I have one, was used by a real estate company and has very cool landscape graphics. It's a little rough round the edges, but will be my 'retirement project' so eventually it will have some body-work and an interior reno.....I drive it when my usual ride is in the workshop. People laugh, point and wave when they see it....If nothing else it keeps people smiling and these days, that's a good thing. I love it.
Quite a rarity: a car with the front indicators nowhere near the headlights so you can see the indicators when the car has its headlights on. Where did designers of modern cars go wrong in making the indicators invisible when other lights (headlights, brake lights) are lit?
Couldn't agree with you more. A prime example is the MK1 Focus which had separate indicators in the bumpers (easy to see), but then Ford decided to face-lift it and put them in the inside corner of the headlamp. Back in the day I thought that was bad but they are even worse now with modern headlamps being so damn bright.
@@jmurray01 I'm surprised that the UK's "Construction and Use" regulations (or the modern-day equivalent) and similar regulations in other countries allow indicators that are masked by brighter headlights or by equal-brightness brake lights. Indicators have to be seen in various lighting conditions. I find most indicators at night are more difficult to see against dipped headlights: indeed the easiest way to tell that an oncoming vehicle is indicating is to see that the daylight running light (DRL) / side light has gone out on the side that it is indicating. Day or night, some cars are hard to see the rear indicator if the car is braking. Recent VW Golf was a good example of this: indicator was a ring around the brake light (or maybe it was vice versa). If I was designing a car, I'd have the side/DRL and indicator at least a foot from the headlights. And at the back I would have five coloured segments - maybe in a line: tail+fog, reversing, indicator, reflector, brake - with each segment 3" from the next. And I would mandate the fitting of *dual* reversing lights and *dual* foglights: dual fog because these serve as tail lights in fog and so define the width of the car, and dual reversing so both sides of the road are lit up a night when you are reversing between walls/hedges. If the lights *looked* aesthetically pleasing, that would be a bonus, but it is not their primary purpose. A lot of car designer place aesthetics *before* functionality.
@@mattiasjohansson1727 I nearly gave that example: the brake light is surrounded by a ring which is the brake light (or maybe it's vice-versa). If I see that I'm following a Golf Mk 4, I pay particular attention to its rear lights in case the driver indicates while he is braking.
I think it's a rather unusual little vehicle with quite a nice design, and for those that don't, well, it'd be a very dull world if we all liked the same things.
I saw one of these at a small town car show in Ohio US. I didn't know how exclusive they were and feel fortunate to have seen one. My reaction was that all vehicles should be this cool!
Quite cool & retro in a way - I love that big parcel shelf in front of the driver, crazy headroom, visibility looks good and a useful cargo space in the back. Very informative film again Steph - thanks for bringing this to us, I had never seen one of these before.
Hi Steph, 70 yr old Aussie making my first 'comment' on your channel. My local Chemist had one of these vans as a customer home delivery van & i immediately remembered the 2 CV that a former neighbour owned. Mr. Hubnut referred to your channel (which i have been a subscriber to for some time --- also F/b) & i was keen to add you to my evening viewing. Thanks for the S Cargo & well done for all your work, RGDS, P.h.
Great review as always Steph, a fun little car, I can see some Citroen design in the dash thats similar to my Citroen, simple and effective, it's a shame Nissan do not offer anything, fun and whacky nowadays.
I own one with the port windows and the electric sun roof which is still working. And yes, with the 3 sp auto, the highspeed drive is not very good and a guzzler too.
I remember my 28 year old son had a little yellow toy version of the SCargo when he was little, and I always loved the styling. Not many cars have a name that is double entendre!
I've always loved these. I tend to think of Japanese cars as putting practicality and reliability first so for Nissan to make the Figaro, Pao and S-Cargo, it was brilliant. I wish they'd rebirth them as quirky EVs. Hopefully it didn't leave a snail trail behind it
Hi Steph, You're looking well as it has been some time since we, ve had a review. I remember being on holiday in Tunisia with the porthole window in about 1990 and saw one of these that I had to detour down the street to get a closer look since then not seen any till now.
