Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny is the true survivalist’s 4X4.

It’s the 4WD for the guy who delights in tooling around off road and challenging himself and his machine: “Can we get there? Can we get back? Let’s give it a go!” It’s for the man who appreciates simplicity of design targeted to a clear purpose: Highest capability and lowest running cost. It’s for the hunter, the farmer, the forest man, and for you and me when we just want to get away from everybody else.

But when you start to look for a good used Jimny from Japan you find that there are so many models that it’s difficult to decide what’s best for you. So….

Available Models

Let’s look here at the various available models of the Suzuki Jimny; and a nicer bunch of highly capable and cheap to run small off-road cars you’ll never meet. Round ’em up, Boys!

Now, having said “available” we’ve got to point out right from the start that some are more available than others, and some are downright rare collector’s items now (summer of 2020). But the good thing is that the Jimnys that are more readily available for direct export from Japan are, overall, the best models and are the least expensive units to buy second hand (at either the Japanese used car auctions or at the used car dealers that we buy from here in Japan). So, unless you are focused exclusively on one of the super-rare collectible units, don’t cry for what “might have been,” and just sink your teeth into a good, clean, cheap used Jimny that will happily take you out to the back of beyond and, more importantly, get you back to civilization again.

And if you’re one of those guys that would rather just stay out there, far and away from civilization, with its yearly crop of new regulations, rules, fines and demands, then the Suzuki Jimny is the perfect off-road car to stay out there with you, since a Jimny needs little maintenance, and just sips its fuel (rather than guzzling it, as most off-road iron unfortunately does). Yep, you can stay out in the bush for a long time in a Jimny, that’s for sure.

So, here we go: “Available Models:”

Hopestar ON360

ON360 Specifications:

• Length: 2,995mm Width: 1,295mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 1,930mm
• Track: front 1,090mm / rear 1,100mm
• Weight: 600kg
• Body Style: Two-seat, open (full canvas)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 360cc 2-cyl, air-cooled, two-stroke (Power: 21ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 3.2kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 28.6:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 187.5:1

Not really a Jimny and not really available either. Hope Motors had their little 4WD in production only from January to October of 1968 and they made about fifteen or sixteen units of this very simple machine before throwing in the towel and calling it a day. There’s a sweet old video of an ON360 on Youtube here.

But Hope Motors was on to something though, with this super-light, super-cheap, super-tough, super-simple, and super-capable 4WD idea. The thing was so simple that it didn’t even have liquid cooling, just cooling fins on the (two!) cylinders and some metal air ducting; rather like the old Volkswagens, but even simpler. And, by putting a cushion over each of the rear wheel wells in the cargo area and having two passengers facing each other, you could convert the little ON360 into a four seater (at the expense of safety and your passengers’ gluteus maximus).

We talk more on our Japan Car Direct Blog about the early history of the Suzuki Jimny.

Jimny LJ10

LJ10 Specifications:

• Length: 2,995mm Width: 1,295mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 1,930mm
• Track: front 1,090mm / rear 1,100mm
• Weight: 600kg
• Body Style: Three-seat, open (full canvas)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 360cc 2-cyl, air-cooled, two-stroke (Power: 25ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 3.4kg/m at 5,000rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 24:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 176.5:1

Hopestar actually offered the design other makers before Suzuki took the concept on board to produce the LJ10, which is the first “real” Jimny. Production started in April of 1970 and ended in May of 1972. I don’t have exact production figures but, based on the cumulative tables, I’d guess that at least 12,000 units were made. These LJ10 Jimnys do come up for sale from time to time in Japan, so they could, at a push, be considered “available for export from Japan,” but we don’t recommend that you buy one because of parts availability issues, problems with the air-cooled engine overheating in hard/hot/high service, and because these little guys are just so underpowered on road that you’re taking your life in your hands on today’s roads. (But, hey, if you’re really into these cars for heritage purposes, or just sheer delight, and if that’s your joy, then go gang busters and seek your joy, at Japan Car Direct we’ll even help you to find a nice unit so you can do a self import from Japan. If that’s what you want.)

By the way, if you noted in the spec table above that the LJ10 is a three-seater and you thought, “huh?” the reason for this is that you got one rear seat (facing forward, thankfully) and one spare tire back there in the cargo area. Someone got replaced by a tire, I guess.

Here’s a link to a test drive of a lovely little LJ10 down in Kyoto. Sweet sound!

Looking at Jimny Specs

Before we go any further in our listing of available models of the Suzuki Jimny, let’s take a moment to consider what the spec tables are telling us about these vehicles, because what you find right at the start are themes that have stayed with the Jimny right up to today and that will help you to see why Jimnys are so great and will also help you decide if a Jimny is the 4WD car for you, and, if so, which Jimny is right for you.

Looking at the tables, we see that these cars are small, very small for full-on 4WD machines. This is a definite plus for tight spots off road (and even around town, actually; tight parking spot, anyone? No problem for a Jimny), but it is a bit of a drawback in terms of luggage capacity (but there’s always the roof rack option). Pluses and minuses.

The wheelbase is short, so that sort of “hippity hop” effect on a long highway trip is noticeable in a Jimny, however, the short wheelbase keeps you from getting the chassis hung up on a rock or a log out in the middle of nowhere. Pluses and minuses.

The chassis is a ladder frame construction which gives greater strength and static rigidity, which is what you want is a vehicle that is going to spend a lot of time in hard off-road conditions, but the ladder frame may not be the best option to get the sort of dynamic rigidity that you want for high speed cornering on road. Pluses and minuses. But, then again, these are not sports cars and we don’t expect to be doing any high speed cornering in a Class One 4WD now, do we?

And as we go along in our look at the Jimny models available for export from Japan, keep an eye on the power to weight and torque to weight question; you’ll see regular improvement as the years go by. With the little LJ10, the engine has to push 24kg of car with each unit of horse power the engine puts out (in Japan we use the German PS, Pferdestärke, which is just under one English / American hp, horse power). And each unit of torque had to get 176.5kg shifted.

(This is one way of looking at these ratios and it helps me to get my head around the concepts of power and torque to weight. But, however you think about it, an LJ10 was not a powerful car. Off road the super low gearing saved your ass, but on road, you were toast.)

OK, back to the models:

Jimny LJ20

LJ20 Specifications:

• Length: 2,995mm Width: 1,295mm Height: 1,615mm
• Wheelbase: 1,930mm
• Track: front 1,090mm / rear 1,100mm
• Weight: 660kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, open (full canvas), or van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 360cc 2-cyl, liquid-cooled, two-stroke (Power: 28ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 3.8kg/m at 5,000rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 23.6:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 173.7:1

The LJ20 (in production from May of 1972 to April of 1976) came with liquid cooling for the little two-cylinder powerplant. This helped with the hard/hot/high service overheat problem, although it didn’t do much for overall power. The idea of a 360cc two pot was simply reaching the end of reasonably possible development.

Suzuki, by hanging the spare wheel out the back, also gave you a fourth seat now in the cargo area, with two passengers seated on the wheel wells, facing each other. How romantic! Hard on the butt, though, and I speak from experience since this was the layout in my SJ10, which is coming up next.

