OT: JDM Vehicles

[jlwdm]

In May I was heading up to Hallett Raceway in Oklahoma and followed a Toyota Soarer for about 100 miles. He slowed down at one point looking right at a car in the center lane - a right hand drive Honda. Pretty cool seeing two right hand drive cars out on the freeway near no big cities.

Jeff

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

the other thing to consider when living out in the mountains is what a real drag it is to drive an underpowered vehicle uphill and on highways.

this is my biggest concern when buying an "adventure vehicle" - the bottom line is that, generally speaking to get to all of the fun adventure stuff usually involves extended highway driving and traversing mountain passes, etc - and it can really, really suck to have to do a 6 hour highway drive in a vehicle that is straining to hold 70mph and bogs down when the road turns uphill.

my guess is that these vans have decent offroad prowess, but are a drag to drive on the road to get to the fun.

That’s why I haven’t fixed the speedometer in my FJ80 don’t know how fast I’m going, don’t care, and definitely am not speeding.

[ScottW]

Also need to consider availability of parts, to the extent that they may differ from USDM cars. Usually chassis stuff like brakes & suspension is not too bad to sort out. More investigation might be prudent if it has an engine that was never deployed in large quantities in this country.

[jtakeda]

Originally Posted by ScottW

Also need to consider availability of parts, to the extent that they may differ from USDM cars. Usually chassis stuff like brakes & suspension is not too bad to sort out. More investigation might be prudent if it has an engine that was never deployed in large quantities in this country.

I wouldn’t worry about the engine components. The window seals, lights, etc. those are the annoying things to replace and much more likely to replace.

[William]

Originally Posted by ScottW

Also need to consider availability of parts, to the extent that they may differ from USDM cars. Usually chassis stuff like brakes & suspension is not too bad to sort out. More investigation might be prudent if it has an engine that was never deployed in large quantities in this country.

A valid point, though there are times I have had to wait to get parts for my 60. A lot places don't carry the parts due to the vehicles age.

There are sources though...

There are vendors operating withing the United States that specialize in imported car parts. Here are some options that may be helpful – otherwise, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do.

Coombs Country Auto
General parts supplier with particularly good selection for Mitsubishi DELICA
http://www.ccautos.ca/

Delica USA
Good Mitsubishi Delica info and some parts
http://delicausa.com/

Right Drive Parts
Large supplier but many parts not in stock / shipping delays from Japan
http://www.rightdriveparts.com/
eBay (Sambar example)
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Parts-Access...=subaru+Sambar

Buyee – Japan
https://buyee.jp/yahoo/auction
access to auctions.Yahoo.co.jp auctions and more
good option if you plan to buy from Japan regularly.

JP-CarParts
http://JP-CarParts.com
helpful online parts-book

MegaZip
http://megazip.net/
helpful online parts-book
some delay for internal-Japan order consolidation
costly shipping

Yokohama Motors
http://yokohamamotors.net/
quality OEM parts
price somewhat higher than other options
fast shipping if in-stock – otherwise delay for inner-Japan order

Kei Truck Parts – USA

Minitruck Garage
https://www.minitruckgarage.com/

Minitrucks USA
http://www.minitruckusa.com/

Rocky Mountain Imports
We’ve used them and can recommend
quick delivery to USA
http://www.rockymountainimports.net/

FG Procurements
kei truck parts
http://fgpstore.com/

Buckeye Minitrucks
kai truck parts / manuals
http://buckeyeminitrucks.com/

Japan Mini Truck Parts
we’ve use them and can recommend
Quick delivery to USA
ebay user minitruckdotca
http://minitruck.ca/
http://www.japanminitruckparts.com/
https://minitrucktalk.com/threads/ne...u-sambar.6780/

Minitruck Talk tread on parts
Resource/Cross-reference websites:

W.

[FlashUNC]

Driving on the right in a country where all the infrastructure is designed for folks driving on the left side of the car seems like a gigantic pain in the butt.

If rather get an Audi RS2 of similar vintage.

[William]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

Driving on the right in a country where all the infrastructure is designed for folks driving on the left side of the car seems like a gigantic pain in the butt.

If rather get an Audi RS2 of similar vintage.

Okay Daaaaaad.


They biggest issue I see is the drive-thru at the coffee shop. All the rest...meh.







William

[goonster]

Originally Posted by William

They biggest issue I see is the drive-thru at the coffee shop.

Toll booths.

But I hear you have long arms . . .

[cp43]

Originally Posted by William

Okay Daaaaaad.


They biggest issue I see is the drive-thru at the coffee shop. All the rest...meh.







William

Just go through in reverse! You'll be on the "correct" side then

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by William

Okay Daaaaaad.


They biggest issue I see is the drive-thru at the coffee shop. All the rest...meh.







William

Toll booths? Those ticket things to get into parking garages? Parallel parking in reverse after years of spatial and muscle memory?

I love the R34 Skyline as much as anyone. Kei cars rule.

But mad tyte JDM just seems miserable as a primary car.

[jtakeda]

Lol at buyee being a place to source parts.

I don’t think buying a delica is that unreasonable and I don’t think you’ll have any mechanical issues. Registration is the tough part, so if you can get through that you’re stylin

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by gpendergast

I have a 1991 Toyota HiAce. In it's previous life it was a fire truck in Northern Japan. I opted to buy it from one of the local dealers here in Seattle (jdmcarandmotorcycle.com) with a clean WA title. A friend of mine did the import themselves; said it wasn't hard but a few things took longer cause he didn't know the ins and outs beforehand.

2.4L NA diesel engine gets grrrreat fuel economy but yeah you ain't passing nobody going up a mtn pass. Generally I can pace semi's and am usually slightly faster but yeah you get the idea.. 5spd standard transmission so it does wonderful in the snow/sand/mud, put it in L4 and just grunt around.

Looks like a Unimog....

[Gsinill]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

the other thing to consider when living out in the mountains is what a real drag it is to drive an underpowered vehicle uphill and on highways.

this is my biggest concern when buying an "adventure vehicle" - the bottom line is that, generally speaking to get to all of the fun adventure stuff usually involves extended highway driving and traversing mountain passes, etc - and it can really, really suck to have to do a 6 hour highway drive in a vehicle that is straining to hold 70mph and bogs down when the road turns uphill.

my guess is that these vans have decent offroad prowess, but are a drag to drive on the road to get to the fun.

One of the things you really get used to, IMHO.

In the early 90s, I went back and forth almost every weekend for 2 years between Munich and Chur (Switzerland) in a 55hp 3,000lb. 200D.
I survived both, the Autobahn and hills/mountains.
As a matter of fact, I actually learned to enjoy it, floored the darn thing once I got on the Autobahn, popped in a good CD and sat back and relaxed until I hit the Austrian border...
What did suck though, were uphill side roads and small passes with cars lined up behind you and having no choice but unintentionally rolling coal.

[William]

Originally Posted by goonster

Toll booths.

But I hear you have long arms . . .

True dat!

Just go through in reverse! You'll be on the "correct" side then

Oh, I get to practice my Rockford'!! Win win!!











William

[cderalow]

Originally Posted by goonster

In the U.S., yes.



The rules in the Canada are less restrictive, which is why Canada (esp. BC), has a ton of cars imported previously, that are now eligible for registration in the U.S.

The rule still applies for it being 25 years old or more. Even if it came through Canada.


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