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!!!

[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 !

[Desmo]

That looks wicked

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

[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]

Originally Posted by Darrin

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]

Originally Posted by Del Lardo

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