Are these LJ20 Jimnys available in Japan now for export? Sure, they do come up for sale and they are as cute and as capable off road as they ever were. Just love them! But since key engine rebuild parts are no longer easily available, and since they are terribly (dangerously) slow on road, we don’t recommend that you buy one. But, like we said above with the LJ10, if you really want one for collecting purposes or whatever, Japan Car Direct will help you find a Jimny LJ20 to export back home. (Note for folks in Australia and the USA who want to import one of these super early Jimnys: Unless I’m far wrong, Suzuki did export these cars down to Oz as the Suzuki Stockman, and, in America, International Equipment Company imported them as the Suzuki Brute. Collectors there may be able to tell you about parts support in Australia or the USA. If the support is there, the cars are here in Japan and we can find you a nice one, although it may take time.)

And are you watching the spec tables? Not a lot of change, eh? But if you’re a serious off-roader, I’m sure you saw that the weight went up. This will be a long term trend in our later Jimny models.

Jimny SJ10

SJ10 Specifications:

• Length: 3,170mm Width: 1,295mm Height: 1,685mm
• Wheelbase: 1,930mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: 680kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, open (full canvas), or van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 550cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, two-stroke (Power: 26ps at 4,500rpm. Torque: 5.3kg/m at 3,000rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 26:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 128.3:1

This is where I, your faithful Japan Car Direct Jimny fan and nut, come in. The two SJ10 Jimnys I owned were two of the happiest second hand car purchases I ever made in Japan.

Although bit heavier and longer than the LJ20 and with a bit less horse power (but a lot more torque, and with both power and torque coming in much lower in the rev range), the SJ10 Jimny is simply waaaaaay better. I’ve had the full steel and full canvas body types, and both were excellent. Certainly, in the deep mountain forest here in Japan, the full canvas guy, with roof and doors all off, gave me much better visibility in the thick bush, but he also gave me no protection against the weather (we, me and three friends, all got rained on one time coming back from an off road day) or against the Japanese Giant Hornets, of which I am terrified, so I kept the full steel van-bodied SJ10 longer in the end.

And that was the car we power tuned, too. Yes, two stroke power tuning is an option with the SJ10 (and the SJ30) and it makes these Jimnys much better around town. But it’s off road where the SJ10 truly, truly shines and we can recommend these cars to serious off roaders in all the countries that we usually export used vehicles from Japan to: the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, and other countries as well. In production from April of 1976 to May of 1981, there are many good second hand SJ10 Jimnys available in Japan for you to export yourself, and Japan Car Direct will help you do it. We’ll find you a good unit at the Japanese used car auctions or at the Japanese used car dealers that we work with and will do the bidding / purchase for you, we’ll prepare the documentation and arrange the shipping and the right SJ10 can be yours. (How the system of direct used car self import works is outlined on our how to buy page.)

I totally recommend, from extensive personal experience (driving, owning, bashing-around-off-road experience) the Suzuki Jimny SJ10.

Have a look at this video here of what an SJ10 can do. Look at the bad ground the guys get into in their two-stroke Jimny and how they get out of it. Takes them a bit a work, but that’s what SJ10s are all about: They WILL get you out of the pit.

You can read more about enjoying these cars off road on our Suzuki Jimny (Part 2) blog post.

Now the next Jimny I recommend is a bit of a secret, a bit of a “dream-on” car, and here it is, the

Jimny SJ20

SJ20 Specifications:

• Length: 3,170mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,845mm
• Wheelbase: 1,930mm
• Track: front 1,200mm / rear 1,210mm
• Weight: 735kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, open (full canvas), or van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 800cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 41ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 6.1kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 17.9:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 120:1

One of the discussions that have come up more than once over the years when JCJ (Jimny Club Japan) guys get together is “SJ10 vs SJ20.” Looking at the two vehicles you’ll be tempted to ask “What’s the big issue? They are the same car, for Pete’s sake!” Actually, under the skin, they’re not.

The SJ20 (which was in production from September of 1977 to August of 1982) has an 800cc four-cylinder, four-stroke engine. It’s the first non-kei class Jimny, or as we sometimes say in Japan: the first “white number Jimny.” (Kei class cars have yellow license plates and normal cars have white plates.) Because of the bigger engine the SJ20 weighs more than the 10 but has more power and a different power curve. Which is best? On road the SJ20 wins for cruising, obviously, and around town; off road you do, a bit, feel the weight of the heavier engine up front, but the 20 is, like the 10, super competent off road. I come down on the side of the SJ10 for pure off road and I know a couple of SJ20 owners who agree, “but only just,” they said. But they’ll still never let their SJ20s go which brings us to availability for export from Japan: Forget it. These cars were always rare here (I think that about, what, 1,500 or so were ever made, and many went overseas) and the guys that have them just don’t sell them, so an SJ20 is not really “available.” Sorry, guys.

SJ30

SJ30 Specifications:

• Length: 3,195mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,690mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: 720kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, open (full canvas), or van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 550cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, two-stroke (Power: 28ps at 4,500rpm. Torque: 5.4kg/m at 2,500rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 25.7:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 133:1

The SJ30 is a delightful Jimny! You get the more modern body that we associate with “Jimny” and which runs until 1998 and you still get the great-for-off-road two-stroke engine, now improved to give you a bit more power and torque and, more importantly, to give you that torque at a lower rpm grunt. Off-roaders will know why this counts big time.

The SJ30 was in production from May of 1981 to November of 1987, a good long run and many units were made. And note these years because you’ll see that the two-stroke SJ30 continued in production for two years after its successor, the more modern four-stroke turbo JA71-I came out. The SJ30 was considered top of the pops by the people here in Japan who really needed a serious, small off-road car (forest industry guys, farmers, etc.); they found it so good that they wouldn’t look at the newer Jimny and so Suzuki kept the SJ30 in production for an extra long time to satisfy these customers.

Looking at availability, these SJ30 Jimnys are definitely an “available model.” They come up in good condition and in good numbers and are a definite target car for you if you are thinking of doing a self-import from Japan for a good, very capable, small off-road car. And now may be the time to go for a nice, clean used SJ30 if a two-stroke Jimny is what you have in mind because, until the recent world wide economic slowdown, prices of nice SJ30s were climbing steadily, but now they are softening a bit and the best chance of a good deal on an SJ30 is to start your hunt now.

The white number stable mate of the SJ30 was the:

SJ40

SJ40 Specifications:

• Length: 3,355mm Width: 1,465mm Height: 1,690mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mmTrack: front 1,210mm / rear 1,220mm
• Weight: 840kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, open (full canvas), or van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors), pickup
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 970cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 52ps at 5,000rpm. Torque: 8.2kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 16.2:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 102.4:1

Widely sold outside Japan and in production from August of 1982 to November of 1984, the SJ40 was the first well known Jimny, although it was called by a variety of names such as the “Suzuki Samurai” in North America (I remember them coming to Canada), the “SJ410” in a variety of countries, the Indian built version was the Maruti “Gypsy.” Badged as Holden cars, they were sold in Australia as the “Drover,” and in New Zealand they were called the “Farm Worker.” (I guess Suzuki really wanted to make their target market clear in that case.) Again, good, solid off road cars, they were not Kei class in Japan due to the larger engine being over 550cc, but from what I’ve been told they were not much better, if at all, than the later Kei class JA11 with the turbo 660cc and the same body. A fellow I know who had one said: “Ah! I just have to pay more tax for it, but the turbo Kei Jimnys are at least as good.”

