Last month, I parted ways with $3,000 to purchase and ship a tiny $258 car several thousand miles away from my home. I can’t wait to see my 1997 Honda Life and now that it has gotten a second inspection at port in Japan, I’m even more excited. My bargain basement car is in even better shape than I expected!
Imported car bans have been spreading across America for the past four years, so it might seem wild that I’m importing a car during these uncertain times. In a case of unfortunate timing, my state has secretly started banning imported cars, but that happened after I already paid for my little Honda. But you know what? I’m still stoked. I’ve never been a person to let anyone or the government stop me from having fun. Illinois will not stop me from enjoying my little car!
The process of getting a car to America from Japan is ridiculously slow. In my experience, the real fun starts late at night. Due to the time zone difference, it’ll be perhaps 11 pm where you’re at while your chosen car rolls across the auction block in Japan. If you win, you don’t pay right then and there. Instead, you wait a day or two for your importer or exporter to calculate your final fees. Depending on the service you choose, your invoice will include everything from the fee for the service to paying to have your car trucked to the port. Here’s what my invoice looked like:
The Fun Of The Japanese Auction System
All of that is in yen, of course, but I first paid a 60,000 yen ($400 at the time) deposit to Japan Car Direct to gain access to the Japanese auction system. Once I had access, all I had to do was find a car I wanted and then give my auction agent the auction lot’s information. He then translated the condition sheets for me. If he thought the car was worth pursuing, he then asked me if I wanted to pay for an independent inspection for $20.
It should be noted that at first, you’ll get nothing but low-resolution photos. They’re just good enough to reveal major damage, but you can easily miss issues that get lost in the tiny, blurry image. For example, unless you have a really good eye for detail, you might miss paint peeling off of a car’s roof because the auction images are so low quality.
Most of the time, the original auction condition sheet is good enough to give you a decent idea of whether you’ll like the car or not. While these auction sheets are good, they are never perfect. The inspectors at the auctions will usually get more obvious damage correct, but either miss other damage or exaggerate what damage they do see. So, if the original auction sheet seems good enough, it’s probably worth paying the $20 for an independent inspection.In my case, the original inspection said that the car had “peeling paint” on the right fender and more peeling paint on the tailgate. The inspection also said that the car had a rear power window that did not work. My car was originally a borderline case to me. It was painted in a rare color, but paint peel and non-functional window regulators are both deal-breakers for me. I don’t want to immediately have to import a window regulator from Japan when I could just buy a car that already has working windows.
Still, I loved the car’s color, and I loved that it was a high trim model, so I paid for the independent inspection. This inspector clarified that the car wasn’t suffering from paint peel, but a very small patch on the fender where the clear coat began fading. There was another patch around the keyhole for the tailgate. But, important was the fact that the inspector believed the paint underneath was still in good shape. Okay, I can handle that!
Even better was what the independent inspection found inside the vehicle. The auction inspector said one window didn’t work. Well, the fella handling the independent inspection tested each individual window rather than just the driver switch panel. He found that every window actually worked great. The only problem was that the down button didn’t work for a single rear window on the driver door switch. That was pretty much all of the confirmation I needed that I just need to replace a switch, not a regulator.
Armed with the inspection in hand, I told my auction agent to bid up to $1,000. Amusingly, he didn’t need to go that far. I was the only bidder for this car at $258.
Even Better Than Expected
As I wrote before, Japanese taxing schemes make owning older cars a small fortune. Because of this, regular everyday Kei cars like my Honda Life are almost entirely unwanted by locals. The Honda Life isn’t exactly a JDM legend, either, so Americans also rarely care about them. Lots of auctions for cars like mine conclude with zero bidders and continue to get zero bids in auctions spanning over a month of time.
Now, some folks took issue with me saying that I bought my car for “only $258,” correctly noting that my final cost will be much more. Again, this is true! However, it’s not really much different than buying any other vehicle. My CFMoto Papio SS was $3,299, but the dealer quoted me an out-the-door price of $4,750 after freight charges and other fees. I negotiated them down to $4,500.
When you buy a car from Bring a Trailer, the auction platform scrapes another 5 percent out of you. Then you have to pay for shipping. So, unless you’re buying cars from your local Craigslist, the purchase price is never the final price.
With that being said, even once you throw in the other charges, this is still a stupidly cheap car. If you include the initial deposit, I’ve paid $3,000 for my Honda Life. I’ll probably have $3,500 or $3,600 into it once I’m cleared to load the car onto a trailer. I could save even more money by just driving the car home from the port, but I’m going to do things the safe way due to the current climate in some states.
Anyway, once you’re all paid up, it takes up to two weeks for your exporter to get your car from a yard near the auction center to the port of departure. In my case, this took two weeks because transport trucks were all booked up due to Japan’s automakers making an end-of-quarter push to get units out.
