It's not incredible, but its modest and I suppose that's what a Volkswagen pick-up truck should be. I was a first time auction buyer and importer to the United States. For a vehicle to be considered a Kei car, it must have the following specifications: The introduction of Kei cars in 1949 provided the following benefits: These incentives alongside the specifications that the trucks have, made them an excellent product for the Japanese population. 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX sells for $138,000, Incredible Group B Rally auction featuring Lancia Delta S4 Stradale, Great used JDM cars you can import to the USA now or next year (part 1). And so we come to the Suzuki Jimny. I probably looked at 100+ different trucks and Taylor was instrumental in helping me make informed decisions on which trucks I should try to bit on and which ones I should probably avoid. No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. Kei cars are cheap to maintain 2. It's unfortunate too, because the Scirocco is a great addition to the family of sport style hatchbacks. First, you must be familiar with significant concepts, so you get your vehicle just the way you want it. How about another Fairlady? is it a jeep? Kei cars are powered by small engines and dont have much weight to carry around, which means theyre very fuel-efficient and produce relatively low emissions. The new A110 is incredible: beautifully designed and packing a turbocharged, petrol, in-line 4, 1.8L engine that can output 249 brake horsepower. O.K. Many of the cars on this list are 90s models from countries like Japan, France and Germany and all of them are relics from automobile history, while others are new models that have been restricted to sale in certain countries. WebIt's no exaggeration to say that Japan is crazy about cars. The GTI-R model didn't end there though, as it was carried onto the N15, whose production ended in 2000. Before this I have never imported any vehicles to NZ let alone one from Japan! Their uniqueness, versatility, and personality have made these small trucks popular with manyJDMenthusiasts. For example, there are cheap, wellpreserved trucks that do not have a title. It's hard to say anything that hasn't been said from other reviewers! It has been a very reliable vehicle and I had over 279,000kms on the clock when I finally had to give the car up. "That's too small!" Import was seamless. They offer big advantages when it comes to insurance thanks to their tiny engines. I have my van now, and its been great. The Ford R200 is an absolute gem that was produced by Ford Europe from 1984 to 1986. Revised front and rear lights mean the Blade Master will stand out from a run-of-the-mill Corolla, but it won't draw attention to itself. Long kept from UK showrooms by safety concerns, they might just keep the city car flame burning. However, this depends on who you are buying it from. Who would not want to know why someone placed a pizza oven on what seems to be anATVwith a long bed? We are getting a lot of questions about Japanese Kei cars from our customers. Nonetheless, the RS200 is a hidden gem that hardly got to see the light of day, however, it is now available for import, although with only 200 produced, it might be hard to find one. Basically, you can have them fitted up to the car (like a lot of other things, Nitrus is one), but they are not to operate while on the street or in a public car park (as the police can still fine you as they have rights in there). He was responsive and supportive through the whole process. Thats not the kei car in its correct environment, though. Just the usual: have an honest mechanic check your truck for any mechanical issues or rust. They are fun, zippy cars that can satisfy anyones driving adrenaline without having to go fast. Steve and his company Carbonaro Pizza Co. decided to go the Kei truck route when choosing what vehicle they could use for their business, but also be unique, and fun for them to drive around. Japan Car Direct made buying a car from Japan dangerously easy. And in October of 1998 length increases again by 100mm and width goes up 80mm. However, if you import your truck as an off-road vehicle with speed limiters, you can legally import any Kei truck without any issue. It just so happens to be a 71-year old idea. You are going back pretty far arent you! These guys are legit!!! Lastly, when considering purchasing a vehicle, you must understand that it must be 25 years or older. The legendary Nissan Skyline series has been around since the 60s, although some of the most popular models come from 1989-1994, which brings up the specific model on this list: the R32. The Audi S1 is the smallest S-series car that Audi has ever made, filling a role as the performance version of the A1. Just picked up my car that I bought through JCD. Yoshiro was a great help. While the car was actually developed by Renault-Nissan, it was refined by Alpine and I must admit, pushing well over 200 horsepower with a 1.8L engine is incredible. He was very quick to respond, and very informative on all my questions. Nonetheless, through the years Kei truck manufacturers have created delirious cars that make these small trucks amazingly fun and unique. I'd