NISSAN FIGARO REVIEW

A roadster that’s stylish, rare and clockwork reliable? We look for the catch

As roadsters go, Nissan’s wilfully retro Figaro is a remarkable success story. Built on K10 Micra underpinnings for the Japanese market, all Figaros are lavishly equipped, which makes the many examples littering the classifieds for less than £5000 look like astonishing value for money. Power comes from a blown 988cc MA10ET engine allied to a three-speed automatic gearbox. Only 20,000 examples, finished in one of four colours, were ever built.

VITAL STATISTICS

NISSAN FIGARO

Engine                                    988cc/4-cyl/OHC

Power (bhp@rpm)                  76bhp@6000rpm

Torque (lb ft@rpm)                 78lb ft@4400rpm

Top speed                                100mph

0-60mph                                  10.7sec

Consumption                            65mpg

Gearbox                                    3-speed auto

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

BODYWORK & CHASSIS
 

The rear wheelarches can rot sufficiently to require the entire wing being replaced, at a likely cost of £500. Check also the lower edge of the rear window surround and around the tail lights, where chrome embellishments can trap water and harbour rust. Corrosion also builds behind the headlight rings, upper and lower bodyside trims, grille surround and front and rear bumpers. Get under the car and make sure that the underseal that should have been applied upon arrival in the UK is present and correct, too – budget £400 for fresh application.

ENGINE

Check all hoses for cracks, hardness and weeping unions. Blue smoke at start-up and under load points to a worn turbo, while an excessively noisy top end is usually piston slap rather than tappet wear. Failure to start with the transmission in ‘Park’ is likely down to a badly-adjusted selector cable. Ask to see evidence of a recent cambelt change – it should be done at least every 60,000 miles, and the water pump and tensioner should be swapped at the same time.

RUNNING GEAR

Worn balljoints and/or track rod ends are betrayed by a loud knocking noise over uneven surfaces, and while the MacPherson strut/four-link coil spring suspension setup will inevitably wear over time, parts interchangeability with the Nissan Micra keeps repairs cheap. Springs can break, and wheel cylinders can be considered service items. Power steering should be smooth and quiet in operation – noisy and/or sticky operation could be down to old PAS fluid or a split steering gaiter, but could also indicate a worn pump or leaking pipes.

INTERIOR

Anything other than smooth, silent operation of the electric roof should cause you to walk away, even if the car is super-cheap. Check for shrinkage and rips or tears in the fabric too. Cars with light-coloured interiors can look very shoddy very quickly, so avoid cheap cars with tatty trim; a leather re-trim is pricey. Remember, too, that these cars used the now-banned Freon 12
air conditioning refrigerant – topping up with the modern equivalent will damage the system.

OUR VERDICT

If you’re in the market for something of the Midget/Spitire/MX-5 ilk, then the Figaro warrants closer attention, chiefly because it offers 99 per cent of the style and charm, but allied to greater reliability and luxury. Topaz Mist-coloured cars (as pictured here) were the least popular when new, but this in turn makes them the rarest, and therefore the most sought-after of the breed today. A super-enthusiastic owners club is the icing on the cake.

Nissan Figaro

NISSAN 300ZX REVIEW

The car that put the Z back on the map. 160mph for £5000 is astonishing value

Launched in 1989, the Z32 wowed the motoring press, though this popularity was never reflected in numbers sold. UK sales ceased in 1994, but production didn’t end until 2000. UK Z32s were all 2+2 twin-turbos (TT) with a T-bar roof, usually with leather interior. Imports can be two-seater or 2+2, with, or without the T-bar and even without turbochargers. There is also a non-turbo drophead. Transmission is manual or automatic but be wary because complexity is high, with many on-board computers.

VITAL STATISTICS

Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

Engine                                    2960cc/6-cyl/DOHC

Power (bhp@rpm)                  280bhp@6400rpm

Torque (lb ft@rpm)                 274lb ft@3600rpm

Top speed                                158mph

0-60mph                                   6sec

Consumption                             22mpg

Gearbox                                     5-speed manual

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

BODYWORK & CHASSIS
 

Like many cars of the time, the rear wheelarches are a weak point. Rot here can spread into the sills, and don’t overlook the fuel filler. It’s easy to miss a right mess. The sills also suffer when the drains for the T-bar roof break up. Instead of passing water through the sill, it fills the cavity instead, so they rot from the inside out. 

The front inner arches can also rot. If there is any sign of corrosion, you can guarantee that it’s much worse once you start digging. The best advice is to find another car.

Check the interior for dampness in case that T-bar roof has been leaking and check the car all over for parking dings. The nose is low and easily pranged, and can be costly to repair correctly. Watch also for accident damage. Creased flanks suggest a lack-of-talent incident. Check the rear spoiler. They can break up with time and damp.

ENGINE

Regular care is essential and given their relatively low value people may be tempted to scrimp. A full service history is imperative and you’re best advised to buy from an enthusiast, even though cars do come up for sale elsewhere with temptingly low prices. Timing belts should be changed every 60,000 miles or every five years. Keep an eye on the many gauges. Overheating could be many things but can lead to head gasket failure. Low turbo boost is a cause for concern – the car will go into a safe mode if it detects an issue. That said, some are tempted to tweak up the boost – 9psi is the original setting. Engines can handle more, but only if fully healthy. Watch out for a blue haze from the exhaust, especially if it has been left to idle for several minutes. It might just be worn PCV valves, but worn turbochargers cost around £2000 to replace. 

RUNNING GEAR

There’s a lot of power to handle here, so the automatic gearbox gets a very hard time of it. Check the fluid – pink is good, brown and burnt smelling suggests it is rebuild time, something that can cost more than £1500. Fluid ’box changes every 30,000 miles are sensible. The manual is tougher, but make sure the clutch isn’t slipping. Otherwise the drivetrain is robust. 

The HICAS rear-wheel steering system fitted to all TTs should be barely discernible from the wheel. Some opt to do away with it, but handling problems – a loose, floaty-feeling rear end – are usually down to wear in the balljoints and/or bushes. Watch out for a warning light on the dashboard, though this can sometimes simply be down to low fluid. Run an on-board diagnostics check. 

Brakes have a lot of work to do but were lauded when new. Poor braking might be seized calipers. A wobble through the brake pedal may be warped discs. Stick on new grippy tyres as soon as you buy.

INTERIOR

The trim is generally hard wearing, but there’s an awful lot of equipment to check. Make sure it all works, including the fully automatic air conditioning. Again, there’s a diagnostic check available. Check with the club. Alternators can have a short life, so it’s a good idea to take a multimeter and make sure you get 14v out of the battery with the engine running.

OUR VERDICT

Nissan’s complete lack of sex appeal meant far too many people ignored this car when it was new, despite many glowing reviews from the press. However, forget the badge, the Z32 really is a driver’s car with stupendous levels of grip and strong performance. The current 370Z is helping revive the reputation of the earlier ZX and people are finally taking the car as seriously as it deserves. It’s a robust car too, but not one you can get away with neglecting. The noise, looks and performance can distract the brain when you need it most. Buy a good one and you really won’t regret it.

Nissan