Great Review Steph Nice Dress Extremely different vehicle I love your channel for the variety of vehicles you Review and Drive Keep up the good work & Hello from Windsor Connecticut U S A
@ö Adorable little thing! As a local delivery vehicle, these would be brilliant with electric power. If they had made the upper side panel from corrugated metal, it would have looked even more 2CV-like and really wouldn't look out of place with Citroen chevrons on the bonnet. In fact, it looks not dissimilar to the "new" electric Ami. How I wish manufacturers were still this brave and innovative!
Love this review and also the channel. Is it me or does Steph look different ? Can't put my finger on it but Steph you are great. Me and my Mrs have been watching this channel from the early days. Keep up the good work and we like the quirky reviews like this.
Such a fantastic little car. It’s so weird and quirky and some very clever design touches! I love the noises the gearbox makes… old skool automatic. Great review Steph!
Would have been perfect for Neil Fingleton who was well over 7ft tall with the head room... Japan is well known for many things that stand out, from novelty to oddball over history. First time I've seen the S cargo outside Japan.
A few have made it to Australia were often used by companies for promotional purposes, since they're guaranteed to stand out. They're certainly rare, though.
@@3500P5 Just checked your YT, and subbed, it is like we are in a parallel universe, you had/have a 1978 MG Midget, I owned a 1978 Midget that I bought new in exactly the same colour ;-) Mine is on SORN so maybe still out there somewhere.
Hi Stef, your classic reviews are wonderful. According to Shannons Classic Car Insurance / Auctions 10,450 Scargos were made at "The Pike Factory" a subsidiary of Nissan. Australia like the UK and Japan are right hand drive and lots 'Grey Imports' have come to Australia of Japanese models that were never sold here new. Quite a few Scargos came here and many used as mobile advertisements for business. A Korean / Mexican fusion restaurant in Canterbury in Sydney has a fully restored bright blue and yellow one on permanent display adjoining their front door. PS. I own a 1990 Citroen 2CV6 RHD in Sydney delivered new in Paris and imported when 3 months old in May 1990. 2023 is the 75th Anniversary of the 1948 launch of the 2CV. I have owned 3 from new brought back to Australia. 1978 Club, 1982 & 1990 Charlestons. Addicted to fun.
I know of one here in Melbourne that a woman owned as business vehicle, her teenage daughter utterly refused to travel in it as she considered it such a strange looking vehicle. Now the S Cargo is seen as cool looking!
Hiya Steph. Another great test drive. Love 'em I really do. I've got various books of motormobilia that I've had since the 1980s, including various European rarities such as the Lloyd Arabella, Borgward P100, Ford Taunus & Opel Kapitan from Germany, the rear engined Renaults from France, and the Pininfarina styled Fiat 2300, 2100, 1800 & 1500 saloons & cabrios from Italy. I've also seen hundreds of back issues of various motoring mags advertised on eBay & Amazon as well. Do you collect back issues of motoring mags as much as I do Steph?
This will be the first time have actually seen one. Thunk it is one of those you will love or hate and not sure it's style works here but in Japan it would look right. Awesome video.🙂
I have seen these driving around Sydney and how much did citroen influence the styling of theses S cargos l do like the look of them they aren't ugly at all and you can understand why people buy them also great review Steph
Yes, I remember these in the car enthusiast magazines around that time....a time when cars were interesting and I had passion for reading about any and all! Yes, the 1980s were GREAT!!!! I would never call this ugly.....unusual, quirky, etc, or maybe some afraid of liking something perceived as small or feminine need to deride it....no, this is a very interesting vehicle. UK-based enthusiasts are fortunate because of the commonality of driving side that the UK and Japan share, added to the relative simplicity of importing one from Japan! The combination of the increasing expense of owning an older vehicle there, and the strict standards that older cars need to meet to remain on the road. Add to that the relatively-car friendly weather conditions there (unless salt air from the Ocean is a negative factor), the stereotypical obsessive Japanese attention to maintenance / upkeep, and the limited amount of driving JDM cars experience due to the complication of finding parking along with high petrol prices, yes, this would be a magnificent buy.....especially for a flower delivery company or other type of business that is looking for a unique way to advertise! The "retro" styling on the Nissan products have aged gracefully. From my perspective, vehicles like this and the Figaro retain charm yet are individualistic. That compares to companies like Jaguar that looked at its own past styling trying to recapture an image, and even though I like cars such as the 2000 S-Type and the late 1990s / 2000s XJs, it was the wrong direction especially for a mainstream car.
