Import Your Own.
It all begins with an idea.
You’re reading this because you want to know more about my Mazda Bongo work truck. Maybe you’d like one like it. We’ll get to that.
First a little about me. I’m Vermont’s only commercial rice farmer. I work a lot with Japanese farming tools and techniques and when my 2010 Ford Ranger died a death of rust, I decided to replace it with a JDM (Japan Domestic Merchandise) import. I’d imported farm equipment before so it wasn’t my first rodeo.
Importing isn’t for everyone. You’d want to have some patience and you’d want to be or know a good and adaptable mechanic. You also need money up front. That’s about it. If you have those things lined up, no reason you can’t import your own, choosing from the thousands available right now in Japan. Maybe four months from now you could be driving it.
I have to say I’ve never owned a vehicle that makes people smile and turns heads the way this one does. And, when you drive a JDM import, all the other people driving JDM imports, of which I see more and more, will also notice you on the road and give you a friendly wave.
All together, here is what I put into the project:
$9300 USD to purchase the vehicle
$3100
Are there downsides? Sure. My Mazda Bongo is a work truck and the suspension is hard and the tires are small. The 1780 cc V6 can pull 75 on the highway no problem but a highway with a lot of seams and potholes is not very comfortable to drive. It’s a little louder in the cab than with a newer domestic truck. The seat is a little tight. Not as bad as a mini-truck, but a little tight.
The basics are this:
Line up an exporter
Select an import-eligible vehicle (must be at least 25 years old)
Pay for your vehicle and the shipping cost by wire transfer to the exporter
When your vehicle arrives, negotiate time-critical arrival steps and take delivery of your vehicle
Go through the steps to get your vehicle registered with the Vermont DMV. There are more steps than for a domestic vehicle.
Work out the kinks and make a plan to keep your vehicle in wood repair with parts and tires for the long-term
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.