I sold my motorcycle today (just wasn't riding it much anymore), and I'm clearing space in my garage for a new vehicle to arrive soon. It's a '92 Honda Beat which I'm importing from Japan. The Beat is a Japanese market only Kei-class 2-seater sports car with a footprint just about Mini size in length and width, but obviously shorter in height. It's got a mid-mounted 656cc 3-cylinder engine with individual throttle bodies that revs to about 9,000 screaming rpm. Weight is about 1600 lbs and horsepower is limited to 63 hp by Kei car regulations. I've been actively looking for a nice Beat for a couple of months now, and finally found this one. It's got just 40,000 kilometers, which is about 25,000 miles, and it is pretty much stock - not always easy to find as people love to modify these with aftermarket wheels, steering wheels, stereos, spoilers, etc.
I'm jelly! I've been looking for one of these or a Suzuki Cappucino.....you got the hardtop too? Are you self importing or going thru a broker or?
Can't wait to hear your impressions.....I figure if my 6'4" and 6'5" grandsons can fit in one, you can too!
Dave, I am using the services of a guy in Japan to personally help me find the right car. For the JDM Toyota truck that I imported last year I bought that off a Japanese export website based upon about 30 photos and a copy of the Japanese auction sheet and a separate sheet going over each system of the vehicle and seeing what worked and what didn't. That purchase worked out fine for the truck and I wasn't too concerned if there was a scratch here or there because after all it was a nearly 30-year-old truck. But I'm being a lot pickier with what I want in a Honda Beat sports car. I want something that looks great and drives as good as possible with few compromises.
So the guy helping me has been in contact with me as he has been going to the weekly Japanese auctions over the last 10 weeks or so. And when he finds a car I may like he does a video chat with me and together we go over the car as he is examining it and discuss the pros and cons of it. After looking at 30 or so Beats, this is the one that I've decided upon - so he bid on it for me and won the auction. His name is Flavien Vidal, a Frenchman, who is associated with a repair shop/used car dealership there. He's also sold some JDM cars on BaT, which is how I learned about him and Amagasaki Motors several years ago. Flavien also works a lot with JDM enthusiasts in the Atlanta area helping them find cars to import. Anyway, he will be arranging the shipping from Japan to the US port.
And yes, I will be using a customs broker to help me with some of that process but I plan to go down to the Texas Gulf Coast to personally pick it up and drive it home.
You also asked about fitting into the car. Here's a video Flavien did a couple of years ago comparing fitting into the famous trio of A-B-C Kei sports cars: the AZ-1, the Beat, and the Cappuccino.
The AZ-1 may be the coolest looking one but seems nobody can actually fit in it.
Oh, I've also sat in several Beats before and while tight, I definitely fit and can be semi-comfortable. Much like in a Mini.
Here's a video of Flavien running a red Beat up a mountain road. I love the engine sound!
I believe he will also make a video of my Beat in the coming days.
Bruce,
If you can, have it sent to the Freeport, Texas port. That is where I had the Burton shipped to. It is a RO-RO facility that will still let you claim your own car without a TWIC escort. You do need a safety vest for each person with you picking up the car.
I saw a few other JDM cars there (including a Mini) when I picked up my Burton.
Thanks Michael. That was my plan. Freeport has cheaper port fees than Galveston and as you note, no TWIC card or escort needed. Win, win.
I have a couple of the safety vests (both are XL size) if you need to borrow them come time to pick it up.
Thanks Michael. I appreciate that offer. Can you bring them to Kerrville in a couple of weeks please and I can pick them up there?
I will do that.
That was a great video comparing the three cars! I was leaning towards either the Cappucino or Beat anyway, but mostly the Suzuki.
Since I'm 5'9" (and getting shorter each year) I should fit OK in any of them tho. Like I said, my super tall (and super thin) grandsons fit OK, so I figured you would too.
Can't wait to see it, but the one thing I would want is something other than a silver car! For little cars I prefer the brightest colors I can get.
Yeah, honestly I was pretty unconcerned about the color, other than wanting it to be original paint. A good number of the Beats for sale have been repainted in non-stock colors, and I wanted to avoid those. It really sucks when you open the trunk or hood of a repainted blue car and see it was originally yellow or red. The Beat came in a very limited number of colors: silver, red, and yellow. Later they were A few limited editions in metallic green and blue, but those are pretty scarce.
