12 ways to add value to your Nissan Figaro

We believe if you are prepared to put the time in and spend money wisely you can actually retain your car’s value and in some cases actually increase it!

Over the years the clubs processed hundreds of insurance valuations. We are pleased to report in most cases the car has held its value and in some, the value has actually increased. Unlike most classic cars, due to the Figaro’s low production run, it doesn’t appear in the normal online classic car valuation price guides. When valuing we base our figures on having a good knowledge of the market and we feel having a ‘finger on the pulse’ on sales through our involvement with the website Figaro Trader.

So how can I add value?
Much of this (remember the car built-in 1991) comes down to spending time deep cleaning and maintaining the car. You don‘t need to spend a fortune to make the car look so much better. Although not scientific we feel the following purchases during the life of ownership (let’s put this at 5 years) can help you get your original investment back and in often even increase the value. So strap yourself in, here you go…

1 – APPLY WAX

Keep all that paint and chrome protected by applying a good coat of liquid wax during a season regardless of whether the car is garaged or not. If it is left outside then apply 2 coats. We recommend Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax.

This wax came 1st in the Daily Telegraphs survey. The liquid wax formula delivers maximum synthetic protection, durability, depth of colour.

£30 AMAZON

2 – KEEP ON TOP OF CONDENSATION

Over time constant condensation and damp can take hold and devalue the car. It can play havoc with the carpet, plastic trim and seats creating unsightly mould which can be tricky to remove. If you cannot keep your Figaro in a garage then we recommend taking preventive measures to combat this.

KEEP YOUR DRAIN PIPES CLEAR
The top rear boot is a ‘wet boot’ so keep an eye on the two drain outlets to make sure water is draining. If there is a puddle of water you need to open the bottom boot and locate the T-Piece.

This is normally where the blockage will be so remove it and flush and re-install.

APPLY CAT LITTER (YES REALLY!)
Pour some cat litter into a couple of containers and place on the cars floor. This will absorb water but you will need to replace every few weeks. It works well and will remove a lot of water.

Apply a cover is strongly recommended as this retains condensation.

Best to buy from supermarket Catsan is only around £3.70\5L

BUY A CAR COVER
If the car is left outside all year long we strongly recommend applying a cover to keep the rain off. Although a pain to put on and take off it will extend the life of the car and keep any rust at bay. If you do not use the car we do suggest removing once a week to release any trapped condensation.

If covering up for storage then apply the wax first and cover the car.

£137.50 CAR COVERS – Click here

REPLACE YOUR ROOF
Replacing the roof will not only make the car look better it will also stop water entering the cabin in heavy rain. Over time the existing roof will shrink exposing the neoprene roof seal. If you are a handy DIY’r you can fit it yourself or get it fitted. There are many roof’s available on the web so shop around.

As a club we have recently fitted the roof supplied by The Figaro Shop which looks great.

£184 THE FIGARO SHOP – Click here

3 – APPLY WAXOYL

Okay we accept no one will see this so why bother? The original design of the car with its deep cavities is an ideal breeding ground for rust especially in areas along the under door seals and rear wings. In cold conditions salt is applied on roads which ends up deep inside the cars body. Waxoyl which is a flexible weatherproof skin helps prevent corrosion. If rust takes hold it can lead to an MOT fail and cost a lot of money to rectify.

To get Waxoyl applied, any good local garage can do it or you do it yourself. You will require a compressor (£100) plus the gun with plastic extension (£12) and Waxoyl £28\5L (you will require 2). Also for safety a suit, poly sheets and masking tape.

GOOGLE WAXOYL

4 – FIT A NET SHELF

Buying accessories can add value providing they are the right ones. We feel that the Net Shelf is one of the most useful items you can fit to your Figaro. The lack of space for phones, glasses and bits and bobs is frustrating. The shelf looks the part in the car with its netting and colour matched metal frame.

£116 YORKSHIRE FIGAROS – or £75 FIGARO DOCTOR – Click here

5 – ADD A CUP HOLDER

Another recommended accessory is the cup holder. Like the net shelf above the holder provides useful places to keep your glasses safe and an additional space for other stuff.

The cup holder is so popular the cabin almost looks wrong when one is not fitted.

The holder has been recreated out of fibre glass.

£75 FIGARO DOCTOR – Click here

6 – TREAT THE RUBBER

Regularly treat the rubber with Gummi Pflege. This will provide long lasting protection rubber seals in car doors, windows and boots. It also conditions, providing real, deep down protection, helping to prolong the life of rubber seals, gaskets and trims, providing protection against cold, heat and UV radiation from the sun. Rubber seals around windows and doors often go untreated and deteriorate over the course of time.

£15 AMAZON

7 – PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE BUMPERS

An odd one but well worth it if you use your Figaro everyday. The chrome bumpers are manufactured from very thin metal and can suffer badly from rust. This will always start from the inside and work its way to the outside breaking the chrome plating on-route! One way of stopping this is to apply Hammerite Underbody Seal With Waxoyl Underseal 500ml.

£6 EBAY

8 – KEEP THAT CHROME BLINGING

The chrome on the Figaro is an important part of the cars DNA. Stopping is going dull and keeping it clean and shiny will extend its life and save you having to replace parts which can be expensive. We recommend Miroxol or Autosol Chrome Polish.

Apply liberally, rub in with a soft cloth, then polish and buff to a high luster. On uneven surfaces apply with a small brush.

£5 AMAZON

9 – RESTORE THE LEATHER SEATS

Over time the seats can also become faded and cracked. This can make the cabin look used and tired. Leather needs to be fed to keep it supple and more often than not the seats have had no maintenance. If the seats are okay but just need some light restoration you can do this whilst they are in the car, however if they are in a very poor state we recommend trying to remove the seats and carry out the work in a workshop as this will give you more access to all the seat edges. The three part process is not difficult and can be done by most owners just wear a pair of rubber gloves. The restore kits are available in the correct Figaro colour from The Leather Company.

Two kits are available
Small kit for 1 or 2 seats. £39 – Click here
Medium kit for all 4 seats £55 – Click here

10 – SERVICE YOUR CAR

It’s tempting to save money and miss a service if the car is seldom used however this can lead to issues. Regular servicing and oil changes can extend the life of the engine. Visually check the hoses as if they fail this can lead to over-heating which will cost a lot of money to repair.

£150-£250 – SEARCH GARAGES – Click here

11 – SHAMPOO THE CARPET

Just imagine owning the same carpet in your house for 29 years! Over the years the green carpet can become very dirty and we have seen the most amazing results when members have simply applied house hold carpet cleaner.

If you want to go the whole hog you could remove the seats to access the area easier!

£3.19 – AMAZON

12 – FIT CAR MATS

A set Figaro mats will not only look great but also protect the carpet. The web is full of car mats that apparently fit the Figaro but we would advise you to pay a bit more and buy them from The Figaro Shop as they are very well made and an exact fit, not a universal shape. ‘Figaro’ is also stitched in. Available in 3 colours.