Comments on: Choosing a car to buy in Japan http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1 Not a photo blog. A personal blog with photos. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:47:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eric Mesa http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-35396 Eric Mesa Wed, 27 May 2009 18:20:38 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-35396 Interestingly, as of 1-2 years ago, the Fit is available in the USA now. Interestingly, as of 1-2 years ago, the Fit is available in the USA now.

]]> By: Steven Levithan http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-13389 Steven Levithan Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:28:51 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-13389 Entomology? As in, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomology" rel="nofollow">study of insects</a>? :-) <span class='jfriedl'>Ouch, that's painful, all the more so because I'm well aware of the difference. I just need to teach my typing fingers the difference! In my defense, it <b>is</b> my first post. :-)</span> Japanese car names can indeed by quite wacky... I was going to start listing some of my favorites, but searching for information on the Suzuki Every Wagon Joypop turned up the old Metropolis article <a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/CarsBikesarchive349/331/carsbikesinc.htm" rel="nofollow">What's in a name?</a>, which covers most of the good ones. <span class='jfriedl'>Just goes to show you that truth can be stranger than fiction. —Jeffrey</span> Entomology? As in, the study of insects? :-)

Ouch, that’s painful, all the more so because I’m well aware of the difference. I just need to teach my typing fingers the difference! In my defense, it is my first post. :-)

Japanese car names can indeed by quite wacky… I was going to start listing some of my favorites, but searching for information on the Suzuki Every Wagon Joypop turned up the old Metropolis article What’s in a name?, which covers most of the good ones.

Just goes to show you that truth can be stranger than fiction. —Jeffrey

]]> By: Alan http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-10841 Alan Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:29:26 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-10841 Just bought a new(old) 2004 Sienta (demo model here in HK, hence a couple of years old but still new) for about 20K USD. Great car. Luckily bought it from a HK dealer that specializes in interior refits so this Sienta has a handsome beige leather interior and nice sport rally wheels on it. Looking forward to low fuel usage with maximum people carrying capability! Just bought a new(old) 2004 Sienta (demo model here in HK, hence a couple of years old but still new) for about 20K USD. Great car. Luckily bought it from a HK dealer that specializes in interior refits so this Sienta has a handsome beige leather interior and nice sport rally wheels on it. Looking forward to low fuel usage with maximum people carrying capability!

]]> By: Ack http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-2177 Ack Thu, 08 Jun 2006 09:41:42 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-2177 I ended up getting the new Santa Fe 7 seater. A bit squeezy in the last row, but usually we stick the nieces/nephews in there. But I've seen a lot more Sientas on the road here in Singapore. I think the last price I saw for it was around 59k SGD. I saw a few that had curtains/blinds. Pretty cool. I ended up getting the new Santa Fe 7 seater. A bit squeezy in the last row, but usually we stick the nieces/nephews in there.

But I’ve seen a lot more Sientas on the road here in Singapore. I think the last price I saw for it was around 59k SGD. I saw a few that had curtains/blinds. Pretty cool.

]]> By: Jeffrey Friedl http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-1054 Jeffrey Friedl Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:06:56 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-1054 |> But any problems mechanically or under power? Please comment without |> biase. It'll help a lot to finalise my decision. Thanks! No real problems -- it's really a fine car for the price. It's not in the same class as heavy solidly built sedans, so the ride is more exposed. And like any mini-van type of vehicle where the rear (center) seats move on sliders, they're more flimsy than the fixed rear seats of a sedan. My wife misses heaver, more plush seats, but what do you expect for this type and price of car? It's certainly very high on the value scale. |> Oh one more thing, which PI has the best price? Hehe... I don't know what it's like in Singapore, but we went to two places and told them as much. We told them to give us their best price in writing, and we'd pick the lowest. We got a huge discount that way. Jeffrey |> But any problems mechanically or under power? Please comment without
|> biase. It’ll help a lot to finalise my decision. Thanks!