There was a guy (I don’t know if he still is) selling coffee out of one of these around Manchester. There was a big coffee machine installed in the back. Not sure how it was powered though. Nice little vans though. They certainly catch the eye.
Nissan were making great cars back then.At one end great rep car/minicab saloons and supermini and some oddball looking domestic market stuff like this and the Figaro with great mechanicals underneath.
Very good video, really enjoyed because you know how to speak, none of the er er erm how the other lot go on lol. keep up the good work, from derby in the uk
Oh what a quirky little van. I think I may have seen one before though as you say they are only a few here, it's possible I saw it in a magazine. My first thought was that's going to be small in the seating area and no I wasnt being rude Steph but you can tell me off if you want to! You did say it was big enough though. Bearing in mind the many Japanese are shall we say quit short I think they would easly fit in those extra seats. I agree with you that the head room in the front is wasted but from the outside the shape is spot on. The 1.5 Ltr. I is ample for shuch a small van, in fact it surpised me that it wasn't smaller a capacity. I think port holes would look great but no need for a sunroof with airconditioning. I think you are righht about the speed limit, don't know the top speed over there but bear in mind they have a good few mountains to contend with. Thanks Steph for bringing us another unusual machine. Take care.
Not my cup of tea but very interesting and quirky. I bet it's a really popular vehicle at car meets and no doubt very practical for running errands with that big, boxy space in the back. It has a formidable tea shelf area too.
Great review as per, I've always liked these cars and never quite realised how much headroom they have until you pointed that out! Definitely practical for using as a small van.
I used to have one as a workshop hack come mobile advert, sold it 16 years ago. Massively prone to blowing head gaskets, which is an E15 trait in general. Replaced it with a JDM Suzuki Wagon R wide turbo, which equally as quirky 🤪
The S Cargo was available in very limited way in Australia. "Grey imports" perhaps? i've seen several here and a fully restored one was recently sold by a collector. This one had a km per hour speedo rather than the "mph / km" speedo like in the video.
Gr8 review thank you, I can't help it but sounds like a broken record, this vehicle would be an excellent vehicle for single wheelchair user as a daily driver. Because you could easily put a portable hand control on the pedal& and don't have to dismantle the wheelchair too much to get it in the bank Lots of love Alex from Cape Town
There is someone in the uk who has a Volkswagen Beetle that was made into Herbie as seen from Herbie goes to monte carlo hope you can find the guy and do a review on Herbie the love bug
I want one... but I don't think it's available in Malaysia... It looks very practical for a small family like mine... My husband might like it cause of the space that are available for him to haul his working tools... my Proton Saga and his Perodua Alza is good but hey... it doesn't hurt to have a somewhat different looking car...
Weirdly I followed one of these S Cargo's on Friday for about 5 miles. I think the S stands for Slow not Small though 😉 And the engine sounded odd on the one I was stuck behind
I just adore quirky cars. Nissan did show some guts, with this kind of cars( figaro etc..). Regrettably guts is now .....in the car industry. Pitty the owner doesn't take bettter care of his S Cargo. The wheels, dont fit the style of the car and.....in a country as GB, with that lovely sunny weather, the wiper blades could be a bit earlier replaced. Odometer....more than 700.000km.( +- 434.000 miles). Good Lord😮
The wiper blade fell apart whilst shooting the video , it had passed an MOT a week previously . These things happen . I like the wheels , it didn’t have the original wheels anyway when I bought it , just some later Micra items which were pretty naff , I personally love the slots . As for the mileage I have no idea if that’s correct , I doubt it . The van had no history when I bought it , but I’ve serviced it and replaced the cambelt and it runs really well .
