Can Chops Garage tempt me into a Micra CVT?

‪@ChopsGarage‬ tempted me down to his sales yard with two delightful Japanese delights. The first is a British-built blue CVT that isn't my Invacar. No, it's a Nissan Micra K11 - a much later one than the manual I tested recently. What's it actually like to drive and could I be tempted to buy this cheap old motor?
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[@Richard-Bullock]

I had one exactly the same. Same age, same spec, same colour, same problem! Turned out to be the mass airflow meter. The CVT being so smooth masked the problem, and can give the impression that it is a transmission problem, but it's not. It's the engine missing and running poorly that is holding it back.

[@whitemoor66]

Two of my favourite KZbinrs combined into one video! Great stuff.

[@jbenekeorr]

Two of my favourite KZbinrs together - what could be better?!

[@colinjones2505]

Ditto. Luv 'em both.

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks guys

[@chrishart8548]

I think this should be an on going thing. Maybe you could swap some cars.

[@PaulBaker85]

"There's a VW Transporter at the head of this queue" - yep, you must be on the A377.

[@richardulrich6089]

Have a Jazz with a CVT. Driving at 100 kmh or 60 mph, engine revs sit below 2000 rpm. At 60 kph / 35 mph, revs sit just above 1000 rpm. Engine rarely goes above 2000 rpm. Even when taking off quickly to fit into traffic, the CVT allows the torque to do most of the work. 👍

[@christopherjohnston6343]

Yeah my wife has a 2006 1.3 Fit which is pretty much the same spec as the Jazz in the UK. Feels very effortless for city driving considering the engine size. Only feels strained at WOT. I have a 2006 1.5L Sport which the UK didn't get. Its not fast but doesn't embarrass itself. Is only a second slower to 100kph than an auto Accord Euro or base DC5 Integra.

[@nigelh4617]

Chops 'n' Hub. This could run and run.

[@springy-2112]

I never got used to the k11 shape at the time. I had a k10 for a while, in the early 90s and loved it . I see now the k11 has its charm . Like all the cars in their day look radical then later become icons. Great video from you both . Fun to see you visit other you tubers . So many cars and bikes I wish I had now! But we all wish we'd kept them . Peace and love brother ✌️ 💛

[@bigalf5173]

channel gets better every day🙏.love bob the caravan and all and seeing grumpy titch and miss hubnut ..Chops garage too is another i subscribe to .You are all genuinely nice honest people .

[@RichieRouge206]

I follow Chops, great channel. I love a traditional automatic but cannot get used to CVTs at all, tried quite a few and they all drive pretty much the same. Super cool car though! Great video Ian

[@paytoncherwell]

I'm a big fan of CVTs and have also driven a Micra 1ltr with said transmission. Was lovely to drive if only for the slight hesitation of the automated clutch (not torque converter). Thank you Ian for test driving this car on your channel - I look forward to your next ones! 👍🚙

[@neildaniel8232]

Been following the journey of this car on Chop's channel and the 'WANT!' for it is strangely large!

[@stephenshippam9374]

Hi Ian another great video good road test, look forward to your next video.

[@clangerbasher]

I had a K11 on hire once about 20 years ago in the Isle of Man. It was lovely.

[@martinneumann7783]

Funny when nothing changes but the noise… 💥😂💥

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Love a K11 Micra but then I am biased as I have owned two in the past (both manuals) and after watching this review I may be wanting another one!? Excellent review as always.

[@JFW5358]

Audi used CVT "Multitronic" on A4s and A6s until 2014. I remember driving my mother-in-law's Daf back in the 70s.

[@johncallaghan4616]

Great to see the collaboration with “Chops” continuing, and this Micro is definitely getting her 15 minutes of fame - really looking forward to the next instalment on the YRV, and very tempted to place an offer ! Keep ‘em comin’ JCHK

[@aftonline]

You probably need to find a scrapped one at the wreckers and swap the transmission out. Unless you're a CVT specialist and want to try rebuilding it. But as Ian says, as is it's a good city car as long as you don't expect any more than that from it.

[@martinpearson4639]

I had two K11s in the 90’s and my mother had 3. They were bulletproof cars. My first Micra bought in 1996 was a black 1.3 Super S - ref. L940KNT from Shrewsbury and with a Shropshire number plate.

