It's time to buy a car and although I can afford to buy a new car (outright), my budget is limited to the small Japanese cars. The Nissan March seems to be the cheapest and the 1.2 CVT EL is a stylish "Mini" looking car, which I prefer to the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris.

But in the UK it's a Nissan Micra and a seriously uncool car! I don't need to be a cool (well, I'm not cool!) but it's still giving me second thoughts.

Are there any cool Nissan March owners out there?

Iam not an owner but when my pickup was in the shop for repairs I rented one of these and I reckon it was great little around town car. easy to drive and very zippy for what it is.

Take a look at the Mazda 2 also. And the small Mitsubishi.

Personally I'd consider the Suzuki Swift if you don't like Honda and Toyota that you mentioned and if you want a cool car.

Plenty of reasonably prices used cars around if you want to look more cool for the money

The simple answer is - very.

I drove one after my wife 'stole' my Prius (long story - we bought both cars on the same day, she thought the March was cute. After a couple of months she decided that she preferred the Prius). It was a surprisingly zippy little car. It only has a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine, but it's physically small enough for that not to be a problem. The continuously-variable (Xtronic?) gearbox is surprisingly not horrible, and the car will do around 15km per litre of fuel. Also it can drink E20. If you can stand to turn off the A/C and you have one of the models with the push-button-to-start system, the car can do the "turn off the engine when stopped" thing, too - which came as a complete surprise to me the first time it happened, but got used to very quickly. In winter!

The only downside is when driving around Bangkok, you do feel like the smallest thing on the road, and when stuck at the lights, the motorbikes do feel like they are swarming around you. I replaced the March last year with a 3.2L Ford Ranger - no problem with feeling small now!

Surprisingly much cooler than the horrible Micra I learned to drive in, in 1989!!

The sedan version Almera is very spacious for its size and well within your budget. I am looking at the Almera rather than the March. Plenty of boot space.

Suzuki Swift...very cool

Your basing your judgement on cool or uncool

Do you normally do things that are based on public opinion based on looks?

I bought a new Almera which is butt ugly in my opinion.... Best little car I have owned... and if you think thats uncool... then I dont care

The Nissan march is a lovely car, even if the engine is "only" a 1200 cc. My wife and I are really happy about it. If it fit your needs : city driving then go fot it. I also know from a good friend that the Suzuki Swift is great.

Your basing your judgement on cool or uncool

Do you normally do things that are based on public opinion based on looks?

I bought a new Almera which is butt ugly in my opinion.... Best little car I have owned... and if you think thats uncool... then I dont care

I also bought an Almera and I am not looking to make a fashion statement when I use it. Note the word 'use ', that's what it's for. What is cool is that I have paid for it and it is very pleasant to drive. I happen to think that it looks ok. I regularly hired a large car previously and apart from one time driving at 170kmh for an hour or so on empty roads (ok, ok, I won't do it again but it's a long way from Chiang Mai to Buriram) I have not felt that driving the Almera puts me at a disadvantage. I drive easily Km 35 000 a year on all sorts of roads and drove big trucks for 40 years.

Plenty of reasonably prices used cars around if you want to look more cool for the money

I've never seen a reasonably priced used car in Thailand. Who pays 3-400k used when you can buy new for 4-500k. BTW Attrage/Mirage is worth a look see other thread.

Personally I'd consider the Suzuki Swift if you don't like Honda and Toyota that you mentioned and if you want a cool car.

Absolutely agree with this as I purchased a Suzuki Swift two years ago after trying all of the other eco-cars.

The Mitsubishi Mirage I didn't like at all, nor the Honda Brio with its "glass hatchback". Also tried both the Nissan March and the Almera and found the March to be a nice little car.

Did try the Mazda 2 but did not consider it to be good value for money and could not get comfortable with the interior space/layout.

I had also driven Jazz & Yaris (I know, non-eco-cars) and it was not until I drove the Suzuki Swift that I realised it was the car I wanted, not only for interior space, but for performance and roadholding as well, not to mention the fact that it looks good.