I tried for a yellow one but did not win that auction. My wife was glad about that because she did not want me having a banana colored car! But generally I would agree that yellow would be a good color on a small car. I'm not a fan of red cars (owned too many of them) and the paint on the plastic pieces really fades badly on the red ones.
I understand why you'd like the cappuccino, they are cool cars and have some really nice features: the turbo engine, the cool hideaway hardtop instead of a ragtop, and supposedly they make more than the officially allowed 63 horsepower for a Kei. Plus there's lots of aftermarket support for go faster goodies. But to me the downside is they look too much like a skinny Miata.
Cool Bruce 77.gif. Always fun getting a new toy. When do you import a RHD rx7?
Quote from: 94touring on April 11, 2021, 01:57:59 AM
Cool Bruce 77.gif. Always fun getting a new toy. When do you import a RHD rx7?
Funny you mentioned that, because look what's parked next to my car at the shop. Looks like a very nice first gen car.
(my car still has steelies before the correct Beat alloys were fitted).
That's an interesting hardtop - 2 piece?
I think the Cappucino looks more like a shrunk S2000..... 77.gif
I like the Beat also, it's a shame I didn't get to drive the one my grandson had.
I completely agree about the repaint - Reece's car had been painted blue from red and there were a few bright red spots under the front and rear lids that showed when you opened them.
One other thing I see on a lot of the Honda's is corrosion on aluminum parts - that would bother me and I would have to clean and powdercoat or paint them - things like the valve cover and intake manifold.
The other thing that interests me about the Mazda is the front engine/rear drive - plus........TURBO! ;D
Are you going to have him send some parts with it? Things like oil filters and brake pads/rotors, cam belt etc?
I don't know much about the hardtop yet other than it is aftermarket and part of it can be removed. Could be like T-tops. Never a fan of those. But of course the whole thing can come off.
I don't think there's any concern about seeing corrosion on the valve cover or intake manifold on the Beat. That's because they're pretty well hidden. Think Porsche Boxster engine access. Well almost that bad.
No spare parts inside. When a car is shipped Ro-Ro no items can be included in the car – just the empty car as it would normally be driven. I think that's a post-9/11 rule, because when I imported a Mini in the late 90s it was no problem packing a chock full of UK Mini goodies. Oil filters for the Beat are apparently the same as the CR- V and some other parts are common with US market cars.
So... the Cappuccino = baby S-2000? And does not look like a skinny Miata. Umm. Yeah, Sure. ;D
I was referring more to the side view, especially with the top up....
Quote from: MiniDave on April 11, 2021, 11:35:15 AM
I was referring more to the side view, especially with the top up....
Ah, I see what you mean. It has a great profile with a long hood, little bubble top, and the short rear deck.
It's like a modern (if 30 years ago is modern) take on the Bugeye.
Exactly....
Just did a video chat with Flavien who was driving my just-serviced Beat. It's Monday mid-morning there now and he's heading out to his favorite mountain roads with the car - like with the video of the red Beat earlier in this thread. He'll create a YouTube video of that and it should be available soon (later this week I think). Can't wait to hear it and see it in action!
Just got a bunch of new photos of the Beat. Plus one photo showing it being loaded on a car transporter heading for the docks!
Here's some of them. Video coming soon.
That's exciting!
I'm pumped. But it's probably not going to be until early June when it gets here - so at least 6 weeks or so. I'll find out more about the shipping schedule in the coming days.
I know that feeling 4.gif
My new car is the star of this video!
I absolutely love the engine sound!
I was aware about the paint flaws on the mirrors and little rectangular trim pieces near the trunk. And I knew I'm going to need to source some type of rubber weatherstripping for the top. Those are about the only flaws and they are easy to deal with.
Exciting stuff! He was having fun trying to chase down that WRX!
gonna be a tough wait till it hits stateside.....
Sounds cool in the video. What are your tire options stateside for something sporty?
Pretty limited I think. The wheels are staggered - fronts are 13" and the rears are 14". Not a lot of demand for performance rubber in those sizes.
The tires on it are brand new - they still have the little rubber nibs on them. Well, they did before that video. ;D
That looks really fun.
Based upon his concerns about the brakes after coming down the mountain on the video, the brake pads already been changed out for some better ones.
