Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Kei Car shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Kei Car offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Kei Car at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Kei Car? Wrong! If the Kei Car is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Kei Car then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Kei Car? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Kei Car and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Kei Car wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Kei Car then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Kei Car site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Kei Car, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Kei Car, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
image:Daihatsu Cuore 2005.jpg, a popular and typical
kei car. (), literally "light automobile", is a Japan category of small
automobiles, including
automobiles,
vans ("microvans") and
pickup trucks. They are designed to exploit local
tax and insurance relaxations, and are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate
parking is available for the vehicle. "Minicars: Cheap and Cheerful", Peter Nunn, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, January-February 2005 "Owning a Car in Japan", ALTs in Sendai These standards originated in the times following the end of the Second World War, when most Japanese could not afford a full-sized car yet had enough to buy a motorcycle. To promote the growth of the car industry, as well as to offer an alternative delivery method to small business and shop owners, Kei car standards were created.
The cars feature yellow
Japanese license plates, earning them the name "yellow-plate cars" (black numbers on yellow background for private use and yellow numbers on black background for commercial use) in English language and
Spanish language-speaking circles. Automobiles, jetsetjapan.com "Shakoshomei 車庫証明(proof that you have a place to park your car)",
Driving in Tokachi, city.obihiro.hokkaido.jpBecause the regulations only restrict physical size, engine displacement and power, manufacturers have introduced many advanced technologies to the class. As a result, kei cars are often available with
forced induction engines, automatic transmission and continuously variable transmission transmissions,
front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and
four-wheel drive, Hybrid car,
air conditioning, GPS and many other features.
History of regulations
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; padding:5px;"|-! rowspan="2" style="width:9em" | Date! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum length! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum width! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum height! colspan="2" style="width:12em" | Maximum displacement! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum power|-!|
Four-stroke cycle!| Two-stroke cycle|-|| 8 July
1949|| 1 m| rowspan="7" | 2 m|| 150 [cubic centimetre|| 100 cc| rowspan="5" | n/a|-||
26 July 1950 [1951 [1955 [1976|| 3.3 m| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | 660 cc| rowspan="2" | 47 [kilowatt (64 horsepower#PS)|-|| 1 October 1998|| 3.4 m|| 1.48 m|}
Kei car manufacturers
Gallery
Image:Mazda-carol-1st-generation01.jpg|First generation Mazda Carol.Image:Honday Today.jpg].Image:MazdaAZ1.jpg|
Autozam AZ-1.Image:2006 pajerominiVR.jpg].image:daihatsu.copen.arp.750pix.jpg|Daihatsu Copen.Image:2003 Subaru R2 01.jpg].image:2005 Subaru R1.jpg|
Subaru R1.Image:Mitsubishi_i_2.JPG].
See also
References
External links
- Official association 全国軽自動車協会連合会 (Japanese)
- "An Overview of the Japanese Kei-Class", Cory Roy, jCars, December 2004
- History of regulations
- "The minicar and the emerging markets", Andrew Mollet, Automotive World, March 1 2003 (subscription required)
image:Daihatsu Cuore 2005.jpg, a popular and typical
kei car. (), literally "light automobile", is a Japan category of small automobiles, including automobiles,
vans ("
microvans") and
pickup trucks. They are designed to exploit local tax and insurance relaxations, and are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is available for the vehicle. "Minicars: Cheap and Cheerful", Peter Nunn, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, January-February 2005 "Owning a Car in Japan", ALTs in Sendai These standards originated in the times following the end of the Second World War, when most Japanese could not afford a full-sized car yet had enough to buy a motorcycle. To promote the growth of the car industry, as well as to offer an alternative delivery method to small business and shop owners, Kei car standards were created.
The cars feature yellow
Japanese license plates, earning them the name "yellow-plate cars" (black numbers on yellow background for private use and yellow numbers on black background for commercial use) in
English language and Spanish language-speaking circles. Automobiles, jetsetjapan.com "Shakoshomei 車庫証明(proof that you have a place to park your car)",
Driving in Tokachi, city.obihiro.hokkaido.jpBecause the regulations only restrict physical size, engine displacement and power, manufacturers have introduced many advanced technologies to the class. As a result, kei cars are often available with
forced induction engines,
automatic transmission and continuously variable transmission transmissions,
front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and
four-wheel drive, Hybrid car,
air conditioning, GPS and many other features.
History of regulations
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; padding:5px;"|-! rowspan="2" style="width:9em" | Date! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum length! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum width! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum height! colspan="2" style="width:12em" | Maximum displacement! rowspan="2" style="width:6em" | Maximum power|-!| Four-stroke cycle!| Two-stroke cycle|-|| 8 July 1949|| 1 m| rowspan="7" | 2 m|| 150 [cubic centimetre|| 100 cc| rowspan="5" | n/a|-|| 26 July 1950 [1951 [1955 [1976|| 3.3 m| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | 660 cc| rowspan="2" | 47 [kilowatt (64 horsepower#PS)|-||
1 October 1998|| 3.4 m|| 1.48 m|}
Kei car manufacturers
Gallery
Image:Mazda-carol-1st-generation01.jpg|First generation
Mazda Carol.Image:Honday Today.jpg].Image:MazdaAZ1.jpg|
Autozam AZ-1.Image:2006 pajerominiVR.jpg].image:daihatsu.copen.arp.750pix.jpg|
Daihatsu Copen.Image:2003 Subaru R2 01.jpg].image:2005 Subaru R1.jpg|
Subaru R1.Image:Mitsubishi_i_2.JPG].
See also
References
External links
- Official association 全国軽自動車協会連合会 (Japanese)
- "An Overview of the Japanese Kei-Class", Cory Roy, jCars, December 2004
- History of regulations
- "The minicar and the emerging markets", Andrew Mollet, Automotive World, March 1 2003 (subscription required)
