bitburgslim
07-29-2009, 04:10 AM
Ive been meaning to write this for awhile but like most busy people havent been able to find the time.
Im hoping to maintain this thread as kind of an online journal of the Love the C4 gets overseas here in the land of the rising sun. So naturally future posts will be added to it - and I do hope they do not come off as showboating or whatever - just proof that the C4 is still a treasured car an ocean away from the states.
I picked up a 90' Vette Black drop top with 18 inch chrome dipped wheels. I had posted pics here but I guess I hadnt posted enough threads and they dissapeared? Ill post them later ( again ) if I can score some time.
As for Vette weather - Japan is actually really GREY most of the time with a chance of rain being the lingering factor in everyday cruising. Feb to June is the best months - Summertime its HUMID and after September its a cold one baby. ANYWAY
I had had the car maybe 3 days when I drove thru a town called Tachikawa, its a suburb of Tokyo ( I live in a suburb of Tokyo as well ) and a large older group of Japanese (tourists?) all pretty much stopped what they were doing and a few of the older Japanese guys gave the Vette a SALUTE?! All I could do was wave and smile really.
On that note older Japanese guys LOVE THE C4! Ive had at least 2 Police officers compliment the car! Normally I hate dealing with cops but this was a relief on both occasions ;) I once had an older parking attendant as we were touristing some shrine flag my car over to his best parking spot where everyone could see it coming from the street. As my girl and I left and made it towards the shine, we snapped a pic of him and his (wife?) both INSPECTING the C4 as it sat right next to his perch in the lot. We knew the Vette was in good hands at that point :)
As for the younger crowd - my girl and I were coming back from cruising around Mt. Fuji - we were stopped at a light in some Japanese prefecture and Ill never forget - a sizeable group of young Japanese kids on their lil bmx bikes all STOPPED. And they All took notice of the C4 - they pointed and stared and gazed - it was a reminiscing feeling realizing what a Awesome car can do to a kid - they didnt know what MAKE it was but they KNEW....it was HAWT!!
Having a C4 over here is kind of like having a Skyline in the states I imagine. Ive been living in Japan for 7 years and personally never really could care less for them even though you can roll a mid 90s model for VERY CHEAP. Less than 4K anyway.
As for the good stuff - Ive caught MORE than a few stealing glances from the pettite young ladies that roam this country. And surprisingly as I was coming out of a restaurant one time 2 30 something ladies were both examining the car up and down as I was coming out. Japanese people are very guarded so when they do come out of their shell for stuff like this its very eye opening. Of course I said the usual - I mentioned the year and that it was American specd all the way.
The American crowd or "Gaijins" have been caught paying plenty attention to the C4 as well.
I dont know much about "Obama's dream of crossing racial lines"-- He should take a lesson from Chevrolet because the C4 has been doing that for years -- and Ive seen it first hand for myself. Ive had more than a few "brothas" come over and say things like "man that IS A NICE VETTE or maaan you committed highway robbery when got that machine". Heck, even had a Puerto Rican broad stop to tell me that I shouldnt wash it and that it was KLEEEEN just the way it was at a carwash. As for the good ol boy crowd theyve been just as endearing, one even stopped and followed the C4 to get an oil change and inspected her like an over paid food inspector.
I never let this stuff get to my head though- buying a Vette doesent = Ur cool - its just kind of like being the dad of a supermodel and sitting there knodding thinking ya..shes mine :)
I havent lived in the states for awhile and I know like most people its the land of NEW NEW and BLING BLING. And maybe alot of Americans have pushed the C4 out of the cool car rolodex in their minds. Perhaps they think of the big and bad C5 or the space age supersonic C6s is what a Corvette really is.
In any case The C4 Corvette still holds up in many eyes around the world as a symbol of American engineering and that sexy lil word.....STYLE :cool:
To be perfectly honest theres times with all the looks this ride gets over here that I feel like Im some guy driving a Ferrari or something. But its not a Ferrari. Or anyother over priced import.
Its just a C4 Corvette that was made with beautiful curves and that look that says "Come ON...lets go for a RIDE!"
Ill do my best to maintain this journal of Far East love mainly for the guy out there who has a C4 and maybe thinks nobody really notices its sleekness. Dont You ever, ever, ever, believe that. Because if you do ever think about ditching that C4 for something else...do yourself a favor and find someone who can import/sell your ride in Japan...so you can at least give her the attention she deserves...and has been missing in the states.
