My name is Ray and I've got an obsession for the Autozam AZ-1/Suzuki Cara. This channel will mostly be my documentation of my vehicles, specifically for the purpose of preserving Autozam AZ-1 and Suzuki Cara knowledge. Of course I will tinker about with other vehicles like my Suzuki Carry too.
Check out my website www.anythingwheeled.com to see the AZ-1 Knowledgebase I am compiling and the custom parts I have developed to keep our little AZ-1s on the road. The goal is to support the community with maintenance and performance parts whereever I can get to.
Contact through email or social media is welcomed, let me know if you need something.
That's the operator's choice and risk to take. Just like the little three wheel car motorcycle things on the road, regular motorcycles and scooters, the scooters that go recklessly ignoring traffic laws, and old classic cars. I understand that MA also allows golf carts on the road too what's up with that? The update after this one clarifies they're only after the kei trucks and van variants but allow everything else. There are non kei vehicles on their example ban list. This shows they don't even know what a kei is. Even though any import from anywhere older than 25 when it gets here is exempt from FMVSS. They cite not meeting FMVSS for reasoning to ban them off the roads but yet allow everything else imported under the same laws even though those fall in the same category of not meeting FMVSS. This is clearly due to activity of lobbying groups for the golf cart and sxs industry as these trucks and vans are superior to those products at a lesser cost.
You can use injectors that fit a Miata and many others. People up the injector size when they add more boost and stuff and use SARD 300cc stuff for like the N2 ecu.
In Russia kremlin and Putin also like to banned rhd jdm imported vehicles and they put very high taxes on 3-5 years old rhd jdm cars and you can’t import old car in Russia Putin don’t like this cars
your previous u-haul trailer with the cara inspired me to get my acty from the port in a high roof ram van! it barely fit and everyone at the port was surprised lmao.
The enclosed one?? Madman. 😆 I didn't think it would fit either but I haven't seen them side by side. I just thought the roof would hit the trailer top when you ramp in.
@@AnythingWheeled The exact model was I think a 2021 RAM ProMaster 2500 159" WB. It just barely clears the very top of the roof/door entrance. When I got to the port, right before loading up the acty, I just got a small flathead and let some air out of the tires to drop the height by a decent amount. I can upload the little I recorded of it if youre interested in seeing!
Reese Explore 1500lb Arched Ramps Aluminum If you're going to use them more than a handful of times I would get the steel version of these. I got them on sale at Tractor Supply Co. I forget what I paid but I see they're $199 now but I'm pretty sure I paid a lot less as I wouldn't have bought it for that lol
It's definitely because of UTV and golf cart sales. It has to be. These are way better than those for a fraction of the price even though they are 25+ years old.
@@AnythingWheeledit means USA monopoly still making not good and expensive atv utv and Japanese vehicles better than new vehicles still after 25-30 years old !! 😊😊😊😊😊
No surprise since that is the Communist State of Taxachusetts! They are trying to be as stupid as NYC. What miserable place to live. We got out of there decades ago before it became a dictatorship full of pompous clowns and communist scum! It definitely has turned into a fly over state!
I choose to buy and drive them that's the risk I'm taking. I used to own a 65 Mustang too. That thing was a death trap in its own way like many other classic cars but I still wanted it. If I go splat I go splat. No different than on my motorcycle.
