The rest-of-the-story about Japanese microcars
Even though we have covered these Japanese microcars in the past, the blogsphere is all in a blather about the latest Mitsuoka microcars…
Little car kits from Japan
–via BoingBoing…just under 2.5 meters (eight feet) long and can run at up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) an hour. The expected cost of each of this vehicle is US $6,460….
Please note that in Tokyo, there are only a few of these 50cc microcars on the street. Oddly (or wisely) most people in Tokyo drive normal compact and mid-sized cars in the hope of surviving. Japanese microcars (50cc) are mostly driven by the elderly, and subcompact cars (660cc-1000cc) are driven by suburban housewives and poor farmers.
The rest-of-the-story about Japanese microcars is that ….
The 50cc microcar class does not require the dread proof-of-parking certificate, which in Tokyo costs 35-to-80,000+ yen ($300-$685 USD)per month. In addition, the shaken-inspection is not required, license-plate costs are nil since these 50cc microcars are classified by the Japanese Road Traffic Law as a bicycle with a motor, hee, hee. A micro-car costs 2,500yen/year vehicle tax and 7,200yen/year compulsory automobile liability insurance. (Note that a 3000cc Lexus or Infiniti can cost about 300,000yen/year for shaken/license-plate/insurance). Sure a motorcycle or scooter makes more sense, but the micro-cars are kind of cute too.
The used prices of these cars are really cheap for the deluxe models loaded with luxury options like windshield wipers and they are very low mileage since they must be so much “fun” to drive in the middle of Tokyo’s truck traffic.
USED PRICES for Mitsuoka microcars
Sports car type — Model H17 Mileage 400km
Deluxe, Body color: Silver
Vehicle price 714,000 yen
Sports car type — Model H17 Mileage 150km
Deluxe, Body color: Moon yellow
Vehicle price 750,750 yen ($6,500 USD)
Read more from the Japanese bespoke car maker you never heard of, Mitsuoka Motors. Mitsuoka’s website features charming micro-engrish such as: “It delivers the feeling of being stoked to you as the Santa Claus does.”
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