The Reusable I'm Thinking of Buying a Car Thread....

[Tokyo Tokei]

It's been a while since we had a car thread, maybe 10 or even 20 minutes. Hence I thought I'd rekindle the fire with my own pondering, and leave it open for others if amenable, too.

Here's the object of my current whim:



A Jeep Grand Cherokee, from 2006. This one has the ideal engine for Tokyo's urban jungle:



A frugal 5.7L V8 hemi. And by frugal, I mean 'makes the 6000SUX look impressive'

Other info, well, like a lot of cars on Japanese roads, it has spent most of its 17 years doing nothing but being occasionally challenged by a giant duster. This example having covered 47,000Km since new. Condition is therefore quite close to original. That is to say, fairly ropey. Well by BMW/Merc/Audi standards, but this is an old boot after all.











It may surprise you to learn, given my evident eye for quality, that I know little about cars.

Seriously, a 2006 car... even though little used, it's going to be a disaster right? I never do many many miles a year, so it would be occasional use really, but I don't have a workshop, so at a minimum, it needs to start and have enough left in it to get to the nearest garage.

Hence to the TZ-UK hive mind to get a view on whether this is madness, genius, or I have achieved some new level of stupid...

[number2]

Good points...
Mileage
Probably little or no rust
Big lump engine
Hi spec
Any niggles should have been sorted a decade ago.

Bad points
Big lump engine
17 years old
QC remember It's a Jeep

If its got good history and the price is right - yeah why not.

[JasonM]

I’m still processing how 2006 could be 17 years ago…..

[ralphy]

I’m still processing how 2006 could be 17 years ago…..

Time flies.

R

[Dave+63]

Hence to the TZ-UK hive mind to get a view on whether this is madness, genius, or I have achieved some new level of stupid...

Yes, yes and yes, go for it!

See also the ten year old car thread.

[Tokyo Tokei]

Yes, yes and yes, go for it!

That's the spirit

[RossC]

The first picture is not the same car as the interior nor engine.

Picture 1 is a 2000-2005 WJ Grand Cherokee, biggest engine was a 4.7.

Interior and engine pic shows the 2006 WK Grand Cherokee with the 5.7.

WJ was an outstanding vehicle. WK was where Chrysler started to cut costs and reliability really suffered. I've owned both and would have a 2004/5 WJ 4.7 with pleasure. Anything newer I wouldn't touch.

[Onelasttime]

The first picture is not the same car as the interior nor engine.

Picture 1 is a 2000-2005 WJ Grand Cherokee, biggest engine was a 4.7.

Interior and engine pic shows the 2006 WK Grand Cherokee with the 5.7.

WJ was an outstanding vehicle. WK was where Chrysler started to cut costs and reliability really suffered. I've owned both and would have a 2004/5 WJ 4.7 with pleasure. Anything newer I wouldn't touch.

Dissenter… burn him.

Excellent advice though

[Tokyo Tokei]

The first picture is not the same car as the interior nor engine.

Oops, now fixed!

WJ...



WK...



The same garage has some WJs for sale too, but they do look pretty tired now, the interiors especially.

Supposedly the WKs are better on road, which realistically, is where this one would spend most of its time when not at the petrol station.

[RossC]

That's better

This is my old WK:



Granted, it was the Mercedes 3.0 CRD engine, but that always made more sense than the 5.7. My WJ was a 4.7 which was simply outstanding and I miss it dearly.

The WK did have better road manners, and was a great do-it-all. Chrysler started cutting costs and it was evident everywhere you looked. It would even leak in the cabin when it rained.

Value for money aspect was huge, but reliability was poor, and would chew through consumables. I remember replacing the same ball joints on the same arms within 25k miles, such was the poor quality manufacturer parts.

I could go on, but the car I loved, the maintenance I did not.

I believe 'Enoch' of this parish had the 5.7, so it might be worth talking to him.

One thing is for sure, a rust free Japanese example with low miles, is a much better proposition than what us UK drivers put them through.

