anyone around the area? going to the afb in yokota, japan on oct 31 for about 3 years, just wondering some stuff about the area. I wish i knew more about the place.

 

I'm here at Yokota. What you want to know?

 

same - been here since Dec

 

i have some questions if thats alright. i just moved to yokota a week ago and i have always wanted an rx-7 so i will be purchasing one here soon. i have scene a few on base a yellow one and a blue one pre 99. But i want to know what year rx-7s you guys have. I also want to know where tune shops are in the fussa area, or where yall go for parts. lol i m sorry, i also want to know if you plan on taking the car back to the US with you and what you know on that. thanks...

 

I own a 88 black FC in the states and a 91 black FC here in Japan. Shipping a car back is probably the most talked about issue with car people here.....at least for their first 6 months here anyways. You have to pay if you want to play pretty much. You can find any RI (registered importer) who will basically turn their head sign the paperwork for a larg amount of cash. I talked to an RI about my old pulsar GTiR and he said $16,000. I could have doubled my cash once I got the car there and legal but I said screw it, I'm a rotor head for life so I sold the Pulsar. From what I understand if they sell the car in the states ie;...RX7's you can find a donor car there and change over everything to stateside specs. It would be like a major JCI inspection. I am going to look into doing it with my 7's when I leave here. Or you could find a brother car in the states and strip your car here when you leave......and then ship it all back and throw it on the stateside car. I've seen a lot of people do that. But I think it would be cool as hell if I had to black FC's in the states, one a "lefty" and the other a "righty"

As for the shops around Fussa. You have Border (very high priced) but good guys. Tanaka Engineering (have yet to hear anything good about them). K-speed (good) R-Magic (not sure on location bcuz I don't plan on going to them) Essential (never been but looks ok). I go to RE-Action Racing in Sagamihara (great guys, good work, not too pricey, and about a 45 min drive). There are more but I can't think of them at the moment.

 

Wow sounds like a real pain. i got stacks of papers on info for importing back cars but i haven't touched them yet. i did hear something similar like if the car is sold in the states it would be easier.... i will definatly check out them tuning shops when i get chance. thanks for the info. lol ya that would be cool, to have 2 fc's one lefty one righty....

 

I will have to catch up with you guys once I get to Yokota. I will be there Dec this year. I just sold my 2nd FD, and I'm ready for something else.

Quick Questions:

Is it hard to get a Garden Unit on base? The reason I'm asking is I'm bringing my little shitzu, and I heard that's the only place you can stay with an animal. Also I was checking out the COLA rates and it seems pretty low for Yokota ( E-5 $273). Is this correct? Talk to everyone later.

Garrick

 

I too am going to Yokota. I'll be there Sept. 14? I'll be looking for an Rx7 when I get there hopefully a 3rd gen (I have an 87 TII back here but a lot of good thats gona do me.) Just wondering how they are priced and are they really hard to get without paying lots of cash/ getting riped off?

Anyway if any of you work on/near the H-1's I'll see you soon. Thx. Later.

 

Im a 21 year old dependant lol so i really can answer those questions. I know the cola here is kinda low. the website can answer that i think. www.yokota.af.mil . as far as prices on rx-7s go im not real sure i have starting looking but on the lemon lot on base is full of 90s skyline gt-s. they go real cheap too. 93s are 1500 dollars. lol no one seems to own GTRs....

 

Cola here has been going down since I've been here. 4 years now. It all depends on the yen rate and other stuff. Don't buy anything from on base...I reccommend. Your not going to find much for rotary on base anyways. I've found rolling chassis FD's for $800 off base. You could spend $8,000 and get a decent FD thats for sure. FC's are cheaper but anything you buy better be good for JCI (Japanese Inspection) before you buy it. Modded cars are getting harder by the day to pass JCI. I Just passed today!!!!!
As for base housing, get you self on the list now for a garden. Some people wait 6 month on the list! I'm in a garden with a dog so I know. Just call the housing office here or talk to yours and they should know how to get your name on the list.

 

We still have two more cars to sell (Mazda "6" and wifes G35) After that we can breath a little better. We will pick up two cars when we get down there. Oh, have you heard anything about this company:

http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~mamiana/inventory-mazda.html

I was checking them out yesterday. I'm still debating on getting another Rotary vehicle while I'm there. I wouldn't mind trying out a turbo charged inline 6 ;-)... I have been into the rotary seen for about 5 years now, and I want to try something diffrent. I would love to meet some fellow Rotor heads while I'm there. I would be able to share my knowledge and so on. NeilTII, what is your job on Yokota? I'm going down there to control some aircraft (Air Traffic Control). Do you know any ATC controllers down there?

Well, Thanks for the information. Talk to you later.

Garrick

 

I'm in CE. I used to know a couple ATCer's here but they're long gone now.

I have seen the site before but never really checked into it. There are a million ways to buy cars here. Like Yahoo auction Japan, Goo auto trader, dealers, and so on. If your looking for something rotary maybe I can help but I'm taking off to the desert again soon so I won't be back until after the holidays.
I strayed away from RX7's for my first 2 years but the turbo charged piston engines just were'nt for me You name it I've probably driven it here. Just don't settle on the very first car you see.

 

Take care of yourself at the desert (A.K.A. waterless beach). I'll catch up with you once I get to Yokota.

Garrick

 

Neil - can you give some directions how to get to those shops?? Also, what'd they charge you to change your title to airpumpless.....I sent my insurance company to ask and they quoted me something ridiculous like $2k...