importing cars

[Musashi]

anybody know how or where to go to import Whole cars from japan? i don't want to spend hours, dollars and such turning my american hatch into a japanese hatch when i could just start out with a japanese hatchback straight up!

someone must know how!

[EM1_ProJect]

im not sure how...but i actally just found out that my friend's dad lives in Japan and i asked him how much parts would be from there. i can ask him to ask his dad how to import a car?

[Beelzebubba]

They're are cars from Europe called "grey market" cars usually because they don't meet all safety and/or emission standards. I don't think JDM cars meet US side impact standards so you would probably have to modify the doors.

[Musashi]

werd, yeah, any info would be appreciated! grey market huh? i'm searching right now

[JDM_EJ94EX]

Dont do it... it cost more to shipp the car then it self then on top of that the paper work is a bitch and then on top of that u have to get the car to US specs..... Just look on Ebay any car u want is more likey here in the sates because some other jack ass payed and understood he lost alot of money doing it.... www.urbanracer.com alot of people sell Jspec cars there i saw a REAL type R for around 7grand.... Dont IMPORT man inless u know ALOT OF people... and if u dont wanna take the time to do ur reserch then u dont really want the car because u would find out every littel thing about ur baby

[wake_rider]

isurance on an imported car is really high. A guy I know imported a crx and thought he had everything covered expense wise, until he went to get insurance on it. I don't know the exact figures, but I'll try to get a hold of him and find out...

[EluSive2K]

Like i said in a previous post... If you want a True JDM car.. Join the military, get stationed that way, and when you come back, they ship the car for free!!
:thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up

[Tom]

try www.batfa.com they can import a car for you for only $900.00 cost, most used civics on that site can be had for less than $4000.00 and they ship anywhere in teh US for the same price.

[iamgod]

the car will not be DOT legal

[Rand0m]

there is a site, im not sure what it is...just go to google and search for J's Garage...he imports complete JDM vehicles, hondas, nissans, toyotas, you name it....i head he was actually pretty reasonable too

[iamgod]

Originally posted by allblacksi
there is a site, im not sure what it is...just go to google and search for J's Garage...he imports complete JDM vehicles, hondas, nissans, toyotas, you name it....i head he was actually pretty reasonable too


that he is BUT, the cars are not legal

[Tom]

the cars are not legal

but with a lot of time and money can be made legal.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
but with a lot of time and money can be made legal.


not without crash testing, and emissions testing/converting

[IGotASlowCivic]

http://www.jdmevolution.com/

To bad its only Nissans.
Importing Skylines is one thing,
Civics.. I wouldnt expect that be 100grand...
still a crap load of money.

[WiggerMan]

Originally posted by eluSIve91
Like i said in a previous post... If you want a True JDM car.. Join the military, get stationed that way, and when you come back, they ship the car for free!!
:thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up :thumbs up


:werd:

thats the cheapest way... or pay 5-7000 for importing fees

[Tom]

5-7000 for importng fee's, well batfa.com charges $900.00 to ship a car to the U.S., only other fee's is to have it legalized and that's not apart of importing fees but up to your state department of transportation.

[iamgod]

fees to legalize will cost FAR more, you will need to crash test the car and put the car the that years standard for emissions

[Tom]

emissions i can understand, but the crash test thing sound a little weird, im mean why import a car, have it crash tested and destroyed just to, well get rid of it , it makes no sence on that, and would be a waste of money.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
emissions i can understand, but the crash test thing sound a little weird, im mean why import a car, have it crash tested and destroyed just to, well get rid of it , it makes no sence on that, and would be a waste of money.

that is if you cannot prove DOT compliance for that year of car

[Tom]

ok i understand that, but how our you going to prove dot compliance for any import none U.S. spec car without crash testing in that case, wait did i just answer my own confusion.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
ok i understand that, but how our you going to prove dot compliance for any import none U.S. spec car without crash testing in that case, wait did i just answer my own confusion.



to do it without crashing it you would need a letter for the manufacturer

[Tom]

and the chances of that are slim, unless the U.S.dot can read japanese.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
and the chances of that are slim, unless the U.S.dot can read japanese.


hahahah d00d it would be in english

[Tom]

well i would hope so, but now it sounds worthless to import a import.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
well i would hope so, but now it sounds worthless to import a import.