Hey @AnythingWheeled I got a call back from my Rep (Rep. Donahue) He told me that hes been keeping tabs on this whole thing because he wanted a kei truck too lol He told me that the "Ban" is a temporary stop until the RMV can figure out how to regulate them properly. He talked about the RMV trying to figure out a way to make it so they aren't permitted on highways. Unfortunately because they aren't able to know which cars are keis and which cars are not they banned all Japanese imports until they figure it out. he also brought up NHTSA and FMVSS, I explained that our vehicles are exempt from them per the 25 yr federal import law. I also made sure to reiterate that we don't want what happened to RI and ME to happen here. I mentioned to him that those states as well as permanently banning keis (and JDM vans in the case of Maine) went back and revoked all existing registrations of kei trucks and he seemed surprised by that. He said he will check in with the RMV tomorrow for an update and get back to me. If he doesn't get back to me, I'll chase him down for an answer. On a side note, I really hope people are reaching out to their Reps. It's the only way they can properly gauge how popular these cars are for their voters and with enough people reaching out, they will be more motivated to have the problem fixed. Unfortunately, it sounded like I was one of 2 that reached out to him about this. the other that spent over 100k on an import and now isn't able to register it. There may be light at the end of the tunnel but we all need to make sure we are reaching out to our Reps, don't give up! Is there anything you want me to ask him, say to him in regards to this that you think might help?
Well today it seems like some cars got through. I had a truck I am still trying to register and no go there. Looks like they are for sure just after the trucks and vans and getting their crap together. I'm not sure if I have any specifics to add to it especially if your rep wants one of these trucks too.
@@AnythingWheeled That's good news! What were the models that got through, do you know? I haven't heard back from my rep on an update on his call to the RMV today, I'll follow up probably on Friday (Don't want to be a pest) I heard back from Sen. Michael Moore's Chief of Staff Matthew Ritter and he said the following: "Thanks for reaching out to Senator Moore about this issue. We were recently contacted by another gentleman who shares the same concerns about the recent action taken by the Registry. We’ve begun the process of reaching out to our liaisons to get the lay of the land and see what the next steps toward a solution would look like. As soon as we have some more information, I’d be happy to give you an update. Due to the holiday and the complicated regulatory nature of the issue, I don’t expect that we’ll get anything solved immediately, but I’d be happy to have a member of our staff check in next week to discuss this further and share any news." I will check back in here with any update I get. I'm hoping I can get through with my Isuzu Fargo but because the registry has "Isuzu Mini Trucks" on the ban list they might not let me through (Even though Isuzu doesn't make a mini truck) I'll update you here on how that goes as well.
Did you get to speak to the rep himself or one of his peoples? That's cool that this would affect some of them directly too like us peons. Oops forgot the cars: Suzuki Kei (ironic name 😄) Suzuki Cara, Honda Step wagon, and Nissan Pao from fresh paperwork. I wonder if the clerk Googles the vehicle name to see what it looks like to make the decision.
@@AnythingWheeled yes sir! In my original comment, Rep Donahue reached out to me yesterday via phone. The call lasted about 15 minutes. From what I was able to gather, he is a real down to Earth car guy with an interest in these kei trucks and cars himself. His interest in them started when him and his family took a trip to Japan and he got to see them in action. He even mentioned that he has a buddy that works in MassDOT that has a love for them too. So there seems to be love for these cars already in the local government, I just hope they can push a bit on their side to keep our love for the Keis alive. We’ll see what happens. Unfortunately the senator himself didn’t reach out it was only a staffer but at least it’s something. Interesting that some keis are getting through.. I was planning to go to Duxbury RMV when I bring my Fargo up here from Newark because that was the latest RMV story I was able to find where someone got through lol do you know if you need a TWIC escort from that port? I’m having trouble finding info on it. On a side note, car from Japan had a honda stepwagon on their site that had wood paneling, I was seriously eyeballing that.. it’s just 😙👌 Have you heard anything from your rep?
I've only heard from Sen. John Keenan's constituent person and Rep. Bruce Ayers staffer. Not a peep from any one else. Newark doesn't need TWIC, just make sure you have a hi viz safety vest. Careful with carfromjapan, check around to see if that car is available. I just bought a Toyota Century that was listed there for a little less than 12k. Found the same photos and car on beforward for a little less than 10k and bought it from Rodrigo at Cardealpage for $8800 shipped.