No real problems — it’s really a fine car for the price. It’s not in the
same class as heavy solidly built sedans, so the ride is more exposed. And
like any mini-van type of vehicle where the rear (center) seats move on
sliders, they’re more flimsy than the fixed rear seats of a sedan. My wife
misses heaver, more plush seats, but what do you expect for this type and
price of car? It’s certainly very high on the value scale.

|> Oh one more thing, which PI has the best price? Hehe…

I don’t know what it’s like in Singapore, but we went to two places and
told them as much. We told them to give us their best price in writing, and
we’d pick the lowest. We got a huge discount that way.

Jeffrey

]]> By: Roy http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-1053 Roy Sun, 16 Apr 2006 20:00:23 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-1053 Hi guys, I'm hunting around like mad too... all that new age MPVs coming out like Sienta, Airwave, Edix, Lafesta, Colt, APV, etc... it is very very difficult to make the decision. However I've been thinking long enough and I think 80% is slanting to Sienta's side now. Reason is I like the option of having 2 extra seats behind for unforeseen occasions. I can fold down when I don't need them to hold my golf bag. But any problems mechanically or under power? Please comment without biase. It'll help a lot to finalise my decision. Thanks! Oh one more thing, which PI has the best price? Hehe... Hi guys,
I’m hunting around like mad too… all that new age MPVs coming out like Sienta, Airwave, Edix, Lafesta, Colt, APV, etc… it is very very difficult to make the decision.

However I’ve been thinking long enough and I think 80% is slanting to Sienta’s side now. Reason is I like the option of having 2 extra seats behind for unforeseen occasions. I can fold down when I don’t need them to hold my golf bag.

But any problems mechanically or under power? Please comment without biase. It’ll help a lot to finalise my decision. Thanks!

Oh one more thing, which PI has the best price? Hehe…

]]> By: Ack http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-951 Ack Wed, 29 Mar 2006 06:44:43 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-951 Hmmm.....we might go with an Edix or Stepwagon now. The Sienta looks interesting, but we don't want to stuff the kids in the back in case there's an accident or something. Cars are just too expensive here in Singapore especially since they jack the price up 15% to 25% above cost! Hmmm…..we might go with an Edix or Stepwagon now. The Sienta looks interesting, but we don’t want to stuff the kids in the back in case there’s an accident or something.

Cars are just too expensive here in Singapore especially since they jack the price up 15% to 25% above cost!

]]> By: Ian J Cottee http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-861 Ian J Cottee Fri, 03 Mar 2006 07:20:14 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-861 Ack I have a Sienta which I actually brought back to the UK when I left Japan last year. We had it when they were first released (Oct 2003) and it's been great. The boot is a good size when the back seats are folded away (I regularly used to transport a drumkit around in it). With the seats down it's not giving you huge acres of space but we've driven fair distances with all seven seats occupied and little moaning. Obviously it's better as a family car with kids in the back. Probably not optimum for transporting a seven man wrestling team. For the size and price I think it's great. It's no babe magnet though ;) Ack

I have a Sienta which I actually brought back to the UK when I left Japan last year. We had it when they were first released (Oct 2003) and it’s been great. The boot is a good size when the back seats are folded away (I regularly used to transport a drumkit around in it). With the seats down it’s not giving you huge acres of space but we’ve driven fair distances with all seven seats occupied and little moaning. Obviously it’s better as a family car with kids in the back. Probably not optimum for transporting a seven man wrestling team.

For the size and price I think it’s great. It’s no babe magnet though ;)

]]> By: Ack http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-846 Ack Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:20:04 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/1#comment-846 Hey Jeffrey, I'm considering getting a Sienta. Have you had any major problems with it? Does anything annoy you about it? How spacious is the back seat and boot/trunk? Thanks Hey Jeffrey, I’m considering getting a Sienta. Have you had any major problems with it? Does anything annoy you about it? How spacious is the back seat and boot/trunk?

Thanks

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