[net.travel] Buy a Car in Japan?

ecl@hocsj.UUCP (10/23/84)

Can anyone give me some information on buying a Toyota in Japan?  I want to
buy a new Toyota, but since I'll be going to Japan in April/May, I was
wondering if it would be cheaper to buy it there and have it shipped back.

Has anyone out there ever done this?  Is it cheaper?  (I'm thinking of a
a fairly basic car--a Corolla Deluxe or Corolla LE.)

					Evelyn C. Leeper
					...ihnp4!hocsj!ecl

boi@uicsl.UUCP (10/24/84)

Cars in Japan have their steering on the right which probably would not
be very convenient over here. Also, lots of pollution control equipment.
As far as I know, prices in Japan for the same model tend to be slightly
cheaper than in the U.S., however, to get a car registered in Japan you
have to pay horrendous fees (called shakken). 
So overall, it's probably not a very good idea.