Nissan Micra K11 like Renault 5 (mark 1 1972-1984)?

[Herbacious_Harley_37]

Hi Folks!

As you know I have a Mica K11 facelift 51 reg automatic. My first three cars were all Renault 5 (Mark 1 1972-1984) automatics. Despite the Micra's reputation for reliability recently I was thinking of switching to a Renault 5 auto if a suitable one came up which it did but I decided against it. I think that there are lots of similarities between the Micra K11 and Renault 5 Mk 1 style wise. Although the K11 is more rounded then the clear cut angled lines of the R5 Mk 1.

I just wondered if any other forum members also think that there are similarities between the Micra K11 and R5 Mk 1 in terms of style and to what extent do members think that the K11 was inspired by the R5 Mk1 ?

Regards

Harley

 

[Seb_]

R5 > K11 > Clio II

 

[Herbacious_Harley_37]

Hadn't really thought of it that way but of course Nissan and Renault are now in an alliance so it figures!

Looking at the Wikipedia page for the Clio it lists then Micra as being related:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Clio#Clio_II_.281998.E2.80.932012.29

 

[karlj]

That's the k12 the k11 has nothing to do with Renault in any way shape or form, it looks nothing like any Renault if anything it was inspired by the mini (not that BMW thing). It is after all a supermini and in the early days the Japanese were renown for copying Great British institutions

 

[markbognor]

The first gen R5 was the first production car to have integrated plastic bumpers - the K11 (and a huge number of other cars) owes a substatial debt to that stylistic & manufacturing development.

 

[MrMigs08]

Pontiac GTO in 1968! (Although not quite the bumperiest bumpers around), there was all sorts, i think R5 lead one of the bigger plastic bumper styles, then most plastic bumpers took off in the 80s im guessing, got k10s, metros, the lot

 

[Herbacious_Harley_37]

I think the similarities are obvious Mark Bognor is right the R5 was the first supermini and car in Europe to have plastic bumpers and I believe that it was also the first European car that was design so that the cabin remained in one piece in an accident.

 

[Herbacious_Harley_37]

I can now post a better comparison photo. I have had a busy week, as on Wednesday I bought an immaculate Renault 5 1.4 automatic in White, it has only done 26,400 miles the first owner (1988-98) and 2nd owner (1991-2011) both garaged it the 2nd owner also worked abroad, since July last year it has two further owners who bought it as a stop gap and a 4th chap who sold it to me when he discovered that his mobility scooter would not fit into the boot. It only has two small areas of rust one a crack in the paint on the o/s door sill and the other a spot about half the size of my thumbnail on the drivers door just under the window rubber. It does need a new starter motor and n/s wing mirror as that is missing the internal adjustment handle but it drove home perfectly (gearbox is 3 speed not a CVT like the Micra). I have called him Henri Tudur II (Tudur Welsh spelling and II as my first R5 auto was called Harry Tudur). Am still keeping my lovely Mademoiselle Mllie as my reliable runaround and Henri Tudur II as my hobby!

From this photo I think that it clear to see that stylistically the Micra K11 design was influenced by the R5 (Mk I and II) although put them side by side and the Micra is a bigger / taller car then the R5 Mk II.