by "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
Published 12/16/2017 at 17:53
by "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
Published 12/16/2017 at 17:53
Tags: Nissan Figaro
; Subaru
STARS: 6
A wild Figaro appears.
At Walmart of all places, so naturally I had to park next to it. Actually, I’ve seen it all over town. I love that the owner actually just uses it like any regular car.
"Little Black Coupe Turned Silver" (littleblackcoupe)
12/16/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 0
Weird. One of these just showed up in a Nebraska car spotting group on Facebook. Same color even.
"CB" (jrcb)
12/16/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 1
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Slightly disappointed. Have some Figaro.
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
12/16/2017 at 19:16, STARS: 0
Figaros only came in four different (lightish) hues, so seeing several of the same colour is common.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
12/16/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 0
I have yet to see this. Will need to visit more Wal-Marts to find it.
"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
12/16/2017 at 21:13, STARS: 1
Love it. I guess you’ve got to use it as a regular car, since it’s not fast or sporting or capable. Just a better way to get around than a Micra :)
"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
12/16/2017 at 21:52, STARS: 0
I will own one of these one day. It may be a few years but I will own one.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/16/2017 at 21:56, STARS: 0
Spend more time on the NW side. This is in Helotes. In the past month I’ve also seen a brand new ZL1 and a Prowler in this Walmart parking lot. The Starbucks next to it frequently has Ferrari’s.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/16/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0
Over here in the US being Micra-based actually makes it make somewhat more sense than a Kei car. The first-generation Micra was sold in Canada so getting parts should be easier than something that was Japan-exclusive. The 1.0 liter engine isn’t fast but it can at least do highways speeds unlike the 660cc engines of the same era.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/16/2017 at 22:13, STARS: 1
Don’t wait toooo long. It was only sold for one year with about 20k made, so they may become somewhat scarce eventually.
"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
12/16/2017 at 23:02, STARS: 2
I foresee a somewhat decent amount of them filtering into the US. Eventually the novelty will wear out for half of the buyers and I’ll buy one when I’m more financially sound for probably around the same price they sell for now.
"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
12/17/2017 at 02:24, STARS: 1
I’d say that’s true of most of the world. Only Japan has any sort of benefit from kei cars (tax breaks), and everywhere had Micras to salvage parts from.
Haha I guess we’re talking about a species of car where 1.0L is a significant upgrade!
"Svend" (svend)
12/17/2017 at 03:36, STARS: 1
I love that you wrote-
I love that the owner actually just uses it like any regular car .
In Europe, this was a regular car and though it’s old and no longer sold, it’s not unusual to see them or similaron the road.
Quite common over here in 1991 and less common now.
Not at all over there in 1991, rare site now.
Figaro
Extremely rare here in 1992 and slightly rare (very un-common) here now.
Common over there in 1992, I guess still plenty about now.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/17/2017 at 09:57, STARS: 1
Good point and an interesting excercise in contrast. Really there is no reason why a Figaro or any small car import (like, say a Twingo) couldn’t be used like any daily driver in the US. But you don’t see it, because it is so much trouble to import them. Even if it only cost as much as a new Nissan Note, someone went to a lot of effort, paperwork, and waiting to bring that Figaro (or Suzuki Alto or Honda Beat or whatever) into the USA. So they tend to treated as weekend toys rather than commuters. I suppose most US-market cars imported to Europe could be commuters as well but most that are desireable enough to bother importing are too big and use too much fuel.
That generation of Camaro has actually gotten pretty rare over here. Basically because, outside of a few limited editions, they were pretty terrible. There were multiple V8’s making between 175 and 245 hp. When the next generation came out in 1993 the base V8 jumped to 275 hp and the desireability of the 1982-1992 quickly dropped. American cars from the 80’s-90’s also tend to rust and without much in the way of redeeming features to warrant saving them, the junk yards filled with them in the early 2000’s. The 1993-2002 model is still somewhat common here. Sure the newer ones are much, much better, but the 4th generation can get out of its own way and is easy to upgrade.
"Svend" (svend)
12/17/2017 at 10:41, STARS: 1
Importing a U.S. car to the U.K. is more about the fuel and how thirsty the car is. We can import pretty much any car at any time and often it’s just a case of taking it to a VOSA garage to be inspected, they allocate a reference and you then register it at the DVLC, pay road tax and car insurance and be on your way.
The U.S. system is insane.
The Figaro is pretty reliable and parts are common through several cars so are quite easy to come by and with some Japanese car importers in the U.S. buying many cars in bulk for those that want something different, most of the hard work is already done for many owners.
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
12/17/2017 at 17:25, STARS: 1
Quite a number of U.S. imports into Europe receive propane/LPG conversions, since those fuels are often cheaper than diesel, though mileage decreases.
I would entertain the idea of importing an Up! in 10-ish years (Canada) for an occasional weekday driver.