These SJ40s don’t come up for sale much in Japan now and, with a nice JA11 being such an excellent vehicle (and having a 5-speed trans whereas the old SJ40 was still a four gear), I would tend to let these cars stay off your list when looking to import your own used Jimny from Japan.

JA71-I

JA71-I Specifications:

• Length: 3,195mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: 780kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 550cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke turbo (Power: 42ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 5.9kg/m at 4,000rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 18.6:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 132.2:1

With the JA71-I Suzuki goes full modern and we have to say “good-bye” to our beloved and super simple two-stroke engines. They served us well and they are still in service today.

A full open body with canvas doors is no longer an option but you can still get half canvas with steel doors. Good enough for me. And we’ve finally got a proper 5-speed transmission. Very good. But I don’t recommend these cars as your first pick when you want to import a good Kei class Jimny from Japan. Why not? Are JA71-I Jimnys some sort of crapola car? Not at all, it’s just that the Jimnys that come after are better, with more power and a better interior, and, also, there is no real price advantage to importing a JA71-I over a JA71-III or, especially, a JA11.

These cars are available second hand in Japan but I’d just pass on then, that’s all.

JA71-III

JA71-III Specifications:

• Length: 3,195mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: 840kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors), van with vista type plastic roof
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 550cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke intercooled turbo (Power: 52ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 7.2kg/m at 4,000rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 16.1:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 116.7:1

So we’re all still keeping our eyes on the spec tables, right? Good. So you’ll have noticed that weight has gone up a bit again (not so great for off road), but power has gone up across the board and more than enough to improve our power to weight and torque to weight ratios. The JA71-III with its intercooler has a clearly more powerful engine with a slightly better power curve, too. These are good Jimnys and I’ve seen them perform stunningly well off road in competitive events here in Japan. Tough, good cars. Not as good on road as the next Jimny, the JA11, but otherwise a Jimny worth putting on your “import Jimny from Japan list.” Readily available good second hand units are to be found at the Japanese used car auctions and at the used car dealers. The JA71-III, in production from January of 1987 to March of 1990, is definitely an “available model.”

JA11

JA11 Specifications:

• Length: 3,295mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,680mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: 870kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors), van with vista type plastic roof
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 660cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke intercooled turbo (Power: 58ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 8.8kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 15:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 100.6:1

The best of all the “available models” due to its high capability, strength, reliability, low running cost, low purchase price, good parts availability, high modification potential, etc., etc. And there are lots of good units available in Japan (like this nice little 1992 Suzuki Jimny we exported) for easy export to the USA and Australia since these JA11s, which were in production from March of 1990 to November of 1995, clear the 25 year rules for those two countries; and, of course, JA11s are old enough for easy import to Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and the EU, too.

The JA11 is what people think of when they think “Jimny.” Mine was a great car off road and around town; not so great on the highway, but certainly serviceable, and we drove once all the way across the country to the Sea of Japan, all on the highway.

If you look at the spec tables you’ll see how similar in terms of dimensions the JA11 is to the JA71-III (it’s 10cm longer, but still with the same wheel base), but the engine is now bigger, with more power, and better low end power delivery; consequently our power to weight and torque to weight figures are looking nicer now, too. We’ve been kind of hinting at it all through this article, but the Jimny JA11 is the car we recommend as your first pick if you want to do a direct import yourself of a used Suzuki Jimny from Japan

I tell you more about my own JA11 on our Suzuki Jimny (Part 2) blog post. Just scroll down to “My First Jimny in Japan.” And in this video here you’ll see a guy try to cross a river in his JA11, a river I would never have dared to cross, and, when he’s had enough and cooled himself down he just backs the JA11 right out of there!

The next Jimny, the JA12/22, is also worth your consideration.

JA12/22

JA12/22 Specifications:

• Length: 3,295mm Width: 1,395mm Height: 1,680mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,190mm / rear 1,200mm
• Weight: (JA12) 920kg (JA22) 890kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 660cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke intercooled turbo (Power: (F6A) 64ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 10kg/m at 4,000rpm. (K6A) 64ps at 6,500, 10.5kg/m at 3,500rpm
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (automatic optional)
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio for JA12: 14.4:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg) for JA12: 92:1
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio for JA22: 13.9:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg) for JA22: 84.8:1

The JA12/22 is very similar to the JA11. The body is restyled somewhat and the interior is updated, but you put them side by side and they are clearly brothers. Under the skin there are more significant differences, though: Suspension is now coil springs, leaf no longer, guys; but don’t cry you serious off roaders, I’ve seen these cars perform very well in the muck, crap, and rock that we all love so much, and I can say from my own driving experience that, on road, the 12/22 rides and corners a bit better.

From the spec tables you’ll see the other major difference: engine options and power outputs. The JA12 has the legendary iron block F6A engine, like you’ll find in the JA11, although now in a higher state of tune. The JA22 has the newer K6A DOHC four-valve aluminum block unit. This guy uses a timing chain rather than a timing belt; a nice little plus. The K6A feels a bit racier and more free revving than the F6A and boost seems to come on more smoothly, but these are just my driving impressions and the difference was not really very marked.

I’ve enjoyed playing around in my sister-in-law’s JA12 and the only negatives that I noticed were 1), the rear seats are now “full seats,” not the jump seats you’ve been getting in all your Jimnys until now but, because the rear passenger foot wells are still so small, the car is still really a 2+2. And 2), the bigger seats, when folded away, take up a bit more of your cargo space; not so great when load space is already at a premium (as it is in all of our Jimnys). And 3), those seats, when fully extended in the open position, lock on to a metal hook in the center of the load bay toward the rear. I find that this hook does get in the way when I want to load bigger boxes or plastic carry tubs into the car. It’s a niggling irritation and shows how the 12/22 was a bit of a stop gap design. The JA12/22 was in production from November of 1995 to October of 1998, and there are many good second hand units available in Japan these days if you have it in mind to buy a good used Jimny from Japan.

Now, my sister-in-law’s Jimny is a perfect example of why you want to buy and import a used Jimny direct from Japan yourself when you are looking for a good value, cheap, used off-road car: Her car is a poser car. She’s got new paint on it, jacked up 1.5 inches with a lift kit, big mudders, fancy shocks….and she never takes the car off road. Not ever. Total poser. (I hope she’s not reading this.)

But used 4WD cars that have rarely been used off road are what we want when buying second hand and no doubt about it. Most used Suzuki Jimnys in Japan do fall into the category of “second car” (not daily driver), or “poser car.” Good road!

(We talk more about these more modern Jimnys and about the fun of having an old two-stroke Jimny on our Suzuki Jimny (Part 3) blog post.)

The JA12/22 is the last of the “classic bodied” Jimnys that began way back with the SJ30. But before we move on to look a bit at the newer models, let’s quickly look at the non-Kei, the “white-number” Jimnys that are the brothers of the JA71-III, the JA11, and JA12/22. First up is the JA51

JA51

JA51 Specifications:

• Length: 3,355mm Width: 1,465mm Height: 1,700mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,210mm / rear 1,220mm
• Weight: 860kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel), half canvas (with steel doors), van with vista type plastic roof
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 1,300cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 70ps at 5,500rpm. Torque: 10.7kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 12.3:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 80.4:1

The JA51, which looks very much like the JA71-III but lacks a hood scoop for the intercooler air intake, has a 1,300cc non-turbo, four cylinder engine. He’s also just a bit beefier all around: wider, taller, wider track, same wheel base, though.

