13Beast

Definitely agree with the communication factor letting things down. Sure, it could have been a small and easy repair, but you would want to know for sure, so why take the risk. Let me know whats at Knightsports - take some pictures and post them up in the forum!

The restoration none thing - is that because most Japanese panel shops are quite sub-standard in repairing cars? What car are you thinking of getting? When are you thinking of buying? I'll be shopping around the August/September mark, once I've saved some more coin.

Lmfao. Quite the comedian. I nearly fell off my chair laughing while reading that one

Yeah I understand. And yes, they chew fuel like a bear. But my impression has been, at least from the goo-net site etc, that you can get just about anything performance and Japanese mid-90's for under 800,000 yen (and often a lot cheaper). MR2's, Fairlady's, Supra's, GT-R's, RX-7's, EVO's... They can't automatically all be dogs can they? Or am I only seeing the dregs on these sites?

I disagree... Read up on the FD's, and they are a substantially more reliable and incredibly advanced rotary-powered car than what Mazda has ever produced. Don't forget the 24-hour Hardie-Ferodo race at Bathurst either... They consistently won several years in a row, while plenty of cars DNF'd. I've owned 2 FC's and also restored a 1971 Series 1 Rx-2. They have always been my first love. They can last for ever if you treat them right. Not to mention deliver breathtaking performance. It's surprisingly addictive to be pulling close to 9000rpm on almost every gearshift. Also, I'm a firm believer they are relatively inexpensive once you weigh up the cost of parts/rebuilds and of course modifying. Less things to go wrong... no head, cams etc to replace. I owned a '32 GT-R (and whose to say they aren't all due for engine rebuilds too) and that was a costly car to own. Especially once you get a later model with Brembos, and it comes time to replace the discs... Pricey... And 11 hours to change a turbo. Not fun. Of course, that's the price you pay. No performance car should be considered cheap to own. There are always extra costs that comes with that enjoyment of owning such a vehicle. I'd imagine here in Japan, parts would be quite cheap for rotors. With plenty of new parts (i.e. rotor housings etc) to be sourced via Mazda HQ in Hiroshima. I'd trust the Jap rotary tuners over some of the Aussie ones too...

Really? I have seen plenty going for around the 300-600,000 mark. Nice, clean examples with well under 100,000 kms and few aftermarket goodies. Seen a few nice, clean, low kms series 8's sneaking in under the 800,000 mark too. Same with S15's. A few Spec-R's are coming in below the 700,000 mark now. Of course, these are all goo-net prices. I would imagine they could even be cheaper elsewhere. One question - why the hell are Supra RZ's so expensive? and MR-2 GT's so cheap?

Ha ha. You could be right This is probably a question for a mazda forum, but I don't suppose you know where RE Amemiya and Knightsports are located? Wonder if they'd have some cars for sale... Or is it only the smaller operators I should be checking out?

Yeah definitely sounds like a plus to thru a workshop, plus it could be a good way to meet other enthusiasts. Besides, I'll need to find a tuning shop to work on the car anyways, so can kill two birds with one stone. What's the servicing and parts costs like here? Comparable to back in Australia? (ie $60-70 an hr labor) Car-wise, I'll be cruising around, and would love to get into some circuit or touge racing. Am leaning towards a late-model FD, although a 32/33 Gtr might tempt me, my only concern is costs of repairs on a gtr is significantly higher than an rx7. Owned a 32 back home, and remembered how expensive labor-wise it was to replace a blown turbo, not to mention the cost of replacing a motor if it goes. They are getting on in years too, but I still have a big soft spot for them. Matsuyama is close to Hiroshima; the ancestral home of Mazda. Does this mean I'm in the right part of Japan to find a rotary workshop with some nice modified FD's for sale?

Oh, and does becoming the "pet gaijin" of a local tuning shop entail any perks or side benefits? Cheap parts/servicing etc etc?

Thanks for those links. What makes you mention the last one (JIN) as seeming a little dodgy? To find a modified car, is sourcing it through a tuning shop usually the best way? They often work on and service, but also buy and sell plenty of vehicles on the used/modified market? I've seen plenty of big car-yards about the place, but very few with anything performance-wise. Perhaps I should be looking for the tuning shops? What do you think of the www.goo-net.com website for sourcing cars? That's what I have been using mostly to find cars for sale about Japan and check prices etc.

