DJ Hitman

This November I will be leaving for bootcamp with the Airforce, a few months later after my tech school I should be stationed on mainland Japan, 30 miles west of Tokyo.

When I lived in Germany, I remember on the bases you could order a BMW in Germany with American Spec and save on taxes and the overall cost of the car, because no parts need to be imported to the states.

I was wondering, will Mazda let you do the same? Can I order an American spec RX8 in Japan? If I can I will save on taxes and the overall cost of the car and once I come back stateside or wherever the military will ship the car for free.

cgrx

Hmmm, I'm not sure how that works. I lived in Japan for 3 years when my stepdad was stationed there with the Navy. I don't remember anyone having an American car there, or bringing a car they purchased back to the states. You'd have to contact Mazda I imagine....

DJ Hitman

Some of my family members that are in the Marines in Japan are bringing back 2, Fairlady 300zs tt 2+2. So, I know people do bring back cars from Japan. But, I'm wondering if Mazda has a policy like BMW. I guess I might have to ask them and they can find out for me.

cgrx

I'd definitely give Mazda a call as well as soemone in the Airforce ~ not a recruiter.
Good luck ! You might as well buy a JDM 8 w/ navigation and in the dark blue and bring it back =) I think importing Japanese cars requires modifications to make them street legal in the U.S. for safety reasons though...

Berni

yeah take another look at the pay chart. don't go digging yourself a hole you can't get out of. lots of new airmen get in money trouble. save up ....better yet talk to the financial advisor at your first base. actually it might be mandatory for first term airmen. so my advice is this listen to this expert. ths Air Force is paying this person good money to try and save yours. OK enuf soap box time for me. good luck in the Air Force buddy and thank you for serving your country.

2ks2k

You might be able to order it through AAFES when you come back from Japan, but since you can't ship a US spec vehicle to Japan that is newer than 1976 I know you won't be able to buy one and drive it while you're there.

And just so you know, it is VERY expensive to have a vehicle over there. You might not even be able to afford it straight out of Tech school.

Have fun in Japan and enjoy your tour!!!

scubacap

The 8 is a great car and they will be around a long time. Don't be in a hurry to get into debt.
Recruiters are BSer's.
When I was active duty I saw a lot of young men like yourself get into trouble buying stuff, especial cars in Japan and Hawaii.
This is the deal on "free" transportation of automobiles back to the states. If you are on an "Accomanied Tour" or Long term tour or on "per diem" you MAY be allowed to buy/bring back a car. Also your orders MUST state POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) authorized. And your CO (Commanding Officer) must authorize you to be able to drive it on base AND you must attend the military drivers safety course AND you must have a proof of insurance. For officers and NCO's we could just produce the proof of insurance card. For junior enlisted (which is what you will be) you had to produce the complete contract.
Bottom line. At this early stage it's not worth it.
My advice - save, save, save. Save at least half your money every month. Don't buy anything you can't pay cash for. Eat at the galley, live in the barracks, and take advantage of ALL educational experiences.

Sorry guys, I got carried away there.

And thanks for stepping up to the plate and serving our Country!

Berni

scubacap,

air force says "chow hall" not galley and "Dorms" not barracks ...don't got confusing our Airmen OK? BTW i am just joking with you not triing to start an fight.

and another thing...you mentioned you were once Active duty...Thanks.

Berni

Viper MOV very funny

cgrx

WERD
Unless you are going to be a lifer~

ScudRunner

Allow me to second all of that. Sadly, unless you have some unknown source of income besides what the gov't is going to give you, then this isn't the car for a new Airman. Hell, I don't think I could've afforded this car my first few years in the military (especially not in Japan, where I lived my first year), and I'm an officer.

marcj1

Ahhh...the kindler, gentler military.

But seriously...be well, good luck and treat EVERYTHING as a learning experience.

