How do you know about this Case? There must be something like that. I have
been reading about it for years. Not just on the Internet.

 Paul Lamar

Case is right, there is no such law.  When I was over there we were driving a
1985 toyota van with over 100k km's on it.   However, we bought the van for
only $500.  It was so "expensive" because it still had 6 months remaining on
the SGI.  SGI was a form of registration/insurance (I never really understood
which) which needed to be paid every 2 years.  The cost was $2000.   So the
6-months worth that we still had on the van was worth the $500 we paid,
giving us the van for free!

Im not sure how the SGI is calculated, but I don't think it was based on
mileage so this 30k number we keep hearing is somewhat arbitrary.  It was
also not based on the condition of the automobile as our van could never have
passed any sort of inspection.  On the other hand, it is easy to see how older
cars start loosing value.  If you have to pay $1000/yr just to register it,
you might be willing to accept almost any amout of money just to get a
junker car off of your hands.  In general, this made the market for all used
cars in japan very good for buyers.   Basically, any car over ten years old
could be had for the value of the remaining SGI plus an out of tune song.
Junk yards collect a fee to accept your old junker!!    We had to buy 3 cases
of beer for the squadron that replaced us to get them to take the Toyota van
off our hands.

Dave Leonard

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