Weird vehicles for sale

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kingdragonfly

4639 posts

Uber Geek

#233547 21-Apr-2018 01:13

I found this weird vehicle for sale on Trademe.

It's a "Kei" truck:

- 660 cc engine (yes less than 1 liter)

- 60 KW / 80 HP engine

- smaller than size of the German manufacturer "Smart" car, about half the length of most cars

- 4WD

- 1,080 KG

- 2012 asking $16,500

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/suzuki/auction-1607224631.htm?rsqid=b2d4c3741675441d9c50499fafc2ec66

What is a Kei Car

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car

Youtube of similar model
No person next to vehicle, but it's smaller than it looks

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556 posts

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#2002967 26-Apr-2018 17:12

not necessarily a weird vehicle but a good one to park outside the management offices

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

Gurezaemon

370 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2002972 26-Apr-2018 17:18

I used one of these quite a few times when living in Japan - great for carrying loads larger than what can normally fit in a car, and amazing for parking. Low gearing, so surprisingly nippy around town.

You certainly wouldn't want to have a crash in one though - the crumple zone is your knees.

Whereas here, the Warehouse or Mitre10 etc. will lend you a trailer to take a fridge or something home, in Japan you get to borrow one of these (as basically no one uses trailers, and no one has a tow bar)

mdf

2627 posts

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#2003086 26-Apr-2018 19:38

Cool. I had no idea such things existed! Now I want one.

kingdragonfly

4639 posts

Uber Geek

#2003283 27-Apr-2018 08:54

Kei cars and trucks are tiny.

The Mitsubishi iCar is a good example.

floydbloke

2255 posts

Uber Geek

#2003297 27-Apr-2018 09:14

mdf:

Cool. I had no idea such things existed! Now I want one.

I don't usually care what people think of me, but the little street-cred that i do have is worth more than being seen in one of these abominations.

The three hardest things to say: 1. I was wrong, 2. I need help, 3. Worcestershire sauce.

wellygary

4771 posts

Uber Geek

#2003308 27-Apr-2018 09:27

In the past Suzuki have actually sold them as new in NZ, ( albeit with a 1300c engine)

http://www.driven.co.nz/reviews/reviews/plucky-little-carry-truck-was-the-perfect-urban-ute/

robjg63

3111 posts

Uber Geek

#2003369 27-Apr-2018 10:24

They are huge and luxurious compared to the beloved Ape (in Italy) - pronounced (Ah-pay - it means bee in italian - guess thats what they sound like too).

I gather they are now popular in India as well.

These are used all over Italy - Often loaded up with Fruit and Vegies - but all sorts of tradies use them with different sorts of bodies.

Great for those really narrow lanes/roads.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_Ape

Hah - One for sale on trademe - all kitted out as a mobile coffee cart:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/scooters/auction-1591276440.htm?rsqid=a852212312954e4b987cc31daf4399fc

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

kingdragonfly

4639 posts

Uber Geek

#2003406 27-Apr-2018 11:28

50cc engine. That's is literally the same size as some chainsaws.

I thought 660cc was small.

trig42

Banana?
5005 posts

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#2003423 27-Apr-2018 11:47

There is an episode in the latest series of Top Gear where they go to Japan and talk about Kei Cars (S25E03 I believe).

They are that size to fit into some tax break bracket, and are (obviously) hugely popular. Top Gear looked at people that were pimping their Kei Cars.

Off Topic - I am really enjoying the new Top Gear with Matt Le Blanc, Rory Reid and Chris Harris. Better than The Grand Tour IMO.

Gurezaemon

370 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2003439 27-Apr-2018 12:16

trig42:

There is an episode in the latest series of Top Gear where they go to Japan and talk about Kei Cars (S25E03 I believe).

They are that size to fit into some tax break bracket, and are (obviously) hugely popular. Top Gear looked at people that were pimping their Kei Cars.

Off Topic - I am really enjoying the new Top Gear with Matt Le Blanc, Rory Reid and Chris Harris. Better than The Grand Tour IMO.

I've owned one in Japan, and they come with a range of benefits such as cheaper WOF and insurance, etc.

Also, they have less onerous requirements for proving that you have somewhere to park it off the road (IIRC, proof that you have off-road parking is required when you buy a car).

mdf

2627 posts

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#2003529 27-Apr-2018 14:19

floydbloke:

mdf:

Cool. I had no idea such things existed! Now I want one.

I don't usually care what people think of me, but the little street-cred that i do have is worth more than being seen in one of these abominations.

Mate, you could totally pimp it out with adjustable ride height and some sounds! Bit of body kit and a spoiler, some creative tinkering with the muffler, and you'd be set!

kingdragonfly

4639 posts

Uber Geek

#2003627 27-Apr-2018 15:54

Micro Machine: The Kei Drift Truck

http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/09/the-kei-drift-truck/

Coil

6615 posts

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Inactive user

#2003633 27-Apr-2018 16:00

Kei cars are a big thing now. Little tiny things that handle well or are just dinky. New fad.
Lookup Bosozoku, Yankii, Shakotan.

Coil

6615 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2003637 27-Apr-2018 16:03

Also a MX5 is not really a Kei car but semi is to us in NZ. Thats as large as they get.
Daihatsu Mira is the go to.

kingdragonfly

4639 posts

Uber Geek

#2003648 27-Apr-2018 16:15

The Daihatsu Mira export model should be fairly peppy, since it has an 850 cc or 1000cc engine, instead of the 660 cc engine in Japan.

But it's no longer sold new in New Zealand, so I guess you could import from Australia

"Daihatsu disappearing from NZ car market"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8575231/Daihatsu-disappearing-from-NZ-car-market

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