[@rawry100]

I had a couple of manual facelift Nissan Micra k11 absolutely loved them one of the best first car 👍

[@p24hrsmith]

I loved the cvt box on my MGF Steptronic especially in 6-speed push button gear change mode which was fantastic on country lane drives

[@stephensmith6290]

Yes had one of those in CVT form, the later ones do have a torque converter but interestingly I think the 1st gen cvt k11 had an electronicly controlled clutch. A CVT fluid change may help as I think it was designed to become "sticky" when under perssue between the belt and pully. Oh and the Daf CVT primary pully width was done with vacuum controlled by centrifugal weights and the secondary pully was sprung, the later volvo's featured an electronic vacuum contol unit so they held a higher gear for longer helping with fuel economy ... Thanks for the Video brought back many happy memorys of driving CVT volvo's 340's and "the bubble"...

[@tony-yp6qk]

another great video has always Ian and miss hubnut and hublets and hubmutts 👍

[@automotivel3501]

Love the Nissan CVT. My Qashqai 1.6 Diesel is fantastic, 60- MPG,

[@rich_edwards79]

Learned to drive in a K11 face-lift model, obviously with a manual trans. Don't remember much about it as I was usualky trying not to sh1t myself in the wrong gear at roundabouts 💩 There's a curry house near me that still uses a couple of old Micras as delivery vehicles because they're so basic and reliable: four wheels, two doors and an engine, what else do you need to whizz around town delivering food? Also that patinated chalky blue is lovely and reminds me of a couple of old Volvos I know 😊

[@samharvey6194]

Drove a Yaris I think with a CVT god lord the noise it made when put foot down was biblical lol

[@MadHuegetts]

i loved my micra had 2 of them one blue 1999 inspration but diffrent shade older and a red one 2000 plate SE. they where great

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

Father-in-law had a 1.4 version. Nice little car. Plenty of oomph for what it was...

[@IfInDoubt..]

How ironic you uploaded a video of a K11 on the day of grans passing, and you've uploaded this on the day of her funeral. It's a sign!

[@Pinyoo81]

I have a 1 litre k11 dizzy with a CVT. The best city car ever. Relaxing to drive even in heavy traffic, good mpg. Cheapto own and run, and I don't care if someone hits the door in the supermarket car park, specially since it has a home made rattle can camo "paintwork". Looks cool, and it's stress free...

[@sixandtwothrees]

I bought one of the these (Micra) for my aunt about ten years ago when she was in her late 70's. She just couldn't understand why it "wouldn't change gear". She wrote it off after two weeks, losing control in a petrol station, writing off both it and the Mini in front. We managed to make her give up driving, thank goodness. Shame it was a lovely car!

[@sbomorse]

I had a 1994 Micra CVT, it was really nippy and quite fun to drive around town.

[@raymondo162]

6:35: a friend in holland was working on the development of the steel-link belts you mention. i was told that unlike conventional belts - which 'pull' - the metal belts work in a pusher configuration. he showed me one of the belts - it was a splendid-looking piece of engineering..................

[@diabrettic]

The best unexpected cross over, been following Chops' Micra capers

[@leeallen7585]

MY two favourite youtubers working together ...excellent

[@alansimpson835]

I've never driven the CVT version of the K11 but I remember the motoring press raving about it at the time. I'm a huge fan of a K11 and looking forward to seeing what Chops does with it. For simple, Go Kartyness and ease of driving - and being British built- it almost seems like the real successor to the Metro

[@mrjsv4935]

Interesting test drive, I had a 2001 Micra 1,0 like this, but with manual transmission. Mine was silver, and Finnish spec, so had a LHD dash and heated driver's seat :) Oh and the rear window wiper was indeed at the bottom edge of the rear window when parked :)

[@finleyplympton]

I have always liked these Micras and Subscriber to Chops

[@richhughes7450]

I bought my ex one as she liked the look of it. It was the 1. 3 YRV F speed with auto or gears on steering wheel not turbo. It was a nippy fun to drive biscuit tin. She had it 9 or 10 yrs. The gearbox would some times clunk into action with a bang jolt motion from standing start but it was a good little car. When the whole exhaust and manifold needed replacing, we sold it on as it would have cost more than the cars worth to do.

[@Jay-B1750]

I had the use of a MK4 Fiesta 1.25 CVT Ghia! It was strangely fun!!

