I am getting a car; what car would you recommend?

[JerseyBoy]

I am going to get a car in the Tokyo suburb. Since there are many forum members who are living in the greater Tokyo areas, I thought I would ask for your recommendation. I am living at a "mansion" in the north western Tokyo suburb. I am not too much concerned about the gas price as I am living comfortably (for now). I will use it for commuting which is about 30 kg one way.
I prefer I keep the cost less than or at 4 million yen.

[Mike Cash]

Well, you have a very broad selection, including new cars, if your budget is 4 million yen.

Sort of hard for us to narrow things down to specific recommendations when the only info we have is that you'll be commuting in Tokyo and price is pretty much no object.

[DoctorP]

Stick with a Toyota...unless you are looking into the mini market.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

I am examining it, and I do comparison of SUV.
The car which I want is NISSAN X-TRAIL
http://www2.nissan.co.jp/X-TRAIL/top.html
In addition, the car which I compare.
MAZDA CX-7
http://www.cx-7.mazda.co.jp/
SUBARU FORESTER
http://kuruma-guide.jp/forester/
TOYOTA RAV/4
http://toyota.jp/rav4/index.html
I think that a design of Mazda CX-7 is good.
Because I want to use a car for camping, I think about X-TRAIL or FORESTER to a candidate.
However, this car may undergo a model change.

[yukio_michael]

A Nissan Skyline.

(this message is apparently too short so I will tell you this, there is more to the making of Sprite than simply Lemon & Lime... trust me, I've tried.)

[Uncle Frank]

Subaru Forester. It's reliable, gets great gas milage, has the ground clearance of a jeep, and with the all wheel drive, will go anywhere. I used to load mine with a ton of camping gear to go camping. It handles great on ice & snow. The resale value is teriffic.

Uncle Frank

:-)

[frostyg02uk]

Like Michael if it was me id buy a Skyline maybe the R33.
But it depends on your lifestyle as well and the type of person you are. Its strange your have saved 4million for a car without having a clue as to what car haha.
I like Mitsubishi evolution's V as well or an Audi TT

[mr.sumo.snr]

400 man is a pretty flash number for this forum. So if I had that sort of money just kicking around in my back pocket, were single, living in the city, interested in actually 'driving' my car I would probably buy a Honda S2000.

My opinion matters for little, but quite a few other people think the S2000 is a decent car including viewers of THE quintessential motoring television show "Top Gear".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000

In the meantime, mere mortals like myself will continue to wonder if the Suzuki Swift has enough leg-room for a 190cm driver and can carry my wife and son in comfort and safety on the occasional trips to Nagoya, the airport, Tokyo Disney et al.

--

[Han Chan]

TOYOTA is fantastic.
TOYOTA owners are the most satisfied.
I am a TOYOTA owner!:wave:

[Dogen Z]

I second Uncle Frank's recommendation for the Subaru Forester. The Forester is the new Volvo. It would be great for those snowboarding trips to Nagano & Hokkaido or those surfing trips to Enoshima.

Then I would get a 2nd car, a Mazda Miata, for those fun jaunts to Izu. :-)

[JerseyBoy]

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas. I should have included a little more in my original post. Since I am a single, I am leaning toward a little bit "impractical" car instead of the family-oriented vehicle. I am not going all out to that sports car extreme as I want to keep some practical aspect for loading some items such as grocery and small furniture for some occasions.
But, at the same time, I am intrigued to the 2-seater sports car such as S2200 and Audi TT.
There are so many choices available and I am totally at loss which way I should go.
I only go for a new car (no used car for me).

[DoctorP]

If you are going new, then my personal favorite, based upon your needs would be a mini cooper. Great for the thrill of the drive, yet practical and small for driving in Tokyo. There is also the Nissan Cube, not as sporty, but very roomy if you decided to go somewhere for the weekend with a few friends. Or you could look into the small (mini) van market...which would allow you to set the back up as a mini room and sleep in your car as you travel around.

[Dogen Z]

I don't think an Audi can fit your budget. I looked at the price list on an Audi A4 in their Roppongi showroom last year and it was 4.6M yen (IIRC). That was before the Euro appreciation.

Maybe, before you convert your cash to yen, you should buy an American car in Jersey or a State with a low sales tax rate, drive it around (cross country?) until it has enough mileage to qualify as a used car, then ship it over. You'll save on the import tax and exchange rate fee. The total price you pay would not be cheaper but should cover the cost of your trip back to the U.S. and the shipping costs.

[ET_Fukuoka]

Too many choices for that price. Depends what you are into. SUV, Sedan, Coupe, van, etc.

For me I would take a Toyota Chaser 5-speed turbo!! I love those cars!! Practical but with a little tuning a mean car!!

[Han Chan]

European cars are very popular in Japan, but I find that you get much more value for money by buying a japanese car. In Japan Honda and Toyota have best reputations. Mazda makes some nice small sports cars. If you like to pretend to be a rally driver you should go for Subaru or Mitsubishi!

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

In summer, this year, Honda seems to announce a new car of S2000.

[ullvarg]

Id go for a Honda civic with big engine and the use the rest of the money for a luxury vacation or something like that.
The civic is nice in city's easy to park easy to get used to fun to drive yet you can scwees in some furniture in if you need to move something, its got it all for city use.

[Crazy Russian]

The most popular car in Russia is Ford. However, I do love Japanese cars. If my memory doesn't fail me, according to some research Japanese cars are the most reliable, fuel-saving, durable, (plus, other dithyrambs) cars in the world.

