[JAPAN] Visit at My Local Racetracks - Kei-Car Racing

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy) 09/20/2014 at 07:04 • Filed to: None

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Today I went to check out my local racetracks.

First I went to Spa.

Yop, Spa, in Japan :). Spa Nishiura Motor Park. It's 40 minutes drive away from my home and today the track happen to host one of the "Tokaï Hot-K" event. Kei-cars, Kei-trucks EVERYWHERE! :)

Then I went to visit another racetrack near by, KOTA. It's not the Kirtuit Of The America, but a small racetrack, that host track days with regular cars along with rental gokarts. The palce was beautiful, surrounded by mountains. Just beautiful.

Next time I'll most likely go to the two other local ractracks in my area. Another small track where I will be able to rent a car this time to test the track, and another small track you might have heard of called Suzuka ;)

Photodump incomming!

PS: of course I still don't have a proper camera and I hate myself for that because I know that with a nice 300mm F2.8 lens I would have taken some GREAT pictures there... oh well... next time. Meanwhile, enjoy cell phone pictures lol

And the beauty of Kota Circuit...

duurtlang > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 07:08

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This hurts. The only vehicle I've ever crashed into was one of these in that exact color, coincidentally the only one I've seen in my life. I still have the green paint I scraped off that car on my 406 coupe's bumper.

Flavien Vidal > duurtlang 09/20/2014 at 07:10

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That's a Daihatsu Midget 2... Didn't know someone has been mad enough to import one in Europe haha

duurtlang > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 07:29

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A guy in my building has one, the only one I've ever seen. It's amazing how tiny these Midgets are. If I remember correctly it only seats one person. The pickup bed is very low, so low I didn't see it when exiting a parking space when I was still half asleep...

offroadkarter > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 07:48

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those midget II's just remind me of gran turismo

Cé hé sin > duurtlang 09/20/2014 at 08:35

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So they're not lhd or rhd and anyone can use one anywhere!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 10:03

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shinsen > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:05

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so cool

shinsen > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/20/2014 at 15:06

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agreed!

they-will-know-my-velocity > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:07

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I want to show up to one of these meets and see if anyone gets it.

Kevin Barrett > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:08

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I need a Suzuki Cappuccino in my life.

fahre-fahrst-fahren > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:16

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All I want in life is an AZ-1

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:17

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Nobi > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:22

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I want a Honda Beat so badly. Stupid 25 year import law.

Rick Allen's Left Arm > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:35

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I'm moving to Japan in a few months and it'd be nice to have a fun little car like this (minus the thousands spent on upgrading it).

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:38

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waaaaaaaaaant

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > Nobi 09/20/2014 at 15:39

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I'm not kidding, I saw a stock yellow one in Vancouver a long time ago. It's hilariously small, I'd love to have one if I could get over shifting with my left hand.

soney gendi > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:39

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Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail

 w­w­w.J­o­b­s­7­0­0­0.C­o­m

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:39

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Excuse my ugly mug...

It's since been saved.

perkunas > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:42

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This is like gran turismo IRL.

DoglegFirst > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:46

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What's the specfic legislation that keeps kei-cars out of America?

lonestranger > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 15:47

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Speedhunters once featured this very Cappuccino . I thought it was so badass, I booted up Gran Turismo 5 , painted my Cappuccino RM in orange to match, and headed to Tsukuba. Given that the GT5 car by default has contrasting black body panels and Omega Oil decals, it was a better-than-expected replica.

lonestranger > they-will-know-my-velocity 09/20/2014 at 15:49

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I see what you did there.

PatBateman > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:04

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I WANT ONE IN AWD. CAN I HAZ ONE?!?!

lonestranger > DoglegFirst 09/20/2014 at 16:08

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The short answer? The weren't originally manufactured for sale in the U.S., and thus don't meet federal standards of safety, bumpers, lighting, emissions, theft prevention, etc. This applies to any car, even if the same or similar model was sold in the U.S.

If a manufacturer wanted to sell new kei cars in the U.S., they could engineer it to meet U.S. standards, but none do. Kei cars are specifically tailored not only to the Japanese market, but more importantly to specific Japanese regulations. In order to meet both Japanese kei rules and U.S. rules would likely be ineffective and hugely cost-prohibitive.

Vehicles 25 years old or more are exempt. So, you can import a kei car to the U.S. if it was manufactured before September 20, 1989.

Shiftright > duurtlang 09/20/2014 at 16:17

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Yup, you drive in from the center, just like a McLaren F1!

Dervdevil > duurtlang 09/20/2014 at 16:21

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Just curious but what country can you find both this and a 406 coupe on the roads? p.s. didnt the 406 coupe come in a very similar shade to this?

