Hi,

 

I have a random question; my girlfriend is looking at getting a Nissan Micra C+C 1.6 Sport to replace her Corsa. 

 

I have no knowledge or experience with any Nissans let alone convertible Micras!

 

Does anyone have any pointers of anything to look out for? 

 

Cheers,

Tom. 

Just bear in mind that those seats in the rear are "seats" in name only, and are not really useable even for kids.

 

Don't know how much you're paying, but the only thing I can really think to look out for, probably obviously, is : check the operation of the roof very carefully, including how water tight it is.

Cheers for the reply. 

 

I had thought of checking the roof, it's a metal roof so hopefully should be more reliable than a material one. 

 

I have searched online about servicing especially belts but haven't found anything useful. 

I used to have a 160Sr with that engine in ( HR16DE). I had it for 80 odd thousand miles and apart from a yearly service, it cost nothing else outside of consumables. Pretty sure it's chain driven so no belts to worry about.

Cheers for the reply. 

 

I had thought of checking the roof, it's a metal roof so hopefully should be more reliable than a material one.

 

Not sure what you mean by reliable. Potentially less likely to leak, but there's far more going on with motors and actuators. So check very carefully for smooth operation.

 

Also ask about the battery and last replacement etc - likely to be a larger capacity to handle to roof motor requirement and replacement can be a lot more costly. Also check if the roof will go up and down without the engine running. If it does, it's possible the previous owner has done this - a very good way to shorten the life of it, and should be avoided.

I used to have a 160Sr with that engine in ( HR16DE). I had it for 80 odd thousand miles and apart from a yearly service, it cost nothing else outside of consumables. Pretty sure it's chain driven so no belts to worry about.

 

That's good to know, cheers for the help 

 

 

Not sure what you mean by reliable. Potentially less likely to leak, but there's far more going on with motors and actuators. So check very carefully for smooth operation.

 

Also ask about the battery and last replacement etc - likely to be a larger capacity to handle to roof motor requirement and replacement can be a lot more costly. Also check if the roof will go up and down without the engine running. If it does, it's possible the previous owner has done this - a very good way to shorten the life of it, and should be avoided.

 

Re-reading my comment I did mean less likely to leak not more reliable. 

Good advice, I'll make sure to check the roof operation carefully and ask about battery replacements. 

Thanks 

As said, the engine should be a chain driven variety, just check for good service history as poor oil regime promotes chain stretch which eventually brings on eml due to mismatch in sensor readings. If looked after, engines are bulletproof.

That engine is a good one, I've driven it in a standard Micra and it goes well.

 

Suppose they've fitted that in the C+C because of the extra weight, from the roof etc.

As said, the engine should be a chain driven variety, just check for good service history as poor oil regime promotes chain stretch which eventually brings on eml due to mismatch in sensor readings. If looked after, engines are bulletproof.

 

Will be sure to check on the oil changes, thanks for the advice. 

 

That engine is a good one, I've driven it in a standard Micra and it goes well.

 

Suppose they've fitted that in the C+C because of the extra weight, from the roof etc.

 

Glad to hear it, hopefully going to see one that she likes today so we'll see how it goes. 

Well, we went for a look at one in Essex, looked great from the photos, however, not in the best condition in person. 

 

And the missus wasn't keen on the drive of it so she has forgotten about the idea now. 

 

Thanks for all the above help lads. 

Ah well, it doesn't always work out.

What was it she didn't particularly like about the drive? Is she fixed on the idea of a small convertible?

That's true, she wasn't going to know until she had a proper drive of one. 

 

No the exact opposite actually, it was a bit of a random idea to have a look at small convertibles, turned out she wasn't that keen once she drove it. 

 

The search continues in a different direction. 

Lots of motors and sensor switches in powered roofs so definitely try it and keep trying it until your warranty period is up.

 

Convertibles leak (all brands) so check the carpets well and maybe even have a sniff, if it's been under cover for a while it'll have dried out.

 

Makes sure she looks at it from all angles because they're ****ing hideous and she might just realise that at some point.

