A week with the Z

[jdm-rhd]

The BRZ/86 twins are everywhere because they're a good car at a "reasonable" price. The BRZ tends to be less seen simply because Subaru makes fewer of them compared to the Toyota 86 ... but it's near impossible to tell the difference, especially at a quick glance.

The 370Z isn't seen as much as the 350Z ... yet, but as second-hand ones become more available (as people buying new upgrade to the new Z), you'll start seeing more of them around, especially if like here there are lots of Japanese second-hand imports. I've already notice the car yard advertising has been fading out the 350Z and getting more 370Z cars recently.

The New Z will also become relatively "common" on the roads, especially when second-hand ones start hitting the marketplace and as Nissan updates it with newer slightly tweaked models. That's why if you want something fairly unique you would really either have to go hyper-expensive or old-skool ... how many Model T's do you see on the roads?

what do you mean by "japanese second-hand imports"?

i think the new z will sell well even if over priced, because all new and used cars are crazy money now and people are buying them regardless...

 

[Denver the Last Dinosaur]

what do you mean by "japanese second-hand imports"?

Cars that were sold new to Japanese buyers, then when they are eventually traded-in, the cars are sold at auctions. Overseas car yard owners buy them up to be imported into another country and sold there as second-hand - often they are cheaper prices than the local second-hand cars of the same model. Private buyers can also do the same. There are tons of used cars in Japan that they want to get rid of and lots of Japanese companies that help with the process, including looking for specific cars.

There are issues with this though. Most cars sold new in the Japanese market of course have a Japanese radio/satnav/infotainment system, which may or may not work in other countries. Buttons and on-screen text are also often in Japanese. Often the only option is to simply replace the radio/satnav/infotainment system with a local OEM or third-party version. Same with things like the owners manual. Whether or not those are problems is it to the individual buyer. Some of course are purchased by Japanese who have moved to another country anyway.

 

[Donalex]

^^^
Very rare and expensive.

 

[Denver the Last Dinosaur]

Maybe in America, but second-hand Japanese imports are a huge business in some countries. It's not just fancy sports cars either, but any make and model that the car yard thinks they can sell - normal cars, electric cars, nana cars, etc. There are some car yards that specialise in only selling Japanese second-hand imports.

It isn't just Japanese cars either. You can sometimes find European cars (Porsche, BMW, VW, etc.) which were originally sold new in Japan and are now sold as second-hand Japanese imports - still with all the Japanese regional issues though.