The maximum load you can carry on a Kei truck is 770 pounds (350kg) to 880 pounds (400kg), depending on the make and model and year of manufacture. He was responsive and supportive through the whole process. The reason for this is that these spec sheet figures state, on paper, what they legally must state under Japanese law here as the max horse power: 64ps. From there on, all is fair game! Then not only is the supercar saved, but we too can choose between a Tanto, a Scrum or an N-box Slash next time we need a cheap hatchback to fill with cat food or traverse slowly across a Scottish isle in. It had a 354cc, air-cooled 2 cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. I was a complete newbie about buying a car overseas and Mathew was kind enough to basically hold my Just picked up my car that I bought through JCD. Ive now imported three of my own cars through him. You need to be shorter than 3.4 metres, narrower than 1.5 metres and possessing an engine with upper limits of 660cc and 63bhp. What I told him basically says it all for me about my own sports Kei: Balance for cornering is excellent and the chassis is very communicative. I ended up purchasing three mini-trucks, one for myself and two other family members. Many scammers use this methodology as there is no security in the transfer being made. Webwhy is a climax community stable Login/Register. First, lets just get a quick overview of what a Japanese Kei car is. There are thousands of stories of Kei truck owners that can marvel at anyone. Unfortunately, the Elise S1 isn't quite old enough to be imported into the US just yet, securing its position on this list. More importantly their knowledge of the Japanese car market and auction process was extremely helpful as a first time importer. What do you want to use your Kei truck for. The Japanese mini-truck or Keitora Kei truck, typically referred to in Japan, is a small yet practical truck that has been around since the 1940s. Mike was great to work with. Heres the breakdown for each procedure. I bet this all happened from some rich asshole that got stuck behind one in traffic once. For this, you must create your own Customs importer number and file the paperwork no later than ten days in advance. Those criteria have morphed with time theyve swelled with the inflation of the cities the carsinhabit but are still fairly tight. Gullwing sports cars, diddy fire engines, a tipper truck genuinely called the Autozam Mini Dump theres not a corner of the car world more diverse. They are practical vehicles: their beds can be used for many uses, from moving cargo boxes, to delivery vehicles, among other tasks. Coming into the market during the recession in Japan, the AZ-1 however, was dubbed too expensive and cramped for a kei car, billed at around $12400. The car was exactly read moreIt was my first time buying a car online, let alone overseas. This is especially true for larger vehicles, which can be difficult to maneuver into tight spaces. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. This was my first experience importing a vehicle. These guys are legit!!! However, Rover was suffering serious financial losses by the year 2000, so BMW sold the holdings but kept the rights to the Mini name. With a similar design to the GTI, the Volkswagen Scirocco is a three-door sport hatchback that has been marketed in two different generations. CRG Media Ltd. 1993 JDM RHD HONDA ACTY TRUCK 4WD (INCOMING), 1994 JDM RHD HONDA ACTY TRUCK 4WD (INCOMING), VERY RARE STUNNING STOCK EXAMPLE AND MINT THROUGHOUT (1996), Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R for sale (#3730), 2003 Toyota Alphard AX L edition 2400cc AT 38K. Hello, Seems like some busy-body bureaucrat just has a bizarre grievance. The defeat in the pacific war did not only have an enormous toll on the population but also an economic burden. A danger to other drivers? But there were, and are, limits on the Kei class of vehicles. But you have a better chance of scoring one in pristine condition if you check out JDM-specific online listings and dealerships. MORE:Escalating the chase buying a car from Japan, part three. You get a dedicated agent, and my agent Mason has been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Mike was very helpful from start to finish and definitely made the process stress free. In addition, Kei cars are very reliable and tend to have a long lifespan. And in October of 1998 length increases again by 100mm and width goes up 80mm. Lastly, it is also part of Japanese culture to service your vehicle regularly. Basically, the limits on Kei cars relate to body size and engine size (capacity in cubic centimeters). Kei cars even featured in the popular Japanese manga series, Initial D, with the Suzuki Cappuccino taking centre stage, largely thanks to its 50/50 weight distribution. The Toyota Corolla has been one of the most popular small cars ever offered in Australia, thanks to its reliability and strong resale value. In the late 1980s engine size goes up again to 550cc and we start to see the Kei sports cars that are really what you want to have. Anyone who has ever tried to find a parking spot in a crowded city knows that space is often at a premium. I have driven these cars and they are really a blast. In addition, like most Japanese Kei hatchbacks, it was a practical little load hauler and people carrier, in spite of its small external dimensions. Maine is pulling similar Bullshit with Delica kei vans, although it's not as clear why. The smallest state in the union has an issue with the smallest cars on the road. The engine, a turbocharged Duratec 2.5L has been tuned to output 345 horsepower, with the help of other upgrades to the intercooler, air filter and exhaust system. MORE:Escalating the chase buying a car from Japan, part two Copyright 2018 - Tutti i diritti riservati a De.Al. Walter Craddock, administrator of Rhode Island's Division of Motor Vehicles, also serves on the AAMVA's international board of directors" *, Sources: https://www.thedrive.com/news/41590/maine-is-de-registering-imported-mitsubishi-delicas-and-no-ones-sure-why, RI has fear the owners sue them if the fall into an pothole and cant get out anymore./S, All American cars: huge, heavy, fuel inefficient, Small, light, fuel efficient cars: banned for being "unsafe", Motorcycles with more power than some cars: completely legal. Parking spots are