okay, can't resist: Honda Beat
 

https://metrompg.com/offsite/hondabeat03.jpg

i just read today that there's a company in toronto importing JDM cars to ontario. the only legal restriction is that the vehicle must be 15 years or older.

the article was about the company's specialty vehicle - the skyline GTR - but they also take special requests. i couldn't resist sending them a message asking for an estimate on importing and selling me my favourite JDM vehicle...

the Honda Beat roadster:

- "kai class" car
- 3-cyl, 656cc, 12 valves, 64 bhp, 8100 redline
- mid-engine, 2 seat convertible
- 760 kg / 1675 lbs
- made from 1991 - 95(ish)

i spent quite a bit of time last winter researching importing one myself, and it looked like it would cost between $7500-10000 CDN. this was around 2x the cost of buying one in japan.

i asked around on some beat forums and apparently it'll also get around 40-50 mpg US - except most of the people i talked to were driving the snot out of them because they're such fun to throw into the curves (on go-kart tracks maybe, but you get the idea). so they may actually get decent mileage too, if driven efficiently.

it'll be interesting to hear what the import folks have to offer. already i'm trying to rationalize spending the money... "if i only drive it a few months a year, maybe i can treat it as an investment... a specialty honda like this in great condition must appreciate after time..."

i'll post back if i hear anything.

I'm jealous

Very cool car. Way cooler
 

Very cool car. Way cooler then the smart car.

okay, i just heard back.
 

okay, i just heard back. they can get me one:

the hard part is rationalizing paying effectively double the price that the car is actually selling for in japan. half of MY cost is shipping, duty, and customs fees, not to mention the fee the importer charges.

<img align="right" src="https://homepage.powerup.com.au/~alita/beat/images/cover_pic.jpg">

and it would essentially be a "toy"... i've never spent $8000 on a toy before. it would certainly be one of the coolest hondas in canada (until someone else brought one over). and i agree it's way cooler than a smart car (though not as thrifty).

my rambling train of thought... how long would i have to wait for smart cars to depreciate down to $8k on the used market? probably 4 or 5 years. and the smart car will just continue depreciating... then there's the issue of getting parts from japan when things break... i wonder if a Beat would hold its value as a specialty/collector car...

decisions, decisions.

So this is a used car?
 

So this is a used car? $8,000 isn't that bad for a one of a kind car (at least in north america).

Oh, I just used a beat in gran turismo. They are good handling. Not understeer crazy like fwd cars.

yeah - a 15 year old used
 

yeah - a 15 year old used micro car... with probably 100-140k km on it ... for $8k - $12k CDN. now you see my dilemma.

i've driven them in GT too - they are fun. and apparently they go 0-60 in under 10 sec in real life.

mid-engine cars are where it's at. they are incredibly entertaining to drive because they change direction so readily, with the center of mass closer to the center of the car (than front engine cars). the Beat actually has the words "midship amusement" underneath the "Beat" badge on the side of the car. very appropriate.

i highly recommend trying a mid-engine car if you ever get the chance. an mr-2, or a fiat x-19 (i'm assuming you don't have easy access to an NSX, ferarri, etc.) :)

i remember reading a Beat review 15 years ago in one of the US car mags. someone had driven one in japan and said it's the most fun you could have at "legal" road speeds. because they're so small and high-revving, when you're driving them "agressively" you're still not actually going that fast.

Dooooo it. That's less than
 

Dooooo it. That's less than I could import a CRX siR glasstop for, so you should consider yourself lucky. And I def think that would hold it's value well, especially if you don't kick the pudding out of it.

Re: Dooooo it. That's less than
 

that's funny .. never heard that one before.

Yeah, I read that and didn't
 

Yeah, I read that and didn't realize I had said it, and I still dunno what could have made me say it either. They look pretty new for 15 years old. I thought that was the current styling.

If you are worried apart
 

If you are worried apart parts I wouldn't worry. Honda is known for using the same parts for year and years, often from model to model. I'm certain that you can get most of your parts from the junkyard off of civics or accords of similar years.

Maybe you can try to find one that has a blown engine and convert it to EV :)

Re: yeah - a 15 year old used
 

The Beat looks awesome...and I couldn't agree with you more on the midengine platform - the balance is highly on point. My first vehicle was a 1973 Porsche 914 [I think there's a picture of it somewhere on here already] - an absolute blast to drive. I sold it because parts are pretty expensive, and I was having a mechanical issue about once a month. As a struggling college student that can not only not afford the repairs, but also one who relies heavily on his car, I had to let it go. :(

Quote:I sold it because
 

Is it possible that Volkswagen parts would have worked? My uncle has told me several times that sometimes VW parts can be used on a Porche.

Hello all, it's Mitch from
 

Hello all, it's Mitch from JDM-IMPORTS... just to clarify the price quoted includes everything landed in Toronto. This includes shipping, GST, import duties etc. We provide all the paperwork to register the car in your province and the cars are 100% street legal.

Most cars in Japan will have under 100K, usually around 60K, and virtually no rust. The cars are well maintained as well.