I’ve never had time in a JA51 so I can’t tell you anything from my personal experience, but I’m quite sure that these cars give you everything you’d expect from a Jimny. Only problem is that, in terms of availability, I find that these cars rarely come up on the second hand market and, when they do come for sale, are rather on the expensive side. If a good one were to fall into your lap, well…go for it…but don’t wait for it. (The production run was from November of 1984 to March of 1987.) I must say, these are handsome cars, though.

JB31

JB31 Specifications:

• Length: 3,470mm Width: 1,545mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,300mm / rear 1,310mm
• Weight: 970kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 1,300cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 70ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 10.4kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 13.9:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 93.3:1

The non-Kei version of the JA11 was the JB31, often called the Jimny Sierra, and it was in production from May of 1993 to November of 1995. These cars are a favorite of serious Jimny modders here in Japan, and they are very potent off-road cars. Availability? Yes, available. Cheap 4WD? No, not cheap. If a good deal on one fell into my lap, what would I do about it? Well, what do you guys think I’d do? If you’ve been reading my other articles on my Jimny experiences, you know what I’d do…and I advise you to do the same. And the same, too, for the JB32……

JB32

JB32 Specifications:

• Length: 3,510mm Width: 1,545mm Height: 1,670mm
• Wheelbase: 2,030mm
• Track: front 1,300mm / rear 1,310mm
• Weight: 980kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 1,300cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 85ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 10.8kg/m at 3,000rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 11.5:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 90.7:1

These Jimnys were in production from November of 1995 to January of 1998. What I said about the JB31 goes also for the JB32, but if you’re watching the spec tables you’ll have seen that, with the JB32, power is up nicely. Only problem with this car (and with the JB31, too) is that weight is also going up. We’re getting close to 1,000kgs here. Hmmmmm…….Well, they’re still light as far as off-road cars go, that’s for sure.

Now, this question of increased weight is where we’d best move on to the last of the Jimnys we’re going to look at in this article: The Kei-class JB23 and its big-engined brothers. (The very newest Jimny, the JB64, is so new that they don’t really come on the radar for guys who want to import a good used, but inexpensive, Jimny from us here in Japan, so we’ll leave them alone for now, and, based on what I’ve heard from a couple of old school, hard core Jimny guys, we might all want to leave the JB64 alone until there are no more of the “good old Jimnys” left and we are forced to “go modern.”

JB23

JB23 Specifications:

• Length: 3,395mm Width: 1,475mm Height: 1,715mm
• Wheelbase: 2,250mm
• Track: front 1,265mm / rear 1,275mm
• Weight: 980kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 660cc 3-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke intercooled turbo (Power: 64ps at 6,500rpm. Torque: 10.8kg/m at 3,500rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (automatic optional)
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 15.3:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 90.7:1

Although it still keeps the good-for-off-road ladder-frame construction, the JB23 and its brothers are thoroughly modern vehicles (for better or for worse). I can’t speak much from personal experience with these Jimnys as I am very much old school and stick with the old Jimnys, but I can say that the JB23 has been a very successful car. Huge numbers were sold and it had, by far, far the longest production run of any Suzuki Jimny: 20 years, from 1998 to 2018. Wow! JB23s are not yet old enough to easily be imported to the USA or Australia, but you can import a good used JB23 to the UK or to Canada or to the EU.

The JB23 is a much more “civilized” vehicle than previous Jimnys and, finally, you’ve got proper foot wells for the rear seat passengers, so the car is really a four-seater. The interior is much more comfortable all round, and the rear seats fold flat for a more useable cargo bay. There are seemingly endless modification options: lift kits, spring and shock kits, power tuning options, crawler turbos, roof racks, larger wheels, you name it. These are strong cars and I’ve seen them bash around very effectively off road at our Jimny Club events. Parts are not, and probably never will be, a problem. The K6A engine is a proven unit.

From the spec tables (and we’re all still looking at our spec tables, aren’t we?), you’ll see that the JB23 now has the external dimensions of the post-October 1998 Kei car regulations, so 10cm longer and 8cm wider. These cars are also a bit heavier than the JA11 or the JA12/22.

To my eye here in Japan, the JB23 has aged well and good used units are very available at quite reasonable prices.

The “white number” brothers of the JB23 are the JB33 and JB43.

JB33 and JB43

JB33 Specifications:

• Length: 3,550mm Width: 1,600mm Height: 1,705mm
• Wheelbase: 2,250mm
• Track: front 1,355mm / rear 1,365mm
• Weight: 1010kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 1,300cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 85ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 11.3kg/m at 4,500rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (automatic optional)
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 11.9:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 89.4:1

JB43 Specifications:

• Length: 3,550mm Width: 1,600mm Height: 1,705mm
• Wheelbase: 2,250mm
• Track: front 1,355mm / rear 1,365mm
• Weight: 1060kg
• Body Style: Four-seat, van (full steel)
• Chassis: Ladder frame
• Engine: 1,300cc 4-cyl, liquid-cooled, four-stroke (Power: 88ps at 6,000rpm. Torque: 12.0kg/m at 4,000rpm)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (automatic optional)
• Power (ps) to weight (kg) ratio: 12:1
• Torque (kg/m) to weight (kg): 88.3:1

The JB33 (called the Jimny Wide or the Jimny Sierra) was in production from January of 1998 to April of 2002 and the JB43 then took over and ran until 2018.

In terms of availability, these cars come up here in good numbers at both the Japanese used car auctions and at the used car dealers. In terms of price, they are similar to the other white number Jimnys that we have talked about: The are on the expensive side, but good deals do come up at the auctions if you are patient.

Rounding Up the Round Up

At that’s a full comprehensive list, our round up, of our beloved Jimnys. And, as I’ve said, we won’t touch on the newest Jimny, the JB64, since these cars are still very new and not what we are looking for when we say: “I want to import a good, cheap used Jimny from Japan.”

But whatever Jimny you choose, you will have yourself one of the best Class One 4X4 cars available on this planet. You will survive. And, what’s more, you’ll have a lot of fun with your used Suzuki Jimny from Japan. Every Jimny I’ve owned has been a delight.

Japan Car Direct provides friendly, honest, efficient service.

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Read reviews from real customers who have experienced the excellent service offered by Japan Car Direct