[@andrewwalsh5837]

I had one back in 2001 on a w reg i think as a courtesy car when someone reversed into side of my bran new saxo at the time, it was the 1L tempest manual gearbox, for a small car it felt roomy and very comfortable, a lot more than the saxo, it felt higher up, but i found motorway slip roads a bit of a task, especially up hill, it was a bit slow getting to motorway speeds trying join into traffic i must admit, but my saxo was the 1.6 vtr model probably why the micra felt so sluggish to me, but id have one today if i could find a nice example in 1.3 form, once again Ian, great video, keep them coming always enjoy your content

[@gg_vard]

I also just remembered something that I had read and I found weird, that the Opel (probably Vauxhall too) Astra from 2019 to 2021 was available with a CVT gearbox, with a 1.4 Turbo engine and 145 horse power

[@davidfirth6535]

Like my 400 burgy, seamless pull, love it, great vid. thanks.

[@Nino500]

I've obviously got too much time on my hands as I just spent the last half hour figuring out your route around Barnstaple. Interesting how you don't notice the edits when you don't know the area but, when you do, you notice suddenly skipping two roundabouts forward between comments. Sad, I know but it kept me off the streets for half an hour!

[@MapleMarmite]

Another heater unnecessarily on - run away this time!! Only kidding - I know you were dealing with an honest fella this time. Love the K11s - prefer the early ones as I worked at a Nissan dealer when they came out, so personal nostalgia there. That one reminds me very much of the usual Motorbility base 3 door CVT we used to sell many of. 👍🏻

[@daniellee9015]

Brilliant video Ian 👍 my mother had a manual one was good fun but on long-range it left your bum and legs in agony

[@cme2cau]

Toyota have a CVT in the Corolla. They have added a "launch gear" in the K120 CVT to take the strain off the belt at takeoff, and reduce the variability of the pulleys. My sister and my sister in law both have CVT Subarus and love them.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Do they still insist on simulated gear ratios on the Toyota 🙄

[@barnabashorvath5477]

Having driven the 1.4l version of this car pretty extensively, I can say that it’s great, at least for city and country driving (it still ain’t no highway cruiser), and definitely worth it over the 1l. Still not the fastest, but it will get out of it’s own way when it needs to. Also pro tip: the sport mode will enhance the engine breaking by letting the engine go to a higher RPM, it doesn’t do much for acceleration tho in my experience

[@306hdipug]

Always fancied one of those yrv’s especially the turbo ✌️

[@Mhlikescars]

Looking forward to the Daihatsu, my music teacher had one in primary school, and it fascinated me. Such a strange looking car, if memory serves me right, it was a shade of orange. Possibly not as strange as the teacher who had one of those Renault Scenics 4x4s with the big off roader spare wheel on the back. Don't think I ever saw another one of those.

[@Chris-to7qs]

Had one of these in grean cvt automatic 2000 Xreg it was always 100% reliable

[@goosegog]

My wife has a 1.5 CVT Cube and it's absolutely superb. I can't fault the decisions the transmission makes. It's always in the right ratio 👍🏻

[@organiccold]

Yes because has no gears...lol that what CVT means Continuous Variable Transmission lol

[@scotty6346]

Except is was BCA auctions mate!

[@VDPEFi]

So harsh to make your wife drive a cube....

[@goosegog]

@@VDPEFi 😂

[@MarksWheels]

I live a good K11 Micra. I've owned alot of cars in my 'car life' and my K11 was probably one of the best! Mine was manual 1.0 base model. Didn't even have a 12v power socket lol.

[@Banglish123]

Evocative of an old DAF my uncle used to have. Very counter intuitive when you're speeding up but the revs are decreasing gradually.

[@michaelwilliamson9892]

This is the mash up we've all been waiting for

[@matterhorn1975]

Well done Ian for using your head over your heart in this occasion. Walk away and don't look back

[@davidjbatley]

Had a couple of CVT motors a Y10 selectornic but the best was the Rover Metro 1.4 SLX best traffic light grand Prix car I've had

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

It motors along nicely

[@GrumpyToffee]

"You break it, you buy it" - that's how it works isn't it @ChopsGarage? 😀

[@ChopsGarage]

Went out perfect , drive like a rocket he has it for 5 mins ......

