Nissan PAO - Looking for buying advice

[muggle3000]

Hi Newb here.  Currently own a Daihatsu Copen (Kei version - 659cc Turbo).  After seeing a Nissan POA at the recent KEi Kar in the Park meet at Kingsbury Water Park.  I'm now interested in buying one.



I'm looking for existing owners for some buying advice.  What to look for.  Where do they rust.  What accessories are available.  What are they like to run as a daily driver.  That sort of stuff.
Finding it hard to find much information on them. 

Also if anyone can point me to some great PAO club sites in Japan, I'd be much appreciated.
I've already gone through Mincara site.

[quackshot]

Hey buddy, I had one as a daily for a bit so let me share with you my experience.

It is based on a K10 Micra (1.0l N/A) ... most of which are coupled with an autobox. This makes it painstakingly slow. You can push it and rev the nuts off it but don't really expect more than 50-60mph on a cruise without feeling like its killing the engine and you're about to die.
Economy wise... it's nothing special. If I were to have kept it then a K11 engine and box was on the agenda.

The ragtop roof is electric... prone to splitting etc but normally still watertight. The radio is normally fudged too... even if its not, it's from japan so needs a wave expander.

On the plus side of things, it's pretty practical. drop down tailgate, makes loading a doddle and gives you somewhere to sit when you want to eat a sandwich. Driving position is ok... PCD is 4x100 with tiny tiny brakes so you can fit all manner of wheels. I opted for some 13x6 ronal teddies to add to the lols of the car.

Paint fading is fairly common but nothing a touch of G3 wont sort out.

Expect an overpriced no thrills car. I sold this and went back to an immaculate and well looked after 1997 subaru wrx wagon for half the price with 10 times the thrills, plus more usueful and on the motorway about the same on fuel as you're not having to boot it just to keep up with the flow.

If you are dead set on one, try to find one that possibly needs engine or running gear work, ditch the lot and fit a k11 lump/gear and the car would be infinitely better... and probably be easier to sell for more cash monies.

Mine...



...and what it was replaced with


some more pictures when it was first bought.. s343.photobucket.com/user/QuackShotDamo/library/Pao?sort=3&page=1

These are japan market only made by pikes factory using nissan running gear. They made limited numbers of each in a just a few colours and even less with a manual gearbox. Cheers.

[muggle3000]

Thanks for your reply Quackshot. Although the PAO looks really cool, I don't think I could cope with that engine. I'll keep my eye out to see if a modified one comes up for sale.

[jonw]

Manual PAOs do exist, but you'll have better luck finding unicorn droppings.... all are the 1.0.
I test drove a PAO and didn't think it had much more space than the Micra.... and the Micra was under half the price. And it was slooow, even compared to the mini I had at the time. Good looking cars though!