I did a drive tour in Japan

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12) 05/20/2019 at 20:24 • Filed to: None

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All I learned is that I badly need an NSX. I t’s a bigger badder MR2 and I cannot live without one. There’s o ne for sal e in aus, purple, targa, manual, perfect. 160k. I could loan that but I shouldn’t. I will never be happy.

Legit the guys at fun2drive were fantastic. I drove an R34, NSX and spent most of the day in a modified RX7. They took us through heaps of initial d sections, let us go hectic in some parts, day was completely worth it. The scenery was insane and that wasn’t even the p oint.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nauraushaun 05/20/2019 at 20:28

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What was the total cost for the day? What was insurance like for that? And did you need to do anything special for a drivers license over there? I didnt know this was a thing that I wanted to do but now I do haha. 

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Nauraushaun 05/20/2019 at 20:35

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Yea, but you drove a RE Aemeiya RX7 . Not just any RX7.

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Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Nauraushaun 05/20/2019 at 21:05

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Which was your least favorite and why?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Nauraushaun 05/20/2019 at 21:26

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I DEMAND MORE PHOTOS OF THE BLACKBIRD IMITATION !!!!

JeepJeremy > Nauraushaun 05/20/2019 at 23:37

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WOW! These are awesome photos! Those are super rad cars!!!

Nauraushaun > JeepJeremy 05/21/2019 at 02:27

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Thanks :) 

Nauraushaun > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) 05/21/2019 at 02:35

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Don’t ask me that.

The R34. The Bayside blue one is beautiful but I drove the other one and it sucked. Just feels like a big fat sedan with a lot of power. It felt heavy and unwieldy. All the power was at the top end and so largely out of reach. It didn’t feel sporty at all.

Accentuated because I drove it directly after the NSX which is especially low and lively and raw. Also I’m more of a sports car guy so there’s that. It felt like a heavier Evo.

I also suspect the grey one wasn't performing as well as it should've. Seemed to lack boost though it was quick when you really got on it. 

We were in two groups for the day, ours had the rx7, Porsche turbo and the blue gtr. I didn’t want to rub it in to the gtr driver, but I think he noticed he had by far the least exciting car of the 3 - though everyone expected it to be the star.

Nauraushaun > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 05/21/2019 at 02:35

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Haha of course ;) I sat in it and gave it a rev but didn’t drive. It was loud as and crackled constantly on idle. Very mean.

Nauraushaun > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 05/21/2019 at 02:36

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Haha I didn’t even know! Thanks!

I thought it was just some kit. 

Nauraushaun > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/21/2019 at 02:42

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It would’ve been much cheaper with just the 6 hour drive in one car. Adding the other two short drives almost doubled it. I paid to get in that nsx and I’ve no regrets.

It was 80,000 yen including their own insurance cover. Tolls and fuel is extra, probably another 10,000 yen to cover those probably a bit less . Again that’s cheaper if you cut out the earlier drives. I paid 4,000 yen to get there and back from Tokyo. You’ll have to convert that to your currency ;)

It wasn't cheap but thankfully I can afford it, and I'll never regret it. It was so much better than those photos can possibly convey. The scenery was ridiculous, the roads are the best I've ever driven, and the way that rx7 behaved was something else. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 03:47

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worth every cent though

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 06:34

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*sploosh*

PG; the scalpel wielder > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 06:36

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glad to see the nsx still going. great car to drive fast .

me in 2014...

i paid extra to chase the owner in his 500hp Legacy wagon.

Nauraushaun > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/21/2019 at 08:44

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Oh and you need an international driver's permit. But that's just an official translation of your existing license. You just apply for it and it gets mailed

Nauraushaun > PG; the scalpel wielder 05/21/2019 at 08:55

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Omg that's so cool! Thanks for posting! 

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 10:54

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Well, I had to ask. Clearly the NSX was your favorite - and really, least favorite here is probably more of a “just didn’t enjoy it as much” kind of thing vs “well, the car that really sucks is XXXXX.”

That’s interesting about the R34s. I wonder if you had driven the blue one as well, how it would’ve compared. I’ve always imagined that R34s do feel like heavy sedans, but with power always accessible. Regardless, I’m super envious as all of these cars give me the good feels.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 12:15

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The kit is based off the JGTC car. Sexy car. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 15:07

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I’ve had an IDP before and yeah it was a super simple process to get that. I will research it more but I know US drivers licenses sometimes have peculiar issues outside the US, even with an IDP. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 15:28

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80k yen is like $700 or so which isn’t bad at all. Especially since just doing one car is probably like half that. Definitely something I’d consider!

Nauraushaun > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/21/2019 at 17:27

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:) 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Nauraushaun 05/21/2019 at 18:48

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That is awesome! I didn’t know this existed, but it’s a stellar business model. This has got to be  the best way to tour Japan.

Nauraushaun > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 05/22/2019 at 21:14

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I agree completely. I did some thinking about it during the day, I think their biggest asset is actually the area and the roads themselves. Acquiring the cars isn’t so hard or expensive, especially if you start with the older/cheaper stuff first and move up to new NSX/Ferrari/Porsche territory once you’ve got some money.

The real success of theirs is the area they’re in, with all the scenery, roads and Initial D heritage.

That said, if the roads weren’t half as good I’d still pay to drive those cars in Japan. But the roads are the real star.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Nauraushaun 05/22/2019 at 22:46

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It’s too easy for them. That really wouldn’t be a bad idea around me with some of the famous roads people travel to drive on . I wonder if anyone’s doing that already... hmm.

I really hope I get to visit Japan and do something like you did. S o cool. Someday!

Nauraushaun > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 05/23/2019 at 00:02

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Haha, hey maybe! Assuming you’re American, get a couple cheap ‘Vettes or something and go from there.

Hey it’s not that far out of reach ;) A few thousand dollars for flights and bookings, some effort figuring out how the hell to get around, and you’re there!

I didn’t mention that I was staying in Tokyo which is about 2 hours away, so there was some stress after a *very* early start, trying to figure out how to catch the bus I wanted. But it all worked out.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Nauraushaun 05/23/2019 at 11:22

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I am American. I live in the blue ridge mountains. People come from all around to drive on the B lue Ridge Parkway, tail of the dragon, and such roads. It would certainly be a marketable business.

My current financial situation is holding me back from affording vacationing outside the country, but I am working on it! Maybe if I clone this drive tour  business model!

And yeah that’s a bit of a challenge with buses in foreign countries, I’m sure! I was somewhat overwhelmed by the bus system in Washington D.C. when up t here and that’s in English.