The Argus Dealer Profile

AutoSupply UK are a specialist dealership based in Brighton that import the Nissan Figaro from Japan. This is the only vehicle they deal in, so have gained a considerable expertise in the model.

They have been established since July 2000 and have been selling the Figaro exclusively since April 2002. They recently celebrated selling their 200th Figaro which represents a full 1% of the 20,000 cars ever produced.

AutoSupply UK was created by Ross Davidson and Marcus Jones to import cars directly from Japan. Ross had made a number of useful contacts in the country having worked there for four years. They initially started importing the Mazda MX-5 and MR2 models but later decided to concentrate solely on the Figaro. This has proven to be an inspired decision as the business has gone from strength to strength culminating in their latest milestone. Interest in the Figaro continues unabated despite the general down turn in the motor industry.

Ross Davidson was born in Wales but was brought up in Canada. Having moved to Japan to teach English, he returned to the UK in 1994 and studied for a degree in economics and finance. Ross then teamed up with New Zealander, Marcus Jones to establish the successful AutoSupply UK.

The cars are purchased at auction by the company’s own selected buyers who are told which cars to buy having been selected from the UK over the Internet. The buyers work within a controlled budget and AutoSupply UK’s strict quality control procedures. Having purchased the cars they are shipped from Yokohama to Southampton and delivered directly to the company’s premises in Brighton.

Here they undergo a full mechanical inspection and any problems are corrected and faulty components replaced. The vehicles are then treated to AutoSupply UK’s cosmetic enhancement procedures to bring them up to showroom condition. The result is a range of superb Nissan Figaros ready to grace the drives of their adoring owners.

The success of AutoSupply UK is in no small part due to the attention to detail paid by everyone at the dealership. This applies to both the cars and their customers. Ross and Marcus have always encouraged their customers to maintain contact with them during the lifetime of their cars and offer support and assistance whenever needed.

If you need a spare part or require a stylish accessory for your Figaro, then Auto Supply UK will happily oblige. They usually buy their parts directly from Japan, which can be supplied quicker and can be much cheaper than those bought in the UK.

Figaro

Small, economical and affordable, the Figaro makes very good sense as a vehicle for the modern urban environment but the people who buy them don’t give two hoots about any of that. It’s the way that the car looks that constitutes its defining attribute. The disarmingly curvy lines, the chrome detailing and that melancholy face somehow contrive to push practical considerations to the background, leaving the Figaro fan hopelessly smitten.

There’s nothing half-hearted about the car’s 1950s looks either. Climb aboard and from the heavily chromed catch that releases the folding roof to the steering wheel, the dials, the stereo and the switchgear, it all echoes the retro lines of the exterior. There are hints of the Figaro’s Micra origins around the cream leathered cabin but overall it’s a far more comprehensive piece of work than you might expect and build quality is decent enough. The best interior features include the CD/cassette/radio player which hangs down below the slide lever ventilation controls, evoking a 50s radio set and the thin rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel which is a definite throwback to that bygone age.

Should the sun break through, it’ll be time to maximise the Figaro’s posing potential by converting it into an open topped car. The Figaro isn’t a convertible in the truest sense with only the centre section of the roof and the rear windscreen disappearing from view into the boot but you are left with a wide aperture directly above and a fully open back.

The Nissan Figaro is certainly is a little bit different. In fact, it’s massively different from the kinds of vehicles we’re all used to seeing on the roads. It’s possible to make a strong case for the car on prosaic grounds like the reliability of its Micra underpinnings, its economical engine and its compact size but who would we be kidding? The Figaro is an exercise in aesthetics, style and individuality; as such it’ll continue to find its share of willing owners.

Take a look at the Nissan Figaro for yourself at AutoSupply UK. You can find them at 154 Ditchling Road in Brighton or, for more information, telephone them on (01273) 565644.

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