Now Japan has a lot of interesting indiginous cars. You might have heard their car market is really protectionist (and it is!) but some foreign vehicles do sneak in. And some of them are ones we...don't get in the US.

As far as US cars go, the ones you see most are the Ford Focus, the Ford Explorer, the Jeep Cherokee, and the Chevrolet Camaro. I just thought I'd put that out there, because I only took a picture of one of those things. You see some Vettes and (ugh) H2s, as well.

But you don't see most of these. Well, you don't see some of these. I took pictures of some of these cars because I thought they were cool.

I think there must be some faculty Alfa Romeo owner's club at Hokudai. Because I sure saw enough Alfas there.

I have never liked the looks of Alfa Romeos, except the GTV. The Spyder was like a bad caricature of a British roadster or a Datsun Z, their coupes and sedans have proportions weirder than a Saab...there just ISN'T a body style that Alfa has done that has not been done better by other companies over and over and over again. I do not understand the infatuation so many people have with the looks of Alfas. Is is the triangular grille? Is it the snob appeal of owning an Italian car?
Whatever, here's an Alfa hatchback. Note it's resemblance to the godawful Citroen farther down this page.

Yeah, we probably get this one in the states, but I thought it looked badass.

I know absolutely nothing about this car except that it is fucking awesome.

It's not terribly rusted, but I'm guessing it doesn't run.

I didn't ask the guy who owned it, he was kinda busy working on a Fairlady Z (first generation).

This is the same guy who owns the old Suzuki Jimny.

I don't know what model this is. I'm sure the US gets it, it just looked so badass. I think current Mercedes look just...well, like ass.

Again, we got these, but I like them. I had to take it, and I have to share it.

Chevrolet Cruze. I have no idea upon what this car might be based. Love the Corvette taillamps.

Did the US get these? I understand they were ubiquitous elsewhere.

They were not very safe, just so you know.

Citroen XM

More recent citroens look like crap, though. Christ, I'd trade that for a Beretta or, hell, a Cimmaron any day.

Alright, this one isn't so bad.

I loved the test of the new Panda on Top Gear.

THE Ford in England. Mechanically, it's basically the same as the Ford Contour of the same year. (But obviously the Mondeo does better because it's still being made for overseas markets) The exterior isn't too far removed, either, for that matter. I'm not sure if they get the Taurus, but I'd guess it's their equivalent.

This is a Ford Explorer, but it's right-hand-drive.

Based on the Mazda 626, this was an Asian/African/Australian model only.

See, when Australia gets cars, even mundane ones, from US auto companies, they at least LOOK better than anything we get here. Especially if it's a Ford.

Well, other Fords looked better...but not other Ford SEDANS.

We get these, but how often do you see one in the wild?

I took this in Tokyo. What's interesting here is specifically where I took it. In Ueno Koen. I'm guessing it belongs to someone who lives there, probably someone associated with one of the shrines. But I really don't know. Nice situation that guy has, there. That's a mini next to it.

Not to be confused with the original Ghibli, this is the 90s version, which is the Biturbo done right.

This is evolved from the car that Jeremy Clarkson summarily executed on Top Gear. Look at it, and wonder...how could such a gorgeous machine inspire such loathing? Well, the Biturbo wasn't this pretty, for one.

They regularly sell on Ebay for under 10 grand. This one I think would be much more.

It has a design which forces the engine UNDERNEATH the passenger compartment in the event of a head-on crash. That's clever.

Mercedes V250 Van

Well, I knew Mercedes makes vans, but it still seems curious to me. Is this the same as the Sprinter being sold in the US now?

This is a late-model mini, but I'm not sure what year. Whatever you want to say about British cars, a lot of them were damn cool.

Another Gran Turismo car. The Opel Tigra Ice Race car...best handling car in the game, and damn fast.

Well, this is just a regular Tigra, but it looks pretty neat.

Hard to get a picture of a moving car in the dark without using a flash.

Peugeots look cool. No two ways about it.

Especially the 206.

But most especially the 206 convertible.

I mean DAMN...that is the best looking car in production today (edit: Well, maybe not but it certainly is up there). Too bad it's FWD. And expensive. And I hear uncomfortable and unreliable. But it LOOKS good.

Nowhere near as sexy.

But still not bad, I guess
.

Even as a wagon, it is stylish.

Wagon and hatchback? Kind of like the Golf/Jetta I guess.

Renault F1 car

Sorry for not getting a better pic of the campaign girl. As for not getting a better pic of the car, it was really crowded. Shibuya station, BTW.

Renault Kangoo

Because the weird looking domestic offerings just weren't weird enough.

Meh. I guess the fender flares look nice. Renaults just don't do it for me.

Just not something I see everyday.

Based on the Honda Accord (outside) and Honda Ascot (interior). When you don't design your own flagship car, your company is pretty much doomed, I think.

Someone probably bought it just to be different.

The only non-japanese kei car. The Koreans could make some of their models fit the standard, I think but anyhow, the Smart just needed a smaller engine. And what you end up with is something EVEN SMALLER than a Japanese kei car. Note that this particular Smart is NOT a kei model. (It has white plates)

Smaller than the Polo, which is smaller than the Golf, which is the smallest VW we get in the US. But still not Kei-small.

Did you see that fake VW Polo ad? The one with the suicide bomber? Leave the guys alone, VW, can't you take a joke? It was funny.

European people mover in Japan. Looks more minivan-ish, but it's a bit small. And I really, REALLY wish I'd gotten a good shot of whatever the hell that thing behind it is.

Well, that's everything NORMAL. Now on to the fun stuff.

KOREAN CARS: Hyundai - Kia - Daewoo - Ssangyong - Samsung - Asia - Motorcycles  - Foreign Cars in Korea - Other

JAPANESE CARS: Daihatsu - Toyota - Honda - Nissan - Mitsubishi - Mazda - Subaru - Suzuki - US/Europe - Bikes/Other

OTHER: Art Page 1 - Art Page 2 - BLAME! - Spiders - Autochart - Photos - Photoshop

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