Selling my car

[canman]

Has anybody sold a car privately here in Japan? I want to sell my 2000 Chrysler Voyager, because I know that if I try to trade it in I will get next to nothing. I took it to Apple one of those used car buyers and they also offered me almost nothing. I figure I can get a better deal selling it myself. I was thinking I might be able to sell it to someone from Misawa base. But I don't know how to go about changing the ownership or things like that. What kills me is that seven years ago I paid Y4.2 million yen for the car, and now here it is seven years later and only 52000 km and the bastards offer me Y240 000.

[CrankyBastard]

you could check (kakaku.com) to see what people are asking for 7year old 2000 Chrysler Voyagers.
I'm afraid that's all the advice I have.

[FG Lurker]

You can try selling it on Yahoo Auctions, but I wouldn't expect a whole lot of money for it, to be honest.

Here are three 2000 models that are pretty similar to what you have (not sure of options etc):

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n52253893
http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g58481287
http://page15.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t41087800


Here's a TinyURL version of a search that will show you all the Voyager's on Yahoo at the moment:
http://tinyurl.com/yo4qpa

If it is in excellent condition then I think you could get up to 500,000 for it (if the right couple of people get into a bidding war.) If the condition is less than excellent then somewhere around 300,000 at best.

The trick in Japan is to either lease your car through your business (if you want a new one) or to buy used. A low-km car that is 3 years old here will generally have lost 50% (or more!) of its value.

[FG Lurker]

So many nice cars on Yahoo... Must resist....

[amdg]

I haven't sold a car in Japan, but I've bought plenty. The local gaijin rags or bulletin boards always seem to have cars and motorbikes for sale at prices well above what they should be asking based on local value. It seems they are hoping to catch an FOB gaijin who doesn't know any better. So if you have no qualms about fleecing a newbie, perhaps advertising there is your best bet.

Edit - the only other hope is if your car has some sort of cultural cachet - I was out in the suburbs the other day and saw a 60's? era VW combi van for sale at..... 1,000,000 Yen. Go figure.

[FG Lurker]

One of the auctions I linked to above has closed:
http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n52253893

357,000yen, minus whatever Yahoo charges for car auctions. The van in question has a full two years of shaken as well, not sure what that would cost normally.

Assuming you have full shaken currently it might be worth trying a Yahoo auction. I guess it depends on how much work you are willing to go through (cleaning, photographing, describing, etc) for the potential extra 10man!

[Takechanpoo]

Why have you rided Meriken car in Japan?
Unfortunately [SIZE="7"]nobody[/SIZE] buy the Chrysler in this small country.

[American Oyaji]

Canman. I'm afraid Takechan is correct. For a few reasons.

1. The older a car gets, the more expensive shaken gets.
2. Foreign cars are expensive and time consuming to repair. Qualified mechanics in Japan tend to go to specialized schools for a certain maker's cars. And if you need parts, most likely they have to be ordered overseas.
3. Old cars don't sell. It is rare to see a car over 5 years old on the road in Japan unless you are in the country.
4. Foreign cars cost more in shaken than domestic.

Is it a right hand steering wheel or left hand?

The best thing to do would be to try and sell it to some FOB officer at Misawa or sell it to the base itself. Try and find a number to the Misawa Air BaseTerminal and see if the contracting company there wants to buy it.

[Charles]

...Edit - the only other hope is if your car has some sort of cultural cachet - I was out in the suburbs the other day and saw a 60's? era VW combi van for sale at..... 1,000,000 Yen. Go figure.

Oh yeah, they have "cultural cachet" allright.

[American Oyaji]

Canman, have you posted it on craigslist at all?

[oyajikun]

Canman, have you posted it on craigslist at all?

You might try going to the used car shops just outside of the base. Gate 2 has a few that may give you a better offer than those in Hach.

But just to give you an idea]http://www.misawa-forums.com/[/url]

[American Oyaji]

You talking the rear gate that is the entrance closest to the JASDF side of the base?

[oyajikun]

You talking the rear gate that is the entrance closest to the JASDF side of the base?

POL gate

[canman]

But AO, I have to disagree. These days in Japan there are a lot more used vehicles than you think. And yes I will admit it was a mistake to buy an American car in japan, live and learn. Mind you I had a Jeep Cherokee before and had no problem selling it. I guess as someone mentioned Japanese don't know about Chrysler, and aren't that interested. I would like to sell it so I can get something a little more gas efficient. This thing drinks gas like a pig. But I still can't believe that people on Yahoo auctions are willing to take Y200 000 for a car they paid in excess of Y4 million yen when it was new.
On a side note I was walking around a used car lot on Saturday and saw a 9 year old Harrier selling for Y1.1 million. Now that is resale value.

[FG Lurker]

But I still can't believe that people on Yahoo auctions are willing to take Y200 000 for a car they paid in excess of Y4 million yen when it was new.

If a car has a particular following here (VW, Mini, some older US cars, some older Japanese cars, etc) then they hold their value or even go up as time passes. Otherwise generally speaking a 3 year old car in excellent condition will have lost 50% (often more) of its value. 7 years = 85 to 95% of value lost. I guess part of this is the shaken problem, but partly it is also lack of market for older "beater" cars.

4mil+ yen for a Caravan is a bit scary though I have to say...!

[American Oyaji]

POL gate

Yeah. That's the rear gate.

There are 4 main gates.

The main gate with the big sign.

The rear POL gate with which you cannot drive straight in. You have to make a right or a left soon as you enter.

The side gate which is between the main gate and the POL gate.

The contractors gate, which is....damn. I don't remember my cardinal directions of where stuff is at on the base anymore.

[canman]

I was just checking out the prices of Voyagers onhe Auto trader site. A very similar vehicle to mine back in canada is selling for at least $9000Can. Maybe I will try to sell to someone from Misawa base. Not that I'm trying to rip anybody of, but they might appreciate an American car more, and be willing to pay a bit more. Also with the exchange rate the way it is, even if they offer $6000US I can get a little extra since the Yen is so fucking weak these days.

[American Oyaji]

Also a person at Misawa can PCS (Permanent Change of Station) and take the car with them if they wanted to.

[madfuku]

But AO, I have to disagree. These days in Japan there are a lot more used vehicles than you think.

I have to agree with canman, most Japanese are particularly savvy when it comes to cars and saving money and now with K-cars representing the largest part of the new car market they are even more desirable used.

That being said K-cars are not particularly that expensive as they get older even when you factor in shakken which is super cheap compared to a white plate. I see lots of older albeit in great condition K-cars all over the place.

I paid about 7000円 on my 3yr old Subaru R2 for the year and 39000円 on my white plate import.