1986 Nissan Micra Collette review from UK and Ireland

Brake calipers jammed twice

Brake discs had to be replaced

Cracked headlamp (probably my fault)

Certain joints rust easily (see all Colettes - all have the same points rusted!)

Petrol filler tube had to be replaced - is directly above rear passenger wheel, so water and muck is sprayed up at it.

Okay, Nissan Micra - the hairdressers car. It isn't fast (supposedly), isn't flash, and in a number head-on collisions with a Series 2 Land Rover (my parents vehicle) the Land Rover has yet to lose.

However, for a driver like me - careful, yet young and liking a bit of fun - it is good.

Petrol consumption is excellent, and although I have had quite a few things repaired on it over the year I've had it, it is around sixteen years old.

The acceleration in first and second is very good, and although I've probably wrecked the gearbox, I have left many faster cars standing at the traffic lights. If you keep the car nice and empty, and with no passengers particularly, the handling is excellent also.

One point with the four-speed gear box (not including reverse) is that by the time you're going past seventy you could really do with a fifth gear.

The security is not great. The steering lock can be easily snapped, and the door can be bent back so that an intruder and reach in and unlock the door (this happened to me). But providing they don't get away with it some good shoving and pushing in the right points by two people will snap the door right back into place.