[@HubNut]

If only you hadn't made a video yourself eh? 😉

[@stephenroberts9121]

Gotta love a micra, but def not an auto. Can't wait for the YRV Turbo drive!.. Had the manual standard 1.3, was a blast to drive. So few of them around now.

[@michaelwright2986]

Interesting Nissan were big on CVTs, because now they seem strong on series hybrids, which gives you a similar disconnect between car speed and engine revs, with the added benefits (especially in the city) of regenerative braking, one-pedal driving, and Audi-taming torque from a standing start.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

great review always liked these k11 micras! you should review the a rover with the stepspeed cvt gearbox!

[@STORMCLOUDGREY]

Have driven several Nissan Altimas in the US which have CVT boxes. They Drive very smoothly.

[@gavdcookuk512]

I thought I recognised that road, it’s just across from the Norboard factory at Hill village, go past there at least once a week in my lorry

[@erlichbachman3330]

What a great bloke

[@sophiesharp1709]

That's clearly got an ailing gearbox or engine issues. So it's not exactly representative. I've driven the 1.0 & whilst not a quick car it's adequate. The 1.3 CVT (which I owned for many years) was an absolute hoot & surprisingly quick. Some contemporary road tests showed it to be quicker than the manual version.. The earlier CVT K11's 1.0 & 1.3 had no creep function in the gearbox. Creep function along with the sport button was added later for the K11's final facelift when the 1.4 also replaced the 1.3 engine. A CVT K11 with a healthy gearbox is an excellent car.

[@mrfairsthename7470]

I had a 5 door manual that same colour and similar year , for £200 and ran it for a year , great car and would have another , pulled over by the police in it as the previous owner had stopped driving and surrendered his licence , it flagged up on the police wotsit as I myself had had the car just a week , somebody that knew the car thought the timing belt had stretched causing running issues , but it was the metal fuel pipe to the tank which had rotted and the rusty bits contaminated tank , lines and filters , sorted that and ran like a champ .

[@mrfairsthename7470]

The CVT model even when working well would still put put you off one , the Manual version though is 100% better , , really good for the money .

[@volt8684]

The 1.0 engines in these micras were good for 150k miles without a problem. Very tough reliable and economical cars. Could park anywhere. Manufacturers take note this is what the poor public want in a car. The cats need flooring not tickling

[@Turnbull50]

great video thanks

[@smoothmicra]

Brill, I'm a fan of both channels, I love these cross overs (unlike modern cross over cars, right chaps?). I can't imagine why anyone except a person with physical disabilities would want a CVT Micra, it is such an odd car. I can't tell you how much I respect the manual cooking model, I've had three in my lifetime. Remarkably good cars, definitely okay for motorway as well as the short commute in a city. Quite right Ian, there is NO reason why you should buy this car, it is incredibly niche. Entertaining vid though, looking forward to the Daihatsu!

[@ki2791]

Had a '96 manual 1L, bleddy brilliant it was

[@captaccordion]

Hi Hubnut. Interesting to see the Bedford Midi in it's wonderful green. They were sold in Australia as the Holden Shuttle. They're an Isuzu at heart as I understand. On modern CVT's, I get the logic of engine efficiency and ease of driving, but as someone who enjoys the mechanical-ness of driving, I don't care for them at all. Cheers.

[@vauxtec9400]

Buy it mate if the price is right 👍 I did comment on his video saying I'd be interested if the price was right...I had one of these last year same everything but the colour and it flew I like the valleys with massive hills and it would pull up and down them without a problem I even hit 100mph 😂 there's definitely something up with this one but it would be a cheap fix either way them micras always are you can buy complete engines for pocket change 🤣I regret selling mine 😂

[@Rich.Aardvark]

In my late teens and early 20s, mum had the 1.0 and 1.3 auto. I literally drove them on 3 wheels every where!

[@dlittlester]

I worked at a Subaru dealer when the Justy came out. There were a couple of pizza joints in town that used the CVT ones for delivery vehicles. Strangely, they were the only ones we had trouble with, having to rebuild their transmissions. We found out later that the young drivers were holding down the brake pedals and trying to get them to squeal rubber.

[@Herbertti3]

The cvt in these is "double sided" Low side and high side, besides that it should act as regular unmodified cvt.

