Going to Japan - can I save Money buying a car while there?

Rowley Birkin QC

I'm going to Japan in December. Wondering if I can save a decent bit of cash by buying a car while there and sending it home?

Yen is very weak at the moment. I know I'm still liable for cost of transport and the various import duties but still, I'm curious if it's work digging into a bit more. In my head I'd be saving various people's margins along the way but also aware I wouldn't probably be getting their various discounts either.

I'd like to get into something like an A6 Avant with decent spec. Thinking that jap or Asian brands would probably deliver most financial bang for buck.

Any input would be great. Thanks!

goochy

Sounds like a nightmare . It's not like buying from uk

User1998

You can certainly save money but you can just as easily buy the car from the comfort of your home and use an agent in Japan. They would purchase the car, transport it to the docks, arrange the export paperwork and ship the car to Ireland. All for around €500 or so. By all means look into it but you will definitely need to use a broker/company to do the heavy lifting

Rowley Birkin QC

Okay, so maybe not as much of a saving as I thought being there on the ground might offer.

goochy

A saving but alot of hard work. Language will be a problem

sundodger5

IBC Japan, Save yourself the hard work.

TheDamIrish

As @User1998 said, you would be better off buying through an agent that specializes in exports to Ireland.

zg3409

The up side is you can go to the auction yourself and see the actual car that will arrive. You could still use an agent to transport and import. You could also go to a dealer and do similar.

goochy

Agent . The cars are graded so no need to see it in flesh . Its not like going to merkin auctions . It's Japan!

TheDamIrish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465475#Comment_122465475

Just so OP is aware, the major auctions are not open to the general public. They would need to be accompanied by a registered member. And as @goochy says, the auction grade system is reliable enough.

Rowley Birkin QC

Cheers for all the input. Good to know and I think I'll focus on having a holiday instead of trying to save myself €500!

That said, if there's any top motoring spots I should check out while I'm there please do feel free to shout.

Thanks!

goochy

I personally would love to visit a garage called ' caesar trading ' it's in some part of Tokyo but could be far out and they may not welcome browsers . They are a rolls / bentley specialist but also deal in other really interesting cars