Toyota Pre-Certifies Their Used Cars



March 26th, 2009

Pre-owned certification of a vehicle is a great way of ensuring that the used Toyota you are buying is in good shape and ready to drive off the lot.  Toyota offers this service, and they are the first automobile manufacturer that will certify that their hybrid vehicles have been pre-owned and are in excellent condition.  The Toyota pre-owned certification program certifies both regular and hybrids with the hybrid certification having fourteen additional inspections that include key components like the transaxle, batteries, and control modules.  Additionally, the pre-owned certification helps buyers know how much time is left on the manufacturers pre-existing eight year, 100,000 mile factory hybrid warranty, meaning that some used Toyota hybrids could have some of the factory warranty left.
When you purchase a used Toyota car with a pre-owned certification you get the following:
- 3 month, 3,000 mile comprehensive warranty
- 7 year, 100,000 mile limited power train warranty
- 7 years, 100,000 mile roadside assistance
- 174 point quality assurance inspection
- CarFax vehicle history report
When you purchase a Toyota that has been certified, you are able to qualify for new car financing rates although this is subject to change at any time without notice.  Toyota cars and trucks have a reputation for being reliable and economical, and with them being certified you know you are making a good investment.

Finding A Used Starlet For Sale



March 26th, 2009

If you are trying to find a used Starlet for sale you should be able to do so fairly easily.  The Starlet, the forerunner to Toyota’s popular Tercel, was mass produced by the company from 1973 to 1999.  It was one of the longest running models ever produced by the Japanese manufacturer.  The original version of the car that was sold in the United States was a rear wheel drive model, and when Toyota switched all of their Starlets over to front wheel drive in 1984 they discontinued selling them in America, switching to the newer Tercel model.
A used Starlet for sale in the United States will be an older car and even considered a classic, depending on the year you should happen to find.  If you are interested in purchasing a newer used Starlet for sale you may want to talk to a foreign car exporter service.  Since the Starlet was produced through 1999, you can find a front wheel drive version with decent mileage overseas.  The Japanese keep their new vehicles for a limited amount of time due to the fees assessed on maintenance and upkeep.  Drivers looking for a used Starlet in excellent condition will probably find one through an exporter for a fraction of the cost of a new car.

6 Reasons To Import A Japanese Used Car


March 22nd, 2009

You have always wanted a car made in Japan but could never afford one.  Well, think again.  You can actually import a Japanese used car to your home for a fraction of the cost of a new car or even a domestic Japanese used car and get the car you have always wanted.  Here are six reasons why you should import a Japanese used car to drive.

1. Japanese used cars are in demand all over the world, and by importing one directly from the country that makes them you have a larger choice in make, model, color, options, and years to choose from, including rate models that you normally could not afford.

2. You can save up to 30% on the purchase price of a Japanese used car when you import it as compared to what you would pay for a domestic version.

3. New and used Japanese cars have been known to be reliable, energy efficient, perform well and last a long time.  Most imported Japanese used cars come with low mileage and minor cosmetic damage, if any.

4. You look good driving one!

5. You could start your business importing Japanese used cars for resale.

6. You can get help importing your Japanese used car from a variety of different outsources if you are not sure about the whole procedure but still want that car.

The Toyota Ipsum Used Car



March 22nd, 2009

One of the few multi-purpose vehicles produced by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, the Toyota Ipsum can seat seven people and has never been released in the North American market.  This versatile MPV is also known as the Picnic, the SportsVan, the Avensis Verso, or just Avensis in the Australian market.  The first generation of the vehicle rolled off the production line in 1995 and ran until 2001, with an export version coming in 1996.  The first generation of the Ipsum came with two inline four cylinder petrol engines in a 1.8 or 2.0 liter edition with DOHC and 16 valves or a 2.2 liter diesel engine.  The second generation edition of the Ipsum was based on the Toyota Avensis platform.  It was introduced in Japan and Europe in 2001, and it is still being manufactured today under the name Avensis Verso.
You can easily get your hands on an Ipsum used car by contacting a car exporter.  They will be able to hunt down an Ipsum used car for you based on your specifications and you will probably pay a fraction of the price of a new car.  The Toyota Ipsum used car is a great family vehicle that is economical and versatile, and you will find that many of them will have lower mileage than expected. It is a good investment.

Buying A Starlet Used Car

March 15th, 2009

The Toyota Starlet was one of the most popular cars made by the Japanese automaker and it was the forerunner to the Tercel, Toyota’s medium sized sedan.  The Starlet was in production from 1973 to 1999, one of the companies longest running auto models.  When the car was introduced to the American market, it was still being made in the rear wheel drive version that was popular up until front wheel drive became the norm in the 1980s.  Toyota switched their Starlets to front wheel in 1984, but when they made the switch, they stopped selling the Starlet in the United States market, replacing it with the new and soon to be equally as popular Toyota Tercel.
When you start looking for a used STARLET for sale to purchase, remember that all of the models prior to 1984 are going to be rear wheel drive.  While this is not normally a problem, rear wheel drive cars handle differently in inclement weather than front wheel or all wheel vehicles.  A Starlet used car may be lighter in the rear end, which can cause it to lose traction in snowy conditions and may have to have added weight added to the rear of the car to help it adhere better to the road.  All of the Starlet used cars manufactured between 1984 and 1999 will be front wheel drive.

