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It will probably work, thanks to some Japan-specific quirks: every two years, cars are subject to a "tax and inspection" fee that can run up to $1500, which cau

It will probably work, thanks to some Japan-specific quirks: every two years, cars are subject to a "tax and inspection" fee that can run up to $1500, which causes a lot of people to just buy a new car instead when it comes around. Also, Japanese tax law encourages frequently buying company cars and letting employees use them as their main vehicle, in lieu of additional salary. So Japan already gets old cars off the road very quickly. (Note: I don't think this is a great system, and it's pretty obviously a hidden subsidy for the Japanese auto industry, but it does have the helpful side effect of ensuring that almost all cars on the road in Japan are fairly new and have the newest features)

Scoundreller 7y ago
Seems to have worked great for the Japanese auto industry: they focussed on resale value (aka: long term reliability).
- filoleg 7y ago
  I bet it might have something to do with the fact that there is a way way bigger car market outside of Japan, thus making the focus on long-term reliability perfectly logical in terms of maximizing sales.
- azernik 7y ago
  Specifically, most Japanese used cars are exported abroad, since the inspection criteria are quite stringent when it comes to condition and features. So the cars are basically broken in by Japanese drivers, and then live the rest of their lives in Indonesia or China.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    Or in Western Europe. I imported two top of the line cars for a very low fee in the past from Japan. Both had super low mileage and were a fraction of what I'd pay for the same vehicles here. The websites typically look super sketchy but they're legit, you may have to twiddle headlights and other details to get it to pass inspection locally. Important to check if there have been recalls that have not been applied to the car you are interested in and to make sure that you have a good idea of the tax and registration fees in your intended country of destination before pulling the trigger. Luxury European cars (MB, BMW, Audi) in Japan are typically LHD so no problem there, but beware of buying Japanese vehicles there, there is a good chance they are RHD.
SECProto 7y ago
> Note: I don't think this is a great system, and it's pretty obviously a hidden subsidy for the Japanese auto industry, but it does have the helpful side effect of ensuring that almost all cars on the road in Japan are fairly new and have the newest features I dunno, I live in a province in Canada with no auto industry. We have an inspection every two years, license plate renewals every two years, mandatory insurance at all times. The costs end up being almost identical (I've owned a car in both places). The people I know who have had issues are mostly due to emissions and lack of maintenance - failing to fix a rusted out exhaust line, alignment out, rusted out body, etc. My car in Japan was 16 years old and passed with the minimum fees. I do know lots of people in Japan who replaced their car just because it got a bit old, but it wasn't because it didn't pass inspection. It was because they thought it wouldn't pass.

Scoundreller 7y ago

Seems to have worked great for the Japanese auto industry: they focussed on resale value (aka: long term reliability).

filoleg 7y ago
I bet it might have something to do with the fact that there is a way way bigger car market outside of Japan, thus making the focus on long-term reliability perfectly logical in terms of maximizing sales.
azernik 7y ago
Specifically, most Japanese used cars are exported abroad, since the inspection criteria are quite stringent when it comes to condition and features. So the cars are basically broken in by Japanese drivers, and then live the rest of their lives in Indonesia or China.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  Or in Western Europe. I imported two top of the line cars for a very low fee in the past from Japan. Both had super low mileage and were a fraction of what I'd pay for the same vehicles here. The websites typically look super sketchy but they're legit, you may have to twiddle headlights and other details to get it to pass inspection locally. Important to check if there have been recalls that have not been applied to the car you are interested in and to make sure that you have a good idea of the tax and registration fees in your intended country of destination before pulling the trigger. Luxury European cars (MB, BMW, Audi) in Japan are typically LHD so no problem there, but beware of buying Japanese vehicles there, there is a good chance they are RHD.

SECProto 7y ago

> Note: I don't think this is a great system, and it's pretty obviously a hidden subsidy for the Japanese auto industry, but it does have the helpful side effect of ensuring that almost all cars on the road in Japan are fairly new and have the newest features I dunno, I live in a province in Canada with no auto industry. We have an inspection every two years, license plate renewals every two years, mandatory insurance at all times. The costs end up being almost identical (I've owned a car in both places). The people I know who have had issues are mostly due to emissions and lack of maintenance - failing to fix a rusted out exhaust line, alignment out, rusted out body, etc. My car in Japan was 16 years old and passed with the minimum fees. I do know lots of people in Japan who replaced their car just because it got a bit old, but it wasn't because it didn't pass inspection. It was because they thought it wouldn't pass.