The only downside would be the amount of boot-space available behind the rear passenger seats, as it is minimal to say the least, although the seats do fold down and have allowed me to transport some fairly hefty items of furniture in it.

IMO it is a great little car with great performance and good looks and I have been absolutely delighted with my purchase.

I used to have a Honda Jazz in Canada. Put some wheels on and suspension and they look sweet.

Ive had one for over a year and find its a great little car, not the best at much but not bad either

For the price i thought it was best only issue was a rear brake which was completly replaced under warrtany

we considered the swift but it has less room for the driver and my wife didnt like the smaller boot opening

main issue with the swift at the time was no english information from the dealer of website to know what you were getting for your money (which is dearer for the swift)

Ill sell you mine as im going home on thursday lol

Cool or not cool, what a question about the looks of a car ?

Bought a 2nd hand pick-up while missus wanted to have a sedan.

Pick-up was one year old, less than fourthousand km, in and out

like new

and 250.000 baht less than new. Cool or not cool, I don't car

as long as it serves my needs well.

We have a March that is four years old and has about 19K on it. I don't know anyything about "cool" but this is absolutely the best car I have ever owned considering the initial cost, cost to operate, and driving conditions locally. The comparison list is long and includes a Suzuki Caribbean and a Ford Escape in Thailand. Sister-in-law bought a new Celerio (under 500K) and it is a comparable vehicle. I prefer the gas pedal on the March but that's just me. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and weight about 106 kg and space is not a problem. A short wheel base is critical now with allm the extended bed trucks which make parking even worse than it should be. If I totaled the March today, I would be at the Nissan dealer tomorrow to buy another March.

Plenty of reasonably prices used cars around if you want to look more cool for the money

I've never seen a reasonably priced used car in Thailand. Who pays 3-400k used when you can buy new for 4-500k. BTW Attrage/Mirage is worth a look see other thread.

...the man with the spare 100k in his pocket, that's who.

We have a March that is four years old and has about 19K on it. I don't know anyything about "cool" but this is absolutely the best car I have ever owned considering the initial cost, cost to operate, and driving conditions locally. The comparison list is long and includes a Suzuki Caribbean and a Ford Escape in Thailand. Sister-in-law bought a new Celerio (under 500K) and it is a comparable vehicle. I prefer the gas pedal on the March but that's just me. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and weight about 106 kg and space is not a problem. A short wheel base is critical now with allm the extended bed trucks which make parking even worse than it should be. If I totaled the March today, I would be at the Nissan dealer tomorrow to buy another March.

"If I totaled the March today, I would be at the Nissan dealer tomorrow to buy another..."

...assuming that you got out of it in one piece.

If it's within your budget and you liked it when you compared to similar offerings from other marques, you should buy it.

Jerry

Not so sure cool and cheap go together. It's one or the other.

Two years ago, for me, it was a choice between the Nissan March and the Suzuki Swift. It ultimately came down to two things. One, the March has more cabin space and two, there was no Suzuki dealer close enough to our home. My wife's sister bought a Swift at almost the same time we bought the March. I can say that I think the Swift is "cooler" looking but the March is cuter. The dashboard of the Swift is much nicer looking than the March. Both cars are still fine after 2 years so no major issues there.

Yesterday, we bought a 48" TV. The box barely fit in the March. I don't think it would have fit in the Swift.

If I had to purchase one again, it would still be a toss up. I would maybe get a Jazz instead as it has a bit more interior room but is not that much bigger on the outside. The only thing is that I don't really like the look of the new Jazz. It is starting to look like all the rest of the cars on the road now. At least the March and Swift have kept their uniqueness.

Edited November 4, 201411 yr by Silurian

Plenty of reasonably prices used cars around if you want to look more cool for the money

I've never seen a reasonably priced used car in Thailand. Who pays 3-400k used when you can buy new for 4-500k. BTW Attrage/Mirage is worth a look see other thread.