						The team at JCD is great to deal with. The entire process was smooth and transparent. Buying a vehicle from another continent can be daunting, but Mike and the team made the process of purchasing my new Miata seamless.			
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Anthony Grasdal
2024-11-06
						My first time importing a car and could not be more thrilled with the assistance I received. They were always happy to help and had quick replies, very informative, and always followed up to confirm information. I did all the importing myself, but they made getting the perfect car to my state a breeze.			
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noah decambra
2024-10-24
						Very happy with the honest, professional service experience dealing with Japan Car Direct, and I would recommend them to anyone looking to purchase and import a car from Japan. Thank you!			
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Richard Brown
2024-10-16
						Great Service, Great Team. Took the time to find exactly the car I want and took care of all the export and shipping. Answered all my questions and were always happy to help! 10/10 would use their services again.			
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Theo
2024-10-14
						I've bought vehicles through several companies in Japan that broker Japanese auto auctions. In my experiences, I would prefer to deal with Japan Car Direct. Matt and Kayoko have been excellent to deal with. Other places are a crap shoot with people who are reliable, including knowing what's going on with the vehicles you buy (including paperwork). There's a lot than can go wrong with these kinds of transactions. Fortunately with this company, the customer service, logistics, and most importantly the paperwork are never an issue. For those reasons alone, I won't deal with anyone else. You don't have to take my word for it, go with someone else and find out the hard way if you like headaches.			
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Jon Lavado
2024-10-12
						Thank you to Kayoko and staff at Japan Car Direct. This was my first time importing a vehicle from another country. The were always there to answer my questions and concerns and be there every step of the way. They made the process super easy. I definitely would go through Japan Car Direct again for my next vehicle purchase! It's amazing how much cheaper, low mileage, and better condition Japanese vehicles are to their American counter-parts. I highly recommend!			
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Kevin Medina
2024-10-10
						If I could rate my experience dealing with JCD and Taylor in particular I'd rate them a 20 out of 5. Flawless service from start to finish, no query was ever too much to ask. Fantastic breakdown on how the auction sheets work and all the vehicle details. Just got my R35 and it's better than I'd even imagined, thank you so much for everything Taylor & team!			
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Ryan Rodgers
2024-10-08
						Amazing company. I was naive to this process and worried about how to navigate the auctions. Taylor was beyond helpful throughout. His expertise is exemplary always coming up with the right documentation at the right time. If you want a high quality Jap important, look no further. I am based in Ireland by the way!			
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John O Halloran
2024-09-18
						I recently completed the auction purchase of a ‘98 Subaru Sambar and had it imported to the US. Kayoko Matsumoto with JCD handled the entire process and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. From initial contact through follow-up after receipt of vehicle at the port, Kayoko was very responsive and easy to work with. If you’re looking to import a car from Japan, I highly recommend JCD. Great job Kayoko! I look forward to working with you again in the future.			
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Matt B
2024-09-09
						The team at Japan Car Direct are amazing. Extremely helpful and Quick to respond to any questions I had, they made the vehicle import process quite simple. I had zero knowledge or experience of importing a vehicle before reaching out to Matt. I am so grateful for everyone at Japan Car Direct and I’m so happy with my new Carry! Also a big thank you to Kayoko for consistently following up with me and doing all the translations! Thank you			
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Michael Duffy
2024-09-07
						I had a great experience with Mike at Japan Car Direct this past April/May. They helped with all of my questions, and responded promptly through the whole buying process. I recommend them, if your thinking about buying a JDM vehicle. I deliver mail, and the Toyota Gaia with the 4x4 option is a great fit - as well as being lightweight, having a softer suspension, plenty of headroom, and great gas mileage. Many parts on the car are also interchangeable with US market cars. I bought it through an auction, and was fortunate in that the car was well maintained(timing belt/air filter replaced and recorded km on the cover). I've only had to replace a cv axle boot that was torn, other than regular maintenance. Japan car direct is a great company to work with, and again, I'd highly recommend them!			
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steveandwndylarson
2024-09-07
						I had a great experience with Japan Car Direct. My manager, Mike, was incredibly patient with all my questions and requests, which I really appreciated. The car checks during the selection process were thorough, just as advertised. The purchasing process was transparent, and the car was loaded onto the ship faster than I expected. It arrived in perfect condition, and my wife is very happy with it. It's a bit weird to buy a car online through thousands miles away, but thanks to Japan Car Direct team it went smooth for me.			
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Max Gimazdinov
2024-08-30
						Got my lovely RVR. The whole process was pretty easy. My state's DMV was unable to comprehend what a "chassis number" is so they updated the sales receipt to say VIN and I was through the DMV the fastest yet.			
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Richard Hopple, Jr.
2024-08-21
						Imported JDM via Japan Car Direct , it was smooth, transparent process ; Yoshiro sent me all the necessary documents that enabled me to import the car and register it in U.S. with zero issues, also he is so responsive regarding any question that I had.			
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Mohammed Alowaid
2024-08-06
						Matt and the crew at Japan Car Direct provide a stellar service and experience when it comes to purchasing cars direct from the Japanese auctions. The entire process was very smooth and browsing the auctions to find the perfect vehicle is a blast. If you want to import a vehicle from Japan at the best possible price with a painless experience, you've found the gold standard of Japanese export companies.			
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Cody LeBlanc
2024-07-27
						Outstanding and trustworthy. It’s easy to see why these guys have such a fantastic reputation. Thank You!			
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M
2024-07-01
						Very helpful. Walked through every step of the process and very friendly team.			
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Zach Dudek
2024-06-26
						I recently purchased my second vehicle with the help of JCD. Matt and the team were great as always. I 100% recommend them to anyone thinking about importing from Japan.-JP			
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JP
2024-06-22
						I had a phenomenal experience purchasing a car with the help of Mason. He was quick to answer any questions or concerns. Although i went the route to buy from dealership compared to auction he was able to even negotiate a lower price on the car which was a pleasant surprise! The buying and delivery experience was nothing but smooth. I’ve recommended my friends already and I am planning to purchase another car in near future due to how successful and stress free Mason made the whole process!Thanks again Mason!Highly recommend using JDC if you’re planning any import.			
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Samir Farah
2024-06-10
						Mike made it super easy to import my first car from Japan, translated multiple car auction sheets for me and bid on many cars until we got one at the right price.Thanks for all your help.			
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andrew mackenzie
2024-06-01
						I cannot say enough good things about my experience with JCD. I used them to purchased a 1990 Subaru Sambar. Mason was my rep and took the time to answer every single question I had, along with ensuring I knew what came next in the import process. With how thorough the process was, it felt like I was buying an exotic - not a 30 year old mini truck. Seamless and easy. My truck was in as good or better condition as described when it arrived. Again, cannot say enough good things. I intend on using JCD again in the future. Thank you to Mason and the rest of the team.			
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David R
2024-05-31
						Had a hell of a good experience working with Mason to lock down one of my teenage bucket list cars (Nissan Silvia Spec-R).Mason took time to explain the process start to finish and also worked to support my many requests for transport and to coordinate a container vs RORO. I would happily buy another vehicle through Mason and JCD - money well spent!			
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Chris Yogeswaren
2024-05-29
						Highly recommend Japan Car Direct! And Mike Nguyen he will answer any question you have along the way.			
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jackson ray
2024-05-18
						These guys made it so easy to purchase and import my car to NZ. Shout out to Mike and the team and also their shipping partners. The whole process was very straightforward and well-communicated. I think I might be back very soon for another!			
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Luke Betts
2024-04-27
						Amazing service, super transparent and kept me updated throughout the whole process! Highly recommend working with Mason especially if you're looking to import to Canada. He is very knowledgeable on what the process looks like.			