Those look so cool. I become aware of them watching a youtube channel (Tom's Turbo Garage). You will have great fun around the Hill Country in that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfpxzonK518
Got an update. The Beat has been loaded onboard a car transport ship, hitting a few more ports in Japan before leaving the country. After Hiroshima, the ship goes to a port in South Korea, then it heads across the Pacific for 3 weeks or so to transit the Panama Canal. Then to Kingston, Jamaica and on to Freeport, Texas to drop my car off there around June 5th.
If you know the name of the vessel you can track it here:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:24.9/zoom:4 (https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:24.9/zoom:4)
Just like we used to do when we ordered our new MINIs!
Quote from: Brit_in_TX on May 04, 2021, 12:28:46 PM
If you know the name of the vessel you can track it here:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:24.9/zoom:4 (https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-12.0/centery:24.9/zoom:4)
Thanks. It's the Hoegh Trident.
Quote from: MiniDave on May 04, 2021, 01:38:29 PM
Just like we used to do when we ordered our new MINIs!
Haha. Yup. I remember doing that back then. (And actually I've done it on all the other vehicles I've imported too). But tracking data is better these days. Still lose them when they get out at sea away from the coasts - unless you pay for the upgrade to satellite data.
Getting closer - in both time and proximity!
After crossing the Pacific for the past 3 weeks, the ship carrying my car is going through the Panama Canal right now (per live tracking data), and it's due at Freeport, Texas in 7 days. Not sure how many days it will take to clear Customs, but I'm planning on a trip to pick it up and drive home in about 10 days to 2 weeks from now.
Wow, fun stuff!
The drive home will be epic, you have to take video of it being released and on the drive home. Are there some good back roads on the way home too or will you just hit the highway and go?
How many hours drive is it to the port?
Yes, I plan to take some pictures and videos. I'm going to avoid the interstate on the way back, and just stay on smaller highways. But since this is Texas even smaller highways will have speed limits of 70mph more. I got a feeling that engine is gonna be buzzing along at 5000 or 6000 RPM at those highway speeds. Of course with a redline near 9000 RPM there will be some in reserve. ;D
It'll probably be about four or five hours from the port to my home on the smaller, less direct roads.
Sounds fun. Looking forward to hearing about the drive home.
The ship just pulled into the Texas port! The car should be on US soil later today. WooHoo. 77.gif
I'm hoping it is cleared quickly and I can pick it up this week.
Don't forget to take along the safety vests I loaned you.
4.gif
Will do. Thanks Michael.
Exciting times ahead! 4.gif
You taking a jump battery too?
I have one of these you may borrow as a jumper battery:
https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/jump-starter/duralast-800-amp-lithium-portable-battery-jump-starter/567690_0_0 (https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/jump-starter/duralast-800-amp-lithium-portable-battery-jump-starter/567690_0_0)
(https://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/scm/DL-800L/image/10/)
Yes definitely taking one of those newfangled battery jumper thingies. Thanks for your offer Michael, but we bought one several months ago after experiencing a dead battery when we were camping. You know those power liftgate things on newer cars? Well apparently if you leave the hatch in the open position for a long time - like hours - it just eats the car battery.
I'm also going to bring some tools, some engine oil, a tire gauge and air pump, maybe some other stuff. Just in case.
My wife and are on a road trip that will eventually end up at the port to pick up my new Honda Beat in 2 days. We have the time so we are focusing on stuff she'd like to see/visit (antique shops, points of interest, etc) on the leisurely way there - instead of just a boring quick trip there and back home. Today we visited a series of old churches the German and Czech immigrants built in central Texas back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Fresh immigrants in the little German and Czech farming communities wanted a taste of the grand cathedrals they were familiar with back in Europe, so they lavishly decorated the interiors of their wooden churches here in Texas. For example, they didn't have marble so craftsmen painted the wood with a faux marble finish, and locals made stained glass. Stretched, painted canvas was used to create vaulted ceilings. The cut limestone block surround of the stained glass window below is a hand-painted illusion on a flat plaster wall. These "painted churches" dotted around the area midway between San Antonio and Houston are a tourist attraction.
