Buying a car in Japan is a daunting task. Or, to be more precise, selecting a make/model of car to buy in Japan is a daunting task. Considering only domestic (Japanese) cars, there are nine major makers (Itsuzsu, Daihatsu, Honda, Suzui, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru) representing an incredible 217 models (a stunning 69 from Toyota alone). Then there are about 15 major foreign makers, representing another 120 different models.
To go along with all those models are a lot of different classifications. In addition to the normal sedan, SUV, wagon, minivan, and sports/specialty classifications are super-mini and “2BOX”. It turns out that the cars Fumie and I were interested in buying were in the “2BOX” class, although I have no idea what "2BOX' means.
With so many models, names are, uh, “creative”. Some of the ones we initially considered included the Honda FIT, Toyota Corolla SPACiO, Toyota RAUM, the Toyota Corolla RUNX, and the Mitsubishi Colt (unrelated to the Dodge vehicle by the same name). Toyotas include a litany of names that would bring the best spell-checker to its knees, including the Toyota ist, Toyota WISH, Toyota Opa, Toyota bB, Toyota Brevis, Toyota Crown Majesta, Toyota WiLL CYPHA, and the Toyota Cami. The starting price tag of these Toyota cars (before options, etc.) range from under $9k (Toyota Vitz) to $100k (the Toyota Century). The ones we considered were in the $17k-$21k range.
In the end, we bought a Toyota Sienta, and like it a
lot. According to the old web site's “from the chief
engineer” page, the name Sienta comes from the Spanish
“siete” (“7”, as it can hold seven
passengers) and the English “entertainment”. Ugh. The car is
much nicer than its name entomology etymology.
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
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 😉
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!
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…
|> 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
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.
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!
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
Interestingly, as of 1-2 years ago, the Fit is available in the USA now.