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Philip Summers
2024-04-26
						I used Japan Car Direct to bid and win a Daihatsu HiJet Cargo. Mason was my point of contact and was brilliant in guiding me through the process, detailing how to make the initial deposit to allow bidding, detailing the auction costs and shipping costs, so that I could work out a budget. The platform for searching vehicles that are coming to auction was easy to use, and Mason was very helpful in explaining all the vehicle description codes and provided a really useful review for individual vehicles that I short listed, and then arranged for the vehicle to be independently inspected prior to bidding. Payment on my winning vehicle was straight forward by BACs to Japan Car Direct and then Mason took care of arranging shipping, and sending through the bill of lading and other documents. Once the vehicle arrived at the JCD yard I received very comprehensive photos. Shipping took about 7 weeks from Japan to Newcastle in the UK, and the vehicle arrived safely in perfect condition. I used RJJ Freight for customs clearance, which made the process of getting the vehicle into the UK stress free.			
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Iain Hannah
2024-04-20
						Mason was amazing to work with. Incredibly responsive and answered all of my questions. I would absolutely do this again and have recommended Mason to all my friends. Auction bidding, inspections, and shipping were all flawless. The best part is that I had a blast finding my truck, bidding, and watching it make its way to the U.S.			
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Steven Roth
2024-04-18
						Very attentive and polite. Support trough all the processes with car purchase and import			
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Grigory Tetis
2024-03-26
						JCD  are amazing!  I've been working with Yoshiro for the past several years and have ordered two cars from Japan.  At first I was slightly apprehensive about ordering a car from across the world, but JCD made the process as easy as possible.  JCD and Yoshiro provide exceptional service and have been a joy to work with.  If you are interested in importing a car from Japan, don't look anywhere else and go with these guys!  You won't be dissapointed :)Oh and make sure you have a good customs broker.  They make getting the car off the boat and into your hands so much easier.			
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G W
2024-03-23
						I am very pleased with the cooperation with Japan car direct. Thank you Matt for the stress-free time from the first message sent to collecting the car from the port			
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Mario Rubbish Clearance Coventry
2024-03-19
						Great first-time experience buying though JCD. Took several weeks to find what i was looking for, nevertheless Mathew stayed super helpful and responsive all that time. No single message was left without reply. Payment and delivery went fast and smooth. Great deal for me was an ability to transfer to a european bank acount. Can highly recommend JCD to anyone looking to buy in the local Japanese market. Thank you			
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Denis D.
2024-03-19
						I purchased a JDM 2008 Toyota Prius through Japan Car Direct last year. The export agent, Mason, was easy to work with and made the process predictable and straight forward, so there were no surprises or hidden costs with the car itself and with logistics. The logistics supplier that Mason referred to in Vancouver to import the car into Canada was also very helpful and made the process stress free. Mason went above and beyond just facilitating the transaction and sourced new tires, rims, and accessories for the car that the car needed or that didn't come with the car. This was a big help as these parts and accessories for a 2008 Prius were either unavailable in Canada or would have cost an arm and a leg to purchase through a dealership. I was amazed at how good condition the car was in when it arrived. I picked it up in Vancouver and, right off the boat, drove it over 4000km straight to Ontario to get it home without any mechanical issues along the way.			
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kris clipsham
2024-03-19
						I can't say anything negative about my experience with JCD. Despite the time difference, everyone communicated quickly and thoroughly. Yoshiro did a great job steering me away from junk vehicles and aided me in finding something very nice. If you're considering purchasing a JDM vehicle, you'd be foolish not to use JCD!			
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Rich Neilson
2024-03-19
						I haven't won any bids yet but JCD has been amazing to work with so far and I am confident that I have the best team helping with my JDM purchase!			
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Kevin Smart
2024-03-12
						Fantastic experience bidding and buying a 1994 Honda Acty Van.  Mason van Dyk was an excellent ally through the entire process.  I was very nervous conducting business with a company in another country but they made the entire process painless.  I highly recommend paying for the inspection before you bid and be sure to take a look at the time change so you can get the report in time before the auction starts.    Thank you for being honest and fair in your dealings with me.			
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Joel Mason
2024-03-09
						Super happy with the car it’s in great condition. thanks for the help Mason and JCD			
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Sammy Stevo
2024-02-19
						Excellent service, quick and professional. Always in touch to answer all my questions, quick to react to buy a car from an auction even with very short notice. Thank you, Matt and the team! Got a white Lexus for an excellent price with the very small mileage of 61000 km. Highly recommend!			
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Top Spot
2024-01-26
						The guys at Japan Car Direct are awesome. Super helpful and Quick to respond, they made the vehicle import process quite simple. I had zero knowledge or experience of importing a vehicle before reaching out to Matt. I am so grateful for everyone at Japan Car Direct and I’m so happy with my new Delica!			
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Anna Tedesco
2024-01-24
						Mike helped me with purchasing and importing my first JDM car (JZX100 Chaser). Throughout the entire process, Mike was extremely professional and I really appreciated his availability to answering all my questions/requests. Despite the numerous amount of questions I had (I am an extremely anxious person), responses from JCD were always concise and carried a very professional tone which I particularly appreciated and I think is very representative of working with a Japanese vs US-based company for importing. Initially, I was split between using JCD versus a US-based importer (like The Import Guys). But after considering the material difference in pricing, especially given the JPY FX rate, I thought I'd go with JCD given they are based in Japan and I figured paperwork and communication between them and other local entities in Japan would be easier. Sure enough, no regrets! Everything went extremely smoothly after winning my bid, I was essentially hands off when it came to getting the car out of Japan. The only clarification I'd provide to other potential customers is just recognizing that JCD provides all services up until the car is on the boat, then its on you to coordinate with a customs broker and shipping company to have the car clear US customs and get released. All in all, JCD really handled all the paperwork needed and I couldn't have imagined a more simple importing process. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again!			
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Michael Tan
2024-01-19
						My experience with Japan Car Direct was flawless. From finding the right vehicle to payment and delivery, everything was a breeze. This was my first foreign import and I was impressed with how communicative and efficient the team was. Yoshiro was very helpful in guiding me through the process and being patient with me throughout.The only thing I would mention is that have the spare key couriered separately as one of my key fobs went missing during shipment. Cost me a bit to replace and reprogram; but not the end of the world. Just flagging as good practice for anyone thinking of buying a vehicle for import.Otherwise, would highly recommend Japan Car Direct and would use them again and again.			
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Robert McCall
2024-01-18
						Smooth great experience. Imported 2 cars with Mike and haven’t been disappointed. Will definitely buy more in the future! Thanks Mike and JCD			
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Phillip Fast
2023-12-19
						JCD was great! Mason was extremely helpful and knowledgable throughout the entire process. Will be using their services again and highly recommend.			
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Erik
2023-12-19
						Car delivered exceeding my expectation.Mason Patiently guide through the process.JCD is Legit and I strongly recommends them.			
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who wong
2023-12-19
						Excellent experience with Japan Car Direct. Worked with Yoshiro over the span of several months and could not have been easier. Always responsive, professional, and communicative. Removed all the guesswork out of the process and got me a good price at auction. Highly recommended!			
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Casey Schaeffer
2023-12-19
						The team at JCD made buying a car from another country easier than I could have imagined. I worked with Yoshiro and he always replied extremely fast when I sent links to cars I was interested in bidding on and even offered advice on how to more effectively judge the condition of a vehicle to pick out exactly what I was looking for. Would recommend to anyone looking to import their first car, or even their tenth.			
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Seth Garrett
