Advice please - Car choice in Japan fun mountain roads £25k
Discussion
Hi
I've been lurking the CarBuying side of the forum for a while to keep to date on the UK market while living overseas, but this is my first post.
I've seen posts that seem too vague or way too inflexible in their criteria, so hopefully this is something in the middle.
Seeking a second more fun car, mainly for me to drive.
However my wife will use it sometimes, so that influences some of the criteria.
I am a Brit living in Japan with a wife and 2 young kids
We already have a large car suitable for long distance family outings.
My current shortlist...
1.Suzuki Swift Sport, 2018/19, AT
+ Turbo kicks in at low rpm and doesn't really reward redlining the engine, so automatic gear box should be ok
+ Handling seems well suited to little mountain roads
+ Real Auto Gearbox not CVT, actually has paddle snifters
+ Well below budget
- Bit boy racer
- Small boot
- Also easily available outside Japan
- Somewhat muted exhaust when stock
2.Nissan Note E-Power Nismo S, 2018
+ Electric Motor drives wheels, so punchy acceleration (0-60 reported at 5.7s?)
+ Narrow, good for thin roads
+ Frugal on fuel for what it does
+ Refuels solely on petrol so no plugging it in
+ OK boot space
+ Only available in Japan
+ Regenerative breaking could help avoid brakes fading if pushed hard
- Very Boy racer aesthetic
- Electric motor whine and additional petrol engine sound like a generator
- Nissan; makes me wonder about resale value and build quality
3.VW Golf R, 2014-17
+ DSG Gear box seems to have good reputation
+ v.Punchy Acceleration
+ Sedate if set to comfort mode
+ Discrete looks
+ AWD when needed
- Bit more pricey in Japan due to rarity and specialist servicing costs
- Not unique to Japan / Japan made
- Perhaps a little wide bodied for thin roads?
4.VW Golf GTI 2017/8
+/- Mainly same pros and cons as GOLF R
- Golf R seems to be similar money second hand for AWD, more discretion and more power
Considered but not yet shortlisted...
(comments are brief but not intended to offend anyone who has these cars)
Will not consider...
Mercedes - They have an image in Japan that I'd like to avoid (and very high running/service costs).
2 Questions:
* If you had to choose from the 4 in the shortlist, which would you pick?
* What else would you pick instead, ideally that meets all the fixed criteria?
Thank you!
p.s. If you want to check the price of your suggestion http://www.goo-net-exchange.com is an easy way to see what used prices are like in Japan.
I've been lurking the CarBuying side of the forum for a while to keep to date on the UK market while living overseas, but this is my first post.
I've seen posts that seem too vague or way too inflexible in their criteria, so hopefully this is something in the middle.
Seeking a second more fun car, mainly for me to drive.
However my wife will use it sometimes, so that influences some of the criteria.
I am a Brit living in Japan with a wife and 2 young kids
We already have a large car suitable for long distance family outings.
Purpose...
- Decent fun around mountain roads and B-roads
- Fast in the corners and engaging
- Suited to a driver that is unlikely to push a car to its true limits (I'm not that talented)
- Needs to be 4 seats or 2+2, with a semi practical boot
- *Auto* gearbox (please not CVT)
- Fit driver that is 6'2"
- Less than 5 years old
- Will need to stay 'stock', no mods
- Reasonably reliable
- Budget is c3.5M JPY (c25k GBP, always happy to spend less)
- Prefer something not massively boy racer in style
- Ideally something that is Japanese or only available in Japan
- Reasonable servicing costs (I will not work on the car myself)
- Mountain roads in Japan are narrow but decent quality with minimal potholes
- Snow happens in this area every year, roads are not gritted or salted (use winter tires instead)
- When a car is 3 years or older in Japan, every 2 years thereafter you need a 'Shaken' (like MOT) is about 250,000 JPY = 1,700 GBP. So newer can be cheaper.
My current shortlist...
1.Suzuki Swift Sport, 2018/19, AT
+ Turbo kicks in at low rpm and doesn't really reward redlining the engine, so automatic gear box should be ok
+ Handling seems well suited to little mountain roads
+ Real Auto Gearbox not CVT, actually has paddle snifters
+ Well below budget
- Bit boy racer
- Small boot
- Also easily available outside Japan
- Somewhat muted exhaust when stock
2.Nissan Note E-Power Nismo S, 2018
+ Electric Motor drives wheels, so punchy acceleration (0-60 reported at 5.7s?)
