20bdreams

im in the miltary and live in okinawa japan, i have a mint 84 gsl-se back in the states thats been in storage for feakin ever. my wife wants to stay over seas so i can only imagine how much longer i can stand paying for storage but really dont want to get rid of it. now most people want to ship cars from japan to the states but i want the opposite. does ANYONE have any idea what it would take to ship my car to japan so it can go everywhere with me. i heard something about it all depends on how old the car is.

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alex_the_hipple

if you're in the military and overseas they should have shipped it for you when you pcs'd, correct? either that or they would pay for the storage of the vehicle. unless, of course, you didn't ask about it but i doubt that's the case. i'd check with the relocations office and see if they can do anything about it.

- alex

20bdreams

na, they said that they wouldnt ship the car because it has to be a certain age. if people could ship there cars when they pcs'ed there would be soooo many cars in japan. but honestly i dont think that the age thing is completely true cause i have seen a few people with cars that you only see in the states. but i bet that they have some high ranking connections and political bullshit going for them.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

PM Kenn Chan, he's ex military working in Japan now. He may have some ideas.

n2318r

Aren't you taking the storage expenses as a tax deduction? I can't give you advice, but it has worked out to benefit some people, YMMV.

DublyDurty

20bdreams,

Go talk to your TMO (Traffic Management Office). Here's what they'll likely tell you...
"Shipping any U.S. made vehicle to Japan is discouraged. The current Japanese embargo law prohibits any U.S. made vehicle; 1976 or newer, from entering the country. A warning to car owners - the salty air climate on Okinawa is extremely corrosive to metal. Therefore, rust can become a big problem. Proper care and maintenance can prevent some rust problems. There are quite a few expenses involved with owning a vehicle on Okinawa. First, there is the purchase of the vehicle. The prices of used cars on the island are much lower than you would expect to pay in the U.S., with a good car averaging between $1,500-$4,000 depending on the make and year of the car. You don't see too many military people driving new cars, because the used cars are so dependable and inexpensive. The real financial crunch comes when the inspections are due. Military members must have their vehicles undergo a Japanese inspection every two years. The Japanese inspection and the repairs made will cost an average of $500 to $800. Additional costs include two types of insurance (American and Japanese) which average about $250-$600 per year and an annual road tax. A 19 year old E-4 would pay approx. $600 per year for the minimum amount of American insurance coverage for a small sedan with the current yen rate. The road tax ranges from $40 for small cars to $70 for larger ones."

IMHO, just enjoy the right-hand drive cars they have there! I'm retired USAF (and was also stationed in Okinawa) and wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world. Get your car when you PCS back and, again, talk to TMO about paying for your storage across the pond.

Get a Skyline, Celica, Savanna (RX-7), Cosmo, Bluebird...

DD

20bdreams

right hand drive is good and all, but nothing fits me like my rx7. ive owned a 1992 skyline GT-R, toyota mark II tourer V, a skyline gts-t, and even one of those tiny suzuki wagon R's (3 cylinder turbo) which i am currently driving. all nice and fun but again, my rx7 haunts me.

(for the sorry few that cheat) its like your old lady, may not be the best or most beutiful, but with time it has grown on you and you guys know each other like no one else. you fit eachother so perfectly, you have been through rough times and may have though about giving her up. and from time to time you have even strayed to more beutiful things: my self for example owned all those cars in japan and even an FD in the states, but i always came back and felt best at home with my old lady. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! but i really do love my car like that.