Definitely. Unfortunately, the cars I have my eye on with no shaken, are quite highly modified. How'd you go sourcing cars from yahoo? Is this the japanese yahoo auction site? I'm presuming you are very savvy with reading/speaking Japanese to be able to do that?

Thanks mate. Much appreciated! I will scout around the local area and see what I can rustle up. Also, I've heard that when you see the advertised price of a vehicle, usually there is another 200,000 yen on top that you must be prepared to pay for - i.e. insurance (which is compulsory) and various other taxes/charges that are incurred when you purchase a car. I'm aware of Shaken, and the annual vehicle tax every May, but what else is included in the costs to budget for when buying my first car here? Is it best to only shop for a car with a valid shaken? Or can a car with no shaken, be bought for a good price and a shaken sourced on my part relatively cheaply?

You sound quite experienced in these matters of sourcing carparks without work finding out So if I was to go elsewhere, is it simply a matter of approaching the owner/company of a neighbouring apartment building? Or do I approach the government - say the Prefectural Office? Is there somewhere I can actually check on the web or call? I have a good Japanese friend of mine I can get to translate/call if need be. I've already asked her about the carpark thing and she has no clue. But she is happy to help with the language barrier

Well, that was the plan. My only question about getting the carpark is - my accommodation is through Leo Palace, and it is leased through my work (AEON). If I was to apply for a carpark through Leo Palace) would that somehow get back to my work? Or am I able to approach Ehime prefecture city hall and apply that way? There are TONS of empty carparks around where I live. Not sure if they are connected to adjoining apartment buildings or what, but there is a giant, dirt/gravel roped off parking area about 50 metres from my house, which is never more than 1/3 full, and the same cars park there day-in, day-out, so I don't think there is an issue with scarcity of parking where I live. The only issue is going about organising a carpark without my work knowing...

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely head down there. I was in Okayama yesterday for training, so I'm used to traveling long distance throughout West Japan. It's kind of unavoidable really. Times like this, I wish I had a set of wheels though... Would make the trip a lot more memorable! If only AEON would let us teachers own cars

It is an express train. Not the shinkansen. One or two below it in speed. Like I said before, there are no shinkansen on or servicing Shikoku. After all, it is the least populous of the 4 main islands... Okayama is hardly far. When its 11 hours to Tokyo, Okayama seems awful close...

So where would I look to purchase them from? Is there a website to purchase from? Apologies for all the noobish questions

No shinkansen to Shikoku, only local trains service here. Ferries will be slower, and likely more expensive. Don't think Okayama has a port neither.

I know Osaka (Kansai) to Okayama is 3hrs 15 mins. Not too sure how far Tokyo to Osaka is by shinkansen - a lot quicker than 3 hrs I think. So maybe 5 hrs or less total traveling time? Anyone know?

Sounds good. I'll be headed up on the Sunday if anyone is interested in going. Give me a holler.

Coming from Matsuyama, its about 2hrs 45mins to JR Okayama. Would I need to keep going PAST Okayama to hit JR Yoshinaga? Or will it be before I hit Okayama (coming via local train from Matsuyama/Shikoku)? How far out of Okayama is it time-wise via train? I might check it out if its not too difficult to get to.

basically you will call everybody surname-san. and they will call you surname-san unless they get confused and call you first name-san. unless you get them into bed in which case go nuts and shorten her first name and add chan. or if you're gay you might use kun. I'm not sure, never done any dudes in japan..... Classic! ROFL! You should write Japanese travel/language guides! Best explanation I have heard yet of honorifics.

Over Golden Week, I stayed in Kochi Youth Hostel. Also, the JYH in Tokushima. Both were very nice. The Kochi one is a little far to walk into the city, but you can easily drive or ride your pushie in. The Tokushima one also, is a little ways out, but situated directly on a beach park with some nice views and a relaxing vibe. Both were run by very lovely people, and were very spacious rooms with nice furnishings. Pretty cheap too - about 3000 yen a night from memory.

Speaking of snow gear, I've heard the Japanese often trade up their gear each year to have the best and latest. Where can I get my hands on cheap, hardly-used, good-condition ski gear that may be a season or two old? I need to buy gear for this season.

Hi, Talking about Jap Police and road laws - what's the deal with speeding here? Do they have mobile multinovas? Fixed speed cameras on major roads/highways, or cops with radar guns? Do I need to be cautious when and where I put the foot down? How do I have fun on the road here, without getting pinned for speeding?