About Us
Access Cars have been helping people just like you get great value used cars since starting to import from Japan in 2004.
Your car handpicked from Japan's car auctions
We don't hold stock here (except when we spot one that’s too good to ignore!), but instead hand-pick the best cars from the huge selection that is available in the car auctions in Japan every day. By working closely with our agent in Japan, we can make sure you get the highest quality used car at the best price.
Access Cars have been helping people just like you get great value used cars since starting to import from Japan in 2004.
Your car handpicked from Japan's car auctions
We don't hold stock here (except when we spot one that’s too good to ignore!), but instead hand-pick the best cars from the huge selection that is available in the car auctions in Japan every day. By working closely with our agent in Japan, we can make sure you get the highest quality used car at the best price.
Shockingly high quality!
Yes, quite shocking. Our customers are often amazed by the high standard of used car we obtain for them. Japanese used cars are just streets ahead of the equivalent used vehicle you would be looking at here in New Zealand.
Nothing gives us more pleasure in this work than seeing people's jaw drop at the sight of the car we have helped them buy.
Yes, quite shocking. Our customers are often amazed by the high standard of used car we obtain for them. Japanese used cars are just streets ahead of the equivalent used vehicle you would be looking at here in New Zealand.
Nothing gives us more pleasure in this work than seeing people's jaw drop at the sight of the car we have helped them buy.
Repeat customers and referrals
It won't surprise you that most of my sales are repeat purchases, or referrals from previous customers. Just take a look at some of our testimonials.
It won't surprise you that most of my sales are repeat purchases, or referrals from previous customers. Just take a look at some of our testimonials.
This is not a service for everyone
This highly personalized service may not be for you: If you are just wanting the absolute cheapest car and you are not really concerned about the vehicle’s quality, then you may prefer to look elsewhere.
On the other hand, if you are like our previous happy customers, then you will be the kind of person who appreciates excellent communication, the personal touch and the high quality of vehicle that you will own. In other words, you will be the kind of person who values peace of mind and quality over pinching that last penny.
Where are your cars?
Perhaps you are wondering why we don't have a lot full of cars ready for you to sit in and look at right here in Christchurch. I can understand what you are thinking: In some ways, it does make sense to want to see the car “in the metal” before you buy it.
On the other hand, there are some very good reasons why we haven't chosen this route. We help customers get their cars directly from the car auctions in Japan. Japanese used car auctions are extraordinary, in particular their sheer scale.
Even on the quietest day, there are usually over 6,000 cars to choose from. Then when it gets busy, the numbers go up over 30,000 a day. Yes, that's right– more than 30,000 cars being sold all over Japan all in one day. Now, bring your mind back to New Zealand for a moment, and picture your local car dealership. How many cars can you see in your mind's eye in their yard? Forty? One hundred? Okay, if you are thinking about a really big dealer, perhaps you could see as many as a couple of hundred.
But not 30,000. Not even 6,000.
We’re based in Christchurch, and pretty sure that even if you rounded up all the secondhand cars for sale at the city’s dealers, there would be far fewer than 6000.
But, you say, you only want one car, right? Not a few thousand. Just one. So why should you care if there are huge numbers in these auctions in Japan? Well, it's all about choice.
Very simply put, the more cars there are, the more likely it is that you will be able to find the car that’s perfect for you - the color you want, the model you want, with the leather seats you want, with that low mileage you want, etc. No need to compromise as you would if you only looked at the small selection available to you locally.
So the sheer choice you can get by buying directly from Japan instead of from the dealer down the road is a really big plus point. The other one is this: you know exactly what you are getting.
You see, if you go to a local dealer, there is a pretty high likelihood that the car you are looking at came from Japan originally anyway. The thing is, you are going to have to hope you are dealing with a trustworthy used car salesman when he tells you that it is a great car, because you won't know what the man in Japan told him about it.
On the other hand, if we help you get your car direct, you won't be in the dark: You will have access to all the auction information online, including the inspection report. Our agent provides excellent translations, and we will be here to sift through the different cars to find you the best ones and steer you clear of the duds.
So, there you have it. That is why we buy cars directly from Japan instead of having a yard full of stock here. I hope you agree it makes a lot of sense.
Perhaps you are wondering why we don't have a lot full of cars ready for you to sit in and look at right here in Christchurch. I can understand what you are thinking: In some ways, it does make sense to want to see the car “in the metal” before you buy it.
On the other hand, there are some very good reasons why we haven't chosen this route. We help customers get their cars directly from the car auctions in Japan. Japanese used car auctions are extraordinary, in particular their sheer scale.
Even on the quietest day, there are usually over 6,000 cars to choose from. Then when it gets busy, the numbers go up over 30,000 a day. Yes, that's right– more than 30,000 cars being sold all over Japan all in one day. Now, bring your mind back to New Zealand for a moment, and picture your local car dealership. How many cars can you see in your mind's eye in their yard? Forty? One hundred? Okay, if you are thinking about a really big dealer, perhaps you could see as many as a couple of hundred.
But not 30,000. Not even 6,000.
We’re based in Christchurch, and pretty sure that even if you rounded up all the secondhand cars for sale at the city’s dealers, there would be far fewer than 6000.
But, you say, you only want one car, right? Not a few thousand. Just one. So why should you care if there are huge numbers in these auctions in Japan? Well, it's all about choice.
Very simply put, the more cars there are, the more likely it is that you will be able to find the car that’s perfect for you - the color you want, the model you want, with the leather seats you want, with that low mileage you want, etc. No need to compromise as you would if you only looked at the small selection available to you locally.
So the sheer choice you can get by buying directly from Japan instead of from the dealer down the road is a really big plus point. The other one is this: you know exactly what you are getting.
You see, if you go to a local dealer, there is a pretty high likelihood that the car you are looking at came from Japan originally anyway. The thing is, you are going to have to hope you are dealing with a trustworthy used car salesman when he tells you that it is a great car, because you won't know what the man in Japan told him about it.
On the other hand, if we help you get your car direct, you won't be in the dark: You will have access to all the auction information online, including the inspection report. Our agent provides excellent translations, and we will be here to sift through the different cars to find you the best ones and steer you clear of the duds.
So, there you have it. That is why we buy cars directly from Japan instead of having a yard full of stock here. I hope you agree it makes a lot of sense.
Take the first step to getting your dream car
My name is Kim Shotton and I’m the owner and Director at Access Cars.
I will be very happy to meet you in Christchurch if you are in this area, but I can also help you just as well if you are in Auckland, Wellington or anywhere else in the country.
If you’ve already thought about what kind of car you’re looking for, send us the information on our enquiry form
My name is Kim Shotton and I’m the owner and Director at Access Cars.
I will be very happy to meet you in Christchurch if you are in this area, but I can also help you just as well if you are in Auckland, Wellington or anywhere else in the country.
If you’ve already thought about what kind of car you’re looking for, send us the information on our enquiry form
