Why Japanese Used Cars Are Popular in Africa

They are popular just about everywhere, but it’s interesting to find out why Japanese used cars are popular, especially in Africa. Thousands of pre-owned vehicles from Japan are bought, inspected, and shipped to their excited new owners around the world on a daily basis. These autos are in demand in Africa, especially in countries where right-hand drive vehicles are the norm. As you know, Japan is a right-hand-drive country, though they also export left-hand drive vehicles.

Used Cars in Africa
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Japanese-made autos have a reputation for being high quality, reliable, and fuel efficient—factors that are important when you are driving along Africa’s roads. In most African countries, the roads are not well-engineered so it is common to go through bumps and mud. Vehicles from Japan, especially SUVs, can easily go through these tough road conditions because of their build and performance off the road. Even sedans with all-wheel drive features are popular, such as the elegant Toyota Premio.

Another reason why Japanese used cars are popular in Africa is that these are very well-maintained, thanks to the care given to them by their owners and the strict motor vehicle inspection the cars have to go through. Road rules and regulations are also strict, and owners will have to pay high fines if these are not followed. Another factor contributing to the cars’ impeccable condition is that Japan’s roads are smooth, so the cars don’t go through bumps and potholes that usually damage the chassis and suspension systems.

Japan has also put in place a regulation than all vehicles about to be exported to other countries are inspected for roadworthiness first. Once a car passes inspection, importers can secure an appraisal certificate from the Japan Automobile Appraisal Institute, or JAAI, as proof that the car they are importing is roadworthy, and meets the standards set by the destination country. The JAAI also provides details about the vehicle’s physical condition, year of manufacture, grade, weight, and odometer reading at the time of inspection, so the buyer or importer can verify it as soon as the vehicle arrives at port.

Now that you know why Japanese used cars are popular, what are you still waiting for? Get yours now from reliable exporters!

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Deciding Factors in Buying Japanese Used Cars

Millions of people all over the world swear by their Japanese used cars, and for good reason: vehicles made in Japan, or models made by Japanese brands (as there are models not specifically made in Japan) are the best when it comes to affordability, availability, mileage, fuel efficiency, hassle-free maintenance, safety, and reliability. It may all sound too good to be true, but statistics show that Toyota, one of Japan’s most prominent auto companies, is considered the bestselling automobile brand for 2012.

Let’s take a closer look at the vehicle qualities mentioned above and see what makes Japanese brands stand out enough to make buyers go for Japanese used cars.

Price – Japanese companies do their best to make sure the work flow at their auto plants and factories is efficient and ergonomic, wasting no time and resources. As a result, the production of their cars costs less. New models are therefore very affordable; this of course means that pre-owned units would cost a lot less.

Availability – Japanese vehicle exporters have a wide selection of models in stock and you may most likely find the model you are looking for there. Sellers are so helpful that sometimes you only need to tell them some specifications of the car you’re looking for—say, a sedan with a moonroof—and they would be the ones to look for the car for you.

Low mileage – The Japanese are notorious for trading in their cars for new ones as soon as the new models come along or when their regular strict Shaken inspection is coming. Vehicles being sold in the secondhand market are sometimes as young as eight months old and have run just a few thousand kilometers.

Well-maintained – The inspection also makes Japanese car owners take lots of care of their vehicles—a broken part may mean a big fine and a trip to the repair shop, which of course won’t sit well with their busy schedule. Japanese roads are also well-engineered to the vehicles don’t have the dings and loose parts that come with driving on rough roads.

Safety and Reliability – Japanese vehicle models have long had the reputation for being the safest and reliable—they are equipped with the best safety features and they rarely break down. These qualities, along with the others above, truly make Japanese used cars the hottest items to buy in the automobile market.

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Interesting and Fun Facts About Used Cars

Vehicle specifications can be overwhelming to read sometimes, especially when the engine and torque combos are too many to ingest. You can take a break from researching about engine displacements by reading fun facts about used cars or cars in general, like the ones listed here.

Facts about the Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is the world’s best-selling car. In fact, more than 32.5 million units have been sold since it was launched in 1966. Eighty percent of those cars are still plying the world’s roads today, either as new vehicles or pre-owned units exported from Japan to other countries such as Tanzania. How is Toyota able to keep up with the world’s demands year after year? Statistically, a new Corolla is manufactured every 23 seconds, so you do the math.

Fun facts about used cars from Japan
Japan is the world’s leading auto manufacturer, where new models are launched left and right in quick succession. The Japanese tend to want the latest models every time (and it also gets expensive to keep cars more than two years old), so they trade in their cars for new ones. These low-mileage, good-as-new cars are what you can find in lists of Japanese cars for sale.

