Japanese Car Guide

One of the most successful and best selling cars in America is the Toyota Corolla, owing to its reliability and good resale value, as well as it’s no frills, no non-sense approach to driving - the Corolla is all about getting you from Point A to Point be in the most efficient way. Toyota is obviously not sleeping on the job with the newest Corolla on their lineup, the 2010 model. It is generally similar to the 2009 model, with a few improvements here and there. The new 2010 model performs like it’s older brothers, giving a balanced (some might say boring) driving experience in both city streets and highways. Fuel economy is again a major feature of the Corolla, with the least economical model boasting a 29-mile per gallon fuel consumption. The prices also are reasonable, ranging from $15,000 - $20,000 for a brand new model.

Maybe its the economy and maybe its because of the utter lack of sales, most Japanese car makers are increasing prices on their vehicles to compensate for some of the losses they are suffering due to dismal sales. Compared to the European and American auto industry, most Japanese firms have managed to survive the current recession but they have had to do with some cut-backs. Like Honda and Toyota which have withdrawn from some auto shows and from the fast paced Formula 1 Circuit. They are still continuing with research into most of their future concepts which would be taking the streets in the future but they have slowed down considerably.
Dealerships in other countries have suffered greatly due to dismal sales figures but Japanese cars are still some of the top selling brands the world over. Many car makers are in trouble due to lack of sales and with debt they have managed to pile up in recent years, much so that even America’s big three are now in hot water. With grim predictions for the future of the economy, the Japanese will surely keep on reinventing the auto industry with their varied brands and innovative technology.

The Japanese people are shaped by commitment to quality and with that in mind, they have come out on top of the market when it comes to auto manufacturing. They know that the Americans have all the muscle and the Europeans have their prestige and both claim to have passion built into their cars thrown into the mix is of course pride for their products and what do you have? The biggest, most expensive and powerful vehicles on the market. The Japanese on the other hand focused on technology they are so good at and brought it into their cars. Japanese cars are loaded with technology from top to bottom and the best thing is that they realized the need for economy.
They took what their customers say they needed and improved on it, creating diverse products that people wanted. They started from the customer up to the manufacturing aspect then infused it with technology which made a mix that spelled success. Other car makers say this is what you want, they said what do you need and gave it to them. Auto makers of the world have learned a thing or two from the Japanese as they take over the realm they used to have a grasp on. With the global economy on the rocks, Japanese cars are still selling due to economic prices and fuel consumption as they head into the future as the world’s best auto makers.

Image Source: toywonders.com

The popular Mitsubishi Eclipse coupe has gotten a new top line model. The car, sporty as it looks, comes with a 2 door hatch back in GS, SE and GT model. It also offers Spyder convertibles in GS and GT. Its rear window is fitted with heated glass. The GS and SE prides with a 162hp, 2.4liter, four cylinder engine. While the GT has a 3.8liter V6 at 263hp. Newest release in 2008 is the SE V6 model that is fitted with the GT engine plus some added features. Optional Automatic transmission. The GTs have traction control as standard safety feature, while the new SE V6 has anti-skid system that is exclusively available for the model. The SE V6 is made elegant by the leather upholstery and the sunroof.

Image Source: theautochannel.com

Honda recently announced sales in Japan of the new Odyssey and it began in October 17. The new and remodeled Honda Odyssey features a low floor and low center-of-gravity package that provides a low profile roofline and performance much better than ordinary minivans altogether. It has a very spacious cabin. The new Odyssey is also equipped with advanced safety technologies, primarily the company’s priority. It includes the new Multi-view Camera System. A special version equipped with a lift-up front passenger seat. Available on sale this November. The design was conceptualized with the emotive quality in mind. It hopes to move all who experience it. This is the fourth generation Odyssey. It provides a fusion of the human and machine interface, a liberating feeling for the passengers. It gives a distinctive presence. So, the all-new Odyssey was developed to evoke strong emotions in every condition, when riding in it, driving it and simply looking at it.

The 2 leading Japanese car manufacturers today are Toyota and Honda. Both cars are well made and have there own technological advances. They also lead the race for the most fuel efficient cars. If you’re looking for the most fuel efficient car, the Toyota Prius has an edge over the Honda Civic. But if you’re looking for durability, I would say that Honda cars are more durable. They will give you 5-10 trouble free years provided you comply with the manufacturers scheduled maintenance checks. I’m not saying that Toyota cars are not durable, its just that Honda cars are made of sturdier stuff. On the down side, Honda’s design is redundant and parts are expensive. Toyota’s simpler designs make it easier and cheaper to maintain than Honda’s. This allows Toyota cars to be in top shape far longer than their competitors. Verdict: buy a Honda. If it reaches 10 years you really have to get a new car anyway.

Image Source: www.thewebpitch.com
Aside from car indemnity and repairs, the skyrocketing price of gasoline gives extra burden to car owners. Today, each dollar spent on gasoline is worth a day’s meal for some people. That is why keeping energy becomes a topic of significance among car owners. They find ways to save gas and in the process, save money.

Here are some tips to accumulate gas and money without cutting your trip or losing those valuable miles:

1. At all times keep your car in check. Keep in mind that when your car is in a poor state, the more it burns fuel.
2. Use your car air conditioner carefully. Air conditioners use up further energy so make sure they are on a lower situation. Never use air conditioner when your windows are not closed.
3. Arrange your trip precisely so you don’t use up more gasoline than natural. You can avoid unnecessary driving by checking for directions sooner than your trip.
4. Know the kind of gasoline suited to your vehicle. How? Read the Manual. This will keep you from using a pricier gasoline that is not designed for your car type.

Buying a car through a financing deal is not only a common practice, but it is also what many people are more capable of doing nowadays, financially speaking. Here are some auto loan do�s to point you in the right direction:

1. Do analyze your finances. Before shopping for a new car, know how much you can afford. You should not let the dealership figure it all out for you. By being aware of how much down payment you can make, how much monthly payment you can pay and oftentimes, how much you can get out of your current car, you will save on hassle, time and energy.

2. Do research on the cheapest financing deals. Before giving in to dealership, try to research a little on the cheapest financing deals in the market. You never know how many credit unions and organizations on the web offer access to rates not necessarily offered by regular banks.

3. Do calculate the total amount to be paid. Once the deal�s been finalized, take time to figure out the total amount the car is really costing you. For long-term loans with interest, you might be shocked by the total worth of the car.

Welcome to our new blog on Japanese cars. From now on, this will be your one-stop shop to the ever-growing online resources on Japanese cars. We provide reviews, information, updates and other interesting materials for Japanese car fans to appreciate and enjoy.

We have put up this blog so readers can be guided and updated on all the latest about Japanese cars, how and where to buy them, the maintenance, the auto insurance, and other relevant matters to make your Japanese car hunting a success.

There is still so much to get done. Please help us do better by leaving a suggestion or two.

by Andrea Mella

JVC Mobile Division whose goal is to build a great sounding show car with lots of custom work to make it one –of-a kind. To elaborate on the system, they put into a test a Civic which boasts a custom red and black interior that is strikingly appealing and oh so loaded to the hilt. On the outside, a custom body kit adorns the Civic’s body along with a host of essential tuner items which can be found on the interior and the engine bay. The sound path starts with JVC’s new KW-AVX800 2 DIN head unit with 7-inch QVGA touch-screen monitor. This versatile unit can play multiple audio and video sources in the car, with a USB interface and SD card slot for WMA/MP3 players including AAC and DivX.