Taking your Taco Overseas

How easy would it be to take your taco overseas? I'm awaiting orders for most likely Germany, Italy, or Japan. But I'm not sure if it's worth selling my truck before I go and buying a new one when I get back, or just taking it with me. Any advice is welcome!

 

how long are you getting posted for?

 

Roughly three years.

 

sell it

 

either that or put it in storage

 

for 3 years? you'd have to replace way too much on the truck afterward

 

I spent 3 years in Italy and faced the same question as you before I went. AAFES car care is HORRIBLE in Italy (at least in Vicenza) and more than once I saw it take months to make the most basic repairs. There are dealerships off post, but the language barrier is a huge factor. Germany might be a different story because the posts there are so much larger. Italian drivers are notorious for not caring about hitting your car and the city streets over there are pretty narrow. I would consider putting it in storage (maybe at your parents?) and buying a hooptie while you are overseas. However, having your Tacoma would be great for getting into the Alps to ski/board during the winter.

 

I've spent time in Japan (Okinawa and mainland) and I've seen many cars from the US in mainland. It's can be a PITA to get the car inspected and licensed in Japan. It's a novelty in Japan to have a left-drive vehicle. Sometimes you can fetch top dollar for bigger trucks or sports cars or vehicles that they don't have in Japan. If you get orders to Japan, I'd sell the truck or put it in storage. I stored a car when I went to Okinawa (1 year) and it was fine but I think 3 years would be pushing it. Plus, you can get cars real cheap in Japan. The thing is with cars, the Japanese have to buy this insurance, called JCI (Japanese Compulsery Insurance (sp??)), and it's real expensive. So, rather than pay the JCI on a older car, they will sell it and buy a new one where the JCI isn't needed. The JCI on a 10 years old car is somewhere around $300-400. The benefit is, you can usually buy a used car with a new JCI, which is a 2 year thing, or get a great deal on a car without JCI for a lot less.
Thinking about it, the Hilux is prevelant in Japan and it may be real easy to get parts for the truck although they'll be hella expensive. I dunno.....it could be worth it to bring the truck over there...