importing cars

[Xtempo]

I've been watching car videos on youtube some of them are imports to another country from Japan. I wonder why. I've imported movies but it seems that a car would be much more expensive and complicated to import.

Have any of you want to do this?

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

I've been watching car videos on youtube some of them are imports to another country from Japan. I wonder why. I've imported movies but it seems that a car would be much more expensive and complicated to import.

Have any of you want to do this?

I've never wanted to do this but I know that importing the real Skyline from Japan was popular back in the late 90's and early 00's. I don't know if they were street legal here to be honest. There was a place or two that specialized in importing them. Also, the JDM (Japanese domestic market) is or was pretty big in the import scene over here. It's cool to have a fixed up Civic but having a RHD (right-hand drive) Civic would be even cooler.

[Xtempo]

I don't think I would ever import anything car wise but this video {below} was a good deal though the truck is an 80s truck but for around $30.00 you buy a lot of them but of course shipping it here and other things make it more expensive.

I guess there would be other markets than just the skyline cars. I think some of the vans are popular for some reason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QO7...ature=youtu.be

[civiclx]

Oh I suppose that there are other cars that would be sought after as well. I know the Nissan Silvia S15 was popular. To be honest, I'm not sure if we had an exact equal to it over here. I know we had a 240sx but I'm not sure how close it was to the S15. I was in Japan for a little over a year and it's kind of neat to see a Honda Integra or a Toyota Altezza. I was WAAAY into that scene when I was there so that was cool.

Have you heard of drifting by chance and if so, do you like it?

[sk33tr]

me and some friends looked into importing a skyline back in about 2001.

it wasn't cheap...so we didn't look any further, lol. the import fees and taxes alone were just about as much as the car was going to cost in usd. so then i started thinking about cars that weren't as high-priced, like the integra type-r wtih rhd. but still, the taxes and import fees were outrageous. so that put it to bed rather quickly on our idea.

[civiclx]

sk33tr, hmm...hmm...I'll have to find some of my car pics from Japan. I can't remember if I ever rode in a Skyline before. Knew a guy that had an R-33 but I don't think I ever rode with him. I knew a guy that I worked with who was discharged and stayed in Japan. I think he was waiting on his Japanese wife's paperwork to go back to the States with him. I think, I'm not positive, but I think he bought a used R-33 for $3,500

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by civiclx

Oh I suppose that there are other cars that would be sought after as well. I know the Nissan Silvia S15 was popular. To be honest, I'm not sure if we had an exact equal to it over here. I know we had a 240sx but I'm not sure how close it was to the S15. I was in Japan for a little over a year and it's kind of neat to see a Honda Integra or a Toyota Altezza. I was WAAAY into that scene when I was there so that was cool.

Have you heard of drifting by chance and if so, do you like it?

I have no idea how to drift myself but I have seen Initial D. I guess its alright.

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

I have no idea how to drift myself but I have seen Initial D. I guess its alright.

I was just thinking of the Option videos from Japan. I've only seen a couple but they were pretty cool. I got the impression that Japanese people don't care too much about wrecking their cars. This is street/mountain drifting not sanctioned track drifting. Like they would hit guardrails or roll cars and then pose with them...or maybe they didn't do that all the time but I'm pretty sure I saw a clip like that at least once lol

I did see just a little drifting when I was in Japan and it was cool.

[Mr.Twinks]

If you are serious about importing cars from Japan. Give International Vehicle Importers a call or email. There are a lot of rules that people get mixed up. Basically a car that is 25 years old can be imported. But there are caveats (mainly CA) that have to be researched. Right now a few folks are trying to import a MKIV Toyota twin turbo Supra. Yes they are approaching 25 years old in 2018. But the Feds need crash data for these RHD Supra. So that could mean possible issues for that car when you try to register the car.

The S15 isn't legal to import and a guy got in serious trouble for having one a few years back.

I don't necessarily like these laws faced on a very small % of cars but I don't make up the laws.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by civiclx

I was just thinking of the Option videos from Japan. I've only seen a couple but they were pretty cool. I got the impression that Japanese people don't care too much about wrecking their cars. This is street/mountain drifting not sanctioned track drifting. Like they would hit guardrails or roll cars and then pose with them...or maybe they didn't do that all the time but I'm pretty sure I saw a clip like that at least once lol

I did see just a little drifting when I was in Japan and it was cool.

i'll have to look up some of that. I saw some of that in the Initial D movie. Do you know how much of them get caught drifting? I assume its illegal on the regular roads.

