> the land is filling up with used imports ...
> ironic isnt it ... that north america would become not only the
> breeding
> ground for new sales
> but also import of used vehicles ...

Nothing wrong with that... New Zealand new-car sales were overtaken by
used-import sales many years ago (in the 80s). The cars coming used from
Japan are generally in mint condition, though they aren't bringing in many
cars older than 1996 now.

> and the way i hear it ... the 16 years old is not only to avoid duty
> but
> also cause in japan and a few other places vehicles older than a
> certain
> year are no longer allowed on the road ..or to be sold or what ever
> configuration of the law required to engage planned obsolescence ...
> but wait before we all go running to jump into these lovely creatures

No NO NO!!! They are NOT "no longer allowed on the road" in Japan. The
registratiuon costs skyrocket when the car exceeds 6 years of age. It is
certainly as protection racket for the manufacturers, but the cars remain
legal at any age.

> .. the
> right hand drive is posing a problem for icbc (insurance corp of BC )
> the
> government owned and operated vehicle insurance program ...
>
http://www.icbc.com/library/research_papers/right-hand-drive_vehicles/index.

There are hazards involving use of wronghanded vehicles (mainly overtaking
if you can't see over the overtaken vehicle, which is where vans are
better than sedans); however in Britain LHD cars are legal and extremely
common.

>  ... they are also a much narrower interior cockpit cabin space
> the distance between the door and the seat is minimal ...
> etc ...

3rd & 4th-generation Hiaces are wider than Delicas and the seats are well
away from the door (it's 4th-gen ones being imported into Canada). 5th-gen
LWB Hiaces are much wider (SWB ones are about the same width as earlier
models).

The van shown at the start of the thread is a MWB. LWB 3rd & 4th-gen
Hiaces are considerably roomier and are instantly recognizable by the
extra small window just behind the slider on the left, and in
single-slider vans the blank slider track groove location on the right.