Blog

From the beginning of April, owners of vehicles, whether they be private or public, get sent a bill: the annual car tax.  This is a time when both the individual or the company re-evaluates whether the car they own is worth keeping for another year, as the tax is not always cheap.  Companies that have… Continue reading March April …. the rush for companies to dump under-used vehicles before the annual car tax

Ever wonder why some cars in the used car auctions have scratches on the mirrors?  Take a look at what is actually very common: very narrow 2 way streets in Japan:

A big impact on importing into New Zealand with the new ESC (electronic stability control) rules, is the impact of vans going to New Zealand.  Now with the rules covering used vans going from Japan to New Zealand, when searching for a van in the used car auctions in Japan, you need to know what… Continue reading Hiace Wagon, ESC (VSC) present in models: TRH229W TRH224W 2016 and vans from December 2017

Well the day is nearly upon us!  March 1st 2020. ESC defined as:   “Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle’s stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding). … Some ESC systems also reduce engine power… Continue reading ESC rule, the day of reckoning for New Zealand imports

Wanna know which car is considered to be the biggest pile of crap?  The 1978 Cadillac Deville.  It came out a year after I was born so I don’t remember much about the existence of this car but I hear that this pile of crap gives you a whopping 6 miles to the gallon.  In… Continue reading The Worst Car Ever?

Sleep, eat and sing.  These are all things you can do in a car. Times Car Share is a popular car rental option with over 230,000 registered users.  My good friend Finn, his real name is Yukio, uses the service quite often.  For many individuals that do not own a car in Japan Times Car… Continue reading Other ways to “RENT” a car

Oh my stars and chicken gizzards!  Who would have thought that I would find a 1956 GMC  Pickup Truck at the Japanese auto auction?  Man!  I don’t think I have seen one my whole life in the U.S.  for over 20 years.  You gotta wonder who owns this truck in Japan and why considering the… Continue reading 1956 GMC Pickup Truck

I flew across the pond to the United States this summer for a couple of weeks.  It was a busy trip as I met with new clients and shared about the Japanese auto auctions.  Most businesses that buy cars from Japan are located on the coasts.  But I was surprised with how many people were… Continue reading America!

The Estima has been one of the go to mini-vans in Japan and other countries.  It’s been a reliable vehicle to haul family, friends and cargo for years.  When the Estima came out in 1990 it wasn’t exactly a huge hit.  When it was introduced in the US there were complaints that a V6 engine… Continue reading Goodbye Estima for now….