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Write a review:
Do you have a favorite restaurant you would love to
share? A favorite beach? Any thoughts on PCSing
that you wish you had known before coming here?
Your
reviews help others choose where they will eat, relax, and
explore - making their move to Japan smoother and
helping them to enjoy their time even more
on this wonderful island.
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Finding a
Used Car, Truck, or Van in
Okinawa, Japan
One of
the most difficult parts about moving/PCSing to Okinawa,
Japan is finding a car right away. We hope to make
this process easier for you by bringing all of that
information to your fingertips and helping you save time
and money.
Up top we have a comparison for
you on purchasing a car on-base versus off-base.
Below are links to the various online & virtual lemon
lots at Camp Foster, Kadena Air Base, and the
dealerships outside the military installations. |
Buying a Car Off
Base...Any Benefits or Downsides???
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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• Up to
18-month loan at 0% interest at the local
dealerships (great if you make
payments on time and do not have the money to
pay upfront) |
• No
test drive (that's right, NO test drive.
You can start the engine and tour the car, but
since all the cars are jammed in like sardines
on the for-sale lots, there are no test drives |
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• 6 month to
12 month warranties (generally covering A/C,
engine, transmission) |
• Higher
price paid on vehicle (you are paying extra for
the warranty and the dealership's overhead
costs); Also - warranty "replacement car"
that some dealerships talk about...don't count
on it. BC Motors has a 1 month waiting
list, Payless Motors is much shorter... |
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• Generally
newer selection of vehicles versus the
warranties |
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• JCI
usually good for 2 years after purchase (JCI is
a very extensive Japanese inspection done every
2 years on EVERY vehicle and runs from
$250-750+, depending on problems found with the
vehicle) |
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Buying a Car On Base...
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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• You can
find better savings, especially from those with
just days left on island who really need to sell
their cars and are willing to discount |
• No 0%
interest loans. Need full cash value up
front or loan arranged via a bank beforehand. |
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• No
warranties on the vehicle. Make sure you
give the car, van, or truck a good test drive.
Check the air conditioning - you will want
this!!! |
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• JCI
inspection may be coming due shortly (due every
2 years). Make sure you check on the last
date this was accomplished. These must be
done on all vehicles and they can be quite
expensive, depending on the vehicle. |
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