Here in B.C. we had a stink a few years ago over privately imported vehicles from Japan. Under Canadian law you can
privately import
anything you like if it's over 15 years old, and in the mid-noughties a lot of interesting
vehicles started to turn 15. Since they are essentially worthless in Japan, but well looked-after, they're a bargain
for anybody who wants a used car. Japan has made a major industry of exporting their used cars. Unlike
many other jurisdictions, cars with the steering wheel on the "wrong" side are road-legal here.
The car dealers threw a fit. They claimed that right-hand drive vehicles were the enemy of all that is free and right and holy,
but were never to adequately explain why. I wondered why they were concerned about their ability to compete
with 15 year old used cars. Again, they were never able to adequately explain why.
It's died down. For now. But you never know what they're going to try next.
I bought a 1992 Mitsubishi L300 Delica in 2007. I love it.
A touch expensive to run, but ridiculously practical and it will go anywhere with shift-on-the-fly 4WD. It
also has a delightfully quirky style.
...laura