Another JDM we miss out on...

[Captiva Fan]

Do Japanese people earn alot in general? I understand taxes are lower over there which would be a reason why they'd be able to afford so much more than us but the amount of luxury cars I saw over there was amazing.

In real terms they don't really earn any more than us on-average ... but I don't know how the money's spread-around, and whether there are as many non-flashy well-off people as here (appearances seem to be more important to the Japanese than Australians in general).

[itsnotagsr]

My understanding was that real estate is so expensive over there that people just rent meaning that they spend the mortgage money on savings, cars and consumer goods.

[DaiOni]

"if the free trade agreement gets going with china, we may end up driving chinese made stuff"

Are there VW and Renault factories in China?

I got back from Beijing yesterday - and I can tell you that it feels like 90% of cars on the road are one of these two brands. A-series Audi was about the only 'nice' car on the roads there

[Vtecoupe]

I saw one of these cars ( FUGA ) at the Brooklyn Bridge on the Hawksbury about 2 months ago They were making an AD

Nice looking car.

[Evo_Lee]

The President was even nicer though, but talk about a hefty price tag! After spending 4 days in Tokyo I did see that there was ALOT of Merc's and BMWs, not to mention the amount of ferrari's and porsches I saw during my time over there. I think I saw at least 1 ferrari a day and lost count on how many SL55 AMGs I saw. Do Japanese people earn alot in general? I understand taxes are lower over there which would be a reason why they'd be able to afford so much more than us but the amount of luxury cars I saw over there was amazing.

Perhaps because Japan is Ferrari's biggest market...last I heard, thus why the Enzo was launched in Japan and not in the States or Europe.

There is a long explanation for salary which I shan't go into here..generally speaking everyone is pretty wealthy...the Japanese Govt has created a very large middle class society, but that is slowly changing and the Japanese as Forg said are getting lower and lower salaries now or less increases in line with the rest of the world. Problem is living still cost so much, so I can't understand how they manage. Maybe I'm just on a shitty salary.

But if you are considered very rich, then your very rich and there are a quite alot of people in that class too.

The property market in Japan does not increase but goes the other way, depreciates. Only very few prime locations in major cities hold value or increases. In a country prone to so many natural disasters...your million dollar home/aparment could be reduced to rubble at any moment...leaving you with nothing!

[scoopy]

I dont see so many Fazzies and Porkers over here in Osaka. Maybe it's just a tokyo thing, where ppl tend to be more image conscious. i wouldnt drive a Faz or Porker over here even if i got cash loaded up my arse, unless i got Yakuza mates too. those (unts would bump your car, then tell you that it's your fault and asks you to pay.

generally most japs got plenty of cash stashed away for the rainy day. if they were willing to spend it, the j-economy wouldnt be as slowarse as it is today.

Evo_lee is right about the property market being in depreciating mode here. since most properties are appartments and there is no insurance for earthquake damage, if the big one hits and the building which houses your flat goes down, you are left with beans. The only properties that hold value are house+land packages, which are way too steep for most japs to afford.

[Evo_Lee]

Bernie, go to Kobe...Lambos, Ferraris, Porkas galore...

There is also a gym in Namba which has alot of exotics and AMGs parked outside...either the rich like to work out together or yakuzas .

[Rezz]

I like this:

You reckon the 50% price-premium they'd have over almost anything with a Holden badge wouldn't slow sales down a bit?

Then this:

About the closes Holden in dollar terms (to the Fuga) is a Caprice

The fact that the Fuga would probably only be pitched at Statesman/Caprice territory cancells out the first part of your quote.

I think the Fuga would sell well against similar Holden/Ford offereings. Meh.

[Captiva Fan]

But the similar Holden/Ford offerings are Fairmonts & Berlinas or Clubbies ... the Mudda Fuga is Caprice/LTD money. Caprices & LTD's are too expensive, and only wierdos buy them; and thus, the sort of needs that make you buy a Caprice or LTD aren't going to be met by a medium-large Nissan-branded luxury car. So we're back to at least a 50% price-premium over the real comparable local models; and the fact that you'd be competing with Lexus in an arena where even Lexus haven't really done all that well.

[TJ]

fuga me thats nice...