Something new in my garage

[BruceK]

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.

[MiniDave]

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!

[BruceK]

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.

[BruceK]

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.

[BruceK]

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.

[MPlayle]

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.

[BruceK]

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.

[MPlayle]

I have a couple of the safety vests (both are XL size) if you need to borrow them come time to pick it up.

[BruceK]

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?

[MPlayle]

I will do that.

[MiniDave]

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.

[BruceK]

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.

[94touring]

Cool Bruce  77.gif.  Always fun getting a new toy.  When do you import a RHD rx7?

[BruceK]

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).

[MiniDave]

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?

[BruceK]

 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 

[MiniDave]

I was referring more to the side view, especially with the top up....

[BruceK]

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.

[MiniDave]

Exactly....

[BruceK]

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!

[BruceK]

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.

[94touring]

That's exciting!

[BruceK]

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.

[94touring]

I know that feeling  4.gif

[BruceK]

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.