown if any work done to timing chain. No service history. He had all the previous NCT's though & the logbook.

All in all I'm on the fence. I'm thinking 1150 if I go for it? If it lasts til January I'd be happy.

JohnBoy26

Coming from a 1.4 it's going to feel dead in comparison. Even a yaris feels gutless compared to a corolla but you get used to it after awhile.

Toyotafanboi

I don't believe his story but it sounds like an ok car. The gear change in those is very notchy. Did you talk money?

punisher5112

They are nothing special but will get you around.

The previous models were the gems.

As above timing chains are an issue and I've come across one with under 40k miles that has needed replacing.

Manifold issue also.

They are slow and ride quality of course not great but that's to be said for any small type car like it.

Would you consider going back to a Corolla they can be got quite cheap these days and would be much more comfortable.

KonFusion

punisher5112 wrote: »

Would you consider going back to a Corolla they can be got quite cheap these days and would be much more comfortable.

I was a named driver on the Corolla and while I actually really liked that car and all it's quirks and faults, I can't get/afford insurance on it in my own name so it's not an option. Limited to 1L's for the moment.

KonFusion

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I don't believe his story but it sounds like an ok car. The gear change in those is very notchy. Did you talk money?

Yeah I don't either tbh.

Talked money - 1150 takes it away this eve. Gonna ponder on it. Could do worse for the price I reckon?

What's the worst that could happen :pac: (had to say it...)

punisher5112

There were a few Yaris with really low mileage put up on bangeromics.

JohnBoy26

punisher5112 wrote: »

There were a few Yaris with really low mileage put up on bangeromics.

They are over 15 years old though so insurance might be an issue

KonFusion

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They are over 15 years old though so insurance might be an issue

Bingo.

2005 on-wards seems to be my sweet spot for insurance. Even 04 & 03 was higher even though within 15 years.

dogmatix

Timing chains could be an issue on the 03 and 04 models - rumour is that Renault insisted on Nissan using their crappy parts when they took over Nissan in the early 2000's. I had an K12 1.0L 03 micra from 2008 until 2016 and had to replace the timing chain twice during that time. And it is not a cheap job to do either in a nissan dealership at any rate. I think the timing chain issue was resolved from 2005 onwards so you should be okay. Otherwise it was a reliable car and surpisingly good in snow and ice.

BTW - if the car still has the original car stereo/cd player installed (and from the pics it looks like it), make sure it is still working - mine failed after 3 years and i've heard of other units failing after a certain number of years. It's not difficult to fit a new unit but it involves removing the dashboard fasic and side panel strips and such.

Stephen15

I have one an 03 one myself not in as good nick as the one in the picture and has missing hubcaps. Good as a first car or learning to drive in. It got an overhaul a couple of years which cost under a grand ago and is going stronger than ever. Not actually a bad car for just going from a to b in for local trips. Driving a small car has its pros and cons.

Pros being able to fit into tight parking spots and cons getting less respect from other road users in bigger vehicles and the obvious one which is lack of space particularly in the boot.

KonFusion

Well I bought it today. Drove it for an hour and it didn't die so that's a good start. Gonna give it a full service next.

Will report back here if it blows up

Toyotafanboi

I'd say you'll be fine, best of luck with it!

How much did you pay? if you don't mind saying.

KonFusion

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I'd say you'll be fine, best of luck with it!

How much did you pay? if you don't mind saying.

Thanks!

Nah I don't mind. €1150