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I am considering the purchase of a used import, the proposed vehicle is a 2002 Honda Fit which appears very suitable to my needs.
It turns out that the seller is a private individual, not a MVDA. This puts me in to a territory I don't normally venture. The seller has imported the vehicle themselves in April 2011, I have met them and I have, prima facie, no reason to doubt their integrity.
My concern is the odometer reading which is attractively low. The vehicle has stickers which may or may not attest to the odometer reading but all the stickers are written in Japanese - I think, I certainly can't read them.
I have the VIN and Registration numbers of the vehicle.
Is there some way I can gain a bit of comfort as to the odometer reading?

If you have any doubts over the odometer reading make a call to a company called JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre). They will talk you through some of the checks you can make. They may even ask you send through photos of the stickers which may help them confirm whether or not the odometer has been checked.

They have an office in Auckland - phone 09 966 1777 and ask for Euan.

JEVIC carry out odometer checks in Japan for a number of used importers before vehicles are shipped to NZ.

Be very careful with this vehicle if it is fitted with an automatic transmission (CVT). Road test it thoroughly and check for a shudder on initial take-off especially on hills.

Honda have had their problems with these transmissions and while they have improved out of sight, any Fit around 2002 is high risk. Repairs can be very costly and being a used import very little if any financial assistance is offered by Honda workshops in NZ.

And remember, if you end up owing this car. there will be no warranty if the seller is not a Licensed Motor Vehicle Trader.

It wouldn’t hurt to do some price comparisons between a NZ new Jazz and a used import Fit to satisfy yourself you are getting a good deal.

Thank you. With your very valuable comments and spending $18 on a Carjam report, I have now lost interest in the subject vehicle, I suspect saving me considerably more than the $18.
I am also attracted by guidance you have given to vicmck and wondered whether you could similarly guide me.
I am retired, living on very modest income and I want to replace my wonderful old 1995 Nissan Maxima which I have had for about 10 years, without any unpleasant major costs.
I want to buy an economical, 2nd vehicle, "shopping basket" cum "knockabout" that can handle the ocassional 300-400 km journey to visit family, within $6-8,000. I would also like the facility to convert to a spacious load carrier by folding down rear seats. I would like automatic but I am nervous about the modern CVT transmission having heard all sorts of plusses and minuses. I seem to be looking at Toyota Vitz, Honda Fit, Nissan March, Nissan Cube, Toyota Echo, Mazda Demio, Hyundai Getz. Most of these I have so far only looked at on a computer screen.
Could I have some comments about the CVT and any suggestions you have as to my choice of vehicle.

Nothing beats the Honda Jazz/Fit for interior room. The rear seat design and the positioning of the fuel tank allows for a huge amount of flat floor space.

You would need to check the way the seats fold in the other vehicles you mention to see if they meet your needs.

Often the back of the rear seats fold forward only, which does not allow for a perfectly flat loading space. This is acceptable for many owners however, depending on exactly what they want to carry.

All the small cars you mention have merit and provided you get some sort of pre purchase inspection then really it’s a matter of choosing the one that is fit for purpose. In terms of interior space however, I can’t see the Nissan March meeting your requirements is the only comment I would add.

Regarding Constant Variable Transmissions (CVT); they have become the transmission of choice for many new vehicle manufacturers and the number seems to be increasing. What has damaged their reputation more than anything has been the influx of used imports into NZ with this type of transmission fitted.

Often the domestic market in countries like Japan have vehicles with engines/transmissions which are completely different from the same make/model sold new in NZ. These cars were never intended for a export market. It’s almost like the Japanese domestic market is a testing ground and any issues can be dealt with internally.

Once the vehicles start arriving in NZ repairers often see problems that are foreign to the NZ new lookalikes and this can be the start of the bad press which unfortunately can flow onto the NZ new vehicles. Early model used import Nissan Primera’s are a good example of a vehicle we recommend people avoid if fitted with a CVT. NZ new Nissans fitted with this type of transmission however we view in a totally different light.

As I said in my earlier email Honda has had its problems with NZ new CVT’s and we do caution people about their frailties however, in some cases Honda New Zealand do offer some sort of assistance to owners if problems occur based on their set goodwill guidelines. From our experience around 2005-06 does seem to be a clear point for major known CVT problems with the Jazz.

Our Motoring Advice team have had to be careful what is said to people looking to buy a vehicle with a CVT. The advice can vary depending on age/mileage/intended use and where the vehicle has been sourced from.

My current interest is a Daihatsu YRV. 2001, 47,000km, 1300cc; a used import. My uncertainty is that this particular vehicle is turbocharged. This is another aspect that is quite foreign to me.
What are the consequences of turbocharging this type of vehicle in terms of fuel economy, reliability and maintenance costs?

A used import Daihatsu YRV with a 1.3 litre turbocharged engine sends all the wrong signals to me. Adding a turbo is a way of allowing the driver to increase power and therefore the potential to increase fuel economy and maintenance costs. Obviously a lot depends on how and where the car is driven.

The downsides of turbo’s on a vehicle like this is getting a repairer who knows the correct diagnostic and repair methods if there was a problem

After lots of "looking around", it seems highly likely I will end up with a Mazda Demio or Hyundai Getz (TB). I am interested in your comments to mcalder where you opined choosing a younger vehicle over lower kms.
At present I am facing choosing between 2004, 43,000kms,Manual Demio and 2004, 55,000kms, Auto Demio. I have had Autos for the last 21 years. Your thoughts?
What is your opinion if we add in to the equation 2005, 70,000kms, Auto Getz. At that significantly higher kms would your opinion prefer this or the 2004 models?
The total price difference between these vehicles is $1,000, which is of no concern to me.
How about 2002, 12,000kms, Auto at $1,000-$2,000 cheaper.

Apart from the 2002 vehicle there is nothing between these vehicles really. The difference between 04 and 05 is almost insignificant although you may want to check safety features (number of airbags for example) to confirm the spec levels are the same.

You then need to decide what you want to drive auto or manual. In general a manual car should be slightly cheaper than a automatic. If you don’t mind a manual then the decision is easy.

Both the Hyundai and the Mazda have a good reputation for reliability and reasonably low overall running costs.

The 2002 vehicle sounds interesting but once again you need to do some specification comparisons.