2023-12-19
						If you are looking for a JDM vehicle, there is only one company you should work with. JCD. Without a doubt the best customer service, and your best option for securing the vehicle of your dreams.			
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Darragh O'Carroll MD
2023-12-19
						Mike and the team helped me import a classic Range Rover p38 for a restoration project. I couldn’t be happier with the personalised service and secure atmosphere. Andrew			
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Andrew Cantwell
2023-12-19
						I recommend them to you! They are a serious company and very helpful. Thank you very much Mathew !			
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romrock22 Setsidis
2023-12-19
						Mike was excellent through & through in helping me purchase my first import through Japanese auction. Very thorough, and quick responses every time I wanted info on a car I saw up for auction. The screen recordings with auction sheet translations was key to finding the right car for me. Their references to a stateside broker was also paramount to my successful import experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking to purchase a vehicle in Japan and import into the US.			
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Sam Loomis Visuals
2023-12-06
						First time importing and these guys were awesome! Smooth from start to finish. A little too smooth… might need to look for another car!			
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Matt May
2023-11-19
						Without a doubt the best customer service, and the car was pretty good too! From the first conversation with Mike Nguyen I knew I had found the right person and company to help me bring a car to the UK. If you are reading this and have any concern about buying from Japan don’t, they are definitely the partner you want. Mike was helpful beyond fault with the many video reports he sent, each as cheerful and informative the last, he patiently and politely answered every email instantly and question I had along with my concern about sending money. I need not have worried. JDC seamlessly handled everything including at the UK end by hooking me up with an import company who charged a fair price for off loading the car and getting it through customs and it was there ready at the agreed pick up time. I cannot convey how impressed I was with everyone and am just about to buy another car as I love the car and the service. There is a reason they have so many 5 star reviews. Don’t hesitate in using them. You’ve found the best team for your adventure into buying a car from Japan.			
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linda winslet
2023-11-19
						HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I would gladly add my name to the list of those that had the opportunity to work with Mike and the rest of the team at JCD. At first I was hesitant of the whole process, but Mike took lots of time answering my questions and helped put me in contact with the right people to get things in order for the purchase, export/import, and certification process. They even helped organize a long term storage solution in Japan until the purchased car came to 25yr old. I own my dream car now and I KNOW i saved a ton of money by working with JCD. I would happily recommend them to anyone looking to do the same thing. thank you again for your help!!!			
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Matthew Wright
2023-11-19
						This is a class act, top of the line company. I was set to buy a kei truck through them but some life events happened and they happily refunded me my deposit. I will definitely be returning as a customer in the near future! Thank you for the genuine care!			
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William Greenberg
2023-11-19
						I fell down the rabbit hole of Kei trucks... I really wanted one but had never imported a car before. Mike and the rest of the team at Japan Car Direct were the perfect choice for this beginner's journey! As you begin your process Mike will be there to answer any questions and provide any translations of auction cars that interest you. He explained the overall process and was patient and courteous. He even recommended a U.S. broker that helped me complete all the necessary paperwork for title and registration of the vehicle in the U.S. I had an overall great experience and highly recommend this company for any Japanese car import needs. Kei is the way!			
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Ian Lugo
2023-11-19
						Japan Car Direct is so amazing! About 6 months ago I wanted a Kei truck. I looked at purchasing them locally, but they were just too expensive. So, I looked at importing one through a company like JCD to save some money and to look for what I wanted exactly. While I was initially skeptical, after interacting with agents getting access to the auction site, I was so confident in the ability to import the car of my dreams. After months of bothering my agent, Taylor, with constant bids and random questions, I finally won an auction and purchased my truck. While I thought once I had paid the final bill to them that their services were over, I was dead wrong: Taylor was there to support me through the ENTIRE process. JCD worked so hard to make sure my truck was just how I wanted it, delivered as fast as possible, and affordable. While it was scary at first, it was just so easy! I am just now getting my truck registered and road-legal. My fulfillment in my new Kei truck and with JCD's services was so immense that I couldn't help convincing friends and family to make the same choice that I did: importing my JDM dream car through Japan Car Direct. Huge shoutout to Taylor and to the company. No wonder this company has so many five-star reviews on Google, they're amazing!			
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Cade Miller
2023-11-19
						Great team, great service! Mike, Matt and the entire team were super knowledgeable and patient about explaining the process of bidding for a JDM vehicle at auction and shipping the vehicle overseas. Always quick to respond and professional. They made sure I found the exact car I was looking for. I would definitely recommend!			
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A ukognes
2023-11-19
						Ever since my first trip to Japan in 2016, I have wanted a kei vehicle. I was finally in a position to get one this year, but I didn't know where to start. After doing a lot of research and talking to a few folks who had done it before, I decided to use Japan Car Direct. The primary reason I chose JCD was that I kept hearing them described as "helpful" and "trustworthy". I think these two qualities are important, but particularly for a first time importer like myself. After all, I was going to be sending thousands of dollars halfway across the world for a vehicle I'd never seen, so I wanted someone I could trust and who would help me through the process. Yoshiro absolutely delivered on both counts for Japan Car Direct. From the first e-mail he was very responsive, took time to answer all my questions, and helped guide me to the right truck. The JCD team is great and I can't recommend them enough. I'm sure I will be doing business with them again when I'm ready for my next Japanese car! As for the vehicle, I snagged a very clean 1994 Acty SDX that showed up in even better condition than I expected. I just picked it up from the port the other day, I'll update with photos once I get it cleaned up!			
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Mark Gates
2023-11-19
						I saw several posts about Japan Car Direct and Yoshiro Nakajima. All very positive. Here is my positive post. Japan Car Direct and a good import broker on the US side made getting the little KEI truck painless. The banana is for scale.			
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Charles Bell
2023-11-19
						After looking through many reviews and scouring Reddit for advice I decided to trust Japan Car Direct for my first JDM import. I could not be happier my decision! They are an awesome company  that guided me through the entire process. If you are wanting to import a vehicle and don’t know who to trust, look no further than Japan Car Direct.			
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Zack S
2023-11-13
						Great experience, Crown is better than expected. Mason is great to work with , and made the process less stressful than I imagined it would be . Great job guys, look forward to dealing with again.			
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MJ AUTO
2023-10-19
						Would not have chosen any other company to work with, amazing communication doesn’t even feel like your buying a car on the other side of the world. My Toyota Hiace arrived exactly as expected. Very happy with Mason he was amazing to work with beginning to end.			
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Mobile Lube
2023-10-19
						Great buying experience, bought my first Japan import from mike, everything went super smooth no unnecessary waiting time these guys are experts. Def. Recommend them 👌🏽			
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Franck Keunecke
2023-10-19
						Had a great experience with Mason! Thanks again.			
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Frey
2023-10-19
						Mason was very helpful through the whole process. Thank you JCD for an amazing experience. I will definitely continue doing business with the team.			
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orlando machin
2023-10-19
						Mason did a great job helping through the entire process for multiple vehicles. He answered all my questions and was fast with responding. Overall japancardirect did a great job with helping me get my vehicles.			
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Alex Holubowsky
2023-10-19
						It is my first time to import a car and it went good. thanks to JCD and thanks to Mike for his cooperations. All the best ✌️			
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Ali Arfaj
2023-10-19
						Yoshiro and the JCD guys did an outstanding job helping me to import my Kei Truck. Over the course of the few months it took, and lots and lots of emails, they happily answered all of my dumb questions, and never ceased to be prompt, professional, and extremely helpful. I don't know how I would've done this without them!			