[Mr Curta]

I've lost track of which is which now but I prefer the one with hand brake on the driver's side. It must be a right pain having to take a passenger everywhere with you to operate it on the other version.

[Riley]

I've had a few Jeeps, WJ V8 is a peach.

[stooo]

Free worthers in the glovebox. It’s a lot of car for the ££ though.

[Saint-Just]

I thought second hand cars were much more expensive in Japan, especially foreign ones.

[Tokyo Tokei]

Free worthers in the glovebox. It’s a lot of car for the ££ though.

I was hoping the straight 6 and four wheel drive might lift it out of the grandad zone, but I appreciate it's basically a 3 series Touring with heel lifts, so maybe not!

I thought second hand cars were much more expensive in Japan, especially foreign ones.

Foreign cars are more expensive new here, but all used cars are cheap so the initial difference erodes quite quickly. The shaken (MOT) is especially onerous in Japan, and foreign car parts are expensive, so used foreign cars become a liability. I've mentioned it in the thread already, but I gave away my previous car (Merc B200) at 60,000 miles. It was worthless.

[Saint-Just]

Yes sorry, I was on Tapatalk and it rang a bell but searches are not convenient on the app.

[Mj2k]

Merc B200) at 60,000 miles. It was worthless.

That really is totally bonkers.

Is it the fear of parts / costs, or the MOT being the harsh / deciding factor? Is that why we get lots of JDM fast cars imported as they are no longer able to pass?

[Tokyo Tokei]

That really is totally bonkers.

Is it the fear of parts / costs, or the MOT being the harsh / deciding factor? Is that why we get lots of JDM fast cars imported as they are no longer able to pass?

It was on just over 56K miles actually. Highest spec B200, pano roof, aniline leather, new Michelin tyres, new discs and pads. All worked perfectly. I gave it to a friend (who bought me dinner, to be fair) who gave it to his daughter. The meal was worth more.

To answer your question: most urban-dwellers who have a car do low mileage. Houses/apartments are sold or rented based on their price, size and, crucially, how many minutes walk to the nearest station, with 'over 10 minutes' being unusual and hence discounted. Plus you must demonstrate (to the satisfaction of the local police, who will come round and measure it to the millimetre) that you have a car space of adequate size before purchasing a vehicle. And in the city, expect that space to cost you at least £250 a month - on top of your rent or loan, before you even get started on general running costs. The shaken itself takes half a day and is rarely less than £500, assuming no major issues.

Car buying here is cheap, but ownership is expensive.

So comparably, a lot of 'old' cars have little use compared to the UK. But the shaken (MOT) is famously strict, and is based on age not use. Which incidentally explains why all cars in Japan, of any age, look like they just came out of the factory - they are basically required to be back to factory spec every two years. This costs a lot more as the car ages. It's not that they are unlikely to pass, just that it's no longer economical to keep them maintained to this level after 5 to 10 years (depending on budget/model etc)

It's why that BMW with under 30K miles on it, 3 litre 4x4 and full leather is £3K (dealer price). He would have picked it up at auction, unwanted, for £1K from another dealer who would have offered the owner £500 for it in part exchange against a new one...

Great news if you buying one from overseas - you'll get something maintained like new, likely with low mileage, and as the yen is low, priced cheaply too.

Whereas if I buy this car, I do so knowing I will have to either give it away or pay for it to be taken away in a few years.

[Mj2k]

It was on just over 56K miles actually. Highest spec B200, pano roof, aniline leather, new Michelin tyres, new discs and pads. All worked perfectly. I gave it to a friend (who bought me dinner, to be fair) who gave it to his daughter. The meal was worth more.

To answer your question: most urban-dwellers who have a car do low mileage. Houses/apartments are sold or rented based on their price, size and, crucially, how many minutes walk to the nearest station, with 'over 10 minutes' being unusual and hence discounted. Plus you must demonstrate (to the satisfaction of the local police, who will come round and measure it to the millimetre) that you have a car space of adequate size before purchasing a vehicle. And in the city, expect that space to cost you at least £250 a month - on top of your rent or loan, before you even get started on general running costs. The shaken itself takes half a day and is rarely less than £500, assuming no major issues.