I also squeezed in something I wanted to see: a big importer of JDM vehicles was in a little town along the way. I thought they focused only on RHD vans, SUVs, and station wagons to sell to rural mail carriers, but they have a lot of other goodies there. Including three virtually identical green Minis and the biggest gathering of Kei trucks I have ever seen in one place. All the Minis were manuals and seemed to be SPI from '94 or '95. No idea on prices but if you're interested I can give you the name of the importer/dealer.
What's the name of the place, and where is it?
Quote from: MiniDave on June 09, 2021, 06:20:32 PM
What's the name of the place, and where is it?
Seems to go by two names: Texas JDM and/or Moto-Vated, located in the little town of Luling, Texas. I met the owner at the Radwood car show in Austin last year right before the pandemic hit. Seems like a very nice guy. I think I remember his name being Gary, but I'm not sure.
http://www.texasjdm.com/
Interesting inventory, all suv things and vans....
He used to import lots of different JDM vehicles but he told me he found a niche market in supplying rural mail carriers with RHD vehicles from Japan. Think about it, if you are a rural mail carrier the only choices you have are factory made RHD Jeep Wranglers with virtually no interior space for packages, or some type of USDM LHD van or SUV with some sort of a half-assed RHD setup with a fan belt connected steering wheel.
Some of the RHD mail vehicles he sells are virtually identical to their US market LHD twins, but others are JDM only. so harder to find parts and service for them. But he also usually has RHD Jeep Cherokees made for the Japanese market but chock-full of American serviceability and parts.
Who really wants to drive the cobbled together mess below?
Well that's all super cool!
Curious to know what the Toyota Hilux Surf/4 runners go for. Will have to check this place out
I spotted James May's favorite (favourite?) car yesterday, a Dacia Sandaro. This one was on Mexican plates and it was badged as a Renault but it's still the ultra-cheap Romanian-built car that James loves.
It was the exciting Stepway version - whatever that model name means.
Oh, there's a brand new video on YouTube of James and the latest Sandaro. https://youtu.be/ELX7NJxnUX0
Well, I picked the Beat up at the port today (thanks for the loan of the required safety vests Michael).
It took about 5 1/2 hours to get home. Had one little incident. I'll post more about the trip and my thoughts about the car later. Too tired now.
But here are some photos from the port.
Anxiously awaiting the incident story!
So, my thoughts about the car.
Pros:
- Fantastic engine sound, especially accelerating up toward the near 9000 redline in each gear. Sounds like a F1 car to me.
- Excellent air conditioning system - kicked butt on a 95F degree humid day
- Handling is sharp, ride is pretty good to a light car (1670 lbs)
- Engine power is limited to 63hp per Kei car regulations, but is definitely adequate - doesn't feel underpowered
- Interior is well-designed and definitely comes from a big Japanese manufacturer
Cons:
- Not refined at all - it's twice as noisy at speed as a classic Mini. No that's not true - it's easily three times as noisy as a classic Mini when you're on the highway
- Not made at all for high speed use - engine is turning at 5200 rpm at 60mph. At 66mph, it is spinning at 6000 rpm! Granted, there are still about 3000 rpms before redline, but since the engine sits under a metal cover about a foot behind your head it makes its presence very known
- Besides the screaming engine noise (no doubt sounds are multiplied by bouncing around inside the aftermarket fiberglass hardtop) there is a ton of wind noise - some of which is probably due to old rubber seals on the hardtop
- Interior space for driver and passenger is very, very limited. Of the three famous A-B-C Japanese Kei cars from the early 1990s (AZ-1, Beat, and Cappuccino) the Beat is said to easily be the most comfortable to sit in. All I can say is I'd hate to try to squeeze into the AZ-1 or Cappuccino!
Don't get me wrong, I like the Beat a lot. But I was thinking it would be Miata-like goodness in a smaller package. It's not that refined. Probably because it's a Kei car and they aren't made the same as larger Japanese cars. My car has only got about 40,000 km, so just about 25,000 miles. So everything should be in great shape. I'll have to check it over and see if I can address some soundproofing and other refinements. Should be fun to try. Plus, I've only ever driven it on the highways. I'm looking forward to enjoying it on some twisty roads at below highway speeds - what it was designed for.
As for the incident I mentioned above, it's not a car designed for high speed travel. After 250 miles, and just 4 miles from my home I heard a quick knocking sound right behind my head - then a big rush of air. The hardtop's driver's side window blew out and flew off into parts unknown. I immediately pulled off the road and got out and walked a half mile up and down the side of the highway searching for it for 20 minutes. Since it was plexiglass/polycarbonate I thought I might find it intact. But it vanished completely. I will have to try making one.
