Ray,
You are toooooo kind. Do I sense an opening to the Bush/Cheney camp? Calling Raimundo over to the Dark Side!!! (Btw, Isopatch is still claiming that this thread is chock full of Gore/Lieberman supporters, a PC crowd--s/he must mean you).
WSJ did a little article a few weeks back on the beaten-to-a-pulp Japanese consumer, I think it was even cited on this board.
I did find a little squib on the "shaken [pronounced "shah-ken"]" system:
Fierce competition and introduction of new models every four years, results in strong incentives to new car buyers. Anyone with an ID, a job and a guarantor can drive a brand new car out of a showroom with zero down payment (6 to 7% interest on full loan is the norm).
In other words, purchasing a new car in Japan is relatively cheap, while owning it, is not.
For instance:
-Annual road tax ranges from yen 40,000 for ordinary cars, up to yen 70,000 or more for luxury units.
-Shaken renewal starts at yen 120,000 for basic models, up to twice this figure for top grade units (required every 2 years, after the first original 3 years)
-Mandatory Parking monthly fees amount to yen 10,000 to 30,000 depending on area (parking within a few hundred meter from residence is required prior to purchase of a car, police comes to verify size and location).
-Insurance premiums (other than basic comprised in shaken) amount to at least yen 10,000 per month.
-General maintenance is traditionally never undertaken by the owner himself, but by the dealer at high price (services, labor, rent & advertising are very costly in Japan)
However, the main factor behind fast shrinking car value and early replacement, is the Shaken, a costly combination of taxes and mandatory roadworthy tests, added to the price of all cars "on the road". Renewal is mandatory at 3, 5, 7 & 9 years from first registration.
Beside providing huge income for the government, it insures every motor vehicle on Japanese road is safe and sound. Shaken price is identical at each renewal and with time, will eventually amount to more than the value of the car itself.
This factor explains why only an eccentric person would consider keeping any car longer than five or seven years, regardless of its objective condition.
bestjapancar.com |