But eventually, a truck did come by to pick up my car, and soon after, it arrived at the port. Now, as it awaits a roll-on/roll-off vessel to take it away to America, I finally have my first set of truly high-definition photos. Amazingly, the car is in even better shape than the independent inspection noted.
One thing I was concerned about was the paint. The paint seemed to be shining in the auction photos. However, that is sometimes the case because some cars are wet when they get their photos taken. The port photos were taken with the car dry and in sunlight. Take a look at how decent the paint is!
I also got a good look at the clear coat fade on the fender. I’ve seen way worse clear failures repaired to look like they never happened, so I’m not worried about this.
I was also happy to see only surface rust on the vehicle’s underbody components. Cars in Japan can rust just as badly as cars in the American Midwest do, so this is great!The only big problem I noticed with the exterior is the fact that the tires are shot. If you zoom in on this photo, you’ll see some epic dry rot. I did know about this before I bought the car, and it’s probably another good reason why I’m trailering it home.
I’m also really happy with the interior photos. I’ve been told that the air-conditioner blows ice cubes and that the wear inside is pretty low. There’s just a tiny tear on a hidden area of the driver seat that should be easy to fix.
Look at the awesome tape deck! In my experience, these vintage Japanese car radios tend to run on only a few bands that are shared in the United States. I should have no problem getting tunes to work through my trusty FM transmitter.
The photos also confirm that I indeed bought a Honda Life T-Type, or the top trim level for 1997. Getting the sweet T-Type means factory roof rack bars, keyless entry, an automatic air-conditioner, and power windows. Sadly, my car’s keyless entry remote has been long lost, but that’s a project I’m excited to try to fix.
I did learn one additional thing about my car, and it’s that the seats fold nearly flat to make a lounge for two. That sounds so fun for a night of stargazing with my wife.
From here, I just have a lot of waiting to do. In the coming weeks, I’ll receive information about which ship my car will be on, and I’ll receive the documents I need to file in order to squeeze this little car through Customs. Hopefully, I’ll have the car here in Illinois within the next month and a half or so, where it will join me in the fight to legalize Keis.
It’s a fight worth having, too, because this car is going to be so fun to scoot around in.
Looks like a good relatively cheap life adventure. Congratulations.
A missing key fob, what a great opportunity to play with Sub-ghz radio, it always makes the dolphin in the Flipper Zero happy. (-; I don’t think you will have to face rolling codes, but even if you do there is an insecurity I hear.
What a fun car, good luck with the registration.
I still think the political route is the key.
Imagine the photo opportunity, Governor meets with one of the most prolific automotive writers of this decade to discuss weird hobby and have a coffee.
Smiling wokeness yeah.
The comment about the tax treatment of old cars is super interesting. I’m in Japan right now and I’m finding the car fleet to be remarkably modern.
Whether urban or rural Japan, it’s really rare and special to see something even 15 years old. It’s a ton of small cheap cars, mostly kei, but they’re still super new!
It’s been that way for decades. Purportedly it’s about safety or something – but it’s really about making sure the manufacturers have consistent JDM consumer demand.
This also made for some rather cool and inexpensive cars for US Servicemembers stationed in Japan – I had a nice Honda Prelude XE when I was stationed there in the early 90’s, and I had coworkers and friends on base with Skylines, Honda Citys, Toyota Truenos and Sprinters, Chasers, RX7s, etc.
The tax thing is a bit of a myth. It is definitely cheaper to pay for a bi-annual shaken than pay for the depreciation on a new car, which is partly why my wife and I will once again put our 17-year-old, 450,000km, battle-scarred JDM Toyota Noah minivan through its 8th shaken this month. (The other reason being that our Noah came in a unique five-seater package that suits us better than a 7-seater, but which Toyota or other makers have never repeated on later model minivans.)
The outstanding reason for all the new cars on the road in Japan is that Japanese consumers like new things. A secondary reason in the case of imports is the horrible cost of parts and service once they get past their warranty and, almost inevitably, something expensive breaks. I speak from bitter experience.
I love it. Are those 13 inch tires? You can spring for the good stuff!
As one with an old sportscar car with 13″ tires, I can tell you good stuff in small sizes is either REALLY hard to get or INSANELY expensive at this point. I paid more for the meh tires I bought for it last year than I did for a set of quite good Z-speed rated 17s for my Mercedes. I really wish when I bought alloys for it 25 years ago that I had gotten 14s.
Tires vs tyres, eh?
Reading stories like this is really getting me thinking about importing a Toyota Century. I don’t think I could handle the right have drive though, but if one of the rare left have drive Centuries ends up at auction…
It’s really not as hard as you might think. I expected it to be super weird and difficult, but I got used to it in a matter of a few days. Going through a parking garage sucks, but that’s about the only time it ever makes a difference for me. I do modify routes to avoid unprotected left turns, but that’s just a matter or turning on different streets, it really doesn’t affect my times or anything so it’s not a big deal. You should try one out before you assume you won’t be able to adapt.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you at customs.
From some of the stories I’ve heard, there is so much confusion with the fluctuating trade war/tarrif situation that customs agents might just be winging it.
I hope you get a kind agent.
Also, very nice car! I can’t believe that’s almost 30 years old.
Mercedes is all good there, no extra import duties on kei cars over 25 years, just the regular fees.
Sweet! Love this thing. Might be a challenger to fit my svelte bod into it. Hope you have success in beating the incoming rules you wrote about the other day.
Looks like a fun little vehicle! Looking forward to reading more about it once you get it home, Mercedes.
Slightly disappointed that it’s missing the 3rd pedal, as that would make it even more fun.
However, around 1999, I had the opportunity to drive a Diahatsu Cuore in Grand Cayman as my rental car for the week. It was right-hand drive and a 5-speed. While it was fun, it was a little confusing on the roads. In the Caymans, they drive on the left. The US imported vehicles were left-hand drive and the Asian imported ones were right-hand drive so non-locals (including myself) quite often found themselves driving on the wrong side of the road. Oops.
The annoying part for me about the Diahatsu was that being right-hand drive, you had to shift with your left hand, which once you got used to it wasn’t really a problem… Until you had to use the turn signal. They left the turn signal and wiper switches in the same position as they would be on a left-hand drive vehicle. So imagine you’re downshifting while slowing your way to a 4-way intersection where you have to make a left turn. You use your left hand to shift from 3rd to 2nd while using your right hand to signal… And the damn wipers come on!
Every.
Single.
Time.
Otherwise, it was kind of neat and fun to drive. Hopefully your turn signal stalk is on the right and shared with the headlight switch. Hard to tell in the photos. Otherwise, be prepared to use your left hand to signal, which would probably be awkward, even with an automatic.
Yeaaahhh the wipers and signals thing is always the thing i tell people that sticks out the most about trying to get used to a right hand drive car other than shifting with your left hand. Even though I’ve been driving right hand drive cars in the States for a few years i still occasionally throw on my wipers when trying to signal. Though i have less issues with the shifting vs hitting a door panel like my buddy has admitted to doing.
Hi from the UK.
A huge majority of cars here are like that. You get used to it.
That is one of two things I hate the most about the RHD vehicles.
Some manufacturers are too cheap to rearrange the functions of the stalks accordingly. It’s maddening when you need to switch the turn signal indicators on or off while at the same time shifting the gears.
Another thing I hate the most is the ignition lock on the right side of the steering column. Prior to the remote lock fobs and keyless ignition buttons, I would have to use my right hand to unlock the door then use the same hand to open the door, leaving the scratches around the door handle. After seating, I still have to use the right hand with keys in it to close the door. Really inconvenient!
When I drove the RHD vehicle with ignition lock on the left side of steering column, I was a very happy camper. Same with turn signal indicator stalk on the right side, and in some cases, the automatic gearbox selector on the left side (of course, the letters are in reverse order: L D N R P).
I’ve had several manual LHD cars with turn signals on the right (because French – why do they do anything other than to be different). Didn’t bother me at all.
Like anything that is different in a car, you get used to it.
Should have titled the picture “got the life.”
https://youtu.be/VAWjsVoDpm0?si=6CjRECg8AFh2szPs
That interior pic with all the seats folded would make it easy for Shaq to drive from the back seat!
I don’t care about legalities…..I vin swap that unit with a civic ao fast and drive around everywhere
Rather than do something that’s a felony, you could just go the Montana LLC route legally.
While not a felony (probably), that is still illegal in a lot of states, assuming you plan to keep the car in the state you live in. They are very much on to that “workaround”. Especially the states with substantial annual excise tax bills to be paid.
It’s dishonest, but not illegal – if the vehicle is registered to a business, it can be registered wherever the business is located. States will deem it illegal if the vehicle is registered as a personal vehicle, not a business one. This is why there’s the need to legally set up a Montana LLC to register the vehicle to, and why a lot of people don’t do it – it’s a decent amount of hassle unless you make it financially worthwhile (i.e. the instance of exotics).
That’s the theory. In practice, some states care rather more than others if it is *obvious* that the business only exists to skirt state registration and taxation laws. In Maine, if the business’ only asset is a very expensive car or RV or whatnot, and it is not used to produce revenue, you had best have a very good attorney.
This is amazing. What a terrific little car! I’m looking forward to the articles about its trip to the US, getting it documented and what it’s like to drive it here.
TTAC ain’t got nothin’ on the Autopian!
That looks AMAZING! You should totally get some Japanese trash for the floor!