[Ewok85]

You could get a fairly recent good convertable for 400man - something like a BMW Z3/4, some with only one owner etc.

http://autos.goo.ne.jp/used/carlist.html?ty=m&fp=c&rl=&rh=&bt=&ex=&bc=2015&dd=&dc=&tc=&pa=1&mo=0&cd0=20151515&pr8=1&pr9=1&pr10=1&pr11=1&pr12=1&pr13=1&pr14=1&sp0=6&sp1=&sp2=&sp3=&sp4=&sp5=&sp6=&sp7=&so0=0&so1=1&so2=1&so3=0&so4=0&so5=0&so6=1&so7=0&ca=20151515&pl=0&ph=400&gr=0&mi=-1&fu=-1&yl=0&yh=0&co=0&di=0

http://autos.goo.ne.jp/used/carlist.html?ty=m&fp=c&rl=&rh=&bt=&ex=&bc=2015&dd=&dc=&tc=&pa=1&mo=0&cd0=20151505&pr8=1&pr9=1&pr10=1&pr11=1&pr12=1&pr13=1&pr14=1&sp0=6&sp1=&sp2=&sp3=&sp4=&sp5=&sp6=&sp7=&so0=0&so1=1&so2=1&so3=0&so4=0&so5=0&so6=1&so7=0&ca=20151505&pl=0&ph=400&gr=0&mi=-1&fu=-1&yl=0&yh=0&co=0&di=0

(I personally wouldn't pay more than 120man upfront - the ongoing costs of parking and shaken makes owning a car a real money pit, and the more you spend up front, the more you will spend on ongoing costs. Not to mention the pure cost of running the car (gas and expressway fees... the hair-renewal treatment costs to fix the hairloss from stress, etc))

[JerseyBoy]

Ewok85, you are correct about a car being a money pit. Depreciation right after you drive off the dealer's lot, car insurance, gas, insurance, maintenance, parking fees, toll fees, and etc. But, I think I would go for that expense as I just so used to driving in car in USA. Also, I noticed some Japanese passengers smell bad in the train and I am not used to riding a crowded train which causes some touching with some strangers (which I don't like at all).

[Tadashi]

Buy a bicycle, it's much faster than a car in Tokyo, considering traffic jams and all.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

I used a motorcycle for commuting to a company.
A road going to work from the suburbs to the downtown area is always congested.
"Yasukuni Dori" is always congested according to "Yamate".
I know a road doing short cut,
However, this road is very small,
A big car is hard to go.
If I choose a small car,
Mazda "DEMIO"
http://www.demio.mazda.co.jp/
Peugeot
http://www.peugeot.co.jp/cars/showroom/206/
SUZUKI"SWIFT "
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/swiftsport/

[JerseyBoy]

I am leaning toward the Mini Cooper. I thought about BMW; but, BMW would be too flashy to use for commuting. Also, I don't want to draw an unwanted attention to my car so that I can avoid vandalism. I look for a car which is fun to drive and has high performance without getting noticed.

[JerseyBoy]

Ok, I narrowed down to the following:
Toyota Mark X (2.5 AWD version)
Nissan Z Coupe
Nissan Skyline (Coupe or Sedan)
Honda Accord
Mazda RX-8
What do you think?

[Han Chan]

Ok, I narrowed down to the following:
Toyota Mark X (2.5 AWD version)
Nissan Z Coupe
Nissan Skyline (Coupe or Sedan)
Honda Accord
Mazda RX-8
What do you think?
I earlier told you that I find that you get most value for money by buying japanese cars. Therefore, I find your list very sensible.

[ET_Fukuoka]

All good choices if you don't mind dropping the cash. I dont like having car payments so I only buy what I can buy in cash, which is always a 5 year old (or more) car. As long as it has new shaken I am good to go! 2 years of freedom from "the man". ;-)

[JerseyBoy]

During the winter in Tokyo and northern Kanagawa areas, would you think a rear-drive car can manage the occasional snow? I used to drive the front-wheel drive in New York (almost all of New York except for the Adirondacks regions) and during the major snow storms, I used to drive it with the all season tires quite well. I am not sure how bad the typical winter in Tokyo would be.

PS. I just settled on the Mazda RX-8. I could have picked the Mark X; but, I decided to go for a fun-to-drive car (while I still have that option).

[Pepe]

Couple of tips:

1) Buy a Japanese car. That way you won't have issues with spares. As an example, the replacement cost for a Mercedes Benz E-Class engine is around $30,000USD. A Toyota engine, even if for a Lexus, won't cost you that much.

2) Get a vehicle that is more than 1 year old, as the vehicle will do the majority of its depreciating in the 1st year.

3) Try to get an ex-lease vehicle, as they have been maintained to a high-standard.

4) Get a car with gadgets (e.g. aircon, GPS, all electric windows etc.) they increase re-sale.

5) Don't get a car that's too old, as the inspection costs sky-rocket.

6) Measure the parking spaces you will be using (at home and work) and buy a car that will fit in them. You'd be surprised how many don't check first.

There are more, but I have a lecture to run to.

[-Rudel-]

I think you might have some fun driving the MKII Focus ST.

http://www.ford.co.jp/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137383612125&pagename=FJP%2FDFYPage%2FDefault1024&c=DFYPage

I only with Ford would have made this car here in america too. But it looks like I might get my chance at getting one while I stay in Japan too.

[JerseyBoy]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I am expecting my new RX-8 in the mid September from the factory. It comes with the nav and Bose stereo with the iPod adapter among others. I cannot go for a used car as I have an allergic reaction toward the used car (I only buy cars new).
I think the snow season in Tokyo is not bad compared to New York. I think I should be able to manage it with this car (if needed, I can get the snow tires).