took this pic when I was driving in town the other day...

http://rbmotoring.com/albums/album89/acb.jpg

they have newer Celsior (LS430) and Aristo (GS300) taxi here in Japan... too bad I don't have my camara with me when they are around....

Jack, are you stationed in Japan now?

I was watching the "International Channel" in my dorm a few weeks ago and they were showing all the cooooool taxis they have in Japan. Man, it was way too wicked. I wanna move there. :(

I noticed in the picture what seems to be long cement piece in between the front and rear wheels...

Is that to keep car thieves away?

-Anthony

Originally posted by Captain Bone
I noticed in the picture what seems to be long cement piece in between the front and rear wheels...

Is that to keep car thieves away?

-Anthony

That's what it looks like to me. Once the owner/driver is ready to leave, he probably uses some sord of key or card of maybe even pays an attendant to retract the piece and goes on his way.

I think the thing may be made of out metal, though, and not cement. It tooks like that little box thing to the right houses a motors which lifts and retracts the thing.

Yea, in Japan, I'm guessing those are kinda like the Lincoln Town Car limos we have over here. Very nice to us, but I wonder if the Japanese think they're all that?

James

Well, considering alot of Celsiors in Japan dont even have leather (even the current shape!), it is easy to see that they could be just another well-put-together family sedan.

That metal bar under the car is for the parking meter. You cant leave until you pay for it to go down. There is not much problem with theft in Japan - the theft that does go on is 90% attributable to the 'gaijin' (foreigners).

Interesting to note that even though a decent 4WD would roll over those parkingbars, they NEVER do!

haha, an LS400 taxi lives near me here on Guam. It's so sad. :( Chipping paint, smoky mufflers....:(

Originally posted by Dominik

Interesting to note that even though a decent 4WD would roll over those parkingbars, they NEVER do!
So what do you do if your car is lowered? Is that parking bar set to a certain height, or does it stop when it senses the undercarriage of the car?

Jack, are you stationed in Japan now?

yeah.. I usually spend about 3-4 months a year in Japan.. this time I'm here a little longer.. if you need anything here just email me:)

So what do you do if your car is lowered? Is that parking bar set to a certain height, or does it stop when it senses the undercarriage of the car?

it is just a flat piece of metal that raise up when you park.. it stop when it came close to the car... I use to park at those meter parking in my old apartment.. freaking expensive.. its like a dollar for 20 mins during the day and at night it is a dollar an hour.. if I don't drive my car for a day or 2 it get really expansive... now I have my own parking space in my new apartment so I don't have to worry about all that crap..

Originally posted by splitfire
yeah.. I usually spend about 3-4 months a year in Japan.. this time I'm here a little longer.. if you need anything here just email me:)

Thanks for the offer, might have to take you up on that!!!:cool: :thumbup: