Buying and Owning a Car in Japan

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
08/04/2016 at 17:44 • Filed to: None

My 2nd piece for R&T! Really stocked! And yes, that’s how I originally titled the article. Let’s just say I’ll most likely never be any good at finding proper titles, as there’s no way in hell I would have found something as good as that on my own :)

Anyway, I hope you guys like the read!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (22)

My citroen won't start > Flavien Vidal
08/04/2016 at 17:50

If you tell me “Konbini” does not mean this I will not believe you.

Kinja'd!!!

LongbowMkII > Flavien Vidal
08/04/2016 at 17:51

Stoked*

They’ll let anyone write a piece these days. ;)

Congrats.

Ash78, voting early and often > Flavien Vidal
08/04/2016 at 17:52

Great job, Flavien! You actually made reading an article about taxes, fees, and bureaucracy interesting. I have to say...much cheaper than I was expecting. Their insurance is cheaper than the US, as is their registration (in my state, at least, where the tax is based on the value of the car). I though it was going to be something oppressive.

Flavien Vidal > LongbowMkII
08/04/2016 at 18:00

haha, thanks man :)

Flavien Vidal > Ash78, voting early and often
08/04/2016 at 18:07

Thx man! and yes, other than the actual annoyance that can be having to provide an officialy checked proof of parking, it’s not THAT bad. In the US registration is often a one time fee though... If I’m not mistaking, most states have tabs to pay yearly (WA had and I had no car of my own when living in CA so...), most of the time, they are not very expensive. Overall, I think owning a car in Japan is not THAT bad. But it’s not cheap for sure...

DasWauto > Flavien Vidal
08/04/2016 at 20:03

Nice. Travis is doing a good job with R&T.

Flavien Vidal > DasWauto
08/04/2016 at 20:14

He is... His editing even make me look like a good writer haha. In all seriousness though, the quality of articles at R&T is impressive... It’s truly awesome for me to see what I write on this site.

AdverseMartyr > Flavien Vidal
08/04/2016 at 22:31

I haven’t even read past the first paragraph, and I already read one of my fears: a little kei car with an engine the same size as the one in my motorcycle.

A Japanese guy I will be working with in Okinawa was talking about how practical and economical his little econo-box was and how it was the only really viable option from an economics standpoint. I’m pretty sure I had a look of shear terror on my face at the idea of a car with such a miniscule engine.

Flavien Vidal > AdverseMartyr
08/04/2016 at 23:14

Don’t forget one thing though: Not all Keicars were created equal...

I don’t know what will your situation be over there? Single? With wife/Gf? With kids? If you’re single or with your wife only, and budget is an issue, I can’t recommend you enough but to get a Suzuki Cappucino or an Autozam AZ-1. They are a shit load of fun! If you have kids, maybe a Suzuki Alto RS Turbo? I’ve never driven it, but I think it’s as good as you’re goona be able to get it in term of a 4 seater Keicar :)

It’s true, they mostly suck pretty bad. But a few, VERY few (well... 3 really: Suzuki Cappucino, Autozam AZ-1 and Honda Beat, eventhough the beat is quite a bit slower than the other 2) are realy great cars. Granted that you don’t need to carry anything around lol. Witha few bolt-in mods, these cars can push 110-120hp which would make they do a 0 to 60mph in roughly 5s. Yes, FAST.

Kinja'd!!!

In Okinawa or Naha, you can bet your parking will cost you around 150$ per month or so and for a basic Miata, expect to pay around 1300 to 1500$ a year average, in taxes/basic insurance/inspection on top of the parking spot rental.

AdverseMartyr > Flavien Vidal
08/05/2016 at 02:49

I’ve got a wife and a one year old so nothing to exciting in a small car. I’m pretty sure I would have a hard time in a Cappucino (if I’m remembering cars right). I’m 6'2.”

If we get the place we want parking is about $20 a month for 2 spaces (granted, I have no clue how big the two spaces are.

