Just got an email from my auction agent

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

Been car-less for a couple of years here in Japan, got sick of it and approached a company that mainly deals with exporting cars from Japan, but they sourced out a car for me for very very cheap. It's a Subaru Forester 2.0 turbo from 1999

tell me what you think before I go ahead with it!!!!! (it's got about 80,000 miles on the clock, which is a lot for over here) a few pics!!!

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/konkon77/CIMG3935.jpg?t=1282058399

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/konkon77/CIMG3936.jpg?t=1282058399

[Darrin]

Is it Tau Sales?

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

It's a company called "we'll planning"
Their office is just down the road from me, they are super super helpful.

[Piggymon]

VROOM VROOM ! :D

[Desmo]

That looks wicked :D

My bro had a forester ages ago but it didn't look like that ;D

[Del Lardo]

So why is 80 000 miles a lot over there? Do people tend not to drive very far?

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

Yeah, cars tend have a low mileage over here, people tend not to drive as much (the train system over here is super reliable) plus there's an ingrained culture over here that anything over about 60,000 miles is worthless and they need to buy a new car (I think it's something that's been cultured to promote the economy from a long time ago, plus interest rates for car loans are ridiculously low.....I didn't want to take out a loan though, rather own the car out-right, it's cost me about £800 all-in opposed to about £2,000 ish for a similar model in the UK) I wanted one that had done over 100,000km because the timing belt needs to be changed around then and didn't want the hassle of doing it. Mileage is not so much of an issue for me, I don't have the OMG it's done over 50,000 miles, it must be crapped out mentality as most people over here do.

yeah Desmo, it's wicked looking!!! I love the body kit on it, plus the turbo!!! :) and plenty of room in the boot for your suitcases when I come pick you and piggy up from the airport ;)

[Darrin]

I have got to say that your avatar is the most disturbing thing I've seen in a long time... ;)

[A Place of Light]

Is it Tau Sales?

I've been tempted to deal with them several times. Do you have any experience with them??

BTW I think that particular car is called the "Gravel Express" in JPN. Awesome name IMHO.

[A Place of Light]

So why is 80 000 miles a lot over there? Do people tend not to drive very far?
There's literally nowhere to go, lol.
A collection of narrow islands+some of the worst traffic problems in the world+one of, if not THE, best public transport system in the world=low mileage cars.
Also the Japanese tend to consider something pre-owned as soiled or less than desireable. It's not a 100% blanket opinion, but the majority of the public look at used cars the way you or I would look at pre-owned socks. If things still work the way they did when I was there then the Shaken makes owning an older car less financial sense.....and the dealers operate a 100% buy back so lots of their lovely used cars can come here :D

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

There's literally nowhere to go, lol.
A collection of narrow islands+some of the worst traffic problems in the world+one of, if not THE, best public transport system in the world=low mileage cars.
Also the Japanese tend to consider something pre-owned as soiled or less than desireable. It's not a 100% blanket opinion, but the majority of the public look at used cars the way you or I would look at pre-owned socks. If things still work the way they did when I was there then the Shaken makes owning an older car less financial sense.....and the dealers operate a 100% buy back so lots of their lovely used cars can come here :D

Yeah, the Shaken is a huge pain in the arse, has to be done every 2 years (older cars had to do them annually, but they changed that rule a few years ago) and can cost a lot if you pay a garage or dealer to do it for you (basically add an extra 60,000 yen on the bill for them to do it....I'm going to go the user shaken route for mine, it'll take a couple of hours and is full of form filling, but I'll save heaps) but the Shaken isn't just a super MOT, it also involves some tax and also the compulsory 3rd party insurance needed to drive on the road over here.

Just finished organizing the parking space (which you have to have before you can legally get a car over here) that also is a huge pain in the arse, I had to get 3 different forms from the police station to complete:

1. The actual application form for a proof of parking certificate.
2. A form where I have to draw 2 maps, 1 to show the location of my parking space and the 2nd a detailed map of the actual parking space (including dimensions)
3. A form that I have to ask my landlord to complete proving that I am renting the parking space form him.

And this is just the start......a lot of paperwork!!!!!!

[ElRazur]

I think it is good news for some of us who buy car from Japan once every couple of years or so. I am due for one soon and depending on what the local market here are saying, I may be in contact with you if you don't mind.

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

I think it is good news for some of us who buy car from Japan once every couple of years or so. I am due for one soon and depending on what the local market here are saying, I may be in contact with you if you don't mind.


Of course, no worries :) there's not much I could do though, but I could definitely put you in touch with the guys that have been helping me (they have all the necessary licenses, etc!)

[ElRazur]

Thanks man. :)

[A Place of Light]

Yeah, the Shaken is a huge pain in the arse, has to be done every 2 years (older cars had to do them annually, but they changed that rule a few years ago)

That's interesting, as it's not the way I understood it. I was under the impression that for at least the last 20 years you "got" 3 years Shaken with a new car then you renewed it every 2 years after that. That's why all freshly imported cars were either 3/5/7/9 etc years old. The proof of parking comment you made reminded me of the Kei cars and their raison d'etre.....some of them are cracking little cars á la Cappucino/Copen etc.

[Mark]

That's interesting, as it's not the way I understood it.

FWIW, Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaken_%28car_inspection%29#Renewal_periods_for_ve hicles) concurs with your understanding.

[Kamikaze_Pigeon]

That's interesting, as it's not the way I understood it. I was under the impression that for at least the last 20 years you "got" 3 years Shaken with a new car then you renewed it every 2 years after that. That's why all freshly imported cars were either 3/5/7/9 etc years old. The proof of parking comment you made reminded me of the Kei cars and their raison d'etre.....some of them are cracking little cars á la Cappucino/Copen etc.

Oh, I wasn't saying that was wrong, just that older cars after a certain age had to have the shaken annually, but this requirement for older cars was scrapped a few years back. But yeah, you're right cars that are just about to run out of their shaken are super cheap!

Yeah, the Kei cars are mega popular here, they're fantastic for around town but the little 660cc engine is not really up for the job on long commutes down the highway!!!!!!

[Darrin]

Personally I'd love to have a Daihatsu Mira Gino. But of course with the turbo.

They look like what the Mini should have been.

http://www.todoroki-trading.com/stock/daihatsu/601/stock601.html

[A Place of Light]

Oh, I wasn't saying that was wrong, just that older cars after a certain age had to have the shaken annually, but this requirement for older cars was scrapped a few years back. But yeah, you're right cars that are just about to run out of their shaken are super cheap!

Yeah, the Kei cars are mega popular here, they're fantastic for around town but the little 660cc engine is not really up for the job on long commutes down the highway!!!!!!

Totally off topic, but your avatar is really disturbing :p

[Darrin]

I have got to say that your avatar is the most disturbing thing I've seen in a long time... ;)

Totally off topic, but your avatar is really disturbing :p


Great minds... ;)

[A Place of Light]

Great minds... ;)

FWIW I've liked yours for quite a while now :D

[A Place of Light]

Personally I'd love to have a Daihatsu Mira Gino. But of course with the turbo.

They look like what the Mini should have been.

http://www.todoroki-trading.com/stock/daihatsu/601/stock601.html

I really REALLY want a Storia x4. So much fun in a little car.