Maxaxle > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:24

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Diahatsu Midget (II?) racing is best racing.

punksmurph > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:26

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Now that is a serious racer with a serious car. I love how the Japanese just go all in on their hobbies.

Tom Hegedosh > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:27

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too much negative camber for the rears, no? Unless it leads a lot in corners

punksmurph > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:27

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I would love to know that tire size. On this car it looks huge but it might just be a 185 wide.

punksmurph > duurtlang 09/20/2014 at 16:28

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My wife races these it Gran Turismo 5 all the time, she is a mast of them behind the wheel.

Tareim - V8 powered > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:43

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don't see the point in this, either have a full plate or remove it

SwedeMarine > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:48

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It's like a real life version of the first race in Gran Turismo where everyone has Kei Cars! I've driven a Cappuccino turbo before, and it was an unforgettable experience.

Bosshog1 > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 16:51

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What model car is this?

Atlantian > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:02

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Oh man.. I would love a Cappuccino drift car...

Can't wait till the 25 years are up for this car.

Alfa Spider? that's cute, my car's smaller.

Quasistellar > they-will-know-my-velocity 09/20/2014 at 17:14

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lulz

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:17

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Yup. I'll have this one.

ben loves his new "real" SUV > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:21

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Is that winglet good for anything other than fun?

Bad Idea Hat > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:22

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I want to be with this circuit. This is beautiful.

Doug Nash > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:39

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Miata guy is envious of all that power.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 17:54

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Pretty sure it's a New Beetle, dude.

Flavien Vidal > punksmurph 09/20/2014 at 17:58

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i actually looked, they were 235s :)

69montego > they-will-know-my-velocity 09/20/2014 at 18:00

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LOVE IT!!!!

raytheater > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 18:03

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I want them... I want them all.

CaptainStu > Tareim - V8 powered 09/20/2014 at 18:04

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I dunno, is it a hole for an intake/cooling? Are you joking? That is my favorite car of the bunch.

Burrito de EJ25 > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 18:05

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I WANT TO LIVE THE KEI CAR LIFE!

CaptainStu > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 18:07

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I want to see a Kei car next to a Sauber C9 for scale.

duurtlang > Dervdevil 09/20/2014 at 18:14

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I live in the Netherlands. Do keep in mind that I've only seen one of those Midgets in my life, and I happened to crash into that particular one.

punksmurph > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 18:33

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That is a lot of tire.

Cole Paquette > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 18:41

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Annnnd now I need a Kei car, Preferably a Dihatsu Midget II and mode it into an adorably tiny racer for adorable track day fun.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 19:12

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Squeee! So cute! I'd gladly rock a Kei car. (And by rock, I mean drive, not physically roll it back and forth. Although it'd be small enough I could do that too.)

Tareim - V8 powered > CaptainStu 09/20/2014 at 19:21

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I'm aware that there is an intake there, I just don't get the point of the ruined number plate as it's effectively useless so why keep it?

RazorGP > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 19:28

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I want one. Bit for some reason it seems I can't import it easily to the is. Even if it is going to be a track car.

Anyone know if there is a kit car version if these?

zipfuel > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 19:37

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Do I see some race-prepped Nissan Figaros in there?!?

Flavien Vidal > RazorGP 09/20/2014 at 19:51

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If you are in the US, you are fine to import it as a track car... Otherwise, wait 2 more years and you can start importing Cappuccinos or Beats and wait 3 more years and you can start importing AZ-1s.

Flavien Vidal > zipfuel 09/20/2014 at 19:52

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Coppens but no Figaro

Flavien Vidal > Cole Paquette 09/20/2014 at 19:54

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lol, personnaly not a an of the Midget eventhough they do look fun to watch :)

Flavien Vidal > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' 09/20/2014 at 19:56

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Nope, pretty sure it's a 370Z, dude :)

Flavien Vidal > Doug Nash 09/20/2014 at 19:57

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100hp for less than 700kg... you bet he is :)

Flavien Vidal > Atlantian 09/20/2014 at 19:58

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2 more years :)

And good luck drifting those with these tires, they're just not powerful enough... Maximum 120hp for the fastest ones...1400lbs, sure, but still, those tires are way to big and too sticky for it to even think about sliding.