The regular motor vehicle inspection in Japan is called Shaken. This thorough car checkup makes sure that all cars in Japan are roadworthy. This is also part of the reason why the Japanese take extra care of their vehicles—which is why used cars from Japan are neat, well-maintained, and without dents or scratches.

Miscellaneous used car tidbits
In its lifetime, the average car will likely go through three different owners.
The most common color of used cars is silver. Next in the list is black, followed by white, red, blue, and gray. The rarest color is pink, though you’ll find plenty of pink and Hello Kitty-themed cars in Japan.
In the United States, six out of eight car purchases are used vehicles.
There are more automatic than manual-transmission cars in the secondhand-car market.
One of the greatest cars you can find in the used-car market is the Nissan GT-R, a sportscar that has garnered many awards including the 2009 International Car of the Year. In 2011 it made the Guiness World Record for having the fastest acceleration by a four-seater production car.

I hope you enjoyed these interesting and fun facts about used cars. How about you, do you know a fun fact about cars? Do share!

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Buying Safely Online with Tradecarview’s PayTrade Service

If you’re feeling hesitant about buying used cars online because of the fear of online scams, then you haven’t tried tradecarview’s PayTrade payment service. What exactly is this service and how can it help you buy your dream car online safely? Is it effective in protecting yourself from fraudulent sellers? What do you get when you purchase a vehicle through this service? Read on to find out!

PayTrade is a service offered by Carview Corporation, the tradecarview website’s mother company, wherein Carview temporarily holds the buyer’s payment until such time that the buyer receives the shipment of the vehicle. Only then will the payment or funds be transferred to the seller’s account. It is an effective way to avoid fraudulent sellers who take buyers’ money but don’t ship the proper car—or sometimes, any car—in return. If the buyer doesn’t receive his or her car within the appropriate period, the payment will be refunded. In addition, when you order your car through tradecarview, PayTrade will also take care of the local clearing agents at your car’s destination port. Buyers will even have a special discount for clearing.

 tradecarview’s PayTrade Service
Image Credit: tradecarview

To use tradecarview’s PayTrade service, simply create an account at the tradecarview website. Registering will allow you to contact the sellers and negotiate with them. Search for the car you want. The results will show you all of the cars that match your description. Look for the PayTrade logo to see which cars may be paid for using the service. You can also modify your search and check the PayTrade box so that the results will show only those cars with the PayTrade payment option.

When you find a car you become interested in, you can send an inquiry to the seller to confirm the PayTrade option and to ask about the car. You can start negotiating with the seller about the price of the car and payment terms. When you have agreed on a price, you can then ask for an invoice so you can order. Just follow the instructions up to payment, and you’re done!

Tradecarview’s PayTrade service fee includes a handling charge of US$50.00 and 3.9% of the selling price of the car. It’s a low price to pay for a great and secure payment service.

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It’s a Man’s World: The Best Used Cars for Guys

Guys like their big toys, but even manly men need to save for the future. Going for used cars is a smart move and it doesn’t make the male of the species any less of a man. Ladies swoon when they learn how practical their men are! Here are some of the cars that are perfect for the male sporty and stylish lifestyle.

Mazdaspeed3
This is a sport compact hatchback launched in 2007. It has a powerful 2.3-liter engine, amazing handling, and there’s not many of them on the road—so having one will surely make heads turn. The 2008-2009 model can cost from twelve to eighteen thousand dollars—not bad for something that can go from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds. Something quite similar and just as rare is the Volkswagen R32.

Subaru Legacy Outback
Something that can run for 300,000 miles must be good, and that’s the Outback for you. The 2008 model release comes with enhanced safety features and supreme driver comfort, and you won’t have to pay for more than twenty thousand dollars for a reliable and versatile vehicle.

Used Cars
Image Credit: Palo Verde Used Cars

BMW M3
First off, it’s a BMW. This means that it already has awesome power and handling, with a pretty sweet image to boot. Expect to pay a little more than twenty grand for models released from 2003-2006, but you’ll be sure that the car retains its value better than other used cars.

Mercedes-Benz S Class
Here comes another contender in the sleek n’ classy segment—go for the ones released after 2005 for more curves. Engine sizes range from 3.5L to 6.3L, depending on how much power you want. The S-Class S500 costs about $40,000—pretty cheap for such a classy car.

Toyota Prius
Who says that the Prius is only for the eco-conscious people of Hollywood? Men can show their soft spot for nature with the Prius. The second generation release has the best value, and costs only $15,000.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport
The ultimate show of manly prowess comes in the form of driving the Range Rover Sport. This premium SUV is tough on the outside, luxurious on the inside. 2005 models sell for almost $35,000 in the used cars market, and that’s a good bargain, considering the car has a powerful supercharged 4.2L engine and a tuned suspension.