unless it is already on the list, if so its a simple process 8)

[Tom]

skyline

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
skyline


you can import it yourself you need to make it pass emissions though

[Tom]

more converters

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
more converters


it costs over 10k to convert it

[Tom]

what do you mean by convert, just add converters, or more electrical work, egr valves, mass air flow meters, smaller injectors, smaller exhuast piping.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
what do you mean by convert, just add converters, or more electrical work, egr valves, mass air flow meters, smaller injectors, smaller exhuast piping.


convertors, ECU, you need to have the gauges read in MPH and not KPH, any required emissions equipment for that year vehicle

[Tom]

wow, i never thought about the gauge cluster, but some of them are not cheap.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
wow, i never thought about the gauge cluster, but some of them are not cheap.


i can pick up a used V-Spec II for like 15-20000

[Tom]

if only i were rich.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
if only i were rich.


word

[DelSho]

that site is pretty i'll! love looking at all the rhd cars that are cheep but i still can't own. kinda feels like blues balls. :cry:

[Tom]

yeah i know what you mean, well about the pretty part, not the blue balls.

[5thGenCX]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
try www.batfa.com they can import a car for you for only $900.00 cost, most used civics on that site can be had for less than $4000.00 and they ship anywhere in teh US for the same price.

Sorry to whore, but was browsing the site, i found it funny that the normal version of the 900+ HP escudo pikes peak is just a Suzuki Sidekick :roll: :lol:

[Tom]

yeah and you'll also notice that toyota is the manufacturer of the toyota cavalier(chevy my ass)

[iamgod]

let me see if i can find the list of cars that are legal for import

[Tom]

it's not a list it's aused car company in japan, www.batfa.com , and the sell other stuff too.

[iamgod]

Originally posted by jspeczcturbo
it's not a list it's aused car company in japan, www.batfa.com , and the sell other stuff too.


i am talking about the NHTSA list of vehicles ALREADY LEGAL for import....here is some information i could not get the NHTSA site to load right now but hopefully it will load later

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/HumanResources/irss/VehicleImport.html

[Tom]

cool deal

[dinko]

haha lets all go join the marines!!

[Martin Racing Design]

i am talking about the NHTSA list of vehicles ALREADY LEGAL for import....here is some information i could not get the NHTSA site to load right now but hopefully it will load later

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/HumanResources/irss/VehicleImport.html

i dont see why the Honda NSX/NSX-R isnt legal? For the majority, cars that have a US model are OK... *shrug*

[illicon2003]

anybody know how or where to go to import Whole cars from japan? i don't want to spend hours, dollars and such turning my american hatch into a japanese hatch when i could just start out with a japanese hatchback straight up!

someone must know how!


then shut up. sometimes you need to do some research. start with www.epa.gov and www.customs.gov, make some calls, shoot some emails, read up on some shit. Nothing's free in this world, even free information.

[Tom]

wow, that'sa bit harsh.

[cowboyfun]

you want to know the loop hole for cars: Buy a car legally in japan, get a container ship, have it shipped over, you then need to get it unloaded at a private facility where there are no customs agents. Then find the same car in a junkyard (aka civic HB, coupe, 4dr) get the vin plates, title, and certificate, replace the vin, get it smogged, and then register it with DMV as a salvaged vehicle. It isnt exactly the most legal way to get a car but it works if there is a matching car in a junkyard with vin plates and title available, BUT you have to be able to buy the entire car so they give you the salvaged certificate. So if you get a CTR shipped here, you need to find a 96 up hatch and grab all the vin plates off of it, put them on your CTR and register it. IT IS a Misdemeanor thought to have tampered with the vin plates on your vehicle.

[Tom]

only if you get caught, but damn that's a well thought out plan.

[cowboyfun]

Thats how they used to steal VW bugs back in the 60's when they were a big thing. you went to a j/y and bought one, then stole one, then desert bugged it, and voila, sell it for an assload of cash.

[Tom]

you may off just helped to revolutionize the auto theft industry, that's to say if anyone reading this decides to try it, but it's still a sweet idea to import the cars form japan.

