Thinking Of Importing A Jap Car

[jEtONiT]

Just pondering over this atm.. Taking a look at some options.

In about 6 months to a year I'm looking at buying a turbo. (Either GT-R, WRX, EVO, etc)

Looking at various import websites like THIS one, the cars seem decent priced.

Just some basic stupid questions.. Is it difficult/expensive to import and register a jap car?

Can anybody do it, or do u have to be a licensed importer?

For example, (insurance aside) if I was able to buy a GT-R or STI for 20 grand from japan, how much would it approximately cost me to get it to my driveway, with rego/compliance etc?

Lastly, do you think its worth it?

All input (besides, stfu, buy a T) is welcome.

Cheers,

Jet.

[Chich]

stfu buy a t.....

sorry you asked for it...

I'm pretty sure you need to be a licensed importer to bring cars in and then you need to comply them. this was the case when I enquired however I only enquired about u.s cars (LHD) which need to be converted to RHD best to talk to an importer and go through your options...

[Blair.]

There are lots of people who can take care of importing and compliancing the car for you.

Speak to importers in your area for an idea, also nissan silvia .com has a section about importing and there is a lot of good infomation on there.

Or there is google.

[smicky]

If u havent already decided on a car you want... take a look at a Galant VR4...

All wheel drive and a bit of a beast!

Just a thought also...

[Dirty32]

I know a person that imported some skylines himself privately but im not sure what process he had to follow to have them complied...

Its probably just as easy to buy through a imports and compliance company...

Normally all fee's including rego, shipping, compliance and the cost of the vehicle so you know how much it costs before you commit.

I would do it, just gotta make sure your happy to choose by seeing photo's only...

[trevs]

I looked into buying an imported car a few months ago myself and its a major pain in the ass unless you buy it with all papers already done , remember the ppl selling these things in car yards have contacts with ppl in compliance and rego we can only dream of and from what ive been told a lot of money is handed out under the table to help speed things along .

one other thing to bring in something less than about 5 years old from japan is even harder and that's why their are so many 5 and 6 year old evos and wrx imports on parramatta road not because there cheaper just less hasel to get here

Edited 04/06/08 01:59 PM by Dagabond

[INPURSUIT]

yes you can import a can on your own, my best mate imported two soarers and a twin turbo supra himself. it took about 6 months for the car to get over to australia, there were a fair few complications in getting the car roadworthy to australian standards, there were several days of work on the car which he did himself to bring it up to scratch to get approval for registration, the main thing to look out for is modifications, the car cannot be moddified in any way from its original form, when importing both the supra and soarer, he had to put the stock wheels back on it for it to comply with australian regulations, the supra TT had minor work done to it, pod filter, bov, cat back exhaust, all had to be reverted back to stock for it to gain approval.

if the car is stock it shouldnt be too hard to import youself, there would still be certain things you have to change, I think the seatbelts are one thing from memory.

in regards to shipping costs andf other costs im not too sure

if you wanna speak to me more about it feel free to pm me

cheers

[jEtONiT]

thanks for the replies guys..

it gives me alot to think about.

might make a few phone calls tomorrow to some importers and see how I go.

if worse comes to worse, I might just move overseas.

R34 GTR for under 25k.. wheres my Japanese dictionary?

[Dirty32]

Mate in a few years, I plan on a 34 GTR...

Yeh, your best bet is to speak with the import workshops... Make sure they have compliance plates for the model u want to import and they will be able to oversee the whole thing.

U pay them and its on your door registered and complied.

[Dillz]

Mate I looked into it before I got the T, buy the time you factor in all the costs it's just as easy and probably a better idea to buy one already here. There are sh*t loads around and some bargain GTR's out there you just got to take the time to hunt them down.