:cheers:
Im hoping to maintain this thread as kind of an online journal of the Love the C4 gets overseas here in the land of the rising sun. So naturally future posts will be added to it - and I do hope they do not come off as showboating or whatever - just proof that the C4 is still a treasured car an ocean away from the states.
I picked up a 90' Vette Black drop top with 18 inch chrome dipped wheels. I had posted pics here but I guess I hadnt posted enough threads and they dissapeared? Ill post them later ( again ) if I can score some time.
As for Vette weather - Japan is actually really GREY most of the time with a chance of rain being the lingering factor in everyday cruising. Feb to June is the best months - Summertime its HUMID and after September its a cold one baby. ANYWAY
I had had the car maybe 3 days when I drove thru a town called Tachikawa, its a suburb of Tokyo ( I live in a suburb of Tokyo as well ) and a large older group of Japanese (tourists?) all pretty much stopped what they were doing and a few of the older Japanese guys gave the Vette a SALUTE?! All I could do was wave and smile really.
On that note older Japanese guys LOVE THE C4! Ive had at least 2 Police officers compliment the car! Normally I hate dealing with cops but this was a relief on both occasions ;) I once had an older parking attendant as we were touristing some shrine flag my car over to his best parking spot where everyone could see it coming from the street. As my girl and I left and made it towards the shine, we snapped a pic of him and his (wife?) both INSPECTING the C4 as it sat right next to his perch in the lot. We knew the Vette was in good hands at that point :)
As for the younger crowd - my girl and I were coming back from cruising around Mt. Fuji - we were stopped at a light in some Japanese prefecture and Ill never forget - a sizeable group of young Japanese kids on their lil bmx bikes all STOPPED. And they All took notice of the C4 - they pointed and stared and gazed - it was a reminiscing feeling realizing what a Awesome car can do to a kid - they didnt know what MAKE it was but they KNEW....it was HAWT!!
Having a C4 over here is kind of like having a Skyline in the states I imagine. Ive been living in Japan for 7 years and personally never really could care less for them even though you can roll a mid 90s model for VERY CHEAP. Less than 4K anyway.
As for the good stuff - Ive caught MORE than a few stealing glances from the pettite young ladies that roam this country. And surprisingly as I was coming out of a restaurant one time 2 30 something ladies were both examining the car up and down as I was coming out. Japanese people are very guarded so when they do come out of their shell for stuff like this its very eye opening. Of course I said the usual - I mentioned the year and that it was American specd all the way.
The American crowd or "Gaijins" have been caught paying plenty attention to the C4 as well.
I dont know much about "Obama's dream of crossing racial lines"-- He should take a lesson from Chevrolet because the C4 has been doing that for years -- and Ive seen it first hand for myself. Ive had more than a few "brothas" come over and say things like "man that IS A NICE VETTE or maaan you committed highway robbery when got that machine". Heck, even had a Puerto Rican broad stop to tell me that I shouldnt wash it and that it was KLEEEEN just the way it was at a carwash. As for the good ol boy crowd theyve been just as endearing, one even stopped and followed the C4 to get an oil change and inspected her like an over paid food inspector.
I never let this stuff get to my head though- buying a Vette doesent = Ur cool - its just kind of like being the dad of a supermodel and sitting there knodding thinking ya..shes mine :)
I havent lived in the states for awhile and I know like most people its the land of NEW NEW and BLING BLING. And maybe alot of Americans have pushed the C4 out of the cool car rolodex in their minds. Perhaps they think of the big and bad C5 or the space age supersonic C6s is what a Corvette really is.
In any case The C4 Corvette still holds up in many eyes around the world as a symbol of American engineering and that sexy lil word.....STYLE :cool:
To be perfectly honest theres times with all the looks this ride gets over here that I feel like Im some guy driving a Ferrari or something. But its not a Ferrari. Or anyother over priced import.
Its just a C4 Corvette that was made with beautiful curves and that look that says "Come ON...lets go for a RIDE!"
Ill do my best to maintain this journal of Far East love mainly for the guy out there who has a C4 and maybe thinks nobody really notices its sleekness. Dont You ever, ever, ever, believe that. Because if you do ever think about ditching that C4 for something else...do yourself a favor and find someone who can import/sell your ride in Japan...so you can at least give her the attention she deserves...and has been missing in the states.
:cheers: