[SPEEDEAMON]

Ernie. there are very few real Cobras in Japan so the sight of a Cobra is exciting for any fan.

The registration is renewed every 4 years for new cars. There is an inspection process whereby you give up your car to a Motor Vehicles Dept Inspection Station. They go through checking everything including emission control and torque for each and every bolt and dab a yellow paint on them. Anything below par from new specs will be repaired or replaced by the agency "AT YOUR COST". When you pick up your car, you pay for the registration fee plus whatever it cost to bring your vehicle to compliance. Needless to say, the older the vehicle and higher the mileage, it costs more to re-register. Sound like a scam. It sure is between the auto makers and the government. At about four to six years, the manufacturers make it very attractive for you to "trade in" your car for a new one with financing that is designed to be just a little bit more than the registration cost. Wonder where all those Toyotas and Nissans you see in Iraq and Afganistan the Talibans and possibly the Al Queda are driving came from? Yup, these are the cars that are wholesaled to third world countries with some less than 40,000 km. However, if you import a vehicle 5 years or older, the rule gets a lot lax unless they have changed it recently.

Shin