Budget American Cars in Japan

Kinja'd!!! "carcrasher88" (carcrasher88)
11/19/2014 at 16:04 • Filed to: Japan, Goo-Net

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 8

As many of you know, I occasionally poke through Goo-Net and their large selection of used (and even new) cars all across Japan, and I usually post some of my findings that fit a theme.

Well, this is another one of those.

This time, it's American cars for under US$6,000.

My first find is this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

It's the only one on the site under US$6,000 that still has it's factory wheels on it. Since this one is a 2002 model, the only engine available was the 4.2L Atlas I6, so no V8s here.

It is 4WD, though, so that should be good in rough weather.

It's got 'woodgrain' trim, cloth seats, and a radio with both a CD player AND cassette player, and it's in great shape for 148,000 km, or just shy of 92,000 miles.

And, it can be had for only US$5,640. Which, when you consider that here in the US, similar models can be bought for more money, and with higher mileage, doesn't sound like a bad deal at all.

A 92,000 mile TB in Japan for $5,640 is a better deal than a 135,000 mile TB in the US for $5,995, and that one is an LS model.

Or, if an SUV doesn't suit your tastes, there's this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 85,000km, or just under 53,000 miles on it, with a 4.6L 4-valve DOHC INTECH V8 under the hood, and, just like the TB, both a CD and cassette player.

It's not a Mark VIII LSC, but it's still pretty good.

I found two comparable Mark VIIIs on eBay, one with 74,801 miles on it for $3,991, and one with 24,806 miles on it for $11,950, so this means, at US$5,520, it's another one that's actually a pretty good deal for an American car in Japan.

Or, perhaps, a Cadillac would be a better fit for you?

Try this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 91,409km, or 56,799 miles, on the odometer.

Yet again, another one with both a CD and Cassette player, this time with a Bose stereo system.

This clean and handsome luxury coupe, equipped with a 32-valve 4.6L Northstar V8 with 300hp and 295 lb-ft of torque under the hood, can be bought for...US$4,360.

Just make sure to take good care of those head gaskets.

This next one goes back to the rugged truck side of things, with this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 159,000, or just a bit under 99,000 miles on it, something that is very hard to find in a first generation S-10 Blazer these days.

This one doesn't have factory wheels on it, instead settling for a slick set of Enkei wheels on Yokohama Geolander A/T-S tires.

It includes a CD player (that's obviously aftermarket) and navigation (even more obviously so), and is in absolutely fantastic condition, inside and out.

The price? US$4,580.

Need something that can carry a bunch of people, but don't want something rugged?

Maybe a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! would be up your alley?

This clean '05 is a low mileage one, with 66,000km, or just a little over 41,000 miles on it, has leather seats, CD player (the listing doesn't say it does, but looking at one of the interior shots, it's obvious it does), and second row captain's chairs.

Under the hood sits a 3.3L EGA V6 engine with 180hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. So, it's not that powerful.

The price, though, it pretty good. US$5,170.

Lastly, another Chrysler product.

A !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 102,000km, or about 63,380 miles on it.

CD and cassette player? Yes. Leather seats? Yes. Quadra-Trac II 4-Wheel-Drive? Yes.

Clean and well taken care of? Oh, yes!

This fantastic condition WJ GC also comes at a pretty low price: US$4,680.

So, there you have it. If you want a nice American car in Japan without spending a boat load of cash, or being stuck with a subcompact, there's 6 great examples of low-mileage American cars for little cash.

There's probably more great examples, so feel free to poke around their site and show ones you'd recommend for under six grand.


DISCUSSION (8)


Kinja'd!!! Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > carcrasher88
11/19/2014 at 16:09

Kinja'd!!!0

A right hand drive Caravan is so weird.

and also, how many Toyota Cavaliers can you find?


Kinja'd!!! carcrasher88 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
11/19/2014 at 16:17

Kinja'd!!!0

One Toyota Cavalier , and one Pontiac Sunbird .


Kinja'd!!! Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > carcrasher88
11/19/2014 at 16:23

Kinja'd!!!0

I am a bit intrigued by that Sunbird. It's got the 80's coolness going on, and I never seen one in such immaculate shape.


Kinja'd!!! carcrasher88 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
11/19/2014 at 16:25

Kinja'd!!!0

Yeah! Also, note the Mooneyes air freshener.


Kinja'd!!! T5Killer > carcrasher88
11/19/2014 at 16:39

Kinja'd!!!0

A mark VIII in land of the flying cat? WOW that car must be the biggest coupe in the country.


Kinja'd!!! dirthoon > carcrasher88
11/19/2014 at 16:54

Kinja'd!!!0

Only one question. How easy would it be to get forged pistons and a large supercharger through customs for that Lincoln?


Kinja'd!!! carcrasher88 > T5Killer
11/19/2014 at 17:02

Kinja'd!!!1

Biggest coupe this side of 1989, maybe. There's lots of big, old American coupes on there from the 60s and 70s.

Cadillacs, Lincolns, Chryslers, etc.


Kinja'd!!! carcrasher88 > dirthoon
11/19/2014 at 17:03

Kinja'd!!!0

Good question. Wish I had an answer.