Cheaper or less fuel?

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I am looking at two cars.
A Isuzu Mu(Amigo) with a diesel engine 8-10 kilometers per liter.

The other is a turbo kei-car. 15-18 kilometers per liter.

The Miu will still overall be cheaper to own for the two years I plan on being here, but only by a few hundred dollars at the end. With that in mind, should I go for the isuzu, and enjoy the car more, i.e. more power, tuning, toying; or the kei, and just leave the car alone, maybe with rear speakers.

Diesel is cheaper, so unless fuel prices double, and the split of 20 yen stays the same, the Mu will still be cheaper with the projected fuel price changes.
 
If you say the difference will only be a couple hundred dollars, and that you will enjoy driving the Isuzu more, I think you just answered your own question.
 
Night and day! I would go with the most reliable one. Man we need more pics from you! You are living in Grand Turismo Ville...

If it were me, I would go with choice number two simply because once you move back to the states, if you do, you might not ever see number two again! Thanks for the pics!

And an off the wall question...Do they have Valvoline or Napa in Nippon?
 
Remember that #2 can carry no more than 200 kilos. IF we stay longer than 2 years (don't know the odds on that one, depends on the US Economy) then #2 would probably be kept. #1 would be sold and something smaller bought. #1 is obviously safer, and you probably wouldn't take long trips in #2. The car folds up quite nicely under trucks when hit.

Also, I will never see the engine in either again. The diesel was never offered in the amigo in the states.

Johnny, if you want more pictures, type wagonR into a search, or ワゴンR. They are literally a dime a dozen here.

This is the weirdest looking Kei
http://www.agweb.jp/search/list1.php?detail=1&id=41494

And here is the 1 liter version of #2
http://www.carsensor.net/usedcar/detail.php?STID=CS210840&BKKN=CU0002003668

IF anyone is interested, I can email the spreadsheet.
 
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That Isuzu is no collision champ either. And who wants a pile of old school iron like an old Isuzu SUV? The ONLY thing it has going for itself is the diesel engine. Keep looking!
 
Konichiwa Shaman-san!

O-genki desu-ka?

Say, I would go for the Kei-car, even though I know it cannot carry too much load to begin with (yeah, 660cc w/ turbo).

Use some AutoRx maintenance dose mixed into the oil and your turbo shall lasts and lasts....Also: if you go for Suzuki variety of kei-car, make sure that the thermostat has been replaced or serviced recently for they tend to lead to a short life afterall (due to excessive thermal cycling in those alu block/head engines).Also: whenever you deal with one of these high-revvs, turbo'ed Kei-car with unknown service history, it would be best if you can run a round or 2 of AutoRx rinse to clean the ring area and also the turbo shaft/bearing area so as to restore proper lubricating property. That way, your engine is going to thank you.

Good luck! I would like to own one of those Mitsu/Daihatsu/Honda kei-car vans or shortbed pickups...we have some import companies here who imported a few of those right-hand drives that are of 15+ yrs (import regulation loophole) but since no servicable parts or manuals available, I've been refrained from purchasing one of those pickups for fun....

Ja ne!

Q.
 
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I was told that they were not street legal in the US.

Another thing to consider. The isuzu is popular in AUS and NZ, which means that if something goes bad, or I need to do maintenence, I can get parts ordered from down under instead of paying for them to be fixed here. Finding parts for DIYer's is near impossible.
 
Hi Camu,

Yes, those little right hand drive vehicles are street-legal (all imported RHD vehicles have to pass our provincial inspection and re-certification before they can be released to the public road).

Dunno the insurance rate tho...

Q.
 
ARX and a gallon of LC20 are ready and waiting. Where does your info on the Kei engines come from? Is it the F6A or the K6A that you are talking abuot. The K6A replaced the F6A when the RR came out.

The carrying isn't really a problem for either I or the gf, but the idea of alternative energies is interesting, and I think that some mixing with canola oil and some kerosene would cut the fuel costs a good bit.
 
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