also limited, and you can only find space for a Kei car. Webwhy are kei cars illegal in australia. They save money at the pump 3. However, these trucks must be modified for only off-road use. Just stumbled across your sight. Many of the cars on this list are 90s models from countries like Japan, France and Germany and all of them are relics from automobile history, while others are new models that have been restricted to sale in certain countries. The engine, which was essentially the same as the XR2i, but with a lower compression rate, can output about 130 brake horsepower. At an auction, the AZ-1 will be mid-tier in cost, but it will potentially be the most fun and interesting-looking car in your collection. Upgrades began with the engine, changed from the standard 3.0L straight 6-cylinder to a 3.6L, twin turbocharged engine that can output about 377 brake horsepower. Built with a staggering 276 horsepower, the R32 Skyline GTR was produced until 1995, when the R33 was introduced. The best thing about these cars though is the potential they have for builds: the SX and Z series Nissans are well designed, perfectly suitable for performance upgrades and tuning. Similar categories exist for micro-vans and micro-trucks. As stated before, there can be drawbacks to this method. The Vamos was produced from the platform of the Honda TN360. Mikes customer service was second to none and all the paperwork was in order. What does a Japanese Kei vehicle weigh? On the other hand, others used these trucks for farming, the reason why most of these trucks come with a 4-wheel drive option. For now, if you are asking yourself questions like: Can I import a used Kei car from Japan? There is really no limit on what type of vehicle a Japanese Kei car can be, and, until recent times, there were not many limits on styling, which is why so many Kei cars continued to look good long after most regular cars became the boring, identical fat boxes that we see pouring out of the car factories of the world today. Another 'kei' car, but this is the performance version of the Suzuki Alto a very small city hatch. In their introduction year, they had a four-stroke 150cc engine or a two-stroke 100cc engine. It has been a very reliable vehicle and I had over 279,000kms on the clock when I finally had to give the car up. Compliance requirements vary depending on the age and type of vehicle and may include items such as child restraint points, noise and emissions testing, and new tyres if required. read less, Just picked up my car that I bought through JCD. Always seek a vehicle exporter. Lets be honest. I had an excellent experience working with Matthew at Japan Car Direct. Numerous dealers bring top-quality products; however, there would be a premium paid for it. /r/Cars is the largest automotive enthusiast community on the Internet. The Series 1 Lotus Elise began production in 1996 and ceased in 2001, when the Series 2 was introduced. It was my first time exporting a vehicle and he walked me through step by step and didn't mind answering all my millions of questions. 5. Thats not the kei car in its correct environment, though. There are two exceptions import for Race or Rally use OR Personal Import (you have owned the vehicle for more than 12 months while living overseas AND you are returning home to Australia permanently as an Australian citizen / permanent resident or you have a visa application in progress). Mike was great read moreI highly recommend Japan Car Direct. Each JDM Kei truck lover has a different reason why they love their trucks. Steve and his company Carbonaro Pizza Co. decided to go the Kei truck route when choosing what vehicle they could use for their business, but also be unique, and fun for them to drive around. Tiny kei cars have conquered Japan and spread around the world. While the first generation competed here against the original Suzuki Vitara, the Rocky has continued that tradition in its home country. In addition, they come with a variety of features that make them perfect for family life, including child safety locks, cup holders, and storage compartments. Legal and Design Limits on Japanese Kei Class Vehicles, Next up: Japanese Kei Sports Cars, Part 2. As for power, the base model 180SX can output about 167 horsepower, which was quick for a car of its class at the time. Of the vast selection of unique Kei trucks, there is to choose from, the one that caught our attention is the Honda Vamos from the 1970s. Someone broke into my car, but then they just had to add Ford Bronco US sales closes in on Jeep Wrangler, 30,67 Mazdas turbo inline-6 will boast 340 hp and 369 ft-lb, Press J to jump to the feed. One of the nicest we exported to the USA from Japan was a 550cc Alto Works. Length increases to 3,295mm (approx..109), width remains the same. why are kei cars illegal in australia. For a vehicle to be considered a Kei car, it must have the following specifications: The introduction of Kei cars in 1949 provided the following benefits: These incentives alongside the specifications that the trucks have, made them an excellent product for the Japanese population. Thanks to Its durability, the Daihatsu HiJet is a fun mini truck to cruise around in. I was a first time auction buyer and importer to the United States. I have my van now, and its been great. US vehicle laws make absolutely no sense. Although Suzuki offered a number of engines over the years, early Alto Works models from the early 1990s were still shy of 50kW. Their assistance in the auction and bidding process and arranging shipping is top notch. I kid you not. We have information about Kei cars on our site: and I recently wrote about one of my favorite Kei sports cars that we shipped from Japan to the USA here, but in this post, and in a following post, I am going to tell you a bit more about Japanese Kei vehicles generally and about my own experience owning and driving a Kei sports car. Into tight spaces in October of 1998 length increases again by 100mm and width up... Different generations and dealerships, just picked up my car that i bought through JCD as there is security... Made the process stress free all happened from some rich asshole that got stuck behind one pristine... Ended up purchasing three mini-trucks, one for myself and two other family members those criteria have morphed with theyve! 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