Hey Dixie! You need a Japanese Micro Van! [Warning: Car Related Thread]

[Bill]

https://jalopnik.com/im-importing-a-...s-a-1846177170

I'm Importing A Second Car From Japan Because Kei Vans Are Ridiculously Cheap

Mercedes Streeter
Wednesday 4:00PM



For the past few weeks I’ve been on a quest to import a Honda Beat from Japan. There are some unique challenges to this like finding a car in the first place and learning how to read auction sheets. Before we even get that first car, my partner and I are already doubling down. We’re now going to import a tiny van, too. Why? Because you can buy one for as little as $30.

When I first found myself wanting a tiny JDM car to import, I actually had a few in mind. The Honda Beat sat at the top of the list, however I also had a long list of wants like the Nissan Figaro and a slew of kei-class vans. But importing a Honda Beat is already going to be the most expensive used car purchase ever for me, so there was no way I could swing a second car, right? Right??

Just for giggles I checked out auctions for Kei-class vans and was immediately blown away by how insanely cheap you can buy an old van for. Whatever number you have in your head, these vans are cheaper than that. And these aren’t junkers, either, but vans that are in daily driver or better condition. Don’t believe me, check out this Suzuki Every:


This condition grade 3.5 van has little wear to speak of and yet it will likely sell at auction for well below $500. In fact, current auction statistics say Suzuki Every vans of this grade and mileage average out to be $170. No, I didn’t drop a zero at the end. That’s a running, driving van for less than the price of a rusted-out roller project car.

The Every isn’t alone. Popular 1990s kei vans command average auction prices that seem absurdly cheap. Check out this grade 3 Honda Acty Street Van that sold in an auction for $30.


That can’t be right. Why are so many tiny vans and trucks so dirt cheap? I even saw a slightly rusty Suzuki Carry sell for a whole $20. People want $7,000 or more for these wildly cheap vans in America. I just don’t understand.

I reached out to my contact over at the Import Guys to see if these auctions are legitimate. Maybe these cars were hiding some evil gremlin? They confirmed that you can in fact buy a running and driving van for a little more than the price of a few cups of coffee. It appears these older vans are incredibly undesirable in Japan. Locals can buy vastly more modern ones, so these have value only to farmers and people living in the United States.

Because of this revelation, my partner and I decided to change plans a bit. Now we’re importing two cars. While one car will be imported through the original DIY method, the other car will be through an importer. Before you start scratching your head, there is reason for it.

Since starting this quest, I’ve heard from a number of readers telling me that there wasn’t a point to handling the import process ourselves. An importer will make the process so painless that we’ll wonder why we even considered doing it ourselves. Many even pointed me to Duncan Imports and advised against doing importation of any kind. After all, by going to Duncan I wouldn’t be buying sight-unseen.

We’re not doing the DIY method because of cost or because of ease — because it’s not that easy — but rather to answer the question of whether regular people like us even have a chance at doing it ourselves. It’s a silly challenge we’re excited to do. We hope to answer questions for others along the way.

The best part about it is, you'll have your new to you van before you get that Elio!

[snide]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit in one of those vans.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by snide

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit in one of those vans.

Get one with a sunroof! My C-5 is a vert because I couldn't fit into a FRC or targa top model. As it is, with the soft top up, if I hit a pothole, my head hits the fabric roof.

[Rob]

Intrigued

[snide]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Get one with a sunroof! My C-5 is a vert because I couldn't fit into a FRC or targa top model. As it is, with the soft top up, if I hit a pothole, my head hits the fabric roof.

That too is why I had a C5 vert.

[Mike Mercury]

[DJ_Critterus]

One of the company commanders in my battalion when I was in Korea had one of those. We all got drunk after a Hash House Harrier run one long weekend and hit it with rattle cans. Yup, it was black with a red stripe..... it was the mini A-team van.

Battalion commander saw it when we went back to work and asked the group of us, "So, just how drunk were you assholes this weekend?"

[Bill]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

One of the company commanders in my battalion when I was in Korea had one of those. We all got drunk after a Hash House Harrier run one long weekend and hit it with rattle cans. Yup, it was black with a red stripe..... it was the mini A-team van.

Battalion commander saw it when we went back to work and asked the group of us, "So, just how drunk were you assholes this weekend?"

Did the battalion commander pity the fools that did the spray painting?

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Did the battalion commander pity the fools that did the spray painting?

He did notice that our eyes were bloodshot for about two days resulting in a memo that we weren't allowed to have any more beer & painting parties.

[Rob]

Step 1 ...

https://aaajapan.com/car?carid=Lsp8vR2vGhPh

Step 2 ...

Put in a bid.....

[Bill]

https://aaajapan.com/car?carid=Lsp8vR2vGhPh

LOL! It's good the previous owner installed a wing to keep the rear wheels on the ground with that smokin' 49hp engine.....especially when it's front wheel drive!

Still, the expected price of $ 800 for a 2013 model with less than 100,000 miles seems nice. I wonder, though, about the availability of parts, and finding a mechanic who knows how to work on it might be problematic as well.

[the new me]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

https://aaajapan.com/car?carid=Lsp8vR2vGhPh

LOL! It's good the previous owner installed a wing to keep the rear wheels on the ground with that smokin' 49hp engine.....especially when it's front wheel drive!

Still, the expected price of $ 800 for a 2013 model with less than 100,000 miles seems nice. I wonder, though, about the availability of parts, and finding a mechanic who knows how to work on it might be problematic as well.

You don't have to worry about the availability of parts, it is a part. It says on the ad "Send your inquiry for this spare part"

[Torqaholic]

As an added benefit when the economy collapses because of all this cheap imported crap and you're starving you can always eat the thing. Probably tastes great with ketchup.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

https://aaajapan.com/car?carid=Lsp8vR2vGhPh

LOL! It's good the previous owner installed a wing to keep the rear wheels on the ground with that smokin' 49hp engine.....especially when it's front wheel drive!

Still, the expected price of $ 800 for a 2013 model with less than 100,000 miles seems nice. I wonder, though, about the availability of parts, and finding a mechanic who knows how to work on it might be problematic as well.

How to work on it? If the engine goes you simply replace it with a 20 horse honda knock off go-kart motor from Harbor Freight.

[MadInNc]

How many "Garf's" will it hold? 30?

Modern Garf car?

He sold Vanna White (Chevy Van) with block extension so he could reach the pedals last year so I'm sure he's looking for a new family car

He also can get a loan on the C4'r

[markids77]

Don't these JDM thingys need to be 25 years old at minimum to be legal for import here?
And what kind of deal is an $800.00 car if shipping and handling runs to the thousands?

[Little Red L98.]

Originally Posted by snide

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit in one of those vans.

I’m in the market for a new truck.

[Strats-N-Vettes]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

Step 1 ...
https://aaajapan.com/car?carid=Lsp8vR2vGhPh
Step 2 ...
Put in a bid.....

I guess you need something to haul gumbo tomatoes??????

[markids77]

Originally Posted by Little Red L98.

I’m in the market for a new truck.

Buy a Smart and put a body kit on it.

[snide]

Originally Posted by Little Red L98.

I’m in the market for a new truck.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39160/...ht-thing-to-do


https://www.thedrive.com/news/34166/...kup-conversion


https://www.thedrive.com/news/34042/...st-pickup-ever


https://www.thedrive.com/news/33718/...ckup-accessory


https://www.thedrive.com/news/39107/...ed-for-charity