The missing window should be fairly easy to replace. The original was bonded polycarbonate. And it mounts nearly flat.
It may not look like it in photos, but being a Kei car, the Beat is nearly identical to a Mini in width and length.
Once you see it in person it looks even smaller than a Mini. Not sure how it does that, but it does. Maybe because it sits so low?
Take a look at this center console and door handle. Hard to judge scale.
Here's how big they really are.
So it will be like my mini on the highway where ear plugs are required lol. Once you know the thickness of that polly it should be easy to cut a piece and glue new back in.
Naw, just take that top off and leave it in the garage!
I know my 86 Mustang convertible was quieter with the top down than with it up due to all the wind noise and the engine/exhaust noise that seemed to reverberate inside!
Anything over an hours drive in my Mini it's time for earplugs.....
That pic of 2 fingers on the door handle made me laugh
Quote from: MiniDave on June 12, 2021, 01:12:21 PM
That pic of 2 fingers on the door handle made me laugh
Yeah, it's pretty ridiculous. I'll have to post a photo of the trunk space.
I think you're right about the types of driving it was made for - running around the city or small country roads at 55 mph are probably more it's thing.
I would like to see some pics of you in the car tho! ;D
I'll bet it looks like you're putting on a shoe or something!
What were all the black and white SUV things? And were they unloading them or loading them on the boat?
Does the radio work here? For some reason I thought they used different frequencies or something? My grandson never could get the one in his Beat to play anything....
Japanese market radios do use a different frequency range. I believe it is barely overlaps the bottom of our frequency range.
The port at Freeport, Texas does a lot of outbound shipping as well. The big batches of US style SUVs are likely outbound and the white patches are a plastic protective wrap new cars are often shipped with over certain panels.
The radio is said to work - I haven't tried it yet. Yeah, not too much overlap on US and Japanese FM frequencies (just like the upper 80s on the FM dial), but I think the AM frequency bands are identical to those here. Haven't tried the CD player either. Just noticed there is a tape player. Haven't seen a cassette tape in decades, so that will go untested.
Yes, those were tons of GM pickups and SUVs, some bound for the Middle East. Not sure where else they are going. Some place that has money to buy them (not cheap), doesn't care about fuel costs, and has room for big vehicles. Where else but the Middle East? Dunno. But nearly 100% of the vehicles I saw when I was in Saudi 20 years ago were painted white - and all these at the port were painted dark colors. All the new vehicles going in or out of port from any manufacturers have some sort of protective coverings. Usually thin white plastic film.
If it has a cigarette lighter there are things you can plug in to tune stations, but it's primary function is Bluetooth to your phone. I use one in my truck to play my spotify playlist.
You could also get one of these cassette adapters to then use your phone or iPod type device.
insignia-3-3-5mm-cassette-adapter (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-3-3-5mm-cassette-adapter-multi/5019323.p?skuId=5019323&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=1082&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIleyWqsqV8QIV7W1vBB2GlQCHEAQYAiABEgKtbvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
(https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5019/5019323_sa.jpg;maxHeight=640;maxWidth=550)
Quote from: MPlayle on June 13, 2021, 02:48:11 PM
You could also get one of these cassette adapters to then use your phone or iPod type device.
insignia-3-3-5mm-cassette-adapter (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-3-3-5mm-cassette-adapter-multi/5019323.p?skuId=5019323&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=1082&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIleyWqsqV8QIV7W1vBB2GlQCHEAQYAiABEgKtbvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
(https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5019/5019323_sa.jpg;maxHeight=640;maxWidth=550)
Very old school! I used one of those in the 90s!
I have one I used in the Miata NA I had a few years back. It had just the factory cassette unit, so I used the adapter with my iPod.
Thanks for the ideas guys. But honestly I don't know if I would be able to hear any audio because it's so loud in the car.
Ear buds and Bluetooth?
Noise cancelling headphones?
