Greetings All,
I just moved to Penang, Malaysia and my employer has given me US$15,000 to buy a car. I get duty-free status here, which means I can import a car without paying any duty or import tax. So, I plan to import a car from Japan, which basically means Japanese makes plus Mercedes and BMW, both of which are common in the Japan export market. Good used cars are quite cheap on the Japanese market because of the cost involved in getting used cars through the Shaken (national safety inspection). It's simpler for Japanese people to get rid of a 5 year old car and a buy a new one than to keep spending money on the Shaken.
My idea of a good car is something fast (duh) and agilewith rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. It needs to have a backseat of some type for my 7 yr old daughter, but a 2+2 will work just fine. Some kind of trunk or hatch space would be useful also (i.e. no MR2s or Miatas). Here is a list of the cars I have seen in good shape within my price range:
1997-98 Alfa Romeo 147 Selespeed
1996-00 BMW 323i, 325i
1996-00 Honda Integra R (same as Acura Integra Type R in North America)
1992-96 Mazda RX7 (Japan models have tiny rear jumpseats)
1995-98 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III to Evo V
1995-99 Mitsubishi FTO MIVEC
1991-95 Mitsubishi GTO (3000GT VR-4 in North America and Europe)
1989-93 Nissan Skyline GT-R
1993-99 Nissan Skyline GTS-T and GTS25-T Type M
1994-99 Nissan Silvia K or R-Spec (Turbo)
1992-97 Nissan Silvia 180SX Turbo R
1990-96 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
1998-02 Subaru Impreza WRX
1998-00 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
1998-01 Subaru Legacy B4 RSK
1994-95 Toyota Celica WRC Turbo AWD
1999-01 Toyota Celica
1993-97 Toyota Supra RZ (Twin Turbo)
1998-00 Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS300 in North America, IS200 in Europe)
1991-97 Toyota Soarer Twin Turbo (Lexus SC300 in North America)
As you can imagine, choices like those can make your head spin! If anyone has experience with those cars, in terms of reliability, all-around performance, maintenance, etc., I'd be grateful if you could share them. Insurance prices aren't really an issue as insurance is dirt cheap in Malaysia. Gas in Malaysia costs only US$2.00 a gallon (and that's for 97 octane!) so fuel consumption isn't a big issue either.
There are probably quite a few other cars I'm missing. Please suggest any others you can think of, but remeber that a lot of manufacturers will not be available here (American cars, VWs, Volvos). We do get French cars (Citroen, Peugeot, Renault) here but I'm not a big fan of those. We get quite a few Alfa Romeos but I don't much about the brand.
Thanks!!!
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Originally Posted by McReis