Flavien Vidal > Bosshog1 09/20/2014 at 19:59

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Quite modified Daihatsu Coppen

Flavien Vidal > SwedeMarine 09/20/2014 at 20:00

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All Cappus are turbos ;)

For 1500$ you do get a "bigger" one though and it gets power figure right around 100hp (a little less)

Flavien Vidal > Tom Hegedosh 09/20/2014 at 20:03

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These are naturally very oversteery cars, my guess it that it helps him find some understeer :)

Flavien Vidal > punksmurph 09/20/2014 at 20:04

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Well, here it'S a bit more than a hobby... These are often tuning shops, playing around in the week ends ;)

Flavien Vidal > Rick Allen's Left Arm 09/20/2014 at 20:06

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Yeah, you'll do fine with a stock one with an upgraded turbo... Perfect power for those cars is around 100hp from the 64 hp they have when stock...

Flavien Vidal > Nobi 09/20/2014 at 20:06

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2 more years for you americans ;)

Flavien Vidal > anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq 09/20/2014 at 20:07

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It takes two days to get used to it. Really no problem at all...

Atlantian > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:22

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What about a 200 hp BEAMs motor, a bridge ported 13b, the i4 from a Hayabusa or an F20C from an S2000?

A hydraulic handbrake and a determined driver will keep it sliding regardless of power. It seems like it would have the weight balance of a typical sports car. If not, some fabrication of suspension parts and a lot of practice should fix that.

Regardless, it would be a runabout as exciting as a Caterham 7. Definitely one to show up in any car guy's dream 10-car garage.

Flavien Vidal > Atlantian 09/20/2014 at 20:30

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The Caterham has a much larger wheelbase that keep this enjoyable... And even then it's quite a beast for the most powerful versions... These cars are just too tiny to be something else than "fun to look at straight line beast" with so much power. When was the last time you saw a Hayabusa Cappuccino do anything else other than straght line acceleration?

I personnally don't think I would enjoy a Cappuccino if it was over 170hp... Way too much... Even less than that would stil l be sketchy. If you have super soft slick tires, maybe, but I like cars I can drive anytime I want :)

Keep in mind that with 64hp, these are cars that do 0 to 60mph in 8s... Imagine what it would do with 3 times more power....

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:33

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This needs to become a thing. Unlimited 600cc class.

BlackLab > lonestranger 09/20/2014 at 20:36

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Kei cars are cool. I don't understand how we can allow motorcycles on the road and yet not important cars because of 'crash regulations.' Bob Lutz was once explained just moving from 2 wheels to 4 wheels with steel protection is roughly 4x as safe. No doubt cars are 32x as safe as motorcycles (per 100,000 miles driven) but 4x is still much safer..

I have little doubt that kei cars are safer then the caged motorcycles that Lutz and GM sold to third world countries.

Atlantian > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:38

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Mad Mike Whiddett is putting a 1000+ hp (at minimum) rotary powerplant in a lightened NC Miata.

I don't know how that will turn out, but he's had a history of driving cars with way too much horsepower for any chassis/setup (mostly Mazda derived).

I'm not saying that I have anywhere close to the same talent, but if it can be done, it can be imitated to some degree of success. I want a smaller car because the closest venues to drive or drift in Oregon are go kart tracks that allow full size cars, and I would feel way more comfortable in a small car than a sedan (those things do better drifting at super-speedways like Irwindale).

Besides, I think you would agree that sports cars are better when they feel like you're "wearing them" rather than when you feel like you "walk into it".

ecoliguy > Rick Allen's Left Arm 09/20/2014 at 20:41

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My neighbor has a Cappuccino and I'm super jealous. It's the perfect car for Okinawa (as long as the AC works). I think you have to remove the turbo upgrade every 2 years to pass inspection since that'd bump you out of the Kei class (which means $200 or so in extra annual road tax depending on your prefecture)... or find a friendly mechanic who'll ignore it.

zipfuel > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:52

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I figured I must be wrong and they were relatives with similar tail lights or something. Folding hardtop does not usually equal track car...

bariki > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:53

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FWIW, the only reason to buy/drive a Kei car is if you live in Japan and want to save on car taxes and tires.Unless you've got $40,000 to spend on a Caterham 160.

And if good luck fitting inside a Cappucino if you're bigger than 5'10"...

Frosted > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:53

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Fuck me I want a kei car.

Flavien Vidal > Atlantian 09/20/2014 at 20:55

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Sure it can be done and will be seen burning tires in wide parking lots with redbull banners everywhere... it's just not what I'm interested in. I like my cars to actually still manage to do what they were originally built for: go around narrow japanese mountain roads and still be fun play with in tiny japanese city streets....

This is a Cappuccino with 130hp... WAY enough for daily, and 100hp is most likely more adapted for an enjoyable daily driver that can still attack racetracks and touges

Doug Nash > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 20:59

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Dayum! That's twice as much power, and half the weight of a Miata!

gglen > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:05

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I've always wondered what hp the 660cc units they use can be upped to?

Z16Zach > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:10

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I've seriously given thought importing a Beat or Cappuccino, but didn't want to go through the process of actually doing so.