rather get hit by a Hijet than just about anything else on American roads. I have my van now, and its been great. The Tourer V trim comes with a twin-turbo engine that has about 280 horsepower, making these cars ultimate sleepers. I hope you know the kei car by now. So. Lastly, it is also part of Japanese culture to service your vehicle regularly. Three stories from 3 different Kei truck owners can best describe what it is like to live and use a Kei truck. Thus far nothing but five stars. Japan was coming from a great catastrophe in 1945, when the United States dropped both Fat Man and Little Boy in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, having a casualty total estimated from 129,000 to 226,000 people. These cars are all under 660cc, meaning theyre far from the most powerful of vehicles. From there on, all is fair game! Ever wondered why there has been a sudden increase in small, righthand drive mini-trucks entering the market? If you are looking to import any vehicle from Japan, I would highly recommend the friendly and knowledgeable staff at JCD. . I have no reservations sending more tens of thousands of dollars for future imports. 106 x 46). Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. They save money at the pump 3. However, if youre not in Japan its unlikely youll be buying a new Kei car, as not many are exported for sale in foreign markets from new. Thats not the kei car in its correct environment, though. It was my first time exporting a vehicle and he walked me through step by step and didn't read moreAwesome experience working with Taylor, he was extremely helpful and patience. Theyre great for commuting in heavy traffic 6. There are even vans and trucks that comply with Kei regulations, for those who need to nip around the city transporting goods. The read moreI used Japan Car Direct's services to import a Nissan Silvia from Japan to Australia. From its history, import status to the United States, to its current love and uses, Kei trucks are becoming more popular every day. Yes, these practical and fun little cars are moving. I would work with Japan Car Direct again and recommend them to anyone. Have you ever seen a 6-foot by 5-foot-wide truck in traffic heading to the Empire State Building? Built upon the Golf MKII, the Volkswagen Golf Rallye is a special trim that was designed in 1989 and included a series of upgrades, but was later discontinued due to an unmarketable price for North America, where Volkswagen was marketed as a low cost brand. The 206kW V6 hatch provides a healthy power increase over the standard four-cylinder engines offered in Australian Corolla models. Mercedes, as well as other manufacturers, successfully lobbied for pass of an car import ban in 1988. Enter the kei car. These 2 at a rural bbq place. But the model is less of a master and more of a jack-of-all-trades, as the car's character is more aligned with a cruiser than with a hot hatch. Their assistance in the auction and bidding process and arranging shipping is top notch. I decided to give these guys a shot and bought a JDM Tesla into the read moreBefore this I have never imported any vehicles to NZ let alone one from Japan! Tiny kei cars have conquered Japan and spread around the world. From March 1990 starts the true Golden Age of the Kei sports cars. Additionally, there are plenty of amazing foreign cars that are either just on the cusp, or years away from being old enough to be legal in the US, so I've collected a list of 10 awesome imports thatwe can drive and 10we can't. Kei cars we love The gear ratios are well chosen for fun driving on real roads but actually it is not a close ratio gear box. The Toyota Celica is a well known, mid-grade sports car from Toyotas 90s era, however, the US never saw the release of the Celica GT4, which included a series of awesome upgrades to the Celica design. I highly recommend Japan Car Direct. I ended up purchasing three mini-trucks, one for myself and two other family members. So let's take a leaf out of Japans book: make the sensible stuff use diddy little engines, leaving the big power outputs for bona fide performance cars. This is because Japanese cars are inspected often. He was very quick to respond, and very informative on all my questions. Mike Festival, owns a 1990 Suzuki Carry 44 with a 4-speed manual transmission. For any business, these types of trucks or vans give a particular character to the individual. Back in 1967 while in Okinawa I bought a 2000, Fairlady and sent it home. I have just ordered my second car from Yoshiro Nakajima at Japan Car Direct. I have no reservations sending more tens of thousands of dollars for future imports. There is just the perfect amount of feedback and feel from the stick as it goes into gear without it being notchy or too easily slipping into gear. Highly recommend JCD! MORE:Escalating the chase buying a car from Japan, part two As for power, the base model 180SX can output about 167 horsepower, which was quick for a car of its class at the time. These are the smallest highway-legal Right hand drive, all the dials in KMs instead of Miles, all the markings on the exterior apart from the name are in Japanese. 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