6'5" Cappo owner here. I pull the seat lever so it leans forward, push the base as far back as you can, then get in and push the back of the seat as hard as you can to make the seat as far back and leaned as it can be. I take the sun visors out on both sides. You can remove the rear view mirror if you want to remove that blind spot as well. I also remove the door pulls. Smaller steering wheel, and finally drive without shoes. You're also making the number one "getting into small cars" mistake with your leg. You need to put your knee in first under the wheel, and not your foot first then sweep the knee under the wheel. And falling into the car helps not hit your head.
I found a good spot for me recently to not touch the top but it gives up some knee space. I slid the seat forward a notch or two and made it more upright. It doesn't fix my visibility much but that's just how these are. The sun visor removal is a good mod. Getting in and out of this is tough compared to my Cara/AZ-1 because of the slopey roof. Convertible mode makes it much easier. I assume there's a way to bolt the seat to the floor minus the rail? It'll be much better like that. My friend is 5'6 and the car is perfect for him as is 😆
I've got a similar Walk-Through. Mine is a 1993 and also does not have the side windows which I like as I've got a 32 inch TV mounted on the wall behind the drivers seat. I've had it a couple years and it's a blast to drive as long as you are not in a hurry. 55 mph on flat level road. I'm sure your wife will enjoy it‼️
She is loving it! I need to look into how to make it handle a little better maybe a different wheel and tire setup. The thing understeers on a long sweeping turn like in a rotary and it is quite spooky. We want to do the TRXX fuel injected turbo engine swap so that will make it just a little faster to work with normal traffic.
I have about 15 of these vehicles. A Montana LLC reg is quite expensive for what I'm doing considering I'll only keep the stuff I like. All the places that do.the registration stuff want like $1100+ to do one vehicle. Its one thing if I want to keep it long term for a few years but if I don't like it then it's not that viable.
@@AnythingWheeled my theory also why MA could be doing this and yes I live in MA could be the most obvious thing MONEY $$ the more a vehicle is the more tax they can take on it and continue to get
We need to lobby for better import laws, 1 so they can f off trying to tell us what can be registered/titled/etc or not, and 2 to end dealer monopoly - you know, capitalism and "global markets/economy" are lovely when you outsource labor, but when I want to buy, say, an RS3 hatchback, or a Golf GTE that isn't sold in the US (because it's not a truck or SUV evidently!) I have to wait 25 years and by then gas engines will be illegal to own. We need to abolish the 25 year rule for models that aren't sold in the US, period. The dealers can get their cut by facilitating factory allocations, shipping, reg service or whatever they need, and the "road safety" card can't be played for most new vehicles worldwide, and virtually everyone else's imports have better headlights too. All in favor of good ol' capitalism - if people here are selling cars at a markup or won't budge on price, perhaps someone in Europe or Asia can get me what I want shipped here for less? And if I want a 2 door coupe that's not American or German I could easily import an Alpine from France and be done with it... oh, the possibilities!
Them pushing safety regulations doesn't make much sense. The market will resolve the necessary safety as is. Some people don't care and just want a cool car. I am the one spending my money and I accept it's like that. It's not like I'm being lied to, I know it isn't as safe as another vehicle but I am choosing to buy it anyways.
I've been told you can tune it better to fix it. Even though keisport insists the tune is good as is. I have been fighting an issue with my car recently so I haven't gotten around to it.
Well we probably have a better chance to undo this than Healey's gun crap and this isn't that clear and solid yet especially if you already have it. Unless it's easy for you to flee it's worth seeing this through.
@@AnythingWheeled while i respect the stay and fight sentiment, i think its worth moving to a purple state where your vote actually matters. things arent going to change in MA until they reach south american levels of depravity and economic mismanagement. that will come faster if more sensible people leave for states you can actually fight for.
Reach out to your rep! if it's rep Donahue, I already got the ball rolling with him so reach out as well. The more people reach out and make the Reps aware, the more of a chance we have. We have no chance if all people do is blow hot air on line and then go to bed.
Begs the question, what is the specific safety failures? And what would need to be modified in the design to meet safety standards? Designing an American clone is tempting.
