My car life in Japan, also known as the law of unforeseen consequences, Part 1.

"Robert Maxwell" (madmax13d)
10/10/2013 at 21:01 • Filed to: Japan, WRX

I am in the US Navy, have been for the last seven years. Part of the joy of my chosen profession is that I can be stationed overseas. I took advantage of this, and took my first posting to Japan. Initially, it was confined to fandom, as rules that you have to be a certain rank to own a car, and I was not of that certain rank. So first, car stalking by stealing dealership adds.

Then, it was physically going to carshows. Tokyo auto show, and the Tokyo auto salon, which I had attended once apiece. I got to see this very very sweet BRZ GT300 Super GT car, competing, to me, in the most competitive race series on the globe.

Also, the production BRZ, six months before release.

Okay, after a little bit, I gained enough rank to be able to own my own car. I had looked around, and because of various tax and licensing rules, I found out that most cars bought at dealerships are beyond my price range. So I found out that through a friend I could go to auction and save myself some money in doing so. So I went to the auction, which was pretty impressive, and this gem.

Of course, I couldn't well keep it alone. I loved the power of the WRX, but I kept getting lost. Also, the ten year old teenage boy in me wanted to watch the car come on boost, as well as the more responsible part of me wanted to make sure the turbo was operating optimally after I had the car for a few minutes.

And because I was getting lost all of the time, a car navigation.

I didn't like the wheels (they're legacy GT wheels, with old Potenzas, which I didn't like at all on the car. So I got some locally sourced buddy club P1Rs and Star Specs in 225/45/R17. First Unforeseen consequence, the rub on the inside under hard breaking....future project 5mm spacers.

I had drove it as is for a little while, then had realized the shocks had blown and my car was making me seasick. (I've been through a typhoon on a DDG, I didn't get seasick) So I decided that I had needed suspension work. I bought myself coilovers because I wanted to track the car(track days are much cheaper in Japan vs the USA).

I went with Feal coilovers with my car, and am extremely impressed with it. The swift springs are excellent, and the damping matches the springs and the car perfectly. Its one of my favorite part. Not pictured, was me throwing half of the the whiteline/turn in concept catalog at the rear suspension, trying to make the car handle up to my standards. It took a while, but it handled perfectly for me.

After that, the next project was brakes. Having improved the basic handling of my car, I decided to go with a "winding road/light sports setup for my car." To that end I bought some new pads, lines and rotors for the brakes. (the JDM WRX post blobeye already came with the excellent sumitomo 4/2 pot calipers) So to that end, I bought these pads, which would have been wonderful, from my local super autobacs.

My Japanese reading comprehension failed me... And I bought the brakes for the 20K instead of my particular model. So, being chastened by the experiance, I bought these from the local Subaru dealership.

If you are not familiar with zerosport, they are to Subarus what J's racing is to Hondas or RE-Anemiya is to rotary Mazda. They are a semi-official tuning house (and dealer) that is often affiliated with dealerships, as is their parts. In part two, I will go through my turbo swap and the process of working with a Japanese tuning house. Also a little bit about my driving through the Touge.

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DISCUSSION (16)

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:08

Where are you? Yokosuka?

Robert Maxwell > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/10/2013 at 20:08

I was, now back in San Diego for school.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:11

Ahhh, a fellow San Diegan hoon! I will assume that you are at Coronado, correct?

Robert Maxwell > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/10/2013 at 20:12

Point Loma, which is awesome because it makes it easy to get to north county. I got a Miata here, which I am not going to do much to because I am going back there.

carcrasher88 > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:15

That's pretty awesome.

Also, it just occurred to me...brake packaging looks a lot like golf ball packaging...

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:19

There's lots of cool car stuff here. Not sure how long you've been around, but if you need to know some things, let me know. Here's one happening this weekend. https://www.facebook.com/fifthavenueaut…

Robert Maxwell > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/10/2013 at 20:21

I'll check it out....It'll be nice to be in there sober this time....I was her last 5 years ago.

Dunnik > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:22

That's awesome, grats on the Subie. Good choice on the classic wheel style.

I bet the Japanese car enthusiasts you meet are proud that you drive a jcar.

This prompted the thought, "Imagine if he imported, say, a '67 Camaro SS painted in the Stars and Stripes, then did peel outs at Tokyo stop lights while playing "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen and yelling at anyone who looked at him funny, 'murica! Fuckyea!!"

Kinja'd!!!

But then I thought this would be just a little bit culturally and historically insensitive.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:23

Point Loma... You must be a squid, or at least work with subs. Right?

Robert Maxwell > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/10/2013 at 20:28

Yup, I am at ASW Point Loma. Harbor and Nimitz.

D > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 20:30

Awesome. Remind me of a guy I met who was a Marine stationed in Japan. While he was there he owned an R32.

Robert Maxwell > Dunnik
10/10/2013 at 20:33

I was gonna cover that in my next post. Japanese car people are awesome. They're much more open then American car people. The guy with the insane NSX will respect the guy with the Civic with Aero.

MountainCommand > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 21:12

great read, great story. Sweet little scoobaru you have there! I have a buddy who is stationed in japan at the moment, but hes a motorcycle guy, so i have trouble convincing him to get a sweet car haha.

How did you feel used car prices (3rd party) compared to 3rd party stateside?

DasHoon > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 21:21

I was in Yokosuka for three years. I managed to make it to the Tokyo Auto Salon and the Tokyo Motor Show, not to mention I found a small Subaru museum with several rally cars on display (this last bit took some bothering of the Subaru dealer employees as the display was closed). I did not get out to the F1 race or WRC event, unfortunately.

Kinja'd!!!

Robert Maxwell > MountainCommand
10/10/2013 at 22:51

I think they're better.....I paid 1800 (with a 500 dollar commission included) for a 2003 (MY 2004 in USA) with just over 80000 miles on it. Japanese people are on the whole not sentimental about cars like we are.

legory > Robert Maxwell
10/10/2013 at 23:43

Bring me back some bugeye STI headlights and other JDM bugeye goodies please, fellow Subie owner?

Just kidding, this was an interesting post to read, as it's good insight into a Navy-man's life in Japan. I'm jealous, sir. Thank you for your service.