...the man with the spare 100k in his pocket, that's who.

Thai TV are showing adverts for the "new Nissan March", so whats new about it?.

BIL's March. Great little car and OK on the highways too. For some reason he has now completely covered with an orange sticker over the original paint. Still OK though.

Plenty of reasonably prices used cars around if you want to look more cool for the money

I've never seen a reasonably priced used car in Thailand. Who pays 3-400k used when you can buy new for 4-500k. BTW Attrage/Mirage is worth a look see other thread.

Those prices are for Thais that cant get credit rated.So they pay through the nose.

Your basing your judgement on cool or uncool

Do you normally do things that are based on public opinion based on looks?

I bought a new Almera which is butt ugly in my opinion.... Best little car I have owned... and if you think thats uncool... then I dont care

I also bought an Almera and I am not looking to make a fashion statement when I use it. Note the word 'use ', that's what it's for. What is cool is that I have paid for it and it is very pleasant to drive. I happen to think that it looks ok. I regularly hired a large car previously and apart from one time driving at 170kmh for an hour or so on empty roads (ok, ok, I won't do it again but it's a long way from Chiang Mai to Buriram) I have not felt that driving the Almera puts me at a disadvantage. I drive easily Km 35 000 a year on all sorts of roads and drove big trucks for 40 years.

I have to agree with that... Its the first time I have been able to go to a showroom and dump the cash on the table and say.... "That one"

We drove it from Chiang Mai to Pattaya to visit some friends... It was a long drive and as long as we did the pitstops every few hundred kms, it was fine... The thing is we really didnt have to as that car is so economical and quite spacious for what it is...

When I want some speed... I ride my Benelli i600 which is super fun to ride... Its one of the few new 4 cylinder bikes that are affordable for me ... (I included a pic of my car and bike)

Edited November 4, 201411 yr by thhMan

I've driven one. Great car for what it is. Turning circle is amazing. Had the grinding rear brake problem that common with this car but isn't a safety issue.

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BIL's March. Great little car and OK on the highways too. For some reason he has now completely covered with an orange sticker over the original paint. Still OK though.

Great picture! Makes it not a cheap looking car anymore. Actually reminds me at first sight of a mini cooper.

I also bought an Almera and I am not looking to make a fashion statement when I use it. Note the word 'use ', that's what it's for. What is cool is that I have paid for it and it is very pleasant to drive. I happen to think that it looks ok. I regularly hired a large car previously and apart from one time driving at 170kmh for an hour or so on empty roads (ok, ok, I won't do it again but it's a long way from Chiang Mai to Buriram) I have not felt that driving the Almera puts me at a disadvantage. I drive easily Km 35 000 a year on all sorts of roads and drove big trucks for 40 years.

I have to agree with that... Its the first time I have been able to go to a showroom and dump the cash on the table and say.... "That one"

We drove it from Chiang Mai to Pattaya to visit some friends... It was a long drive and as long as we did the pitstops every few hundred kms, it was fine... The thing is we really didnt have to as that car is so economical and quite spacious for what it is...

When I want some speed... I ride my Benelli i600 which is super fun to ride... Its one of the few new 4 cylinder bikes that are affordable for me ... (I included a pic of my car and bike)

20140717_163749.jpg

Great bike man, I'm hooked on it. For the past week, I've been wanting to purchase a new naked/streetfighter bike. I wanted one that looked tough and would make me nervous just looking at it. Sadly, I wasn't too impressed with what the manufacturers could offer. I am not "wow'd". I came down to Kawasaki z800, Yamaha FZ-8N, and that's it. Kawasaki, I have never ridden their brand before, so not sure about quality and vibrations as well as reliability. My last bike was cbr rr. But now, you have given me an extra choice to look at. So how's the bike so far? Any honest issues, you can share with me? Reliability, any annoying problems, convenience, seat comfort, ride angle, etc.