THIS CAR IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN NORTH ANDOVER, MA *
What we have here is a feisty little 1991 Nissan Figaro Convertible
Coupe which was made available in four different colors only - one
for each season. This car is finished in Topaz Mist (Fall) and is
complemented by a very nice White Leather interior and Alloy
Wheels. This car has just about 79,000 miles on it - the odometer
is in kilometers - and she runs and drives great.
The Figaro is notable for predating retro-styled cars from
Volkswagen, Ford, Mini, and Chevrolet. Debuting at the 28th Tokyo
Motor Show in 1989, under the theme "Back to the Future," the
Figaro joined the Austin Mini-like Nissan Pao, the pun-intended
S-Cargo van, and the period-styled micro Nissan Be-1. Response was
so enthusiastic, Nissan launched Figaro sales in Japan on Feb. 14,
1991. Limited to 20,000 units, Nissan officials expected demand to
outstrip supply. They were right. Figaros were delivered, using a
lottery system, in three allotments: an initial 8000 units,
followed by two batches of 6000 cars later in 1991.
What buyers received was a two-seat convertible coupe built on the
Nissan Micra K10 platform, a banal economy car never sold in the
U.S., but offered in Canada.
Timelessly appealing design
Styled, according to Nissan, to convey "a delicate feeling of
stylish elegance in everyday life" while satisfying "a zestful
desire for a good time," this cutie's charms puts you, your
passenger, and every onlooker in a good mood. It's a happy little
car, one that timelessly pays tribute to vintage Italian, French
and Japanese microcars. It's remarkably ageless, retaining its
bouncy charisma despite being 30+ years old. Best of all, the top
folds into the trunk so that it doesn't detract from the Figaro's
voguish lines-although the side rails and rear roof pillars remain
in place. Notably, the Figaro's front fenders are made of a
thermoplastic resin to save weight and resist corrosion. It comes
in four colors, one for each of the four seasons: Lapis Grey for
winter, Emerald green for spring, Pale Aqua for summer, and Topaz
Mist for fall.
The inside story
Inside, the white interior and seats are covered in leather with
contrasting piping. A special paint is used on top of the dashboard
to make it feel soft, while a flat instrument panel places two
large chrome-trimmed dials in front of the driver. The left one is
the speedometer with smaller inset gauges for fuel and engine
temperature; the right a tachometer with a small inset clock.
The climate controls feature a chrome back plating, four sliders,
and Bakelite-style knobs that resemble flower buds. The AM/FM radio
is mostly useless stateside since it was engineered for Japanese
frequencies, but there is a cassette deck for your INXS tapes as
well as a CD player.
What's it like to drive?
A 1.0-liter turbocharged version of Nissan's four-cylinder engine
generates 76 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque through a
three-speed automatic transmission; a manual transmission wasn't
offered. The chassis employs McPherson struts up front and a
four-link coil spring suspension at the rear. Steering is rack and
pinion, stopping is courtesy of front ventilated discs and rear
drums. Unless you regularly drive diminutive cars, nothing prepares
you for the Figaro's size. If you're trapped in traffic and the
only shortcut is across the golf course, you'll find the Figaro
easily fits on a golf cart path. Trust me on this. Yes, it's a very
maneuverable city car. If you can't parallel park the Figaro, you
should be walking. And its city car cred goes beyond size. After
all, if you're an urban dweller, style matters as much as anything,
and this car has it in spades. The Figaro's granny-thin steering
wheel is on the right side of the cabin, meaning its turn signals
are on the right-hand stalk, and the windshield wipers are on the
left-hand stalk. So when it's raining, you'll turn off the wipers
when signaling a left turn. Charming? Hell yeah.
Once underway, however, you'll quickly discover the Figaro's
economy car roots. Power is a relative thing. Off the line and
poking around town, you'll find the Figaro has perfectly adequate
power, but little more. Flooring the throttle requires patience to
reach highway speed, but given the engine and road noise, a long
distance road trip is not idyllic anyway. The Figaro's quick, agile
manners are more a function of size and weight than true sporting
dynamics, and there's the expected body lean through corners, but
it's not excessive. And don't dream of adding dubs; standard wheels
are 165/70 R12s.
You won't notice; you'll be smiling at the car's charisma. This car
has that effect.
The Market
The Figaro's biggest allure is its cuddly vintage style, modern
amenities, and reliable Japanese mechanicals.
"It's more reliable than the older cars it harks back to and it
looks as if it runs on milk, not gasoline," very economical to run
30+ mpg.
Stats:
Engine: Turbocharged 1.0-liter OHC inline four-cylinder
Horsepower: 76
Torque: 78 pound-feet
Top speed: 106 mph
Transmission: Three-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 90.6 inches
Length: 147.2 inches
Width: 64.1 inches
Ground clearance: 4.7 inches
Curb weight: 1786 pounds
Spring is here Summer is just weeks away come and see it for
yourself. We have a Clean Mass Title in hand and a Current Mass
state inspection sticker; in the summer the car has been used
daily.
We have priced this vehicle to sell and to provide you the best
deal on a car of this caliber. We also ship worldwide so if you are
interested, call today to discuss a purchase. If you need any
assistance with financing please let me know.
If you want to know the RESERVE on the car - CALL ME - (978)
771-8375
If you would like to talk about a Buy It Now purchase - CALL ME
(978) 771-8375
My name is Paul please call me direct with any questions - my cell
phone is always with me at (978) 771-8375 or you can email me
anytime at
[email protected]
I promise you will enjoy your experience at Silverstone Motorcars.
We'll gladly help deliver this vehicle to your doorstep.
THIS CAR IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN NORTH ANDOVER, MA *