[@maxeluy]

Can't wait to see that Daihatsu test 😬 Looks awesome

[@MrStabby19812]

I did driving lessons in a Mk2 micra I can't remember the the trim level but I had the thing floored at 60mph when asked to overtake a car and thing wouldn't go more lol

[@TheStobb50]

We had one for 10 years and very good car the gearbox works fantastic you don’t lose any power or MPG on the CVT Unlike ordinary automatic gearboxes, it should have decent power

[@user-ih7gc7dt9l]

What a perfectly beastly little vehicle!

[@martinross5634]

I follow chops garage, great guy. Nice to see you at chops ( also follow you, also a great channel ) :))

[@johnfaulkner6776]

I've owned a Daf 33 and a Mk 2 Micra with CVT. Both worked brilliantly. Both were very cheap to run. My current second EV though, is even smoother and a darn sight quieter than the air cooled twin cylinder Daf! I've had sensible cars too.

[@handymattadventures]

I seem to recall the rear wipers all used to park in the 10-11 o'clock position, but it was a popular modification to remove the arm and adjust it so it parked at the bottom as most of us would expect.

[@HubNut]

Very popular mod on the MK2 Golf.

[@giulianomarco]

Look but don't touch! 😁

[@douglasfur3808]

🤔 the first cube we saw was white. Our response was "Look it's a Giant Blancmange".

[@joshuahodson3283]

I currently have a Toyota chr cvt and I can’t fault it does everything I need it to

[@Weirdbloke1]

Ian, as I'm sure you know, the more computerised things become the worse they get. This is a great example of where things started to go wrong. I'm trying to fix a Vivaro van at present which is festooned with sensors connected under tension to a wiring loom from hell. I am inclined to strip out all the electronics, sensors and ecu and return to the basic, functional format of a working serviceable diesel engined vehicle. But of course I know this is just a dream. Perhaps a tractor....

[@markhood6654]

get the yrv turbo, that thing is so so so cool!

[@MyManiacGamer]

That's so weird, I've just subscribed to chops garage and I see you're doing a vid with him 🤣

[@SAM-zt2uy]

Whaaaaaat I need a cheap car I would love a k11 Micra be a perfect little town commuter

[@660einzylinder]

My 2020 John Deere 6175R has IVT (their name for CVT). Coupled to a 6.8 litre 6cyl diesel, it's great. Once you get used to CVT, it's so simple, it makes you wonder why there's any other sort of transmission...I think!

[@briandawkins984]

Here in Canada CVT transmission Prius are used as cabs and are driven for 600,000 miles with no issues. Toyota Corollas driven as cabs with a CVT achieve 300,000 miles with no issues. Design and maintenance count. Nissan has a less stirling reputation, but I had Juke with 50,000 km and CVT no issues.

[@ianfrost3529]

There is a big difference between the 1.0 and 1.3 or later 1.4 and these cvts had to be correctly maintained which a lot of people overlooked. But this one wasn’t working correct probably needed a service. If memory serves every 25/30000miles or 4 years and must use cvt transmission oil not atf

[@gg_vard]

Ha! I got a random suggestion the other day about the video with the Micra! The KZbin algorithm seems to work well then

[@MrOvershoot]

My late Step-Mother had a K11 1ltr CVT and on the few times I drove it the little thing was perfect for Bristol traffic. So I would conclude that one has a transmission/Engine issue as you probably know Bristol is a very hilly city so any shortcomings would have been very obvious.

[@5ebra1]

Qashqais had CVT. I got CVT fluid changed after 5 years in my wife’s. No problems so far.

[@thedeadstig123]

A cvt micra would make some fun work videos

[@danielrussell446]

Ian that would be a fab hubnut fleet car!

[@bernddoerper5667]

The Micra K11 was a really solid car, as I also wrote in my comment at the roadtest video. But those days one of my mothers friends, also an old lady, owned a CVT -version. She made her license very late, because her husband became very sick and they lived in upper countries. She bought that car with only 16.000 km on the clock. But I can remember very well, that the car had a lot of issues with the CVT-gearbox. One gearbox she had to swap at low km's, I think at only 44.000 km. Later again the new gearbox caused trouble and she was fad up with the car and sold it. I myself I liked the K11 very much, but only manual gearchange. I drove often my sisters Micra and my sister in law's Micra in Belgium. My sisters one was made in Yokohama and the Micra of my sister in law was made in Sunderland, U.K..

[@mfitzy100]

Looking forward to the daihatsu vid :)