Just from glancing at readers comments, I sense that many CC’ers here have some U.S. military background – still on active duty, or maybe a Vet or retiree. Perhaps even a few of our non-U.S. readers have some foreign military service. Well, for all you “old soldiers” out there, wherever you served, and for all the “civies” too, here’s a quick look at some curbside classics on the military base resale lot…
First, a little “intel” – almost all US military bases, certainly the large ones, have a location set-aside for military personnel to sell their cars – the Resale Area, or more commonly known in always cynical GI-speak as the “Lemon Lot”. Military personnel are always moving – typically a tour of duty lasts three to four years at one location. Some GIs look to sell their cars and trucks when they get orders – they may want to buy a new one at their next duty station or if going overseas, don’t want to place it in long-term storage. At Lemon Lots in the U.S., you’ll see a fairly broad spectrum of typical US models; perhaps maybe a few more pick-up trucks than usual.
Overseas, however, it’s a different story. Military overseas tours last anywhere from one to four years (some voluntarily extend longer) – then it’s back home to the U.S. or off to another continent. So almost everyone is looking for a temporary set of cheap wheels – something that will get them and the family around with minimal problems for the duration of their tour. Here are a few examples on the lot at a US military base here on the outskirts of Tokyo…
Just from my very unscientific “eyeball” assessment, this is the most popular vehicle on base – the Toyota Fun-Cargo. Think of it as Toyota’s Honda Fit (or Jazz) equivalent. It was built from 2000 to 2004 with 1.3 and 1.5 gas engines. It has the under floor rear seat stowage system that makes for a completely flat floor – it’s strikingly large inside – even more interior room than the Fit. Perfect for moving furniture between barracks – $1500.
No. 2 on the popularity scale is the Nissan Skyline sedan. Engine is a 2.5 or 3.5L version of the normally aspirated VQ series. GIs easily recognize these as a JDM version of the Infiniti G35, so they carry some cache. Over 80% seem to be silver – so not a car for those preferring something unique – $2500.
Next in terms of frequency seen are these two vans; the Toyota Estima (Previa) and Honda Odyssey. Just until a few years ago, the first-generation Estima was clearly the favorite – they were everywhere, but they are slowly being “retired”. Currently, the on-base van market seems evenly split between these two second-gen models. Got a big family – just $3000 for the Estima or $2500 for the Odyssey.
These Subaru Legacies are very popular also, especially the B4 model. The B4 is the sports model with the Turbo 2.0L flat 4 engine found in the WRX. What’s nice is you can get one in a wagon version also. But again you kind’a have to like silver – almost everyone I see is that hue. All yours for $3000.
A great choice for a single GI who just wants cheap transportation is a kei-class minicar like this early 2000’s Daihatsu “Move”. They are much less expensive to insure and pay significantly less in fees (road tax, weight tax, etc.). And with a 660cc engine, they can go pretty far on a gallon of gas. Only caution is one has to drive very, very defensively, as anything over a minor parking lot fender-bender will likely result in a trip to the hospital. This one didn’t have a sign in the window but my bet would be around $1000.
Uh-oh – I’d bet a paycheck that some young GI bought this X-Type thinking he was getting a nice Jag, without checking the reliability ratings or how much it would cost to fix at an off-base garage. An E-3’s salary can sustain only so many transmission replacements or new rear suspensions…so onto the lot it goes…yours for $4000.
Again, an eyeball assessment – the BMW 3 series is the most popular foreign car model in Japan; on or off-base. The Japanese love them, so there are plenty on the used car market. This is a 2000 328 model with the 2.8L six. Unfortunately, as with the Jag, they’re a bit expensive to maintain – and require specialized service usually not available at the BX garage. Think service is expensive at a BMW dealer in the states? Now imagine Tokyo… Just $3500.
Looking for a SUV – here’s a tough looking Mitsubishi Pajero with a 3.5L V6. Pajeros are quite popular, both on and off-base, and have a reputation of being extremely capable off-road. Mitsubishi’s fortunes in its home market have fared better than in the US, even given its current “mileage” scandal. Just $3500.
Not a bad selection – but we should see more cars show up on the lot as the summer PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season gets closer. All prices are OBO…cash preferred…
Much better than what I ever found on the lot at Ft. Huachuca, AZ
I found an ’85 (in ’01) Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan, well used, broken vent windows and steering column, note on it swore it just drove to St. Louis and back. Right…. $900.
That is the only car that was on the lot, so it must have screamed “Run away” to more than one person than me.
Pajero… yes, I’ll take one.
