How much should I budget annually for maintaining an imported Japanese car?

[Malik khan]

I’m seriously considering picking up an imported Japanese car this year, but I’m trying to get my head around the ongoing costs before I commit. I’ve been browsing used Japanese stock cars recently and there seem to be some great options around for the money compared to similar UK-market cars.

I’m based in the North West and have been looking at things like the Toyota Crown, Subaru Legacy GT, and Nissan Elgrand. The cars themselves seem reasonably priced, but I’m not sure what ownership is actually like once you’ve had one for a few years.

For those who own or have owned Japanese imports, what sort of annual budget do you allow for maintenance and general running costs?

Things I’m particularly curious about:

* Regular servicing and MOT costs
* Availability and price of spare parts
* Insurance differences compared to UK-spec cars
* Any import-specific issues you’ve run into

I’ve read plenty of opinions online, but it’s hard to tell what’s realistic and what’s just worst-case scenarios. Some people make it sound no different from owning any other car, while others suggest you need a healthy contingency fund for unexpected repairs.

If you’ve got real-world figures or experiences, I’d be interested to hear them. What do you normally spend in a typical year, and is there anything you wish you’d known before buying your first import?

[投稿者]

投稿