I have a pair of these I use in the shop, for mowing, driving the mini, and such. They also can be found in wireless/Bluetooth versions. I had a set of Bluetooth isotunes that are basically the same type of thing, OSHA approved etc.. and they worked ok except for the Bluetooth connection being unreliable. These were considerably cheaper but the wired connection is a hassle for working in the shop. May try the Bluetooth version of these to see if they are better than the isotunes.
https://www.amazon.com/Earplug-Earbuds-Compliant-Reduction-Headphones/dp/B07N7RL5J3/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=osha+approved+earbuds&qid=1623634793&sr=8-15
I use Marley earbuds.
Interesting headphones. Thanks.
Wood? to go with your watch?
I want to see a video of this thing going thru some of the roads around your place, with the top off of course..... 77.gif
Oh, and congrats on a successful 5 hour drive home in a car you only had touched for the first time at the port!
tell us about the port procedure? Looks like you checked in somewhere and were able to just drive to your car? Start it up and drive to the gate, then go....did you need the jump battery? Was the car filthy or not bad?
How did you pay your port fees? Cash, card?
Quote from: MiniDave on June 14, 2021, 07:04:25 AM
Wood? to go with your watch?
I want to see a video of this thing going thru some of the roads around your place, with the top off of course..... 77.gif
Oh, and congrats on a successful 5 hour drive home in a car you only had touched for the first time at the port!
tell us about the port procedure? Looks like you checked in somewhere and were able to just drive to your car? Start it up and drive to the gate, then go....did you need the jump battery? Was the car filthy or not bad?
How did you pay your port fees? Cash, card?
I'll have to see about making a video.
I didn't have any doubt that the car would be capable of the drive from the port home. It was extensively checked out by the seller and any issues were dealt with. I think the only thing they really had to do was put some better brake pads on it after the video of it driving up and down the mountain roads. They are a regular repair shop to so they have the technicians and expertise to work on cars - not just sell them. The shop did an oil change and a coolant change which apparently is complicated with the front mounted radiator and a cooling system with two radiator caps, plus an expansion tank. Complicated in terms of purging air from the system after a fluid change I understand.
The car has just under 40,000 km on it (less than 25,000 miles) and it's 29 years old so obviously it sat for long periods of time - that's averaging less than 1000 miles per year. Not good for any car. I did get some work order paperwork with it and from what I can tell it was basically recommissioned for daily use at about 32,000 km three years ago. The major thing at that time was the installation of a brand new timing belt then - replaced due to age, not mileage. I also saw receipts in Japanese for work on the air conditioning compressor and other items back in 2018.
Regarding the port procedure, a month ago I completed the DOT and EPA import paperwork regarding details on the car, basically ndicating the car was more than 25 years old, and the engine was at least 21 years old. Yeah, The DOT and the EPA have different age rules. Figures. So I sent those forms to my customs broker. Then customs broker worked with the shipping company, the port, and US Customs to get the car imported. So basically the customs broker paid the customs fee (2.5% for passenger cars) and the various port fees, bonds, and so forth on my behalf, and then totaled it up. I got that amount one day after the car was discharged from the ship. I then wired money from my bank to the broker to pay them for doing all that. Once the customs broker had acknowledged my wire transfer, they generated a release document and emailed it to me. I printed it out and that was the golden ticket I needed to pick up the car.
So, after getting to the port my wife and I pulled into the guard's station at the big massive open air port parking lot that takes charge of all vehicles that have been imported or will be exported. We were told to exit and go get a special slip of paper with a number number from some port manager that was controlling all vehicles they were queuing up across the street before going through the guard station. Most of those vehicles were 18 wheelers pulling car transport trailers full of used vehicles that apparently are being shipped overseas. We got our number and went back to the guard station where our drivers licenses were examined, The check was made to make sure we had fluorescent safety vests, and a temporary ID badge was given to us while on port grounds. We were directed to go to a small building and wait in line to have the release paperwork reviewed.
When I finally got to the window I was asked if I had checked out the vehicle I was picking up. I had not seen it yet so they sent me back out to look it over. Turns out it was parked on the other side of the little building along with other personal imports that had come in from Japan on the same ship. I found where all the cars were parked and checked out my new Honda Beat. It was in great condition just a little dirty from having sat at the port in Japan for a couple of weeks then five weeks on the ocean and then four additional days at the Texas port. I posted photos earlier of the car as I found it sitting there as well as some of the other ones that had been imported, including that Mini.
