1986 Nissan Micra K10J review from North America

Fastidiously maintained by an older gent. Original owner who never drove much. Body - all oiled underneath. No rust at all. Everything shiny. New tires, brakes, master cylinder, exhaust. All new before it was put away. Not a fault. Clean as a whistle in and out. Incredible for a 21 year old.

The car is my Mr Bean special. Gets a smile from everyone, except those who are following and want to speed. You've heard of a Lincoln Town Car. Well, this is my Nissan Clown Car.

It could really use a tune-up. The carb is set to run too high on the fast idle. When I try to kick it down, everyone thinks I'm trying to race, but I'm certainly not. It's impossible to drive furiously in this car. Not passionately either. It can manage earnestness. It should be call the Nissan Introvert.

No power steering. No power brakes. No power of any kind. It's a puddle-jumper. A jam jar. My son, who's the same age, says it's a cross between a shopping cart and a sewing machine.

I like it. It was cheap. And, the first 500km used just 28 liters of gas. That's 40 miles/ gal US or 48 miles/ gal Imp. Should get even better with the idle adjusted.

It seems incredibly small on North American roads. It's the shortest, narrowest, most diminutive thing on four wheels in the year 2007. You would think the ride would be horrible, but it's just bad. Twelve inch wheels. Hobbit springs and hobbit struts. The steering wheel is a liquorish whip. Surprising thing. It sails over bumps much better than most large cars. Look up kinetic energy to find out why.

I could afford a much better car, but I want this one. Micras should rise again to fight global warming.