Nissan Micra 1.2 03 new shape good or bad buy??

Lemonade_Pockets

My honest opinion of these is very low. I've never owned one but when i used to work at a dealership we sold hundreds. However I never got in a single one which didn't have a probelm of some description. The Intelligent key is a pain in the neck and never works well even on the rare occasion that its not broken.

For my money the small cars offered by all the other brands are better: design, reliability, road manners etc etc.

toolkit

The 2003 on Micra (k12 engine) is a pain. If you have had a trouble free one you are very, very lucky. Just google timing chain nissan micra and see. They cost £1600 to replace at Nissan and upwards of £900 at local garages. The same design chain drive is used in other Nissans as well so beware. If you buy one from a dealer make sure you have engine warranty. Try to part ex a 2003 Micra and see what you get. To replace a chain and sprockets the engine and box have to come out and the sides taken off to get at the chain. Its 2 days work hence the price in garages. I am fed up of taking mine back since it was purchased.. The 'intelligent' key is u/s. The lock barrell breaks regularly, the key is £120 on its own...need I go on? The Nissan mech told me in confidence they are a very unreliable car and cost a bomb to put right. As I write this the micra is outside again with another stretched chain despite being regulary serviced etc.

iolanthe07

I think you have been unlucky, to be honest. My wife had no trouble with hers and we got a good price when we traded it in.

Inactive

Sadly, like almost all Nissans made after 2000, these were made after they got tangled up with Renault and inherited many of their poor reliability issues.

somech

renault cut costs and removed quality control from the factories
they are junk as said chains , keys locks . total junk
best cheap small car honda jazz

sundevil_rachael

Realise I am a bit late on this topic - but just wondered if the problems on the 2003 K12's were resolved on later versions?

I am about to purchase a 57 plate Micra with low mileage - but having checked out the net the last few days I am now worried this is a bad idea!

Were the stretching timing belts fixed on later models and the problems with the intelligent key?

Having just had a Matiz I threw money at I don't want another car I am just throwing money at and have a reasonable budget - and just thought Micras were reliable!!

Scuttsy

sundevil_rachael wrote: »

Realise I am a bit late on this topic - but just wondered if the problems on the 2003 K12's were resolved on later versions?

I am about to purchase a 57 plate Micra with low mileage - but having checked out the net the last few days I am now worried this is a bad idea!

Were the stretching timing belts fixed on later models and the problems with the intelligent key?

Having just had a Matiz I threw money at I don't want another car I am just throwing money at and have a reasonable budget - and just thought Micras were reliable!!

So long as it has and continues to be serviced on time a chain will not cause problems so so long as the vehicle has consistently been serviced it will be a good buy for you. If it has not been serviced that is the time to steer clear. A Micra should be serviced every 12500 miles or 12 months whichever is sooner so a 57 plate should have been serviced a minimum of 2 times. Most of the later models do not have the intelligent key and it never really caused a problem most of the locking problems with earlier micras were actually boot switches.

2dream

Micra K12: I have a 2003 just 100 or so miles short of 60,000. It has key-less entry and that has worked without fault. I have never had to use the key. Hearing of some chain problems (see the Ilexa site) I made sure I always used 5W 40 fully synthetic starting with the second oil change (the extra cost is insignificant) which I did myself and also I have done all the rest. I change at 9000. The synthetic oil is well safe at that. Engine is whisper quiet, and the car runs very well indeed. I love that part. I would have bought another one when the time came but they have brought out the much larger new model that I would struggle to get in my garage so I shall look elsewhere. I love the keyless entry. On two occasions I have left my coat in the car with the key in the pocket and slammed the door (phew!!). Did it lock me out? No. It just squealed at me and I realised what I had done. A few niggles. Nissan need to learn where to put the rubber strips in the right place on the doors to fend off damage from other doors. I did send an email. No effect. The new doors look to me to be designed to cause damage with the part that protrudes at the bottom. Don't ask Nissan if 5W 40 is OK (it is). They will say "your garage will advise you on the oil to use" or refer you to the book. Watch the oil is really fully synthetic as there are lots of pretenders. If it is cheap, forget it. I consulted an oil expert in choosing mine. You don't have to take the engine out to find out if the chain is stretched. Part of the tensioner arrangement protrudes with wear and when that is 10mm IIRC the vehicle needs a new chain. Buy something with a low mileage and look after it.

2dream

Incidentally, the service interval stated for mine is 9000 miles, not 12,500.
Also, note that intelligent keys need their batteries replaced occasionally.