Car buying here is cheap, but ownership is expensive.

So comparably, a lot of 'old' cars have little use compared to the UK. But the shaken (MOT) is famously strict, and is based on age not use. Which incidentally explains why all cars in Japan, of any age, look like they just came out of the factory - they are basically required to be back to factory spec every two years. This costs a lot more as the car ages. It's not that they are unlikely to pass, just that it's no longer economical to keep them maintained to this level after 5 to 10 years (depending on budget/model etc)

It's why that BMW with under 30K miles on it, 3 litre 4x4 and full leather is £3K (dealer price). He would have picked it up at auction, unwanted, for £1K from another dealer who would have offered the owner £500 for it in part exchange against a new one...

Great news if you buying one from overseas - you'll get something maintained like new, likely with low mileage, and as the yen is low, priced cheaply too.

Whereas if I buy this car, I do so knowing I will have to either give it away or pay for it to be taken away in a few years.

Thank you for such a detailed reply. Certainly does explain why the older cars all look so good condition wise.

I had read about the measuring of car space previously. Does make sense vs what you see here with multiple occupancy houses with everyone having a car but no space to park it.

[Rodder]

I’m sure I heard that Domestic Japanese cars are built to lower spec for this reason. Thinner body panels etc

[Tokyo Tokei]

I’m sure I heard that Domestic Japanese cars are built to lower spec for this reason. Thinner body panels etc

Would need a good source for that, otherwise it feels like something a UK dealer might have said when trying to sell domestic models :D

(Japan climate is sub-tropical, summers tropically humid, winters very wet, typhoons so numerous they only have numbers not names, cars are parked outside... thinner body panels would not be a great idea...)

[Suds]

Would need a good source for that, otherwise it feels like something a UK dealer might have said when trying to sell domestic models :D

(Japan climate is sub-tropical, summers tropically humid, winters very wet, typhoons so numerous they only have numbers not names, cars are parked outside... thinner body panels would not be a great idea...)

Hi Tokyo, I have always been wary of imports to UK- can you confirm if the cars for the Japanese home market share the same mechanical/electrical maintenance parts with the Japanese cars for the UK market? Specifically for maintenance and repair ( i understand that the media information systems are in Japanese so changing settings might be a problem)?

[Tokyo Tokei]

Hi Tokyo, I have always been wary of imports to UK- can you confirm if the cars for the Japanese home market share the same mechanical/electrical maintenance parts with the Japanese cars for the UK market? Specifically for maintenance and repair ( i understand that the media information systems are in Japanese so changing settings might be a problem)?

A lot of Japanese cars here have all their interior buttons in Japanese, but on the more general case of 'confirming' they have the same underlying mechanics or electrics, I have no solid information on that. Cars are not my area of expertise (to put it mildly...) but I suspect mechanically they must be similar.

Fitting (for example) "thinner body panels" on a production line for certain markets seems a lot of bother and cost, and for what purpose it would be hard to imagine, not to mention the time and cost of inventory, stock control, re-certifying and re-testing (crash, performance, durability, regulatory) all those alternate parts.

As far as I can tell, most car manufacturers want their cars to be as cookie-cutter as possible in manufacture, with the only differences being trim or local spec requirements like miles/kilometres on instruments or whatever, and language of course.

On that last point, it seems the days of having a speedo swapped for miles and replacing a DIN unit are over. From what I can tell, most modern cars have integrated electronic dashes and 'infotainment'. So while I suspect they too must be configurable for all territories, whether the manufacturer makes that easy or even possible after purchase is up to them. Probably safest to check the particular car in question.

[wileeeeeey]

I always avoid the Japanese import adverts on auto trader but after the last few posts I don’t think I would.

[magpie215]

I always avoid the Japanese import adverts on auto trader but after the last few posts I don’t think I would.

I've now owned 4 Japanese imports...no big issues encountered so far.