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How to Save on Fuel with your Used Toyota Premio

The first step to saving is already done, thanks to your decision to buy a used Toyota Premio. Your money-saving habit has just begun, and you can keep up the good work by saving on fuel costs. The already-efficient engine can help you along!

•    To reduce fuel consumption and improve handling, decrease the weight of the car by taking out unnecessary items. Driving 100km after having unloaded 10kg can save up to 30ml of gasoline. Remove excess weight such as unused roof racks. The amount of work the car engine does is related to the car’s weight and its aerodynamics.

•    Driving around in the hopes you’ll find you way back consumes 350ml of fuel every ten minutes. Avoid getting lost by planning your trip in advance. What is the fastest, most efficient driving route? Planning can also help you avoid traffic jams, closed-off streets, and road works. You might even realize you won’t need to use the car after all!

•    Accelerate and decelerate smoothly by stepping softly on the gas pedal. Shift your gears at the appropriate time and make the most out of coasting—slow the car down by stepping off the gas pedal instead of just braking. A smooth and proper driving style helps to conserve fuel and reduce wear and tear on brakes as well.

•    Idling your used Toyota Premio for 5 minutes wastes up to 65ml of gas and emits 151g of harmful carbon dioxide too, so be smart and stop that engine.

•    As much as possible, keep a constant pace, using the highest possible gear. This is the most efficient setup, because at a constant speed of 50 km/h in the city, a vehicle online needs about 5% engine power to maintain momentum. Fuel consumption is improved by 10-30%.

•    Check tire air pressure regularly. Studies show that low pressure increases fuel consumption!

•    To conserve fuel, limit the use of air conditioning. Use it in moderation and if it’s cool enough outside, choose to let fresh air flow inside the car. You can also improve AC efficiency by setting the system to Recirculate.

You see, it’s not so difficult to save on fuel. Just drive your used Toyota Premio properly and you’ll be on your way to not only conserving gas, but saving the earth as well!

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Toyota’s Green Productivity

The scope of Toyota’s green initiatives extends from its hybrid cars to its advocacy for eco-driving to its green productivity in car manufacturing. Green Productivity is an approach to improve efficiency and environmental performance for total socio-economic development. Tools, techniques, and technologies are applied to reduce the harmful impacts on the environment made by an organization’s operations.

Cars running on fuel are big pollutants; emitting large amounts of carbon that stay in the earth’s atmosphere and trapping heat in. The effects of global warming and climate change have prompted car manufacturers to come up with more environmentally-friendly cars in the form of hybrids and electric cars that use up less to zero fuel in order to run. However, the process of making a new car creates pollution too, so there is a driving need to make car manufacturing sustainable and earth-friendly as well.

Toyota Prius
Image Credit: Auto Blog Green

Toyota, in particular its plants in North America, have reported achievements in line with its program on environmental stewardship in all aspects of its production process, which includes logistics and sales.

Design-wise, eight of the company’s vehicles have bio-based plastics in their systems. In addition, the vehicles are designed to make the most of its end-of-life recycling. This means that when the vehicles have reached the end of their lifetime, their parts may be easily recycled. Making these vehicles are done in such a way that plants, particularly in North America, are able to reduce their greenhouse has emissions by 7%. In addition, ten factories in the United States were able to step up their green production cycle, achieving zero landfill waste. Can you imagine yourself not producing trash in one day?

The green cars born in the green environment of the North American plants are then distributed around the continent in returnable shipping containers. The reusable containers have prevented trees from being chopped down for wood (129 million pounds saved) and cardboard (48 million pounds saved). The cars are then taken care of by dealerships that have been certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as green structures.

As the demand for more earth-friendly cars increases, we’re also hoping that car manufacturers build on Toyota’s model and take steps towards greening their productivity and developing their environmental management systems for a brighter, cleaner future ahead.

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Best for Beginners: Used Toyota Corollas

Along with teens’ excitement in getting their driver’s license is the thrill of having their First Car. While there are several cars to choose from, used Toyota Corollas are the best in terms of safety, stability, and affordability—conditions that parents put forward when their young ones start asking for their own set of wheels.

Concern number one is safety. First-time drivers may still be a bit shaky when taking on the world’s busy roads, so safety is a major concern (there are probably thousands of anxious parents waiting by the garage waiting for their teen to drive home right now). The new Corolla range comes with high levels of safety such as improved brake systems and Active Braking with intelligence as standard features. The body has a complete impact-absorbing structure for front, side, and rear collisions (which we hope would never happen, of course). The Corolla was given the highest rating by Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, making it a Top Safety Pick. Rest assured dear parents, the Corolla was built with safety in mind.