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Mitchell H
2023-10-19
						This is my first time importing a vehicle from Japan. Yoshi has been very helpful and responsive. The process has been explained clearly on their website and Yoshi guided me in all the steps. Very Happy doing it with them.			
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sandesh m.s
2023-09-19
						I found JCD very helpful, friendly and professional. As a first time importer they where patient and informative Excellent service all round.			
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George Logan
2023-09-19
						I have never dealt with a better company. These guys are outstanding and really know the business of exporting vehicles. I imported a car to Ireland and it was a joyous experience with JCD. Mike was so patient and responsive to every query and did a super job. Despite me changing my mind a few times and requesting many translations, he never complained. Mathew fought my corner right at the end of the process to make sure everything was right and his knowledge of the Irish system was really impressive given the geographical distances. If anyone in Ireland is looking to import a vehicle from Japan I highly recommend Japan Car Direct.			
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Jonathan Levy
2023-09-19
						この上なく素晴らしいです！！ カナダで車を探していた時にこの会社をネットで見つけました。正直、大変なんだろうな〜と思っていましたが 手続き本当に最低限で、楽々の輸入でした。 しかもカナダで中古車を買うより圧倒的に安く、綺麗で、走行距離も少ないです。 やりとりから何から全て楽しく、貴重な体験をさせていたただきました。 カナダでこの車と沢山走ります！ そしてまた次回、、よろしくお願いします！			
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Saki Ikeda
2023-09-19
						Mike and the team helped me buy a Subaru Sambar and export it to the US. This was my first time and JCD's professionality and willingness to help me understand the process made it a worry free experience. I would highly recommend them!			
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Andrew Austin
2023-09-19
						First time purchasing a car of my choice. JCD were absolutely brilliant. Initially, I was unsure of what exactly I wanted (Make, age, colour, mileage). I was more certain of what I did not want! Mason, my guide, was patient, even for the silliest questions, and eventually we whittled the choice down and then the acquisition of said car. R-line Polo 4 years old. Mason did all the necessary, buying and shipping, including all the paperwork! Fantastic. So now my beautiful Polo is residing in my garage awaiting the DVLA! The buying and the importation went like clockwork, thanks to JCD and Mason specifically. As soon as I get it on the road I will post pictures!			
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Jill Brownlow
2023-09-19
						I used JCD for my first ever import. They make it so easy to get everything done and had patience with me asking 100 questions about the process. I would recommend these guys to anyone!			
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Aaron Lott
2023-08-19
						I highly recommend Japan Car Direct. I just brought my first imported car home today, and I still don't understand all the steps from start to finish, but regardless, everything ran like a well oiled machine from an auction house to a port city south of Tokyo to Tacoma, WA, USA, export, import, etc... The people I worked with at Japan Car Direct were highly professional, patient, informative, and responsive. Cheers!			
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Wilfred Thompson
2023-08-19
						Very quick and Simple process. i would definitely use JCD again. My man Mike Nguyen helped me out through everything and even followed up with more translations when i needed them. He always had quick and informative responses.			
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evan gallion
2023-08-19
						I am writing this after being able to see my car for the first time today thanks to the guys at JCD, specifically Mike. I am still amazed at how easy and smooth the process has been start to finish. This was my first time importing a car and Mike was excellent in answering all my questions when it came to all the steps of how things work and the timeline in which it takes to receive the car. Mike was super quick to respond with translations of the car and in the end no detail was missed, the car arrived exactly how I expected it to. Overall could not be happier with my experience, big thank you Mike and I look forward to using JCD again some time in the near future.			
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vin wish
2023-08-19
						I had a great experience with Japan Car Direct, an auction broker and car exporter that helped me find and import a Kei truck from Japan. Communication was great throughout the whole process. They were very responsive and answered all of my questions, no matter how dumb they seemed. They took time to explain the entire process, from bidding to shipping, and made it very easy and stress free. I am very happy with their service and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and professional company to import a car from Japan. Thank you, Taylor and Japan Car Direct!			
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D M
2023-08-19
						Smooth transaction. Helped find the right vehicle. Arrived as described. Paperwork all in order. Excellent communication.			
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Sanibel Jack Charters
2023-07-19
						This is my second vehicle that Mike at Japan Car Direct has helped me import to the U.S. and the third I have been involved with. Impeccable service and if you do your homework and get the inspections on the vehicles you are interested in, you can get some great deals in Japan. The last vehicle took 1 month to arrive and 3 days to clear customs. I could not be happier with the car.			
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Dale Ficken
2023-07-19
						Great experience getting a Kei Truck from Japan to the UK. Mike was excellent and helped throughout the process.			
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Alex Padmore
2023-07-19
						Dealt with Yoshiro from start to finish. He was great. Got an accurate estimate of how much it would cost to get a car imported where other companies were quoting a ridiculous amount. Final cost came out pretty much spot on. Yoshiro dealt with my queries very quickly and helped resolve any issues. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to use their services.			
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Alban Haziri
2023-07-19
						Awesome experience working with Taylor, he was extremely helpful and patience. It was my first time exporting a vehicle and he walked me through step by step and didn't mind answering all my millions of questions. I probably looked at 100+ different trucks and Taylor was instrumental in helping me make informed decisions on which trucks I should try to bid on and which ones I should probably avoid. I ended up purchasing three mini-trucks, one for myself and two other family members. We love them!!!! Great for working around the farm or yard, hunting, taking to the mountains and cruising the back mountain roads or just a daily commuter as I use mine for. If you are looking to import any vehicle from Japan, I would highly recommend the friendly and knowledgeable staff at JCD.			
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Eric Southerland
2023-07-19
						Juste Parfait. Une vraie équipe de professionnelle extrêmement sérieuse. C’était mon premier import, et tout c'est passé à merveille avec l'aide de Yoshiro. Je repasserai par leur service les yeux fermés pour un prochain import, vous pouvez leur faire entièrement confiance.			
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Aurelien DAMIEN
2023-07-19
						Very experienced car dealers!! My first time buying a vehicle on auction. The guidance from Yoshi was magnificent with prompt responses and great advice. I received my vehicle on time and in great condition.. Thank you again for your service.			
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Ryan Ramsarran
2023-07-19
						Imagine you want to buy a car from Japan. You aren't there, you have no contacts there, you don't know the system. What can you do? I know the answer to this one! Do business with Japan Car Direct. I was that newbie, I had so many question - so many concerns. Mike Nguyen was kind enough to respond to everyone of them with patience and kindness. I can only imagine that almost every one of his multiple clients are doing the same thing - maybe at the same time! If that is so, I never got the feeling that I was a pest (I probably was). The result for me was a pleasant surprise. Probably due to my location, the car came faster than I imagined. My whole process (winning bid to delivery) took a month and ten days. So the moral is let these pros take care of you - because they will. The happy ending is that you will get the car of your dreams and these guys will have your back the whole time!			
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Craig Lewis
2023-07-19
						This is my first time importing a vehicles from Japan. Mike has been very helpful and responsive. The process has been trouble free. Will definitely do business with them again. Highly recommended!			
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Abner Juco
2023-06-19
						Great first experience purchasing and importing a kei truck with help from the team at JCD! Yoshi was awesome to work with, he always replied quickly, was available for skype calls, and gave great guidance in selecting a quality vehicles at auction to bid on. The importing process went smoothly and the vehicle exceeded all of my expectations. Big thanks to Yoshi and the JCD team for making my kei truck dream a reality!			
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Thomas Slayton
2023-06-19
						Smooth Transaction. Matthew was very transparent and helped us every step of the way. Would definitley use them again.			
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Jay Weidner
2023-06-19
						Mike has been great with assisting my first purchase overseas. They will guide you through the entire process. If you're looking to import on your own this is the place to do it.			
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TIMBER WOLF
2023-06-19