Pajero Jr.

March 15th, 2009

Produced by Mitsubishi between 1995 and 1998, the Pajero Jr. was a smaller, mini version of the Mitsubishi Pajero SUV.  It actually fell size wise between the standard Pajero and the Pajero Mini.  It was based on the Minica platform that was also produced by Mitsubishi.  The limited edition McTwist and Lynx versions of the Pajero Jr. were also produced during this time. In the United States, the Pajero Jr. is known as the Mitsubishi Montero and as the Mitsubishi Shogun in the United Kingdom.

The Pajero Jr.’s fourth generation styling was introduced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, and it included a new interior and exterior design.  In addition to the change in the body style, the new Pajero Jr. also came with new dual stage SRS front airbags.  The last time the Pajero Jr. had any major changes to it was in 2000 when the two door SWB and four door LWB versions rolled off the production line, with the only difference besides the number of doors between the two being the 18 inch alloy wheels.

Today the Pajero Jr. can be found with a four wheel drive system that has an active stability and traction control system.  The vehicle is a 3.2 liter diesel, and there is a 3.0 liter V6 version that has been reserved for use in the Japanese market.  The Pajero in all its incarnations has been designed for off road handling since the first model was introduced to the world.

Isuzu Elf

March 8th, 2009

Known as the N-Series truck outside of Japan, the Isuzu Elf is a popular line of light duty commercial truck that was introduced into the United States during the late 1980s.  The truck was primarily available to consumers in Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries since its introduction in the 1950s.  The Elf was also sold in Chile and Peru, but not under the Isuzu brand.  It was sold in those two countries as a Chevrolet product.

The first ISUZU ELF was manufactured in 1958 by the Heavy Industries Corporation of Malaysia (HICOM) and issued with the Isuzu N-Series Commando logo.  These went primarily to Asia and then into Australia during the 1970s.  The Elf and N-Series in the Australia market were actually made using quite a few local components.  The trucks shipped to Chile and Peru were actually assembled there over a seven day period.  It was shipped in a box to the Chile plant with each piece coming from Japan, and it took 13 workers to assemble.

The Isuzu Truck eventually replaced the Elf and many of these vehicles were converted into microbuses in Indonesia by local body makers.  It came in a two and four wheel drive version, and the four wheel drive version was used for travel, school, and employ buses.  In the United States, the Bering MS, Mitsubishi Fuso FE and UD 1200/1300/1400 are the major competitors of the Isuzu Elf.

Mitsubishi Pajero Jr.

March 8th, 2009

Mitsubishi Motors produced the MITSUBISHI PAJERO JR between 1995 and 1998.  It was a mini SUV that was based on the Minica platform also produced by the company, and it was a larger version of the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini.  It was released in limited edition Pajero Jr. McTwist and the Pajero Jr. Lynx.  In the United States the Pajero Junior is known as the Montero and as the Shogun in the United Kingdom. 

The fourth generation version of the Pajero was introduced to the world at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.  It was revamped with a new interior and exterior design and it was given new dual stage SRS front airbags.  This was the first time since 2000 that the Pajero was introduced onto the market with both 2 door SWB and 4 door LWB versions.  The only difference between the two is the 18 inch alloy wheels.  It has a 4 wheel drive II system that includes an Active Stability and Traction Control system.  The engine is a 3.2 liter diesel with the 3.0 V6 being reserved for the Japanese market.  The body type for this vehicle has always been an off-road SUV style ever since the first model rolled off the production line.

Toyota

March 5th, 2009

The Japanese car company of Toyota was founded by Sakichi Toyoda in 1936 in an effort to help provide the Japanese military with vehicles during their war in Manchuria.  When the first successful vehicle rolled off the production line and was offered to the countries general public, the government put an embargo on all foreign imports.  The company was handed over to Kiichiro TOYOTA, the founder’s son, and after producing a truck and a car in 1935 and then a second car in 1936, the company was up and running.

While the initial production of vehicles from Toyota between 1936 and 1943 was only 1,757 cars and trucks the company discovered that producing trucks and buses was more lucrative.  The first truck was a 1.5 ton pickup with an overhead valve six cylinder engine that was compatible with Chevrolet parts, as Allied troops discovered when they captured these vehicles and fixed them with their own parts.  The company fell under American governance after the war, and by 1955 was producing the first luxury car, the Crown.  Two years later, Toyota set up a dealership in Hollywood, California and is one of the best selling foreign car manufacturers in the United States today.

Getting A Japanese Used Car



March 5th, 2009

If you are interested in purchasing a used car manufactured in Japan, you could very easily go check out all of the local used car lots in your area.  Toyotas, Mitsubishis, Hondas and more are all available to buy second hand and they are highly reliable and wanted vehicles.  With the proper care and maintenance, used cars that are made by any number of Japanese manufacturers have been known to last longer than their American made counterparts.



Another way to find a good japanese used car is to look online through a reputable Japanese car exporter.  You can also find parts for your car through these websites, and many of them specialize in getting those hard to find parts that your local auto parts dealer may not be able to procure.  You can save a lot of money purchasing your parts this way as going back to the dealership sometimes costs you a good amount of money.



Always make sure you research the online exporter that lists the Japanese used car that you are interested in.  Find out what their track record is before making a deal on a car with them to make absolutely sure you are not being ripped off and that the car you want is actually in the condition the way it is listed.