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日本語/Japanese  Tue 06/20 21:15 JST
Been living in Japan for about seven years now and have always believed that there is no real need to own a car in Tokyo - there are train stations literally everywhere and it really goes without saying that the transportation system over here runs like clock work - you can set your watch by the trains arrival/departure times.
There are times when using the trains can be a bit of a bother for times like when you need to carry loadsa stuff like shopping from Costco (yep we have Costco too) or when the trains are too crowded to get on with armor.
Made the purchase a few weeks ago and the car arrived today - will be letting you know about the fun and games that one has to go through to buy a car in Japan - starting with the drivers license - full post coming soon.
Tokyo car purchase (click to enlarge)
Tokyo car purchase (click to enlarge)
Polls
NickC in SFU, Vancouver
Its a Nissan! I heard that the safety ratings on Nissans weren't as good when compared to Toyota's designs =(.

Go burn some rubber Danny, Initial D Style!

Cheers,
(ID #37581) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Li in MA
I heard that you can't own a car in Japan if you have a place to park it. Is this true?

Second post woohoo.
(ID #37582) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Eldon in America
Interesting car, and interesting color. But you should have bought a Honda brand car.
(ID #37583) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
You bought a buggy?  Oh wells, if it'll get you around who needs to complain.

Green?  One of my favorite colors.  In Japan?  My favorite places.  Where ever you're living in?  Sure, lets go with that.  Are gonna put Gundam designs on it?  You better...

:P
(ID #37584) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Chaos Incarnate in Pasco, WA, USA
Green car, eh?  That's begging for some Zeon decals.
(ID #37586) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Huk in SG
will be eagerly waiting for the full report :D
(ID #37587) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Tenmjin in Malaysia
Driving is fun! But talk about traffic jam and packing fees in Malaysia.... = shit!
(ID #37588) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Busterbeam in Nagoya
Ah!  Im looking forward to this one.  Ive done a fair bit of research myself and I'd like to compare notes.  Dont leave anything out for us folks that live in Japan too.
(ID #37589) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Garth in Sydney, Australia
you got the march? aww i would have got the cube!! so kawaii!
(ID #37590) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Josh J in San Francisco
What kind of gas mileage does that get?  Happy driving / drifting / dragging :)

(ID #37591) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
GundamZZ in Toronto,Canada
oh thatz a cute car! Here in canada itz a must to have a car...everything is so far apart and public transport sux..

(ID #37592) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Boon in Toronto, Canada
I agree with GundamZZ. Toronto's transit system sucks. A car is a must. Especially when you are living in an isolated area where buses come every 50 mins. And not to mention that some drivers either arrive 10 mins late or 10 mins earlier than the scheduled time. Grrrr!!!
(ID #37593) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Frost Winterheim onboard the Hermodr
Oh you bought a green Nissan~! How cute~!
David in France - Strasbourg
Oh, you buy a nissan march, we call it "micra" in france. That's a good car, i drove one a lot of time.
(ID #37598) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Julien in Paris, France
Very nice color ! I can't wait to see your post about buying a car in Japan (the post about buying a flat in Tokyo was very interesting ! ;)
(ID #37599) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Going through the licensing process right now.  Its such a pain, I wish I had never bought the car.  But I've payed too many taxes and shakken, so no backing out now...
(ID #37601) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Recycler
I wouldn't buy a car if it's not needed.  Because of environmental issues.
(ID #37602) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Boris in Maryland, USA
I can't wait to see the post about buying cars, I wonder if its worst then buying it in USA, lol by the way i like that car, very cute :-)
(ID #37604) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
JuN in singapura
Just wondering how much does a Nissan March cost in Japan???

Do Japan have stuff like COE?
(ID #37605) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
cado in manila
now that you have a car, will you know if stuff in the movie 'the fast and the furious: tokyo drift' is real? i was just curious if the movie was based on real events.
(ID #37607) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Glass in in somebody's washroom
Some parts of Tokyo Drift may be real, but some moves have me raising my eyebrow a bit.