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

If you are serious about importing cars from Japan. Give International Vehicle Importers a call or email. There are a lot of rules that people get mixed up. Basically a car that is 25 years old can be imported. But there are caveats (mainly CA) that have to be researched. Right now a few folks are trying to import a MKIV Toyota twin turbo Supra. Yes they are approaching 25 years old in 2018. But the Feds need crash data for these RHD Supra. So that could mean possible issues for that car when you try to register the car.

The S15 isn't legal to import and a guy got in serious trouble for having one a few years back.

I don't necessarily like these laws faced on a very small % of cars but I don't make up the laws.

I am not that interested maybe something down the road but I rather find a car in the US but I'm not ready to get another one either.

It seems as far as the videos I have seen I wouldn't mind a Kei truck like the posted clip but there are more out there than I know about.

[Mr.Twinks]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

i'll have to look up some of that. I saw some of that in the Initial D movie. Do you know how much of them get caught drifting? I assume its illegal on the regular roads.


I am not that interested maybe something down the road but I rather find a car in the US but I'm not ready to get another one either.

It seems as far as the videos I have seen I wouldn't mind a Kei truck like the posted clip but there are more out there than I know about.

A dealership in Texas had one of those Kei trucks sitting on Bronze TE37 Volk wheels! It was pretty cool!

[civiclx]

Xtempo, I'm not actually sure if drifting is illegal there on public roads. Hmm, I would guess that it isn't and it can be ticketed but I'm not positive. I used to hang out with this car crew and the leader was this bald guy... but we'd go up to the mountains and see if we can hear anyone drifting. One time we went to the docks when it had rained or it was raining (easier to slide and it was like a big open lot so it was safer) and that was pretty cool. I've been to quite a few import car shows but I've never been to a drifting event in the States I don't think.
The few Option videos that I saw were on VHS but I'm assuming this is just a short 1.5 minute clip from one of their videos that you can check out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAqPl9p0cpk

And we're talking about Japanese but I'm going to have to go back and ask my mom because I thought she said that she had heard it was or could be cheaper to go back to Germany and buy one of their cars and have it imported. So roundtrip airfare, cost of vehicle and cost of importing it cheaper than the cost here? I know that sounds fishy but that would really be something if it were true.

Mr Twinks, I have a feeling you know this but they have some crazy vans in Japan. I never saw any crazy ones on the street but I saw them in magazines at this one store. What I did see though were a lot of clean vans; slammed maybe on air ride, perhaps kitted out with some nice rims. The way I remember it, the most common Hondas that I saw fixed up weren't Civics and Integras but Odysseys and Accord wagons

[sk33tr]

thought of this thread earlier today when i was on the way home.

i work in an office park with a bunch of different office buildings with several different ways into each lot. as i was coming down the main road, that has all the side road entrances off of it, on my way to the main highway, i came up to an intersection. the light was red as i was coming up to it, then it changed to green. i was going slow enough that i saw a very nice R32 coming up to the red light on the cross-street. it was a medium gray color and rhd. it was very nice looking. i wish i could've stopped and talked to him about it.

it looked just like this one. although i don't remember if the rims were the same or not, they could've been different. i was paying too much attention to the car, itself, to notice the rims, lol.

[Show spoiler]

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by sk33tr

thought of this thread earlier today when i was on the way home.

i work in an office park with a bunch of different office buildings with several different ways into each lot. as i was coming down the main road, that has all the side road entrances off of it, on my way to the main highway, i came up to an intersection. the light was red as i was coming up to it, then it changed to green. i was going slow enough that i saw a very nice R32 coming up to the red light on the cross-street. it was a medium gray color and rhd. it was very nice looking. i wish i could've stopped and talked to him about it.

it looked just like this one. although i don't remember if the rims were the same or not, they could've been different. i was paying too much attention to the car, itself, to notice the rims, lol.

