Job Discussion Forums

Aqua78 · Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 19 Location: St. Paul, MN

If anyone could offer advice about this, I'd really appreciate it!

I'm an inaka-bound JET, and I don't feel at all qualified to shop for a car in Japan. My predecessor has offered to sell me his car. Would you take this offer if you were me?

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1997 Toyota Cavalier (Chevy in America)
2.4 L engine, Automatic
2 door / Driver's side & passenger's side AIRBAGS / Power SUN ROOF / Air Con / power locks-windows-mirrors / fog lights / 4 speaker radio-tape deck
The hood has a noticeable dent (but no paint missing)
Kms: around 75 000
Shaken: Due in Dec. 2003
Price: 200 000 yen NEGOTIABLE
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Also, I've heard some discussion of k-cars vs. white-plate cars, but would appreciate it if someone could clarify this a bit (pros and cons).

What about engine size? The fees are higher for bigger engines, right? Should I shop for a car with a smaller engine than this?

Would leasing be a good idea? (I'm not sure yet if I'll stay for one year or all three.)

This car isn't exactly to my taste and and I'm not crazy about the dent in the hood. However, it IS within my price range and IS already parked at my future apartment. Since I don't speak much Japanese, I think it would be difficult for me to find a car on my own in Japan. Also, I think I'll want a car right away since I'll be surrounded by rice fields and mountains.

I'd love to hear your opinions - Thanks!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Just how much is that shaken? I had a couple of Japanese people look at this ad, and they all said 200,000 yen was too expensive for that many kilometers.

I assume you are going to have a parking space from your predecessor, too. You need it to own a car in Japan. It's the law. How much are you going to pay for THAT?

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

I agree with Glenski; 200,000 is way too much. Used cars in Japan tend to have very little resale value. It seems to me the person you are replacing may be praying on your naivete. Even in the sticks you can find a reliable used car for less than 200,000.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 4:42 am Post subject:

You need to ask this question over on www.bigdaikon.com (or just search the archives there).

A kei car is a smaller car. They're restricted on dimensions and engine size etc. Basically, 660cc or less and under (I hink) 750kg. White plate is anything bigger than that. Kei cars are very cheap to own and run compared to white-plate cars *and you don't need a registered parking space for them*.

For what you've described you shouldn't pay more than 100,000 yen. Or, if you want to take the dent into consideration, about 10,000 yen. Seriously, the car is almost up on shaken and is damaged: it's basically worthless.

Shaken will run to around 80-100,000 yen for two years - there'll be places nearby that offer 80,000 yen deals including complete tune ups, assuming they find nothing wrong with the car. You can get the shaken done yourself if you want. It'll cost a bit under 50,000 yen. Again, the JETs over on big daikon can answer all your questions.

Leasing is a good option if you're not sure what you'll be doing time-wise. You can lease from all sorts of places. Most repair shops can set up a lease for you. You'd be looking at 20-25,000 a month for a near-new kei car and 25-30,000 a month for a (usually slightly older) white-plate car. Leases are *usually* paid month to month (no big initial payments needed) and cover *everything* except petrol, oil and oil filters. Unless the car is under 100,000 yen then, in all honesty, it's cheaper and less hassle to lease over one or two years, rather than buying. Ask the other ALTs in the area, or, yet again, over on bigdaikon.com

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

The others have all given you good advice. A car over 2 litres goes up into a higher bracket cost wise, best to keep below 2 litres. I don't think the price is that high considering the age of it but if I were in your position I would consider a kei car first and upgrade later if need be. However you seem to be a person that wouldn't be content with 660cc of throbbing power Wink

so it may pay to look around. When you arrive ask around, there is bound to be someone in your area who can line you up a cheap car. My first car in Japan was a Nissan Presea sedan 1.8 litre, nice car. Something like that would suit you. Good luck.

Aqua78 · Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 19 Location: St. Paul, MN

Thanks for the replies! (I have searched Big Daikon on this topic, but couldn't find answers to all my questions. Also, I feel better about getting serious advice from this board.) Very Happy

It sounds like I should pass on this car, which I kind of wanted to do anyway. I think my predecessor is counting on me to be clueless. He has been exceptionally nice via email so far - it'll be interesting to see how it continues after this!

With leasing, if *everything* is paid for, you mean including shaken, right? That's what I'll probably do unless I find a great deal on a car I really like (1.8 litre engine sounds perfect).

G Cthulhu · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 12:08 am Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Wait till you come before you buy. Would you buy a car at home without seeing and driving it first?
I got a raw deal by a former teacher too. Not that it was a lot of money (50,000 yen), but the shaken expired 6 weeks later (I knew that) and it was "guaranteed to pass". One look at the car when I got here and I realized it would never pass. People laughed when I told them it wasn`t free.