The Little Car That Changed My Perspective 💙
I've always loved cars...But strangely enough, I wasn't actually raised to.
Growing up, my stepdad always told me that cars were a waste of money — a liability that lost value the moment you drove them away.
And financially speaking, he had a point.
For years, I looked at vehicles largely through that lens.
Then along came my little 1991 Nissan Figaro here in New Zealand — a Pale Aqua retro convertible with a story that had started long before it reached my garage.
And it changed my perspective.
Some Cars Are Transport. Others Become Part of Your Story.
There are vehicles that simply get us from A to B.
Then there are the ones we remember.
The first car.
The family car.
The car you saved for.
The car you regretted selling.
The one you've always wanted.
My Figaro has become one of those cars for me.
When I bought it, I wasn't simply buying a 1991 Japanese convertible.
I was becoming the next custodian of a little car that already had quite a story.
A Figaro With a History
One of the things that gave me confidence when buying my Figaro was knowing quite a lot about what had happened before it reached me.
The car had previously been owned by Driven Car Guide as part of its Nissan Figaro long-term ownership series.
Over a number of months, the team documented the process of bringing the car back to life, including mechanical repairs, maintenance, replacement parts and even
finding a wonderfully simple solution to its temperamental original stereo.
By the time the final chapter of the series was published, there was another part to the story:
me.
I became the new owner of FGR091.
I love that its history hasn't disappeared into a folder of old receipts.
It's documented.
There are photos, stories and an entire series showing where the car has been and what has been done to it.
For someone buying a classic vehicle, that history meant something to me.
Then It Became Part of Our Family's Story
The story didn't stop when I collected the keys.
It simply started a new chapter.
One of my favourite photos is with Luna, our Husky puppy, leaning out of the Figaro.
❤️🐺
She has absolutely no idea that this little retro convertible is 35 years old.
To her, it's simply another adventure waiting to happen.
And perhaps that's what I love most about owning it.
It's not perfect.
It's old.
It needs things.
There will always be something else I could restore, repair or improve.
But every time I open the garage door, it makes me smile.
And that's worth something too.
Protecting Something Special
Working in the motor industry has also changed the way I think about looking after vehicles.
After joining Bayswater, I decided to have GardX Paint Protection professionally applied to my Figaro.
Not because I sell it.
Because I genuinely wanted it on my own car.
The paintwork was my first priority, particularly because preserving a classic is very different from simply keeping a newer vehicle looking tidy.
The interior will be next once I've restored the original seats.
For me, GardX wasn't simply about making the paint shine.
It was about helping preserve something I value.
And that's an important distinction.
Whether it's a brand-new vehicle or a 35-year-old classic, protection products aren't automatically right for everyone or every vehicle.
But in this case, it made sense to me.
Looking After a Classic Is a Journey
I've learned that owning an older vehicle isn't really a one-off project.
It's a journey.
Preserve what you can.
Restore what's worn.
And most importantly…
Enjoy the car.
There would be very little point in owning my Figaro if I became so worried about preserving it that I stopped driving it.
Cars like this are meant to create memories.
🚗 A Few Nissan Figaro Fun Facts
The Nissan Figaro has a fascinating little history of its own:
It was produced for just one model year — 1991.
Around 20,000 Figaros were produced.
Demand in Japan was so strong that prospective buyers entered a lottery for the opportunity to purchase one.
Under the bonnet is a tiny 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Its unmistakable retro styling has helped turn it into a highly recognisable modern classic.
And despite its vintage appearance, there's something wonderfully usable about it.
It's small, quirky, economical by classic-car standards and almost impossible to drive without someone smiling, waving or asking about it.
Even the Stereo Has a Story 🎶
One of my favourite quirks is the original stereo.
During Driven Car Guide's ownership, attempts were made to repair the original radio/CD/cassette system.
The eventual solution was brilliantly simple — an inexpensive Bluetooth cassette adaptor that allowed modern phone audio to play through the original system.
So I can drive around in a 1991 Figaro, listening to music from my phone through its original cassette deck.
I love that.
So, Was My Stepdad Wrong?
Not exactly.
Cars generally are depreciating assets.
Buying a vehicle purely because you expect it to make money isn't something I'd encourage without understanding the risks.
But owning my Figaro has reminded me that value isn't always measured by resale value.
A vehicle can give you freedom.
It can create memories.
It can connect you with other enthusiasts.
It can be something you restore with your family.
It can start conversations with complete strangers.
And occasionally, the right vehicle may hold its value remarkably well — particularly when history, condition, rarity and desirability come together.
I've also been fortunate that the personal vehicles I've owned over the years have ultimately sold for more than I originally paid for them.
But that isn't really what changed my perspective.
The Figaro reminded me that sometimes the value of a vehicle is simply how much you love owning it.
Every Vehicle Has a Story
Today, I spend my working life helping people fund and protect vehicles.
Some are brand new.
Some are used.
Some are EVs.
Some are work vehicles.
And occasionally, they're something a little unusual.
My Figaro has helped reinforce something I think is easy to forget when we're talking about repayments, interest rates, insurance, warranties and protection:
Behind every vehicle is a person.
And often, there's a story.
For me, this little Pale Aqua Nissan Figaro isn't simply a 1991 car sitting in my garage.
It's part of mine.
💙 Real chats. Smart choices. Confident ownership. Peace of mind.
What's the one vehicle you'll never forget — and why?
I'd genuinely love to hear the story behind yours.
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About Adrianne
Adrianne Galvin | Vehicle Funding & Protection Specialist
Helping Kiwis fund, protect and personalise what matters most — one conversation at a time.
📍 Based in Hawke's Bay | NZ Helping customers throughout New Zealand
This article shares my personal experience and is intended for general information only. It does not constitute personal financial, lending or insurance advice. Lending, insurance and protection products are subject to eligibility, lending criteria, terms, conditions and applicable exclusions. If you'd like information relevant to your own circumstances, I'm always happy to have an obligation-free conversation.
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