 

[edit] looks like she has.

 

TBH MX5 is probably one of the best small convertibles around. Good drive, reliable and easy manual roof means less to go wrong. They do an electric folding hardtop too.

Wow, Micra c+c, rear seats look even less usable than the ones in my 100NX (essentially the predecessor to the c+c). Sometimes you have to wonder why manufacturers bother with some things.

It's the bright pink one I see locally, that I wonder most about

 

If she's not fixed on the idea of a convertible, I'd keep it simple and get something with a proper roof

 

Find a 160SR Micra, for example

Lots of motors and sensor switches in powered roofs so definitely try it and keep trying it until your warranty period is up.

 

Convertibles leak (all brands) so check the carpets well and maybe even have a sniff, if it's been under cover for a while it'll have dried out.

 

Makes sure she looks at it from all angles because they're kitten hideous and she might just realise that at some point.

 

[edit] looks like she has.

 

TBH MX5 is probably one of the best small convertibles around. Good drive, reliable and easy manual roof means less to go wrong. They do an electric folding hardtop too.

 

I did point out an MX5 and was met with the response that they are horrible! 

 

Wow, Micra c+c, rear seats look even less usable than the ones in my 100NX (essentially the predecessor to the c+c). Sometimes you have to wonder why manufacturers bother with some things.

 

I sat in the rear of the C+C and you could only get the passenger seat locked back in place if it was slid all the way forward, pretty pointless seats. 

 

It's the bright pink one I see locally, that I wonder most about

 

If she's not fixed on the idea of a convertible, I'd keep it simple and get something with a proper roof

 

Find a 160SR Micra, for example

 

I did see a couple of bright pink ones for sale, horrendous! The one we looked at was the gunmetal grey colour, best colour for those I think personally. 

 

She's looking at Polos now as I had one a few years back and she liked it back then. 

I sat in the rear of the C+C and you could only get the passenger seat locked back in place if it was slid all the way forward, pretty pointless seats. 

 

Ah, the NX is more usable than that, the rear seats took too teenagers without too much trouble. Not so sure they'd have gone long-distance though.

It's also the stowage of the roof on the C+C that compacts the rear seating space even further.

 

NX had removable 'targa' type panels didn't it?

I did point out an MX5 and was met with the response that they are horrible! 

 

 

Yet she liked the C+C?

 

Ah, the NX is more usable than that, the rear seats took too teenagers without too much trouble. Not so sure they'd have gone long-distance though.

 

Fair enough. These seats might have been okay for a child on a short journey but I wouldn't go much more than that. 

 

It's also the stowage of the roof on the C+C that compacts the rear seating space even further.

 

NX had removable 'targa' type panels didn't it?

 

That's what I assumed. Don't know about the NX myself. 

Yet she liked the C+C?

 

 

I know, female logic for you. Maybe if the MX5 I showed her was a different colour she may have had a different opinion. 

It's also the stowage of the roof on the C+C that compacts the rear seating space even further.

 

NX had removable 'targa' type panels didn't it?

 

Yes, two removable panels. Fairly quick to do, and not exactly heavy either, Live in their own bags in the boot. Being glass, you could put day bags on top if needed. Even with the panels in the boot, space enough for a sub-woofer. Not a bad little car really. 1.6 GA series engine, 105 horses in it's day. Fairly much handles like a go-kart too ;) Most out there have low mileage for their year too (mine's a '94 with 93,000 on the clock) I used mine as a daily for 6/12 months. It's sitting on the driveway now, waiting for a few things to be finished, and then up for sale as she's been replaced by something bigger, with less roof

Wow, Micra c+c, rear seats look even less usable than the ones in my 100NX (essentially the predecessor to the c+c). Sometimes you have to wonder why manufacturers bother with some things.

 

I assume the back seats serve only to allow the vehicle to be listed as a 2+2 to bring the insurance rating down. I know that is the reason the Honda CRZ is listed as such, whilst in the US it is a pure 2 seater having only luggage space where the rear seats are. Mind you, the size of some Americans makes the idea of those rear seats even more ridiculous...