Marm's Motors: Mid Engined Turbo RWD JDM Dad Wagon

[Marm Toastsmith]

I’m there

[Marm Toastsmith]

[GMcD]

Oooooft!! 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Not quite… off I go.

[Fumbler]

Ooh it's a late 90's one. Does it have the 1.0 SPEED MACHINE or the 1.3?

[Marm Toastsmith]

[Marm Toastsmith]

5 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Ooh it's a late 90's one. Does it have the 1.0 SPEED MACHINE or the 1.3?

Full power 1 litre

[Fumbler]

7 minutes ago, marm said:

Full power 1 litre

It looks delightfully shonky. Great buyage.

[SRi05]

14 minutes ago, marm said:

The £200 Micra of excellence. Well played

[gadgetgricey]

Please say you video'd the jet wash, as looks a lot better already.

 

[Six-cylinder]

1 hour ago, marm said:

Luckily you spotted this first or it could be on my drive!

[Bitzer]

Congrats.

As my Ka nears the inevitable, I am eyeing these with more and more interest.

The chrome trim seems to suggest some sort of luxury version aimed at the filthy bourgeoisie?

[Marm Toastsmith]

Right, had lunch now heading back!

3 hours ago, gadgetgricey said:

Please say you video'd the jet wash, as looks a lot better already.

 

Seller washed it, not me… almost gutted (I was looking forward to enjoying it in its green glory for a bit, then washing it) but it still needs a deep clean so plenty more fun to be had. 

[Fumbler]

3 hours ago, Bitzer said:

Congrats.

As my Ka nears the inevitable, I am eyeing these with more and more interest.

The chrome trim seems to suggest some sort of luxury version aimed at the filthy bourgeoisie?

That chrome grille trim was standard on all facelift models from 1998 onwards.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Second fuel stop so bonus pez shot and it’s been treated to premium (and me to a twix). Enjoyable uneventful drive so far, probably 60 miles to go… 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Got back 45 mins ago in time for tea. All good…

[Marm Toastsmith]

5 hours ago, Bitzer said:

Congrats.

As my Ka nears the inevitable, I am eyeing these with more and more interest.

I actually bought a Ka a few years ago when I really wanted a Micra. It was great fun, I loved it. Initial impressions are that the Micra is less of a go kart but a bit more grown up and probably more useful as an car.

[Marm Toastsmith]

10 hours ago, Gerrymcd said:

Oooooft!! 

He mentioned the Leganza might be for sale at some point. Worth sending @Mine's a Leganza! a message if interested...

[Marm Toastsmith]

Gave it a good scrub today having removed the wheel trims. I prefer bare steels (I think white would look good) but I'll keep the original hub caps and couldn't resist just buying a suitably scruffy replacement for the missing one off eBay...

It's in bloody good nick for a £200 car really...  

The worst damage is obviously the rear o/s quarter, also some damage to sill, all of which has been badly painted in the past. Planning to pull the interior trim off and have a go at pushing the dent out, will also see if I can improve the paint.

Oh and the n/s wing.

Generally though it's great, haven't been underneath it yet but body wise there's no rust to speak of.

Drives very well... had a slight squeak/whistle on the way back from London which goes away for a while once the brakes are applied, hoping regular use will clear this.

Idle speed tends to drift a bit, not sure what's up with that but sure it's something simple.

Ride is OK, I think the budget Blacklion tyres are letting it down a bit, which is a shame because they are nearly new (well 3 of them, the 4th is the original Pirelli spare. Maybe I'll treat it to two new fronts. Or maybe I'll get it through the MOT first...

Engine bay is grubby. MOT history mentions an oil leak. Maybe rocker cover gasket? Smelt of hot oil on the run home...unsurprisingly. I'd like to clean it up but I was brought up to believe that it should be oily under the bonnet...

I think it's spent some time abroad. Czech republic?

I want a roof rack for it. Any idea whether there are any mounts hiding under here or will it have to be a generic job?