Other compact cars available in Japan only would be the Nissan Figaro, a retro compact car with modern day amenities. The Rover Mini and Suzuki Cappuccino are cool cars too! Japan has many cool compacts that are unfortunately not available here.

The only limitation we currently have in Canada is that the car must be 15 years or older. We are importing 1991 models now.

If you have any questions, drop me a line at mitch@jdm-imports.com We are located in Toronto, Canada.

Thanks!
Mitch
www.JDM-IMPORTS.com

way to watch your web
 

way to watch your web referrer logs, Mitch!

i continue to mull over the idea of a getting a Beat. it remains on the top of my "wish list", anyway.

thanks for the clarifications and best of luck with your business.

Darin

Re: Quote:I sold it because
 

Some of the parts were interchangable, yes - especially on the 914. But still, I was 19 when I sold it, and I was working at MediaPlay earing $6/hour part time...not exactly able to support a nice car hobby at the time.

Quote:Some of the parts were
 

Been there before. I know what you mean.

check this out, says they'll
 

check this out, says they'll be importing a Beat.
might be worth watching for.
Click here

interesting - thanks. i also
 

interesting - thanks.

i also heard back from Mitch at jdm-imports.com and he says he has also decided to import a beat to toronto. if he does, i hope to go have a look at it.

If any of you see a
 

If any of you see a mini-cooper engine (original mini, not the new one) please let me know. My understanding is that they have abundant parts available, AND can be made to easily fit in my n600.

They apparently even came in EFI, but that option is rather rare.

I know of a beat ass one,
 

I know of a beat *** one, mehbe I could get it as a parts car for you?

I have been looking on ebay
 

I have been looking on ebay almost daily for the past few weeks to find a cheap fuel efficent car that somehow is crazy low. But nothing is comming up. Where are all the $200 saturns?

I just know another one will show up some day.

Re: I have been looking on ebay
 

https://i8.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/2f/55/20_12.JPG

1982 Rabbit

ah, the memories. when i
 

ah, the memories. when i was in high school / university, i used to buy a vw rabbit each year. i'd fix it up nicely and drive it until i found another candidate, then sell and start all over again.

i usually made a small "profit" (not counting my labour, of course) on each car, so that basically paid for my transportation through school. i owned six in a row over 5 or 6 years, all gas 5-speeds.

no. That rabbit is a 3
 

no. That rabbit is a 3 speed auto. Talk about slow!


Click here

How about this one. It has a full gas tank. Thats a $20 bonus.

Anyway, that rabbit is gonna
 

Anyway, that rabbit is gonna get like 25-30 mpg anyway. VW is crap with gasoline, :p

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish florida wasnt so far away. $90 saturn 24min to go!!!!

Click me

So, another company in Toronto is selling JDM Kei cars. He's already brought in a few Beats. $10-12k CDN. What fun toys they would be...

https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...l=969048871196

https://www.thestar.com/images/thesta...dabeat_300.jpg

The Beat is light, but soooo ugly.

Suzuki Cappuccinos are crack! But, I'd rather have me a good Fiat 850 Spyder.

That's a cool story! I'd love to get a Beat in the US, but i have a feeling it's next to impossible...

unless I lie and say it's a CRX :P

https://members.ld.infoseek.co.jp/ko_ran/dscf0057.jpg

I like the sukz better.

It's the mid-engine I like about the Beat. Looks are secondary to that...

What's the import rule for the US? It's 25 years isn't it? Would it be possible to register the beat as a CRX?

Buy it, Darin.

*shakesfist*

Nah. For me, that's still too much money for just a toy.

Everybody else thinks you're worth it. :thumbup: :D

If you want the ultimate Microcar, then get a Fisher Fury. Shove a Hayabusa motorcycle engine in it(as is very common), and you'd have what is basically a motorcycle on wheels with better aero. 0-60 in ~3.5 seconds, 50+ mpg, 160+ mph top speed, 900 pounds curb weight, corners almost like a Formula race car...

Makes the Honda Beat look fat!

https://thekneeslider.com/graphics/fury.jpg

Neato. Looks front engined though. (Do you know if it is?) I've decided that my toy car should be mid-engined.

It looks mid engined in the sense that the engine is abaft the front axle. If the necessary dynamics are that a centralized mass gives it a very low moment of inertia, then it may work. Maybe. :confused:

It looks like it's rear-driver though. ;)

The Fury is actually mid-engined.

Personally, I think shoving a 1.3L 112 horsepower CDTI Opel diesel into one would be great. Run that ****er on B100, and you'd have a 0-60 mph in < 5 second, 100+ mpg rocket...

Or there's always the ethanol version with a baby V8, or maybe a Li Ion battery conversion with 150 kW AC Propulsion drive.

Honda Beat Rhd For Sale Mississauga,on Canada
 

I WANT TO SELL MY HONDA BEAT CAR.
LOCATION, MISSISSAUGA, ONT CANADA.
ANYONE INTERESTED EMAIL ME @ MOE_MOE2@HOTMAIL.COM:D