Wal-Mart Parking Lot Find: Circa 1992 Geo Metro LSi Convertible

A Geo Metro may not seem that interesting to many people, but they have their place as dependable, inexpensive transportation, and they have a cult following much like the Crosley, Nash Metropolitan and Kaiser Henry J had in years gone by and still retain to a degree.

The Metro convertible was the top-of-the-line Metro in the early 90s, and as a reliable source of inexpensive open-air motoring (better than the Cavalier, Sebring and LeBaron convertibles ever were or will be), it is still a great choice.

I spotted this slightly tatty but very usable car in a Wal-Mart parking lot in early 2013, it is still seen around Eugene at the time of publication.

Parking Lot Spot: 1989-92 Infiniti M30 (Nissan Leopard)

The Infiniti M30 was the Japanese auto industry's first try at a personal-luxury coupe for the US market, and being rear-wheel-drive on the R31 Nissan Skyline platform, was ostensibly an excellent alternative to the Ford Thunderbird, Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Riviera, Audi Coupe and Mercedes-Benz 300CE.

Its undoings were being narrower than Americans were used to, being the flagship of an unproven brand, having no options and no manual transmission option, and sharing more parts with the concurrent Maxima and 300ZX than with the Skyline, along with spotty distribution, and it remains a very rare car, with roughly 12,000 made for the US domestic market only. Infiniti never returned to the personal luxury market, only returning to coupes with a rebadged CV36 Skyline in 2008 as the sporty G37 Coupe.

This is one of only 3 known M30s in Eugene (one being a maroon coupe and the other being a black convertible). In 3 months of knowing this car's existence, I have not seen it move once. Perhaps I might make an offer on it, buy it and restore it at some point.

Parking Lot Sighting: Mazda RX7 FD

I spotted this RX7 on my way out of Wal-Mart with a new memory card for my camera and a refreshing energy drink, and HAD TO shoot it. It has some modifications, but has not been heavily riced or hooned like most other surviving FDs. Pics have not been put through an HDR filter, however, I had to edit them because the RX7 color & detail were washed out in the original pics.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV

Eugene Winter Sighting: Malaise Era VW Bus

This tattered Type 2, one of many in the Emerald City, has seen better days, but is most likely still reliable transportation and is known to be drivable.

Eugene Winter Sighting: 1990s Saturn sedan

90s Saturns were technologically interesting, odd in some ways, yet appealing. Many have been neglected severely, but this circa-1994 sedan is holding up well despite a possible gradual extinction  of roadworthy Saturns.