[Marm Toastsmith]

Just saying, I love this car. Drove it to work and then went to the shops after just so I could drive it a bit more.

It's just so eager, comfy, and easy to use. Really good bullshit-free transport. I'm already mentally planning a ridiculous family road trip in it.

[Fumbler]

On 16/01/2022 at 22:39, marm said:

I want a roof rack for it. Any idea whether there are any mounts hiding under here or will it have to be a generic job?

From memory you'll have to get a generic roofrack- the only thing underneath the black strips is the seam between the roofskin and the side panels.

5 hours ago, marm said:

Just saying, I love this car. Drove it to work and then went to the shops after just so I could drive it a bit more.

It's just so eager, comfy, and easy to use. Really good bullshit-free transport. I'm already mentally planning a ridiculous family road trip in it.

Ridiculous family roadtrips in these things are always fun. I still find mine super fun to chuck around the roads even after 3 years of ownership.

[Marm Toastsmith]

@Fumbler I enjoyed reading about your Micra... The registration number is very similar to Mrs M's Polo. See below for a bonus fleet shot.

 

[Fumbler]

9 minutes ago, marm said:

@Fumbler I enjoyed reading about your Micra... The registration number is very similar to Mrs M's Polo. See below for a bonus fleet shot.

 

Registered in the same place in the same year no less! Looks like a happy pair of cars to own.

[ETCHY]

Well bought, K11s are great little cars. That's the later type facelift, bumper and dash differ slightly plus some other bits. Big engine was the 1.4 on these.

Really capable things, you'll enjoy it, they really grow on you.

[Fumbler]

14 hours ago, ETCHY said:

Well bought, K11s are great little cars. That's the later type facelift, bumper and dash differ slightly plus some other bits. Big engine was the 1.4 on these.

Really capable things, you'll enjoy it, they really grow on you.

It's still got the older stalks and steering column- someone at college has just bought a 2002 Micra S and it's got these weird stubby things with gaitors on them. Apart from that I can't see any changes between facelifts. Kind of makes me wonder why they were still editing the inside when it was just about to go out of production.

[ETCHY]

48 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

It's still got the older stalks and steering column- someone at college has just bought a 2002 Micra S and it's got these weird stubby things with gaitors on them. Apart from that I can't see any changes between facelifts. Kind of makes me wonder why they were still editing the inside when it was just about to go out of production.

I always wondered myself why they tweaked the facelift ones. Never noticed the stalks but the bumpers changed, different storage thing on centre dash top, number plate housing, orange indicators, different trim, steering wheel etc etc. Coil packs were fitted too i think. Like i say big change was 1.4 engine ( 1.3 was nicer i believe, ours was certainly very nice).  They tweaked the cvt autobox too.

Lovely little motor have fun with it.

[Mine's a Leganza!]

"I think it's spent some time abroad. Czech republic?"

I had forgotten  that my brother-in-law drove the Micra from here to Brno in the Czech Republic and back in 2006.  He loved the drive as well!

[The Moog]

Just saying, I love this car. Drove it to work and then went to the shops after just so I could drive it a bit more.
It's just so eager, comfy, and easy to use. Really good bullshit-free transport. I'm already mentally planning a ridiculous family road trip in it.

They are just ace aren't they - also can be slung around pretty well. There is a reason a lot of people use them for autotesting

[Zelandeth]

Figured sharing this might be useful if you're looking for any bits for the Polo.  This is the seller I got the replacement heater controls for the Caddy from.

Looks like they have a fair variety of parts in stock on their eBay store and may well have quite a bit more if you ask given they're a breakers.

[AnnoyingPentium]

25 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Figured sharing this might be useful if you're looking for any bits for the Polo.  This is the seller I got the replacement heater controls for the Caddy from.

Looks like they have a fair variety of parts in stock on their eBay store and may well have quite a bit more if you ask given they're a breakers.

9N dismantling is handy for me as well. Especially when it comes to pinching a set of seats.