I’m actually planning for a fairly boring car, and a fun two wheels good.

Flavien Vidal > AdverseMartyr
08/05/2016 at 04:23

I’m 6'2 also and it’s not a big deal really... Best fit is by far the Honda Beat (Even Jeremy Clarkson who is close to 6'5 fits perfectly), but the Cappuccino and the AZ-1 are very fine too. For perfect fit, in the Cappuccino, after market thin seats are ideal... Then even a 6'5 person could fit confortably.

As a brand new car, your best bet will be the Suzuki Alto Turbo RS then... It’s available with a manual too. Other than that... meh. In older cars, maybe a Subaru R2 AWD... It’s available with a manual too but they are sort of rare though... Pretty damn freaking cheap though. I used to drive one, they can be fun if you push them...

http://www.goo-net.com/usedcar/spread…

RWS Motorsport > Flavien Vidal
08/05/2016 at 04:25

I don’t really have anything more to say than, awesome article! Enjoyed reading that on my morning tea break (because as we all know, british industry = built on tea)

Ash78, voting early and often > Flavien Vidal
08/05/2016 at 07:38

Yes, we have annual registrations — some states (even high-tax states like Maryland) are just $10/year or so. But Maryland has insanely high taxes almost everywhere else. Alabama (where I live) has VERY low taxes on most things...but our new Honda minivan was ~$700 the first year, ~$600 the second year, and so on. My 2001 VW has been at the minimum registration fee of $31 for a few years now. WOO-HOO! It's the exact opposite of how car taxes work in, say, Singapore, where the taxes go up as the car gets older.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Flavien Vidal
08/05/2016 at 18:23

So awesome - congrats!

RT > Flavien Vidal
08/23/2016 at 23:47

Don’t forget the Alto Works, Minica Dangan ZZ and Mira TR-XX. Though I haven’t driven them myself of course.

As far as modern kei cars go, there’s the Honda S660 - I imagine it would be interesting to drive.

Flavien Vidal > RT
08/24/2016 at 07:45

Sorry, I meant to say the Alto Works. The regular Turbo RS is only available in automatic. And I was trying to focus on cars that are not 25/30 years old.

The Alto Works is the only 4 door kei that you can buy brand new today with a manual and the Subaru r2 is one of the only kei with a manual and interesting from the past 5 or 6 years...

RT > Flavien Vidal
08/24/2016 at 08:03

Ah right, that makes more sense.

As far as brand new sporty kei cars go, I guess there are just two options. S660 (2 door) and Alto Works (4 door).

Flavien Vidal > RT
08/24/2016 at 08:06

Well the Copen and all its variant are also available, buy wrong wheel drive and 2 door so... :)

RT > Flavien Vidal
08/24/2016 at 08:10

And the new model is adorable, I just want to hug it.

Kinja'd!!!

Shame I can hardly fit in these cars, lol.

Flavien Vidal > RT
08/24/2016 at 08:18

You’d be surprised... The best one is the Honda Beat though... Someone measuring 2m would fit without any problem. I’m 188 myself and fit o so easily. As for the new Copen, I only sat in one but again, no problem at all.

The az-1 and the cappuccino are tighter fit but it's still fine by me...

RT > Flavien Vidal
08/24/2016 at 08:29

I’m also around 188. Once tried sitting in a Copen before and my legs kept touching the steering wheel, it was technically a fit but not very comfortable. I think it’s knee-torso ratio which was holding me back or something.

I’d probably be okay in most other kei cars though, they have master space improvisation after all. Really want to try a Beat/AZ-1/Cappuccino one time in my life.

Flavien Vidal > RT
08/24/2016 at 08:45

Honestly, you get used to it and you can get smaller steering which are not a problem in tiny cars like this. It helps a lot...

Kinja'd!!!

(alright, maybe not THIS small, but smaller steering wheels do help a lot. Picture of an AZ-1 BTW...)