The Euro makes (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, et all) offer the option of European Delivery as we all know, but why didnt the Japanese ever get into this? At least back in the day, when the sports car wars were raging; they could have offered the option of picking up a Supra, 3000GT, or 300ZX in Japan. Even now they could do it with the GTR or the Z...it would have been an interesting option to have at least.
Japan Delivery
caliatenza
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The Euro makes (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, et all) offer the option of European Delivery as we all know, but why didnt the Japanese ever get into this? At least back in the day, when the sports car wars were raging; they could have offered the option of picking up a Supra, 3000GT, or 300ZX in Japan. Even now they could do it with the GTR or the Z...it would have been an interesting option to have at least.
They drive on the other side of the road in Japan
ftfy
I believe Japan allows LHD cars there. Heck, even the official export version of the Corvette is LHD.
But I wouldn't trust myself driving in any country where it's RHD. Plus, add in the high cost of fuel in Japan, traffic, and I understand toll prices is--> :screwy:
Speaking of factory deliveries, I like BMW's factory delivery at their S. Carolina factory. Even if you order a BMW that's made in Germany or Austria, BMW just puts your car on a ship headed to the S. Carolina Port instead of, in my case, the port of NJ.
BMW picks up the tab for a night's stay at a local hotel, so all you do is pay for a one-way ticket to S. Carolina. Then before taking delivery, you get a tour of the museum and factory. Then you get to participate in their high performance driver's course (not with your car but a equivalent). Then you pick your car up and drive home.
Wish they do it with Mini also.
But I wouldn't trust myself driving in any country where it's RHD. Plus, add in the high cost of fuel in Japan, traffic, and I understand toll prices is--> :screwy:
Speaking of factory deliveries, I like BMW's factory delivery at their S. Carolina factory. Even if you order a BMW that's made in Germany or Austria, BMW just puts your car on a ship headed to the S. Carolina Port instead of, in my case, the port of NJ.
BMW picks up the tab for a night's stay at a local hotel, so all you do is pay for a one-way ticket to S. Carolina. Then before taking delivery, you get a tour of the museum and factory. Then you get to participate in their high performance driver's course (not with your car but a equivalent). Then you pick your car up and drive home.
Wish they do it with Mini also.
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yeah i get that...hmmn, that would pose a problem, but is it such a big deal on the highways?
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Is the fuel cost in Japan as bad as Europe? Oh wow, i didnt realize that all of Europe, except for the UK, is LHDI believe Japan allows LHD cars there. Heck, even the official export version of the Corvette is LHD.
But I wouldn't trust myself driving in any country where it's RHD. Plus, add in the high cost of fuel in Japan, traffic, and I understand toll prices is--> :screwy:
Speaking of factory deliveries, I like BMW's factory delivery at their S. Carolina factory. Even if you order a BMW that's made in Germany or Austria, BMW just puts your car on a ship headed to the S. Carolina Port instead of, in my case, the port of NJ.
BMW picks up the tab for a night's stay at a local hotel, so all you do is pay for a one-way ticket to S. Carolina. Then before taking delivery, you get a tour of the museum and factory. Then you get to participate in their high performance driver's course (not with your car but a equivalent). Then you pick your car up and drive home.
Wish they do it with Mini also.
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Nissan's US HQ is in Smyrna TN. I'm wondering if Nissan can have something similar to BMW's S. Carolina factory delivery.
If Nissan uses a shipping port in either N. or S. Carolina for their cars imported from Japan, then I don't see why they could do something similar to what BMW is doin' at their S. Carolina factory. Provided there's something to do at the Smyrna HQ or factory. Should be easy if Nissan has rail transportation from a southern shipping port to Smyrna.
So, if I order a GTR or a 370Z, have the car shipped to their HQ in Smyrna so I could take delivery there instead of the dealership where I placed the order. And again, provided there's something to do there. At least with BMW, you can tour the plant and get high performance driving lessons.
If Nissan uses a shipping port in either N. or S. Carolina for their cars imported from Japan, then I don't see why they could do something similar to what BMW is doin' at their S. Carolina factory. Provided there's something to do at the Smyrna HQ or factory. Should be easy if Nissan has rail transportation from a southern shipping port to Smyrna.
So, if I order a GTR or a 370Z, have the car shipped to their HQ in Smyrna so I could take delivery there instead of the dealership where I placed the order. And again, provided there's something to do there. At least with BMW, you can tour the plant and get high performance driving lessons.
Those guys are Australian. So they're used to driving RHD and driving on the left hand side of the road. So, they just have to worry about road signs in Japanese and other road markings.
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Because the Japanese makers were too busy trying to get around import tariffs by figuring out where to build factories in the US :laugh:
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Japan doesn't have the autobahn
I've driven in England before. The other side of the road / car thing is not really that challenging -- the only instinct that is difficult to overcome is having to look up and to the LEFT for the rearview mirror.
I would be a lot more intimidated by road signage that I can't read or understand.
I would be a lot more intimidated by road signage that I can't read or understand.
Even this is not much of a problem, because the signs that pertain to road rules are standardized per Geneva convention on road traffic in both countries (actually, they're standardized everywhere in the world except North America). Finding your way around could be quite another matter, but that's what a GPS is for.
It seems that it's just that the Japanese don't operate that way. Japan is a small country with a lot of people. City traffic is brutal. Highways have 100 km/h speed limit ... not much of a driving experience. There are some mountain roads crossing the islands ... but it's not like the Alps, or the Dolomites, or pretty much anywhere in Italy outside the cities, or even like Appalachia.
M3, CX-90, Audi 5000, Tahoe, BMWR100, Ducati Multistrada 1100S
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That was the hardest part for me too. Even learning to shift with the left hand isn't much of an issue. The pedal configuration and shift pattern are all the same obviously.
Still, I wouldn't want to bother picking a car up in Japan. Visiting is one thing, but eff driving there.
No, but they have the Wangan freeway!
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The road signs are all in international standards, and nearly everything has an English translation.
Getting around isn't a big deal at all. Driving a LHD vehicle on the wrong side of the road is awkward though.
Another difference between the Japanese makes and the European cars is that a lot of the Japanese cars are actually built in the US, whereas the majority of the European premium brands are still built in Europe and shipped here.
Then there's the difference in the way they're optioned. A lot higher percentage of BMW buyers order their cars configured exactly the way they want them than say a Lexus buyer.
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