@AnythingWheeled this article from NHTSA from 2010 I believe, is good information. Sounds like NHTSA in the past did not consider mini-trucks "motor vehicles" (in terms if street legal) as they were used on farms and campuses. I think because the manufacturer did not certify the vehicles to the safety standards, they are considered not valid. www.nhtsa.gov/interpretations/09-001270as
I'm 6'3", and I fit in my Cappuccino, but I was banging my head into the roof over bumps, so I installed a pair of Tillett B5 seats that lowered me onto the floorboard. I now have tons of head room and excellent visibility. It's just...awkward getting out when I park next to a curb 😂
Low seats are key for these little keis. I have since figured out if I adjust my seat forward a notch to sacrifice knee room plus make it more upright I can sit better but I can't see forward. Then deleting the sun visor will also yield an inch of better visibility at the top of the windshield.
I have one and have no issues getting literally anything I want for my 1996 mod. Also I have a bad back and have zero issues with my back getting sore, I drove mine 1100km in 1 day when I picked it up, drive from state to state, also no issue with my seat feeling offset. Oh and I don't have any fuel cut out issues.
I get the lowering gauge, but I never had the cutout issue you mention, I always fill it when it's close to empty. And I drive it. Street hard. Most people that sit in mine comment about how the seats are comfortable... Why do you even have the roof on?!? it's sunny! Visor delete is the first thing I did, and the traffic lights in the USA are installed much higher than Canada. I have to look through the targa top when I visit...
I've seen a few people complain about this on the FB groups. I verified it happens to me after 1.5 gallons of fuel less than full. It's tolerable then but that's when it starts. I don't like the sun, I like the darkness *hisss* I only top off at night or when it's not sunny.
The real questions are who funds the MVAA, and why an old paper they had done (it's been around since when these vehicle really WERE illegal) and who is behind the legislative agenda. I see two possible answers: either the ATV industry, who feels that minis will wipe out their overpriced motorcycle based trucks, or the manufacturers themseles who want to distance themselves from non compliant foreign products. Mazda is a minor player in this market, and Subaru doesn't sell trucks, so Toyota, who is big into trucks, or Honda, which is just BIG *and that also sells ATVs. Find the money, find the answer.
The Honda Beat has more interior room, and makes a better every day driver. As an older driver, 50+ years old, my back would throw a fit with all the contortion you need to get in and out of the cappuccino. Though its slower, I think the Beat would be a better fit.
The Beat interior is bigger I didn't get to try it with the roof on but it is slow as molasses I can't live with it 😆. I started with a Cara/AZ-1 and still think it's the best one of the three for me... The Cappuccino definitely has potential with some mods though. I should look into a manual one too.
The Cappuccino is waaay better looking. Have doubled the power in mine and done a heap of suspension mods, it's a weapon through the hills and more than quick enough.
Again, the whole basis the RMV is doing this doesn’t make sense. RMV, how is a vehicle expected to meet the requirements of something that it is exempted from meeting?? Asinine
@@repairvehicleI have about 33000 miles on it now. Oil likes to disappear. By 5000 miles I could be down 1.5-2qt of oil. Faster if there was load on the motor like towing or road trips fully loaded with people. The engine makes an odd startup noise sometimes haven't figured out how to make it consistent. People report their lifters die but I seem to be ok still. I had random interior stuff not work and be replaced (power seat control switch, front in dash speaker, something else I don't remember.) passenger side air shock assembly. This vehicle is meh. It lacks luxury features for being a luxury vehicle. The only thing it has going for it is supercruise and its size for cargo space behind the 3rd row. It also hanes very well due to magneride and air ride I suppose.
@@AnythingWheeled thank you sharing your experience. I’m debating whether to upgrade from my 2012 sequoia to Escalade or navigator. Maybe my best option is to have cargo carrier for sequoia. It’s been trouble free vehicle for 10 years of owning and over 100k miles on it.
