Ladies car suggestions

[Nigel H-J]

Just one word of caution regarding the Nissan Micra Fodda, when I had one as a loan car after someone ran into the side of my Corolla, I was given the automatic version. It drank fuel as though it was going out of fashion, have not driven the manual one but be very careful if it is an automatic you are thinking about!!

Regards
Nigel.

[Fodda]

Thanks Nigel.

Her first was a Mk 1 automatic which was fine with its 998cc engine, and only used around town. Unfortunately somebody else planted a van into that so she's now got a Mk 2 (mini-taxi shape) with the 1 litre engine and manual box. Other than being the most basic of basic models with not even intermittent wipe or a clock, the drive is superb, the gearbox is tight, and it cruises around very nicely with the pair of us in. My loaner was the latest style 1.2 and although I felt very short when sat inside its enormous height, there's bags of room, and again it feels like a tight and very capable little car. I didn't have it long enough to worry about economy though.

But, yes, auto boxes generally drink more fuel than the equivalent manual regardless of make and model.

[DaveB]

Micra's get a pretty fair thumbs up. Looney Rick Piper (you've heard of him) bought one for his good lady and he was so impressed with it, he bought one for himself.. which he still drives and loves it to bits.

ATB

DaveB

[Nigel H-J]

Rather funny to think that at one time Micras were associated with dear old silver haired ladies who would poodle about in them at ten miles an hour below the speed limit, now look whos' driving them.

Regards
Nigel.

[DaveB]

I thought the same mate It's not one of the jelly-mould shaped ones.. it's a bit later than that. He had a nice set of Carlos Fandango wheels on it too once. Looked the doggies (albeit, a bit on the young side for RP) but cool just the same. He'd taken em off the last time I saw it. SE version I think with all mod cons. I considered getting rid of the 406 a year or so ago in favour of a Micra but.. couldn't afford one It's all very well the likes of Quentin Wilson saying you'd save money by getting rid of your old gas guzzler and buying a new version but I can't equate that statement to my 406. It's been mine for years and running costs are petrol, road tax and the annual service and MoT.. that's it! How would a new car save me money unless someone gave it to me While I admit 25mpg around town isn't great, we don't use it that much now and SWMBO gets money off at Tesco. On a run with me thraping it, it never drops lower than 33mpg and that aint bad for a 'P' reg 2.0 litre petrol.

Ooops.. that went didn't it

Micra.. yeh. You could do a lot worse and you never know, you might like it yourself

ATB

DaveB

[speedbird591]

Micras are amazing little cars. The present Mrs Speedbird's on her second (old style) and the first (L reg) was passed on to her brother who is doing his untmost to destroy it. It hasn't been serviced or washed for 3 years and suffers so much abuse that social services are threatening to take it into care . And I inherited my Dad's M reg, which was his pride and joy for several years. I loved driving it but didn't have room for it. So we're definitely Micra fans over here in Speedbird Towers. The new ones look a bit funny, though, don't they?

Ian

[TSR2]

They look like dodgems. That said, they are very nice to drive and surprisingly spacious.... but I too was flabbergasted when Rick appeared in one at Brunters a few years ago... Mr.P in a Micra... well not unless it was 200+Bhp and had a roll cage

[Nigel H-J]

Micra.. yeh. You could do a lot worse and you never know, you might like it yourself

Hmmm, the Micra that was on loan to me when driving felt quite big, well, bigger than I thought it would be, one thing I did notice and that was just before taking it back prior to collecting my car from the body specialists, they can fit panels but cannot match the paint!! but that is another story, I duly went to fill it with petrol i.e. the same amount as when you got it. The bonnet release is very close to the petrol cap release so, me being me pulled the wrong one and the bonnet latch released, round to the front and put both hands either side of the centre of the bonnet and pushed down.......Oooooops put 2 nice dents into the bonnet where my hands were!!

As you know when you return a car they go round it with a magnifying glass, now these dents were quite obvious but as it wsa around December I waited until around 5pm when it got dark then returned the car to the hire company and made sure I parked in a dimly lit place of the car park. It worked, they just shone a torch around the car and fortunately did not see the dents otherwise that would have cost me some.

The moral of this story is........Don't press down on the bonnet to close it!!

As for buying one I am more than happy with my Corolla, 6 years old and gives me around 42mpg to work and back 41/2 miles and on a long run around 47 - 50 depending on how I drive it. One day I might be tempted.

Regards
Nigel.

[airboatr]

my advise simply , would be to by a car with rubber body parts
and a cosmetic that applies the makeup automatically.