The ignition key was in it and it started at the first try. I went back to the office and the only thing still to be done was to have somebody at the port visually check the car's VIN against my release paperwork. Once that happened I was free to take it. So I jumped in the car and my wife followed me. We turned in our ID badges and we left the port area and headed right to a gas station about two miles away because I had no idea if the fuel gauge reading half full was accurate. Turns out it was completely accurate, but the Beat has a gas tank that only holds a measly five US gallons.
We drove about 5 miles away to a convenience store to buy some Windex and a scrubber sponge to try and remove all the grease paint writing on the windshield. I also checked tire pressures and the engine oil level. Then we headed home, staying off the interstate on smaller highways, with the idea being of keeping speeds down. But of course since this is Texas even smaller highways have speeds of 65 or 75 miles an hour.
Today I ran some errands with the Beat. I'm getting more used to driving it. I noticed already that people have a tendency to pull out in front of it. I think the fact it is so small makes them think that it is further away when they look before pulling out.
First I went to a locksmith to have some keys cut. I only received one key with the car, but I knew this ahead of time. So I went on eBay three weeks ago and purchased some early 1990s Honda Civic blank keys with the hope that they would be the same key design used for the Beat. They were. I wanted the OEM keys with the black plastic grip with the Honda logo, rather than all-metal generic keys from a locksmith.
I also got a state inspection on the car in anticipation of getting it registered.
Finally, I went to Discount Tire to purchase a new spare tire. The space-saver spare that came with the car is original and totally cracked and dry rotted.
I called the county sheriffs office and have an appointment scheduled next week to have a law-enforcement VIN inspection. That's needed for any car that is imported.
Are parts fairly easy to find? Like brake pads or replacement disc?
I think things like air filters and oil filters are easy to find here but everything else is going to have to be sourced from Japan. I've got a few companies I used to get parts from my Toyota truck.
I heard there is a US based Facebook group for Honda Beat owners, so I'll have to get in touch with them. I'm sure they've solved some problems like parts availability already.
Well, a couple months of posts are missing, but here's a brief update on what happened to my Beat:
Sold the super rare hardtop to a fellow Beat owner from California who drove 18 hours to pick it up. In return I got a good quality softtop from him (which he nicely installed on my car) and nearly $2K in cash. Very happy with that result.
With that money burning a hole in my pocket I decided to address some little problems with the paint on the hood, both mirrors , and the right 3/4 panel. Just wanted to make my very nice car even nicer. Should be ready in a day or so.
I also joined a big Facebook group of Beat owners. Facebook generally creeps me out, but I'm enjoying meeting other owners and learning stuff.
Wow, your garage sure looks different now! Did you add a paint booth too? It's like a Tardis, bigger on the inside....
;D
Oh yeah, I created a whole body shop wing on my garage. ;D
Actually, I'm farming out the painting to a local shop.
I tried my hand at painting two little playing card-sized pieces on the Beat made of plastic that fit near the trunk lid. Sanded them down with progressively finer sandpaper, used special plastic adhesion promoter primer, followed all the instructions and did 4 or 5 base coats, then carefully did 3 clear coats. And the result was that they looked pretty blah at best. After that result I decided I'm not going to try to paint anything larger without a lot more practice. Hence my decision to let professionals paint the big stuff on the car.
Painting the mirrors black or silver to match the rest of the car?
Silver to match. The mirrors had experienced both sun damage causing the pain to peel and also abrasions (from poor parking? Careless other drivers?).
Quote from: BruceK on August 31, 2021, 10:39:02 AM
Oh yeah, I created a whole body shop wing on my garage. ;D
Actually, I'm farming out the painting to a local shop.
I tried my hand at painting two little playing card-sized pieces on the Beat made of plastic that fit near the trunk lid. Sanded them down with progressively finer sandpaper, used special plastic adhesion promoter primer, followed all the instructions and did 4 or 5 base coats, then carefully did 3 clear coats. And the result was that they looked pretty blah at best. After that result I decided I'm not going to try to paint anything larger without a lot more practice. Hence my decision to let professionals paint the big stuff on the car.
That's fantastic. Oh when you get good at painting I'll start sending cars your way!
I'm in Japan today and a yellow beat just drove by.
Quote from: 94touring on December 23, 2021, 05:36:34 PM
I'm in Japan today and a yellow beat just drove by.
Cool! See any other cars that are interesting or quirky?
Nothing too crazy. A few jdm looking cars. Wasn't there too long.