Anyways, congratulations on getting a car, Danny. I just hope you didn't have a hard time wrenching the parts off the sprues and all that.
(ID #37608) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
koep in CA
Danny, please don't wear a Vader costume while driving that! It's just sooo WRONGGG!!!
(ID #37609) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Chopper Dave in Medford, Oregon
Not a bad looking car! But picture of a Candy Girl would be cool too :P
(ID #37615) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
HANLU in USA
DID YOU BUY A HYBRID, HYDRO OR A SOLAR? THESE VEHICLES LOOK PRETTY NIFTY
(ID #37643) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
kaito kunn in Hong Kong
nice car danny! i like de green

(ID #37652) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
John in Woodbury MN, USA
urg, what an ugly little thing, but if gets good gas mileage thats really all that matters...
(ID #37717) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Wilson in NJ
Was just watching Top Gear.  Go and download Episode 05/07/2006.  You'll have a laugh about your car!
http://bigfoot1942.sektori.org:6969/
(ID #37728) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Kei in UK
Seriously, please don't get the pink Micra Convertible!!!!

Unless you really liked that Top Gear episode so much, don't mind turning a few heads in Japan or will rarely have to use the car.. :P

But if you're living in a very populated area in Japan, I suggest you get a Toyota Aygo, maybe the Honda Yaris or something else. From what I've read  from reviews, the Nissian Micra isn't all that great, good but npt great. Hope it helps.
(ID #37882) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Ms Lubna in male , maldives
dear Danny
i want to buy a car from japan, a Nissan March Black Color.i would appreciate if you could give me some emails and web addresses where i can search for the car for best price.i love the choice you made...a lemon green, cool
(ID #38160) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
SuperRobo4ever in manila
Nice personal car. But I think that the new rear-engined Mitsubishi I minicar looks to be a better buy. The Micra has been in the market for a long time. It might not be long before it will be replaced. The best minicar to buy from Nissan is the cool and unconventional Nissan Cube.
(ID #38737) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
Micra, I think its a good car economically!! Good thing your'e married and have stormtrooper armour, coz Im not sure it'll attract chixxx(especially maids).....
(ID #40714) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
NickC in SFU, Vancouver
Its a Nissan! I heard that the safety ratings on Nissans weren't as good when compared to Toyota's designs =(.

Go burn some rubber Danny, Initial D Style!

Cheers,
(ID #79585) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Li in MA
I heard that you can't own a car in Japan if you have a place to park it. Is this true?

Second post woohoo.
(ID #79586) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Eldon in America
Interesting car, and interesting color. But you should have bought a Honda brand car.
(ID #79587) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
You bought a buggy?  Oh wells, if it'll get you around who needs to complain.

Green?  One of my favorite colors.  In Japan?  My favorite places.  Where ever you're living in?  Sure, lets go with that.  Are gonna put Gundam designs on it?  You better...

:P
(ID #79588) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Chaos Incarnate in Pasco, WA, USA
Green car, eh?  That's begging for some Zeon decals.
(ID #79590) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Huk in SG
will be eagerly waiting for the full report :D
(ID #79591) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Tenmjin in Malaysia
Driving is fun! But talk about traffic jam and packing fees in Malaysia.... = shit!
(ID #79592) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Busterbeam in Nagoya
Ah!  Im looking forward to this one.  Ive done a fair bit of research myself and I'd like to compare notes.  Dont leave anything out for us folks that live in Japan too.
(ID #79593) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Garth in Sydney, Australia
you got the march? aww i would have got the cube!! so kawaii!
(ID #79594) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Josh J in San Francisco
What kind of gas mileage does that get?  Happy driving / drifting / dragging :)

(ID #79595) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
GundamZZ in Toronto,Canada
oh thatz a cute car! Here in canada itz a must to have a car...everything is so far apart and public transport sux..