[Show spoiler]

Wait, are you just thinking about something that happened in the past or did you see this car today? I was going to leave the shifty eyes smiley but then I realized you didn't actually say that you saw it today. I believe you 100% but at the same time, it's like this post is less than a week old and then you just happen to see an R-32 today? I live in California and was really into (outside looking in) the import scene and I don't think that I've ever seen a Skyline driving on the road in my whole life. So no, I'm not calling BS but I'm just thinking, reaaaally?

[sk33tr]

Originally Posted by civiclx

Wait, are you just thinking about something that happened in the past or did you see this car today? I was going to leave the shifty eyes smiley but then I realized you didn't actually say that you saw it today. I believe you 100% but at the same time, it's like this post is less than a week old and then you just happen to see an R-32 today? I live in California and was really into (outside looking in) the import scene and I don't think that I've ever seen a Skyline driving on the road in my whole life. So no, I'm not calling BS but I'm just thinking, reaaaally?

yep, it was today.

yeah, yeah, i know. pics or it didn't happen. well, i was driving....sooooo......


and thinking about it more, i think i've actually seen this same car, back in february. on valantines' day, i help my friends with their floral business by making deliveries. well, i made a delivery to the local at&t office here and there was an r32, same color, sitting in the lot. i took a picture of it and sent it to my best friend, but i can't find the damn pic now.

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by sk33tr

yep, it was today.

yeah, yeah, i know. pics or it didn't happen. well, i was driving....sooooo......

Wow, that's really something and pics would have been nice but it was totally unexpected and you were driving as you said. Well you might see the person again because that's a car you'll certainly notice when you see it.

[Mr.Twinks]

R32s are great but there are a few issues to look for. First is the stock oil pump. The 'key' on the oil pump can slip and fail at high rpms. Look for modded N1 pumps or late model R33 engines (iirc) in R32s. HICAS (4 wheel steering) can leak and fail. A lot of people delete it and save a bit of weight. Then the syncro in the gearbox can get grindy, mainly 3rd gear. Stock ceramic wheel turbines can fail too. You can rebuild them with steel alloy internals.


The good is once you address these issues or buy one already fixed up, they are fun rides! Silky smooth acceleration with hardly any lag. These things handle like Porsches out of the box. They respond well to mods and you can take a fuse out and make the car rwd instead of awd. I found either you can risk it and buy through an action to save money. But I would pay a bit more and get one from a State side dealer. Montu motors in Florida and International Vehicle Importers out in CA/WA are probably the two I would buy a R32 sight unseen.


I was in the market for one but my wife hates the look of it. She likes the R34 but unless it is a legal Motorex car, and you have at least $100k, you are out of luck. Be very careful of scammers and guys on EBay claiming they have all paperwork for a R33 or R34, later you find the Feds at your door taking your car.

[civiclx]

I have legit R-33 taillights that you can buy if you're interested

[Mr.Twinks]

Originally Posted by civiclx

I have legit R-33 taillights that you can buy if you're interested

I think my wife wouldn't have an issue with those!


I also forgot, since you are in CA (Bay Area), there is another 'inspection' associated with the sale of a legal R32 in CA ONLY. It is about a $10K addition to the sale price to complete the process, then you can get it registered. Bunch of BS but the only way around it (I think) is to buy one already registered in CA. Matt Farah (The Smoking Tire channel on YT) had one and sold it for more than he paid for it.

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

I think my wife wouldn't have an issue with those!


I also forgot, since you are in CA (Bay Area), there is another 'inspection' associated with the sale of a legal R32 in CA ONLY. It is about a $10K addition to the sale price to complete the process, then you can get it registered. Bunch of BS but the only way around it (I think) is to buy one already registered in CA. Matt Farah (The Smoking Tire channel on YT) had one and sold it for more than he paid for it.

I'm going to have to find my pics from Japan for sure. They're old 35mm so I'd have to get them scanned first. I actually bought some car parts for people back in the States while I was there. That was kind of fun.

I could never afford to have a Skyline imported. I've owned Japanese since '98 but I'd switch to German in a heartbeat if I could.

Regarding the taillights, why the heck would anyone want just the taillights I know, but if you know anyone that would want them for whatever reason, I really do have a pair. I got them back in '03 or '04 with the intention of doing a taillight swap on my civic but we never got around to it.