[net.legal] Would it pay to buy a car in Japan?

lepreau@utah-cs.UUCP (Jay Lepreau) (03/15/84)

Seems that my wife is not going to put up with driving half-dead VW bugs
much longer, now that we're no longer students, and she's got new car
fever.  The cars that are contenders are all Japanese, but I am very
reluctant to pay the outrageous prices and get the ridiculous options
they want around here.  I understand that the reason for our lousy
bargaining position is simply the import quotas.  So my question is: is
it possible to buy the car in Japan and get both a car and a
sight-seeing trip, if not a vacation, for the same bucks?  Seems that
some years ago people used to do this sort of thing with European-made
cars all the time.  The factors I can think of offhand are
legality and weird restrictions, meeting EPA requirements, warranty problems,
cost of purchase abroad, shipping costs, and possible delays.

The very strong dollar we've had lately, although it has dropped about
7% in the last couple weeks apparently, should help too.  Another
question:  when will the recent drop affect prices on the lots here?  Or
won't it affect it at all, assuming the price is reflecting demand and
artificially-low-supply, and not cost?

Thanks for your hopefully informed thoughts!

Jay Lepreau  {harpo,hplabs}!utah-cs!lepreau, lerpeau@utah-cs.arpa

werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/16/84)

NO GOBBLING HERE !!!

don't know about Japan, but I quickly checked my files for SHIPSIDE,
which gets you a car, byke, moped, bicycle of most any kind, tex-free,
and waiting for you at the Rotterdam airport.

They arrange for insurance, and transportation back to US, or resells
it for you in Europe.  I remembered that they also had Japanese cars,
BUT the (outdated) catalogue says "European models only".

They have a NY office: 609 Fifth Av. NYNY 10017 (212)755-2080
where you can get the latest info.

BTW:  when the Japs (no insult intended) entered the European market
	with their American models in the 70's, they sold little.
	So they retrenched and came out with (supposedly better)
	models a few years later.  But you might not get them with
	the neccessary features to be able to import them to the US.

Now why not go for a Mercedes or Posche, while at it?  Seems like you
can always resell it back here after a fun-vacation making a small
profit.  Of course, you need to pay the full purchase price, but your
local credit-union might be willing to finance - mine was.

Now why was it that I prefer an OLD car over a NEW one ???
Ahhh, yes - scratches don't give me ulcers ....

	werner@ut-ngp	{.UUCP or .ARPA}