Toyota Corolla
Image Credit: Brent Brown Blog

 

Toyota is well-known for its reliable, fuel-efficient, and easy-to-maintain cars. Their Corollas are so reliable that 8 out of 10 units bought in a twenty-year period are still up and about! Used Toyota Corollas are also sturdy and easy to drive. Driving a Corolla is as easy as putting gas in and driving off. The car will only need to see the mechanic for the occasional oil change and inspection, and can go on rolling past a hundred thousand miles. The ever-reliable car would make any teen appreciate well-made things over simply flashy ones.

The Corolla is already very affordable brand new, and more so when pre-owned. The daunting issue young car owners would probably have is how they are going to pay for the car’s upkeep. Granted, mom and dad have already agreed to split the cost of the used Toyota Corolla’s purchase and insurance, but what about the rest of the car-related stuff like gas and repairs? Well, the car’s fuel economy would help the teen save some gas money. Repairs would be few and far between, so there’s no need to worry that the car will simply be left to rot.

Used Toyota Corollas are undoubtedly great for beginners, and can even be kept for a long, long while.

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Making Used Cars Smell Like New

One of the pains of buying used cars is that smell that gives you an idea of what the previous owner did—or didn’t do.

Picture this scenario: you just got a “new” used car, and you’re showing it off. A friend of yours gets in; you turn on the AC, polish the rearview mirror, and look sideways at your friend, who seems to be having a mild seizure. “What’s that smell?” he asks, and you begin to accept something you’ve been denying since getting your car: your car stinks.

Some people selling cars forget that the way a car smells is as important as the way it looks, and we all hope that aside from the carwash and polish given to previously-owned cars for sale, dealers and owners also find the time to freshen up a car’s interiors.

Used Cars
Image Credit: Best of L.I

 What’s that smell?
Sometimes, you’d rather not know, but if you want to get the stench off your ride, you have to first identify the source. Knowing what causes a used car’s smell can give you an idea about what to do to remedy the awful situation. Is it smoke? Spilled food? Mildew? Someone’s vomit and other unmentionables? Asking the previous owner may only earn you a sheepish look, which further reinforces the hunch that he is hiding something nasty (in the trunk, maybe?). Whatever it is, you know when you have to take things into your own hands.

What to do
After identifying the source, clean up the mess as soon as possible and as thoroughly as you can. This may mean having to strip off your carpeting to get to the innermost crannies where organic matter may have collected and festered. Deep-set stains can be removed using an enzyme-based cleaner which can break down and digest those naughty stink-makers.

Deodorizers and car fresheners can temporarily mask odors but don’t completely remove them. It is still best to do some deep-cleaning. For smoke, experts recommend using a fogger that mimics the way smoke spreads through a vehicle. Odor neutralizers such as Febreze also serve to keep the stink at bay. After cleaning, let your car air out in a dry environment. Keep things fresh by keeping an absorbent towel handy so you can quickly soak up new spills and prevent your car from stinking again. There’s no reason used cars shouldn’t smell like new.

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How Do Japanese Used Cars Feel?

Being used and then discarded after doing your best can make anyone feel bad, but not if you’re a car in Japan.

Japan has a bustling automotive industry, giving birth every few years to new and advanced car models that become the new darlings of the driving public. The country also has strict policies that make vehicles older than five years difficult to maintain, even if a car is still in perfect running condition. So, Japanese used cars are cast off in favor of newer, more tech-savvy ones.

Elsewhere in the world, discarded vehicles go directly to the scrap yard, because that is the only place where they are welcome. Not in Japan.

Japanese used cars
Image Credit: Jaguar Enterprises

Because the used cars are in exceedingly good condition, they are bundled off and sent to used-car dealers or sold directly by private sellers. In the company of used-car marketers, they become the stars, and given the VIP treatment: a thorough inspection much like an executive medical examination but a lot less embarrassing, a good scrubbing, a gentle polishing, and a photoshoot. Some new cars don’t even get that kind of attention.

Japanese cars are, in the first place, already well-maintained. The rigorous motor vehicle inspection program in Japan makes sure that all cars are fit to be on the road, and this requires checking a car’s sixty or so parts and functions and doing the necessary repairs, if any—Japanese cars are solidly built, after all. In addition, Japanese road rules not only make the roads safe for both passengers and pedestrians but for the cars as well—they are properly driven, are seldom pushed to their limit, and are rarely in accidents.

It is in this unspoiled condition that Japanese used cars are found online in sites such as tradecarview. While Japan is busy making more four-wheeled babies, citizens of the rest of the world are eagerly anticipating the older, more experienced autos to roll off cargo boats and cruise into their driveways. Used cars are a lot cheaper than their new counterparts, and if the previous owners are Japanese, they are sure to be good as new. It’s a win-win situation—used car buyers get more than their money’s worth and for the pre-owned car, feeling desired again is enough motivation to rev up its engine and explore the rest of the world.

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