Some of those prices seem a lot lower than I’d expect…Skyline (if it had the 3.5) or Legacy would be my choice.
Japan has an inspection and tax system that discourages older cars. It’s less oppressive than it used to be but still makes older cars take a sharp depreciation hit after four years. Cars registered through the American Military registration system aren’t subject to the tax or inspection regimen. They must still be inspected for safety, but only to normal American standards – no taking the brake master cylinder apart to check for wear, etc. The bottom line is that GI’s can buy a pretty decent car for a lot less than an equivalent in the U.S. One thing that can be a bit deceiving to Americans though is the apparently low number of Kilometers on the clock. Years back I had a 4-year-old JDM Nissan from the lemon lot that had only 42,000 K on it. Low mileage right? But when I started driving it, I realized that traveling the 10 miles (16 km) from my apartment to the base involved a stop light roughly every 1/4 mile. That’s a lot of gear shifts, and at an average 20 KPH or so, 42K is a hell of a lot of hours on the engine and A/C. To demonstrate my point, the car’s turn signal switch contacts wore out in year five…. That’s a lot of left turns in 42Km
Yeah and no oil changes for the first 100,000 kms until the plugs need replacing, ex JDM cars can be a minefield of unreliability for the unwary, odo roll backs are common.
“no oil changes for the first 100,000 kms”
For $1000, the question is: What are you taking out of that engine?
Option A: Sludge
Option B: Oil sands
Option C: Fuel oil
Option D: Dirty oil
You have the choice of asking the public, using a joker, call a friend.
Option E: All of the above.
Subaru drivers want to be different. Everyone else backed in to their space, but not the Legacy’s owner. Where’s R. Lee Ermey when you need him?
That Jag looks more like Officer material than something an Enlisted person would be attracted to.
The above prices are far more reasonable than some of the offerings at this online Lemon Lot:
http://milclick.com
You could have been walking around any Kiwi used car lot for that selection, prices here vary depending on how many times a JDM car has changed hands and how many mechanical/electrical problems it has.
There have been several references to JDM cars moved to New Zealand and Australia in CC stories, but no full explanation of the background story.
Deserves a full CC story of its own!! ;-}
Here’s a bit on info.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_import_vehicle#New_Zealand
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/cars-and-the-motor-industry/page-1
So much silver… yuck.
R.E. The first paragraph, I would love to see a demographic breakdown of regular commentators and contributors here. I’m pretty sure it would bring up some strange and interesting crossovers of interests!
You’re stealing Thomas’ thunder!
Honestly I would read an entire site of just lemon lots.
This doesn’t happen to be Yakota, does it? The color of those buildings looks familiar.
The only R34 Skyline I saw in Japan was parked on base and it had been sitting there quite some time and it showed.
I was only visiting a friend, not enlisted.
Yes it is – good ole’ Yokota Air Base… though all USAF bases use the same color scheme – beige and dark brown – called “Creech” brown after a former major command Commander who required everything on base be painted those colors – even the fire hydrants… Jim.
I wonder if that’s the same guy that the airbase just north of Las Vegas is named after….
Yes, it is – Wilbur “Bill” Creech, Commander of Tactical Air Command from 1978-84. Jim.
I don’t think of it as “stealing thunder,” I think of it as adding to the din and I think it’s great! I still prowl the lemon lot down here, btw. In fact, I took photos of a B4 today.
It’s a little tough to get pictures of Japanese classics outside of a car show or a specialty car lot. The more I think about it, the more I’ve come to realize that older cars here are a luxury item. People with only one car can’t afford the cost of having a beater – it has to work when the need it.
I’m keeping my eyes peeled, though, and hopefully I’ll find some good classics soon.
In the early 90s, I picked up a clean V6 1983 LeSabre coupe on the Lemon Lot at Fort Eustis for about $800. Decent mileage, a recently rebuilt engine and a bench seat made it a good car to have as a young single E3.
That blue Kawasaki Concours is a CC if there ever was one.
The comments I have heard from an X-Type owner is that it is a solid and reliable car, not to mention a very nice one. No transmission or suspension dramas to report.
The press was particularly harsh with that model. I cannot see what the problem was/is in using the Mondeo as a base.
The ones I have seen on the street are usually in good shape and look like a very nice place to be in.
Editorial nit: In discussing the Skyline, I think the writer meant “cachet,” as a “cache” is defined as either a hiding place in general, or in computing, temporary storage that allows faster access to data. “Cachet” is French for prestige or a seal of approval.
When did silver become a default color for cars in Japan? I remember when the most popular cars for the JDM was white…