(ID #79596) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Boon in Toronto, Canada
I agree with GundamZZ. Toronto's transit system sucks. A car is a must. Especially when you are living in an isolated area where buses come every 50 mins. And not to mention that some drivers either arrive 10 mins late or 10 mins earlier than the scheduled time. Grrrr!!!
(ID #79597) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Frost Winterheim onboard the Hermodr
Oh you bought a green Nissan~! How cute~!
David in France - Strasbourg
Oh, you buy a nissan march, we call it "micra" in france. That's a good car, i drove one a lot of time.
(ID #79602) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Julien in Paris, France
Very nice color ! I can't wait to see your post about buying a car in Japan (the post about buying a flat in Tokyo was very interesting ! ;)
(ID #79603) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Going through the licensing process right now.  Its such a pain, I wish I had never bought the car.  But I've payed too many taxes and shakken, so no backing out now...
(ID #79605) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Recycler
I wouldn't buy a car if it's not needed.  Because of environmental issues.
(ID #79606) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Boris in Maryland, USA
I can't wait to see the post about buying cars, I wonder if its worst then buying it in USA, lol by the way i like that car, very cute :-)
(ID #79608) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
JuN in singapura
Just wondering how much does a Nissan March cost in Japan???

Do Japan have stuff like COE?
(ID #79609) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
cado in manila
now that you have a car, will you know if stuff in the movie 'the fast and the furious: tokyo drift' is real? i was just curious if the movie was based on real events.
(ID #79611) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Glass in in somebody's washroom
Some parts of Tokyo Drift may be real, but some moves have me raising my eyebrow a bit.

Anyways, congratulations on getting a car, Danny. I just hope you didn't have a hard time wrenching the parts off the sprues and all that.
(ID #79612) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
koep in CA
Danny, please don't wear a Vader costume while driving that! It's just sooo WRONGGG!!!
(ID #79613) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Chopper Dave in Medford, Oregon
Not a bad looking car! But picture of a Candy Girl would be cool too :P
(ID #79619) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
HANLU in USA
DID YOU BUY A HYBRID, HYDRO OR A SOLAR? THESE VEHICLES LOOK PRETTY NIFTY
(ID #79647) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
kaito kunn in Hong Kong
nice car danny! i like de green

(ID #79656) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
John in Woodbury MN, USA
urg, what an ugly little thing, but if gets good gas mileage thats really all that matters...
(ID #79721) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Wilson in NJ
Was just watching Top Gear.  Go and download Episode 05/07/2006.  You'll have a laugh about your car!
http://bigfoot1942.sektori.org:6969/
(ID #79732) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Kei in UK
Seriously, please don't get the pink Micra Convertible!!!!

Unless you really liked that Top Gear episode so much, don't mind turning a few heads in Japan or will rarely have to use the car.. :P

But if you're living in a very populated area in Japan, I suggest you get a Toyota Aygo, maybe the Honda Yaris or something else. From what I've read  from reviews, the Nissian Micra isn't all that great, good but npt great. Hope it helps.
(ID #79886) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Ms Lubna in male , maldives
dear Danny
i want to buy a car from japan, a Nissan March Black Color.i would appreciate if you could give me some emails and web addresses where i can search for the car for best price.i love the choice you made...a lemon green, cool
(ID #80164) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
SuperRobo4ever in manila
Nice personal car. But I think that the new rear-engined Mitsubishi I minicar looks to be a better buy. The Micra has been in the market for a long time. It might not be long before it will be replaced. The best minicar to buy from Nissan is the cool and unconventional Nissan Cube.
(ID #80741) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
Micra, I think its a good car economically!! Good thing your'e married and have stormtrooper armour, coz Im not sure it'll attract chixxx(especially maids).....
(ID #82718) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
kevk in where ever the navy puts me
navy am
Registered on 2008/06/03 02:06
so what other cars did you look at?
(ID #203221) Posted on 2008/06/03 08:00
hashiriya in Finland
Student
Registered on 2008/05/11 07:06
I would buy a car. I love cars.
(ID #213327) Posted on 2008/06/15 03:00
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