+ Narrow, good for thin roads
+ Frugal on fuel for what it does
+ Refuels solely on petrol so no plugging it in
+ OK boot space
+ Only available in Japan
+ Regenerative breaking could help avoid brakes fading if pushed hard
- Very Boy racer aesthetic
- Electric motor whine and additional petrol engine sound like a generator
- Nissan; makes me wonder about resale value and build quality
3.VW Golf R, 2014-17
+ DSG Gear box seems to have good reputation
+ v.Punchy Acceleration
+ Sedate if set to comfort mode
+ Discrete looks
+ AWD when needed
- Bit more pricey in Japan due to rarity and specialist servicing costs
- Not unique to Japan / Japan made
- Perhaps a little wide bodied for thin roads?
4.VW Golf GTI 2017/8
+/- Mainly same pros and cons as GOLF R
- Golf R seems to be similar money second hand for AWD, more discretion and more power
Considered but not yet shortlisted...
(comments are brief but not intended to offend anyone who has these cars)
- Arbath 500 - Sitting high up, small pedals, tiny boot
- Honda Civic Type R - Surprisingly expensive even 4/5 years old. Very odd styling.
- Honda CRZ - Tiny back seats, apparently lacks power without aftermarket modifications
- Honda Fit/Jazz RS 1.5 - Its a CVT gearbox
- Mini Cooper S - Seems little better than a Golf, but with worse BMW level reliability as it ages
- Nissan March Nismo - Boy racer, not as unique as Note Nismo S Epower
- Subaru WRX/STI - Boy racer, surprisingly expensive in Japan unless v.old
- Suzuki Alto Turbo - Tiny boot, 'Kei' car so dangerous in a crash, under-powered for steep inclines
- Toyota GT86/BRZ - Tiny back seats, apparently lacks power without aftermarket modifications
- Toyota Corolla Sport - Uninspiring
Will not consider...
Mercedes - They have an image in Japan that I'd like to avoid (and very high running/service costs).
2 Questions:
* If you had to choose from the 4 in the shortlist, which would you pick?
* What else would you pick instead, ideally that meets all the fixed criteria?
Thank you!
p.s. If you want to check the price of your suggestion http://www.goo-net-exchange.com is an easy way to see what used prices are like in Japan.
If I had to choose one on your shortlist I'd go for the Golf GTI, I personally prefer them to the Golf R. That said I would take the Toyota GT86 over any of your top 4. I personally think it's the best option for the driving conditions you have described and I think the handling is far more important than the maximum power on Mountain and B roads.
Unless of course the Mountain and B roads are very different to the U.K bearing in mind my only knowledge of Japanese roads is based on what I've seen on TV
Unless of course the Mountain and B roads are very different to the U.K bearing in mind my only knowledge of Japanese roads is based on what I've seen on TV
Arbarth on your list would be my pick as they are a hoot to drive.
I'd also consider an Audi TT as it will tick a lot of the boxes you are after (rear seats, auto, 4wd) etc.
Although on the larger size, a BMW 6 series with dynamic drive offers everything you could ask for and well within budget.
I'd also consider an Audi TT as it will tick a lot of the boxes you are after (rear seats, auto, 4wd) etc.
Although on the larger size, a BMW 6 series with dynamic drive offers everything you could ask for and well within budget.
It’s a long time ago now, but I had a Toyota Altezza as a moderately entertaining to drive, but comfortable and well equipped car when we lived in Japan. In those days the Lexus brand wasn’t even on sale domestically! But, I guess the Lexus equivalent is probably too expensive, and too large? There’s always the CT200h, though I’ve never driven one...
Personally I’d probably take a look at a BMW 1 series of some kind as well, either rwd or x drive if available in Japan, purely from a driving perspective. And I wouldn’t discount a MINI...we’ve got a Clubman Cooper S auto (DSG ‘box nowadays) and it’s a great little(ish) car!
Personally I’d probably take a look at a BMW 1 series of some kind as well, either rwd or x drive if available in Japan, purely from a driving perspective. And I wouldn’t discount a MINI...we’ve got a Clubman Cooper S auto (DSG ‘box nowadays) and it’s a great little(ish) car!
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