Should I buy a Micra K11?
Discussion
A 1.4 Micra K11 has come up near me on ebay. No Mot, rough paint (no idea on rust or not) but apparently lots of service history.
My thoughts were to pay no more than £250 for it and then keep it as a long term project and for use in some hill climbs and sprints in the future. The car would seem to fit into sub 1400 classes. i see these cars are getting used for rallying so assume parts support is good?
Open ended question I know, nut, good idea, or not?
My thoughts were to pay no more than £250 for it and then keep it as a long term project and for use in some hill climbs and sprints in the future. The car would seem to fit into sub 1400 classes. i see these cars are getting used for rallying so assume parts support is good?
Open ended question I know, nut, good idea, or not?
Edited by covmutley on Monday 4th December 12:00
covmutley said:
Open ended question I know, nut, good idea, or not?
I'd look at the following forum: https://www.micra.org.uk/forums/k11s-in-motorsport...I know (ish) one of the contributors (superuno) who has one as a rally car - It is competitive in class and even competed on the Wales Rally GB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73UDE0qbQUc
They drive it to events and it seems pretty reliable as well. I've no idea how standard it is.
It will fit into a Hillclimb and sprints class, one of the things about speed events is that there is a class for almost everything.
However, it won't be competitive out of the box. Obviously you'd need to modify it but I'm not sure it would be a good starting point. The up to 1400cc class features Austin Minis and 1.0 turbos (currently) so you'd need to be faster than them. Except for the most extreme classes it will need to be road worthy too. The up to 1400 classes are not always well supported at the events I got to, but that might not be typical nationally.
If you want a cheap car to use in speed events then find a championship with a standard class. These allow few or no modifications so are cheap. They may have different capacity splits though, 1600 and 2000 usually. Then choose a car that will be competitive in those classes. Clio 172/182/200, Honda type Rs etc.
However, it won't be competitive out of the box. Obviously you'd need to modify it but I'm not sure it would be a good starting point. The up to 1400cc class features Austin Minis and 1.0 turbos (currently) so you'd need to be faster than them. Except for the most extreme classes it will need to be road worthy too. The up to 1400 classes are not always well supported at the events I got to, but that might not be typical nationally.
If you want a cheap car to use in speed events then find a championship with a standard class. These allow few or no modifications so are cheap. They may have different capacity splits though, 1600 and 2000 usually. Then choose a car that will be competitive in those classes. Clio 172/182/200, Honda type Rs etc.
A friend and I built and ran a K11 as a tarmac rally car competitively for a few years.
There are a few people that offer competition parts but I wouldn't say parts are plentiful. We made and modified a lot of our own parts.
The best modifications we made when we first started out was a straight cut short ratio gearbox, limited slip differential, Micra Challenge suspension and White line anti-roll bars front and rear. Unfortunately, they tend to be the most expensive and sometimes hard to come by, but they will make the car more competitive than looking for engine power.
There are a few people that offer competition parts but I wouldn't say parts are plentiful. We made and modified a lot of our own parts.
The best modifications we made when we first started out was a straight cut short ratio gearbox, limited slip differential, Micra Challenge suspension and White line anti-roll bars front and rear. Unfortunately, they tend to be the most expensive and sometimes hard to come by, but they will make the car more competitive than looking for engine power.
Norfolkandchance said:
It will fit into a Hillclimb and sprints class, one of the things about speed events is that there is a class for almost everything.
However, it won't be competitive out of the box. Obviously you'd need to modify it but I'm not sure it would be a good starting point. The up to 1400cc class features Austin Minis and 1.0 turbos (currently) so you'd need to be faster than them. Except for the most extreme classes it will need to be road worthy too. The up to 1400 classes are not always well supported at the events I got to, but that might not be typical nationally.
If you want a cheap car to use in speed events then find a championship with a standard class. These allow few or no modifications so are cheap. They may have different capacity splits though, 1600 and 2000 usually. Then choose a car that will be competitive in those classes. Clio 172/182/200, Honda type Rs etc.
This is good advice.. check out this link: http://scmc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-...However, it won't be competitive out of the box. Obviously you'd need to modify it but I'm not sure it would be a good starting point. The up to 1400cc class features Austin Minis and 1.0 turbos (currently) so you'd need to be faster than them. Except for the most extreme classes it will need to be road worthy too. The up to 1400 classes are not always well supported at the events I got to, but that might not be typical nationally.
If you want a cheap car to use in speed events then find a championship with a standard class. These allow few or no modifications so are cheap. They may have different capacity splits though, 1600 and 2000 usually. Then choose a car that will be competitive in those classes. Clio 172/182/200, Honda type Rs etc.
Class A1 is standard up to 1600cc
Class A2 is standard 1600 to 2000cc
If starting out, I would have a look at those class options. But double check what the regs are in your area and at the venues that you want to compete at (have a think about that first).
A standard Micra will be very slow, and you would have to spend A LOT of money to make it sort of competitive.
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