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My latest car is on the road: and it's a MI - - A!
No, it's not a M I C R A. But it's close... 3 out of 5 letters match!
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M I A T A. 1990.
It's a sad and neglected turd. I picked it up for $750. On the road for a few dollars under $1k.
It had rusted brakes and flat-spotted tires from being parked in a back yard for a couple of years, but the worst problem was the floor. It was never winter driven, but the ratty convertible top leaked, and chronically wet carpet = rusty floors.
Here's what it looked like by the time I cut back to good metal on the driver's (worst) side:
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It would have been nice to have a lift to make welding in the new metal easier...
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Fortunately the unibody hard points were OK, so I eventually got it patched up. And after working on the brakes, replacing a sway bar end link, the radiator (from my Metro/Swift junk pile), and a few light bulbs, it passed inspection. It finally went on the road a couple of weeks ago.
And even though it's a beater of a car, it's still very fun to drive: it's super lightweight (around 2k lbs), with fast-ratio steering, RWD (of course), and a hilariously direct factory short shifter.
I was hooked when I drove a relative's brand new Miata backin 1990, just like this one. It only took 27 years for the price to come down enough to fit my budget! :D
If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend trying one.
couple of Micra vs. Miata similarities in reviews
Found 'em!
Quote:
- decent power to weight: "this is first-generation Miata levels of performance – slow, but kinda feels fast."
Brendan MacAleer - Autos.ca
Thread: Another Autos.ca Review: Road Trip: $9,998 2015 Nissan Micra S 5-speed
And another one from Mark Stevenson (Truth About Cars), who takes the Miata comparison MUCH further...
Quote:
While my predecessor likened the Micra to the EK Civic, I’m going to take it one step further: The Nissan Micra is a four-door Mazda Miata.
[...]
“Miata with four doors? Have you completely lost the plot?” Maybe, but …
All the important ingredients from the Miata are woven into the Micra’s DNA as well: light weight, just enough power to spin the little front rubber donuts, and the suspension — well, let’s just call it peculiar for now as it needs an explanation all its own.
The bottom line: The Micra provided the most engaging and fun driving experience I’ve had in at least 12 months, and that includes all the 400+ horsepower cars that have graced my driveway over the same timeframe.
TTAC: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...y-lilliputian/