The Hunt for a Winter Beater

Winter was fast approaching, and my daily driver – a lovely 1973 Mazda 808 Coupe – just wouldn’t cut it in the snow. I needed a reliable, affordable “winter beater” to get me through the harsh Canadian climate. My search criteria were simple: must pass a safety inspection with minimal work, be cheap (under $500), and have a decent parts supply in the local junkyards.

I initially thought I had found the perfect candidate in a 1987 Toyota Corolla sedan. It ran reasonably well, and at $80, it left plenty of room in my budget to fix any issues. But as I spent time cleaning and tinkering with the Corolla, I realized – this car was just too dull. I wanted something with a little more character.

Enter the Nissan Micra

That’s when a promising contender appeared on the local classifieds – a 1989 Nissan Micra. Now, the Micra was an interesting car, as it was sold in Canada but not the US. And this one was equipped with the coveted five-speed manual gearbox. I had to check it out.

As I discovered, the Micra had a few quirks that set it apart from its North American counterparts. For one, the Canadian-market Micras featured sealed-beam headlights, unlike the models sold in the UK or Japan. And under the hood, it packed a larger 1.2-liter MA12 engine, compared to the 1.0-liter base engine found in other markets.

Despite its rough appearance – with some front-end damage and bald tires – the Micra ran well. I negotiated the price down to $160 and carefully drove it home, braving the high winds and winter conditions on the highway.

A Compact Car with Personality

As I cleaned up the Micra, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to a “1/3 scale Volkswagen Golf.” That iconic two-box shape, wrapped in some of the thinnest sheet metal I’d ever seen. The aluminum hood flexed alarmingly when opened, and at just 1,490 lbs, the Micra was about the size of a first-generation Chevy Sprint.

But what it lacked in size, it made up for in personality. The Micra was indecently fun to drive. You could toss it around corners with abandon, thanks to its willing, zippy nature. Sure, the 59-hp engine might run out of steam on the highway, but around town, it was an absolute hoot to flog.

In Japan, the Micra was known as the “March,” and there was even a performance-oriented “Super Turbo” variant. This pocket-rocket packed a 930cc turbocharged and supercharged engine, producing a respectable 108 hp. And as if the engine wasn’t wild enough, the Super Turbo even came with a cat-shaped key. Talk about personality!

The Trials and Tribulations of Owning a Micra

Now, as much as I enjoyed the Micra’s cheeky character, my ownership experience wasn’t without its challenges. The first hurdle was the mandatory safety inspection. The local garage demanded a long list of repairs, including a new ball joint that the car didn’t even need. The bill was more than I had paid for the car in the first place.

Just when I thought I was out of the woods, the car started stumbling and dying after leaving the shop. The mechanics claimed it was an “old car” and could experience troubles at any moment, but I couldn’t help but suspect foul play. I wanted no more to do with those shady mechanics.

Back at home, I spent countless hours trying to diagnose the issue – a frustrating no-spark fault that had me scouring junkyards for compatible parts. It was a battle of wits between me and the Micra, but eventually, I managed to get it running again.

Lessons Learned and the Search Continues

Despite the headaches, the Micra never lost its charm. I enjoyed tossing it around town, flogging the engine and pushing it to its limits without ever breaking the speed limit. It was a delightfully cheeky little car with a big personality.

Sadly, my ownership of the Micra came to an ignominious end when I eventually had to sell it at a loss, my patience and my wife’s worn thin by the constant struggles.

As I prepare for the next chapter in my quest for the perfect winter beater, I can’t help but reflect on the lessons learned. Nissans may have a reputation for reliability, but even the most bulletproof cars can be brought down by incompetent mechanics and a bit of bad luck.

The search for the ultimate winter companion continues. Who knows what quirky, character-filled car will grace my garage next? One thing’s for sure – it’ll have a big personality, just like the Nissan Micra.