That’s a good looking machine inside and out. What are the implications of getting liability insurance on these marginally registered rigs? Or are they basically for tooling around your estate?
In my experience with Liberty Mutual and Progressive, I just call, say that I’m adding a weird imported car, and it goes through just fine. The person on the phone just ends up adding seven zeroes to the VIN so that it pleases their computers. They don’t even ask for proof of registration. Though, of course, you want them registered. 🙂
It’s worth noting, vehicles over a certain age most mainline insurance companies will try to direct you to Hagerty or another classic car company. Given any of these imports are at least 25 years old you may run into that.
That said, it’s not that they can’t carry those cars, they just seem to have an agreement where they re-direct the inquiry. Hagerty would have been genuinely cheaper, so it makes sense from a customer satisfaction point of view.
In my case, we had Nationwide for years but they sent me Hagerty for my ’77 K5 Blazer. Hagerty rejected me because it was on 40 inch tires. Eventually we learned we just had to tell them we weren’t interested and Nationwide would have added it to our existing policy, but at that point we’d started shopping around and realized State Farm had way better rates for us anyways, so it was a win all around!
Yeah, the specialist insurers will reject a vehicle for many reasons. They also usually require at least covered, if not fully enclosed storage. They keep their rates low because they keep their risk exposure low by limiting use. But at least one of them will require proof that you have daily drivers for all licensed drivers in the house to help enforce that.
With both this and the Honda Beat, it’s clear you’re really embracing the Honda Life.
Wait, the head unit has a “disc” button, but no place to put a CD? Does it go somewhere else?
Probably a cartridge in the glove box.
Tape decks of the era usually included buttons for controlling an optional remote CD changer which would usually hold 6 discs. The buttons would be there, whether you splurged for the CD changer or not. Having that option installed was the ultimate flex for 1992.
I remember it being a big deal when the LS400 offered a disc changer in the glove box.
Instead of the effen trunk like the early years.
Trunk-mounted CD changers were a common option in Hondas of this era.
i have some experience with used Japanese car auctions. a lot of times they would mark ding or scratch where we could not even find ourselves. the level of disclosure goes above and beyond. you would take a car with 3.5 or 3 rating and it would be 4 if not that 0.5inch scratch on the bottom of the bumper that you can’t even see…. amazing…
“due to the current climate in some states”
I wonder if that’s in reference to potential hostility toward the car or its driver, and I’m sorry it’s even a question. I’m glad you’re playing it safe (especially on iffy tires)!
Those fold-flat seats are amazing.
I didn’t even think of that.
I’m like “Why is she worried about snow in April?”
Makes perfect sense.
It’s not the car. It’s the bigots out there who might want to make things difficult. Taking a new-to-you vehicle on a long road trip means there is a decent chance something might go wrong. The risk of being taken advantage of in a repair situation, or suffering physical harm because of how you look is real.
Regarding registration… I watch a Kei truck YouTube channel based out of NY, where apparently one can’t register these. But he’s always got at least half a dozen kei vehicles sitting around on out-of-state plates, and he’s bold enough to show that on YouTube, and nobody seems to care.
I also have out-of-state registration resources! In the past, that used to be Vermont, but now I have other places that would be happy to give me plates. But I still want to fight so that Keis can drive in my state without resorting to stuff like that.
The states should welcome the tax revenue, tbqh. I haven’t looked at the details, but I really hope Leno’s Law will make it easier to register imports in CA.
As I said in another post, banning these cars on safety grounds is utter BS until they ban motorcycles and antique cars too. This is NOT less safe than a Model A Ford, and I could drive one of those down any Interstate highway in the country at 60mph bone stock.
They don’t care until they do. Or in the case of my summer home state of Maine, somebody drops a dime on you to collect the *reward* they offer for turning in people having cars on out-of-state plates. They REALLY want that sweet, sweet, annual excise tax payment. Which hilariously, doesn’t even go to the state, it goes to your local municipality.
Nice little car. Hopefully you don’t get some crazy port fees. Or other shipping fees.
That car is awesome and worth every penny!
This is very cool, Mercedes! Looks like you’ve found a nice example… Waiting patiently for the update when it arrives Stateside. Hopefully Illinois are reasonable about getting it registered.
I’m currently debating importing a GWS214 Crown Majesta to Australia – The wait is worth paying about half of what already imported examples are selling for here.
I still find it fascinating that even on a Japanese car manufactured almost exclusively for the home market, the radio buttons (among other things) are in English.
Right?
I’m that weirdo who would dig a totally unique car with a bunch of controls labeled in a foreign language. Let each mystery button and knob be a journey of self exploration.
Congrats on achieving such a high quality of Life!
Nice car! I hope you can actually get it through customs and such!
Congratulations and best wishes with the fight!