Job Discussion Forums

[ssjup81]

Hi all. I was just curious about some things. Is it expensive to have a car in the Tokyo area? As I mentioned sometime back, I was planning on not renewing my contract with my current employer and try searching for a new job (Tokyo area) or either just head home. I know it wouldn't be cost effective to ship the car back home, but if I do manage to find a job by next month *fingers crossed*, I have a car to deal with. I'll actually own it. It's an older car, though. A 2003 Suzuki Aerio 1.5XR with 4WD that was originally supposed to have been paid off and leased off until April 2016, but I'm going to manage to pay it off by March of this year. I still owe like 25,000 yen on it.

What's the procedure of owning a car down there? Will there be a problem since this is an older car? Personally it isn't "old" to me. I'm from the US. Most people I know keep cars until they just don't work anymore. Seems here, people want to buy a new car after 9 or 10 years...so I've been told.

My father's car, for instance, is nearly 30 years old. It's a 1986 Volvo. It still runs nicely...only downside is that the a/c and heater don't work anymore. Other than that, it still runs and gets you from Point A to Point B with no problems at all.

For me back home, I was driving a 2001 Ford Tracker and it still works now. Since I'm not home, my father uses that from time to time. He goes back and forth between the Volvo and the Tracker.

I'm sorry if I sound like a newb, but I am when it comes to car ownership in Japan.

[rxk22]

Well if you can still get parts, you should be find repairing it. Most people cycle through cars here (Kanto) every 5-7 years it seems. As people are wealthier here, so they like the status that comes with a new car.

Depends on where you live in Kanto. In rural areas, parking is either free, or 2000yen a month. When you get closer to Tokyo, you will start seeing parking space prices approach 10,000yen a month.

I drove my car in the US for years and years. Nothing wrong with that. My only concern would be that your dad's MPG must be pretty bad at this point.

[ssjup81]

He uses the Volvo now-a-days for short distances as it probably doesn't have good gas mileage, like you said, compared to more modern cars. Also, the mileage was low on it when he received it from his older brother a few years back. It wasn't driven very much or very often. The km on the Suzuki is about 22,000 something at the moment so the mileage isn't very high either.

As for the job in question that I am truly hoping I get since it sounds nice and ideal without the hassles of dealing with eikaiwa silliness and rules, I would have to live in West Tokyo or have easy access to the stations of either Ikebukuro, Ekoda, Nishi Shiroi, Hanakoganei, Kamikitadai, Nakanosakaue, or Kitaurawa. If I'm not mistaken, isn't Kitaurawa like a stop away from Ikebukuro via the Yamanote line? Never mind, I should just look it up. lol

So yeah...those areas. I'm trying to figure if it's worth keeping this car. It's such a nice car. I love it...but is 2003 in Japan really considered "old"? If in Tokyo, I highly doubt I'd be driving it very much anyway since I doubt I'll be in a rural area since I plan on finding my own place this time and not have to put up with the disadvantages of a company sponsored place and already have a contact.

Thanks for the parking issue, though. I know for here with this apartment, parking is included with the rental fee. It is something to think about.

[jkozera]

jw which eikaiwa do you work for? I am applying for a few just to get my foot in the door over there. Parking in tokyo for only 10,000 yen sounds super cheaper. i live in the west coast and I know in like San Fransisco, i paid like $35 A DAY to park so for only like $100 US to park, sounds like a deal to me