Review: driving a $9998 2015 Nissan Micra (Nissan's most efficient manual in Can/US.)

[MetroMPG]

With standard front & rear stabilizer bars (the only country to get both, apparently) and supposedly Canada-specific faster steering ratio, the Micra has a surprisingly good ride/handling balance. In that department it puts the competing Chevy Spark and especially the Mitsu Mirage to shame.

And because it uses the Versa's 109 hp 1.6L engine as a cost-saving measure (instead of the Micra-specific 1.2L triple from the other side of the Atlantic), it's also got the most power in its class.

So when someone proposed organizing an "affordable" one make racing series based on the car, Nissan apparently jumped at the chance.



They take a base $9998 Micra S (the one I've got), gut it, then fully kit it out with a roll cage, NISMO suspension bits, slicks on light alloys, intake & exhaust, racing seats, safety equipment, etc.

And you end up with a $19998 (CAD) race car.

The inaugural race in the Quebec-based series was 2 weekends ago at le Circuit Mont Tremblant. They've got 25 teams fielding cars. It turned out to be so popular they're already talking about expanding the series into Ontario. It's actually running this weekend as part of the F1 event in Montreal on le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

So yup, I'm drivin' a race car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xBr_xFxXWY

[MetroMPG]

PS: anybody else remember the Honda/Michelin Civic-based series?

[roosterk0031]

Please bring them to the states, add AC and I'd take two for $9495. Make the auto cost 10,495 and maybe a third.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

add AC and I'd take two for $9495. Make the auto cost 10,495 and maybe a third.

Aye, there's the rub. Guess how much it costs to move up from a base $10k Micra to one with AC or automatic. I dare ya.

Originally Posted by Daox

I'm kind of surprised to see a rear window wiper and washer. That seems like something they could cap off easily and save some money on.

I agree. I don't think a rear wiper is a mandated safety item, so this could have been another mid-trim bait feature... with a black plastic plug on the sheet metal where the wiper arm would have been mounted to the base car, to perpetually remind you what a cheapskate you are.

[niky]

Great idea... a cheap race series... we have something similar using the Vios (Yaris sedan)... in a country where the local touring car series was once down to under a dozen cars, we now have a field so big (40 and counting) that they can't run them all in one heat. The Vios goes from $18.7k to $26.5k with the same kind of modifications plus LSD plus racing tuition and spares.

That includes 12% VAT, so it's actually a good price.

I'd think you could make the Micra cars even cheaper by sticking to simply the cage, seat, kill switch and gutting. But then they probably wouldn't be as fun.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

What is the cheapest new car in the Philippines? I don't suppose that's it (Versa).

The local Nissan is hobbled by the lack of ASEAN production compared to its rivals, so the Versa sedan starts at $15.7k. The Versa-sized Vios starts at $14k for the 1.3 (cheaper if you're willing to go taxi-spec.) Maybe if Nissan opened up a Micra production line in Indonesia, we could see them for much, much less.

Cheapest sedan with decent legroom from the Japanese is the Mirage G4, at $12.3 (already with AC and power windows, but not much else). The cheapest sedan bar none is the one I'm driving now, the Tata Indigo, which is $11.6k (same as the base Mirage hatch here). That's with power windows, a radio, alarm, foglights and a 1.4 liter diesel. Not bad considering the high tax paid for imports from India! Its pretty crude, even compared to a Mirage, but it's got hydraulic steering, a proper shift linkage, a gutsy turbodiesel and skinny tires, so I've been having a hoot of a time over the past week, hooning everywhere and still getting 35 mpg mixed.

Cheapest car overall is also Indian. The Suzuki/Maruti Alto, which starts at $8.6k with absolutely nothing on it. Not even a solitary airbag. Still, gets 30 mpg in heavy traffic and up to 70 mpg on the highway. Just don't drive near anything bigger than you.

Which is, uh, everything.

[Arragonis]

There is a series in the UK for cheaper cars to go rallying, e.g. a 1-Litre engine limit. A lot of them use Aygos like I used to drive, some of them use Micra K11s - the 1.0 4cyl 16v Edition.

Richard Hammond (off of Top Gear) had a go a few years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7CIhxVvT0k

Bonus points if you spot the Chevette and the Civic

[MetroMPG]

(^ The actual Micra - pic snapped this morning.)

I have a route through town that I use for eco-driving coaching, and I've saved all the results for each driver/car. It comes in handy for making comparisons. So far I've got numbers for about 16 vehicles.

It's a ~7.5 km sub/urban route that includes lots of stops, turns & traffic lights and takes about 15 minutes from start to finish (ending up at the starting point).

Micra results:

Conditions were pretty good: about 15C / 59F, dry & calm, moderate traffic. Car was already warmed up at the beginning.

Basic eco-driving results:



46.6 mpg US = 5 L/100 km, using just basic ecodriving techniques. Plus shutting off the engine at longer stop lights.

With moderate hypermiling:



50.6 mpg US = 4.7 L/100 km with basic stuff plus engine-off coasting (EOC) to stops & some turns. No pulse & glide on straight through sections though.

To put that in context, some results from other cars on the same route:

• 75 mpg US - my 1998 Firefly/Metro 1.0, 5-spd (lots of EOC)
• 70 mpg US - 2013 Lexus 200h hybrid (lots of EOC)
• 56 mpg US - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2L 5-spd (basic ecodriving)
• 51 mpg US - 2015 Nissan Micra 1.6L 5-spd (EOC)
• 47 mpg US - 2015 Nissan Micra 1.6L 5-spd (basic ecodriving)
• 44 mpg US - 2007 Camry Hybrid (basic ecodriving)
• 41 mpg US - 2009 Honda Fit 5-speed (basic ecodriving
• 40 mpg US - 2007 Honda Civic EX 5-speed (basic ecodriving)
• 39 mpg US - 2009 Honda Civic LX 5-speed (basic ecodriving
• 37 mpg US - 2004 Toyota Echo automatic (basic ecodriving)
• 36 mpg US - 1997 BMW 328i 5-speed (EOC)
• 33 mpg US - 2007 Toyota Corolla 1.8 auto (basic ecodriving)
• 24 mpg US - 2002 Subaru Outback automatic (basic ecodriving)

[Baltothewolf]

That's really good. You think that 46 would have been 41-42 if you hadn't shut off engine? The reason I ask this, could the normal person just drive carefully and coast in neutral with engine on up to stop lights/signs and get 41-42?

[MetroMPG]

Thinking back, I probably didn't shut the engine off more than 3 or 4 times at lights on the first lap. I doubt it would have made a 10% (~4 mpg) difference.

[Baltothewolf]

A 10k car that gets 45mpg is not bad at all.