We are looking at buying a new car when we get to Japan. We have heard that the New Car sales sells right-hand drive vehicles. Can anyone confirm this? We will be in Japan for 4 years, and I'm sick of driving crappy beaters here in Italy.

The new car sales on base sell US spec (left hand drive) cars. I should also mention that it may not matter. I heard somewhere that new car sales are no longer allowed to bring the cars to Japan. This was a while ago, so it may or may not be the case.

If you are looking for better than beater, your best bet would be to go to one of the Japanese dealers off base. The used cars are a MUCH better quality than nearly anything you will find on base, and of course you have the option of new.

ENCS still has U.S. spec vehicles on their lot for potential buyers to see/sit in. Unfortunately, they can no longer sell those cars to be used in Japan. Once the new model year comes out and is received, they sell the displays for a discounted rate to someone who is PCSing back to the U.S.

There are lots of 'E' plate vehicles which are U.S. spec vehicles purchased prior to the Japanese ruling that ENCS can't sell them anymore. They are much more expensive than the Japanese vehicles, and you would still have a problem PCSing back to the U.S. with it.

I've been in Japan for about seven years now, they do have quality Japanese vehicles here.

I hope that is clear as mud for you.

I'm thinking you would get pretty tired of going through the toll booths if the money drop is on the other side from your steering wheel here. They do have some for L hand drive drops but it adds to the confusion. Getting an ETC card requires a Japanese credit card getting that is harder than Chinese math.

I know of a Ferrari for sale that's L hand drive:

https://sites.google.com/site/yokotajapan/home/automobiles

I am not looking for a us spec vehicle, I am looking to purchase a Japanese spec vehicle.

My apologies I miss understood your post, there are plenty of really nice used vehicles here. Some people buy new ones here but as an American I think that would be really risky financially unless you knew you would be here for 10-15 years. You stand to lose thousands if you can't sell it when you PCS and you can't ship it home most likely. If you want something really nice just pay a little more for a "newer" model. Most Americans associated with the military are driving 12-15 year old vehicles here but they have very low mileage 25-65,000 miles normally. At that age they aren't too attractive to the local Japanese buyers so the prices are really low when they go through the auctions. Currently models that are 2003 and newer are fairly expensive in comparison. I know where there is a 2000 Mercedes A-160 I believe that has about 5,000 miles on it but no one is buying it. I think he is asking about 9,000 USD (equivalent) as an example.