Apache1234657 > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:12

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kei cars are cool ive seen a few in my country but not turbo 4wd ones

Flavien Vidal > gglen 09/20/2014 at 21:12

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200hp can reached on heavily modified engines... Most "time atack" sports keis are around 120 to 150hp...

Flavien Vidal > bariki 09/20/2014 at 21:15

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I'm 6"2 and fit decently... It's built well enough so that I can even heel and toe without problems. The key here is to change the steering wheel for a smaller one or even install one of those removable steerings. That is actually a usefull features on those car as getting in and out of the car make you look rather ridiculous. But yes, I'm 180lbs for 6'2 and I fit just fine.

lonestranger > BlackLab 09/20/2014 at 21:15

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Except that it's not merely due to crashworthiness. Any car sold new in the U.S. must meet a raft of federal requirements including, but not limited to, such things as 5 mph bumpers, DOT-approved lighting (including CHMSLs, dispersed headlight pattern, and reflex reflectors), driver and passenger supplemental restraints, exhaust emission requirements, fuel system emission requirements, noise emission requirements, and more.

Kei cars are mandated to be within a maximum length, width, weight, engine displacement, horsepower, and passenger capacity. It's cost-prohibitive to engineer a car that meets both Japan's kei regulations and the regulations of another country such as the U.S.

Atlantian > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:16

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I agree, I'm not one to require more power to "fix" issues with lap times or performance.

But you bringing up power to fun ratio just underlines how lightness correlates closely to efficiency in all aspects.

Flavien Vidal > bariki 09/20/2014 at 21:17

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And sports keis are more than just a way to pay a bit less for your shaken. While I would never buy a normal Kei car, a sports Kei is TONS of fun to drive without the annoyement of having a normal sized car in the tiny tiny mountain roads that are here in Japan

hismiths > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:18

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How old would a Kei car have to be to bring into the US. What do older models ( the old one's must really be cute) sell for?

Flavien Vidal > hismiths 09/20/2014 at 21:20

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25 year old like every other car. You have to wait 2 years to start importing Cappuccinos and Beats, 3 years for AZ-1s... Cappuccinos prices start around 2000$ up to 10000$, Beats are a bit cheaper but not by much, they are also slower stock and AZ-1s start at 5 or 6000$ and prices go up into the 20000$....

Flavien Vidal > Atlantian 09/20/2014 at 21:22

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a minimum of power is required for me to have fun... Didn't buy a Corvette while in nort america for nothing haha, but these cars should not have too much power or I'm pretty sure they would be plain dangerous.

Flavien Vidal > Apache1234657 09/20/2014 at 21:22

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4WD turbo keis are rarely raced here... The most raced ones are the ones pictured and they are all either FWD or RWD

Atlantian > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:24

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I would go from 0-jail in 4 seconds with a Corvette, so that's what I think about too much power :P

I can't be trusted with 'em.

hismiths > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:43

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What's out there in the Land of the Rising Sun that's old enough? I live in the Hawaii beach town of Kailua-Kona, and would love something Cappuccino like ... something with open or convertible top, but not modern looking like so many pictured. Thanks for your post BTW.

hismiths > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 21:45

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Cappuccinos I know, Beats and AZ1 I am clueless ... dontchya just love Japanese home market marque names.

Flavien Vidal > hismiths 09/20/2014 at 22:00

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In term of "sports keis" nothing... There are only 4 sports keis (RWD with the Cappu, AZ-1 and Beat, then FWD with the Coppen) and they are all under 25 years old for now...

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 22:01

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Coolest thing I've seen all week.

Eric Sean Delaney > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 22:34

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I saw a Honda Beat in London last year, I've always kind of had an interest in it, but seeing one in person made me want one. I love the cooler Kei cars out there.

Flavien Vidal > Eric Sean Delaney 09/20/2014 at 22:44

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Keep in mind the Beat is a NA car and therefore is A LOT slower than cappus. They are still lots of fun, but a lot slower too... A stock Cappu will do 0 to 60 in about 8s, while a stock Beat will do it in over 12s... Very different cars...

hismiths > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 22:52

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Is there snything in the Kei catagory old enough that has open top or convert. Don't really want sporty, want funky and odd, any Kei jeeps?

Flavien Vidal > hismiths 09/20/2014 at 23:10

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The Hondas S500 or S600 come to mind and would do the trick... But they are getting a bit expensive nowaday

bariki > Flavien Vidal 09/20/2014 at 23:12

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But you do admit you had to modify your car for it to fit correctly . Then again, I had to do the same thing for my MR2... Can you wear a helmet without it touching the ceiling, though? That, I doubt.