2nd Jul 2021, 20:53
After more than 2 years of ownership, I'm still fully satisfied by my MIcra. Nowadays it has 41516 km, the average mileage has been reduced because the Coronavirus shut-down for a period.
No issues/anomalies detected since my last review: just the tyre pressure warning light switch on; once I restore the tyre pressure the warning light switches off. I'm almost sure - based on previous experiences - that such a frequent tyre pressure restoration is due to the tyre age (tread is still 50%, but tyres have 7 years, as they are the first equipment lot) as it is more frequent in summer than in winter.
I continue to appreciate the easy handling: after more than 10k km of driving, I have some difficulties to understand how some reporters define the Micra as a unexciting driving model. Of course, it is not a sport car: the relative low output (59 kW for nearly 1000 kg cannot promise fireworks...) and the CVT transmission are characteristics of a comfortable commuter, good as city car, but without problems on mid-range trips. The suspension is not soft and any road irregularity is transmitted to the occupants, but this is partially due to the 15" rims with very low side wall of the tyres 185/55: the standard tyres 165/70 should improve the comfort.
The next year I programmed a service, with all fluids change: 24 months - at least, no more than 30 - is the best interval time to service, even if the mileage is not filled.
14th Aug 2019, 07:33
Thanks for your comment, I appreciated it: I agree that any car driven by a young man is potentially a risk.
Before I purchased the car, I checked the documents to verify what the seller told me on the phone: it sounded unbelievable, but it was true. Indeed, the first owner was an old man, born in 1938, who drove the car for 26,000 km in less than 4 years only. The poor old man died in January 2018, and his poor widow - identified as the second owner in the document - died in October 2018; their daughter appeared as the third owner in the document just to be able to sell it (some weeks from that date).
About the bearing, I know there's a weakness - in particular on the rear hubs - that's the reason why I pass over bumps at 15-20 km/h when the max allowed is 30 km/h.
About engine, as well as the transmission, owners with specimens with more than 100,000 km on the clock, testify as mandatory the lubricant change at the right time (i.e., not only in terms of km, but in terms of time, too): that's the reason why I got this operation on both the transmission and engine soon after purchasing (the complete service was matter of price negotiation). My journey is less than 10,000 km per year, so I'll never wait for 30,000 km before a lubricant change: such a practice should allow the VVT (and not only the VVT) to survive better.
About the cons, the Nissan service is quite expensive, at least in Italy: this is a negative point, at least for cars still covered under the warranty (mine is no more), even if it is possible to find expert independent workshops in Italy, which allow you to bypass the brand service net.