Thanks for stepping up.

scubacap

I was a Marine (the fighting branch of the Navy). And I love airmen, especially the big-foot pararescue! Owe my life to one of them.

cgrx

I heart BAH =)

DJ Hitman

Thanks for your concerns about the cost of the 8. But, as of right now I have saved up enough to make a really nice down payment to lower the monthly payments. And I'll be able to continue to save my money through bootcamp and tech school. Also, the MOS I'm getting into is Air Traffic Controller and at reinlistment, after 4 years, they get a bonus of $60,000 so, that will be a great time to pay then 8 fully off :D Yes, I do plan on on living in the dorms, eating in the mess hall and taking advantage of the free education.

Berni

ATC school very tough. get a head start. big wash out rate. I am not trying to discourage you....just be ready...there is a reason for sucha great bonus.

scubacap

DJ HITMAN,
Good choice. Are you going to try for Combat Air Control (I don't know if you still call them that.) The men with the red berets and the Trojan Horse crest.

ScudRunner

We call them Combat Controllers now, or CCT for short.

Hornet

Hey DJ, not to take away from the RX8 but why don't you hold off on it until you return to CONUS so you don't have to worry about any of the problems associated with importing a car. You have a little bit of a unique opportunity in going to Japan. Some cars we never get to experience in the US go for cheap over there (of course I am talking about used). I have met and worked with people who claimed to have driven Skylines for less than $10K (I heard someone mention about $5k). They may have been R32s but hey not too many here can claim the same.

restob

You might be able to do that if your post AAFES support such things.

bowman

I know a guy that bought a Mustang thru AAFES while in Germany and when he PCS'ed back to the States the military paid to ship his car.

ScudRunner

To my knowledge, you will not be able to get a US Spec car in Japan the way that people can get US Spec cars in Europe. You would be able to get a JDM Spec vehicle, but it would cost you an arm and a leg to get it back into America. What almost every servicemember in Japan does is buy some shitty JDM car (I drove a Nissan Bluebird, cost me $1000; I don't even know what that equates to here, if anything) from another servicemember who is leaving and drive that until they leave or it falls apart. When I left, I didn't even bother trying to sell mine; I just paid $100 to have it junked. That way, you'd have a ton of money lying around when you got done with your two year tour (three if you're married, I don't know if you are), and you could buy yourself a really nice -8 when you got back. On another note, If you really have money laying around, what I would suggest is buying a Harley here in America, taking it with you without ever putting a mile on it, and sell it to a Japanese citizen over there. Big money to be had, from what I've heard.

restob

I don't know if this been put out but the taxes you save while being overseas, you might have to pay in some states when you register your vehicle stateside. I paid some of the taxes on my wife's honda civic when I moved from germany to georgia.

smd3

I'm Active Duty, USAF. Little Rock Air Force Base.

I don't want to go to Japan, can't bring a car. Sorry. You may be able to buy through aafees and pick it up when you get back, but I don't think they deal with Mazda.

Air Force RX8

The web site you need to refer to is: https://www.encs.com/
This is the Exchange New Car Sales site and unfortunately Mazda vehicles are not offered. Even though Ford owns Mazda it does not qualify in the ENCS program. Do yourself a favor and put your money away and keep adding to it. When the time is right buy your car. Too many Airmen I have supervised have failed to realize how easy it is to get to tech school and start pissing away all their money they were going to save and then go ahead and buy the car they cannot afford. Unless you have established spotless credit already, the down payment alone will not lower the interest rate you are going to pay, because you are young, have not been employed by your current employer long, have little disposable income, and are, for all of the previously mentioned reasons especially the first one, a credit risk. Not to mention the insurance rates you will pay this will kill your paychecks quickly.

Be smart, get through tech school do your 2 years in Japan and then see where you are at financially when you are ready to return stateside. Maybe you will have to buy a used 8 initially, but do not strap yourself with large financial commitments until you are well established in your career. Recruiters and car salesmen are paid to tell you what you want to hear to get to THEIR bottom line. I get paid to make sure young Airmen like yourself do not make mistakes that can ruin a career and their lives.

I am not trying to burst your bubble, but it took me 15 years to get to the point where I can barely afford to have the car I have always dreamed of owning and be able to afford to still have a family life as well.

Good luck to you in your Air Force career!