[cowboyfun]

I learned about it in my Criminal Justice classes, police officers know all kinds of dirty loopholes, thats why they make the best criminals. Not saying that Im a criminal or anything...and no, Im not a police officer, Im an over glorified security guard for a community college, so dont ask me to sign off on your fix it tickets.

[Tom]

lol, i used to be a military police officer, and trust me i know what ya mean by cops are the best theives, no i never stoll anything, but damn i worked with some dirty fucks.

[EXSoon2BSi]

So wait, according to the NHTSB website that was posted, you can bring a Nissan GT-R over here and not have to do anything to it except for making it smog legal? That's hot, if that's the truth, I'm opening a new savigns account tomorrow.

[Tom]

So wait, according to the NHTSB website that was posted, you can bring a Nissan GT-R over here and not have to do anything to it except for making it smog legal? That's hot, if that's the truth, I'm opening a new savigns account tomorrow.

post a link to the info you found and share the wealth of info.

[2SLO2RCE]

alright it's been a while but i was in oki a couple of years ago. yes skylines sylvias supras and rx7's are dime a dozen. there are alot of things that need to be done. but there are cars already prepped to shipped. i looked into it but at the time there were alot of regs on what cars you can bring over model wise. the glass needs to be changed, side impact door beams, emissions, bumpers and there is more but i cant remember. as far as the speedo it doesnt matter my bike is in klicks. that doesnt really matter. alot of places will have you mark your speedo with stickers. getto huh? you can look into but like everyone said buy one that is already shipped. i know i kid back home in miami with two skylines lucky mommas boy.

[Civicdreams]

Yo I am so gonna import a car from batfa. What needs to be done to make it street legal and what am I looking at in price range? someone help me cause when I looked at those Japanese cars man I feel in love. Is it possible to import them without the government knowing????

[jdmspivic]

i found a right side driver coupe in paterson nj for 4500 and it just came out of the container.

[Civicdreams]

does the government have to know???? I think Im gonna do it!!!!!!!

[ner0x]

my boy shannon imports a couple car a month from japan... if anyone here is from miami and into the import tuning you prolly know shannon... he's like one of the 2 people with a skyline r34. i'm proud to live down the street from him and hear that thing roar down my street every morning. :D

[Tom]

i want a skyline, but it'll never happen for me.

[PandaCivic]

just live in tokyo for a few years and then start missing USDM after you get sick of everyone having JDM. then move back here and do the same thing.

[hatchbox_civic]

Damn...Half you guys must live in the middle of the US. If you lived in S. Cali all u gotta do is go up tp LA and buy a skyline for like 9 g's. I know of a couple of car lot dealer and even wrecking yards who have rhd drive cars. All kinds to pick from. Shit, this one place near the LAX is like a candy store for JDM shit. As far as car and shipping goes. But handling reg and all that stuff really isnt that hard. I read a article in a mag (boggles my mind which one) about a guy with a black 91 jdm teg. He talked about getting the car legalized and all and he said its not as hard as people make it out to be as long as u know all the laws.

[jgcivic]

anybody know how or where to go to import Whole cars from japan? i don't want to spend hours, dollars and such turning my american hatch into a japanese hatch when i could just start out with a japanese hatchback straight up!

someone must know how!



well so you all know how to import car into the us it's a simple, but it all depends on what you want it for.
in the us you can import any car it to the us, but here is the tricky part. if it's a personal import for yourself and not for resale, and the car is over 10years old it's rather simple, you need documentation for the car, and prof of miles on the car, and get it smoged and passed inspection, then you don't have to get all the convertions done to the car. there are a few more steps invovled, and i'll get them later.
but this is for personal imports only and over 10 years old.

now for grey market cars it gets a lot harder, and car made in the last 10 years. this is ware it all gets really expensive, with newer car, they have to conform to us laws and regs for new cars and have to fitted with all safty and smog equpment, to pass inspetion, you have to have a license to trade with the country, or a dealer licence to import and pay all tariffs and taxes on the cars when they come to the states.
this i'm missing a lot of information, and this is all of the top of my head, i looked into importing cars about 6months ago, and still looking for information, on this one.

as far as the two go personal importing is the cheapest, and easiest. but shipping and legalizing the car will still cost about 2500-4500 depending on the shipping of the car, and this is on top of the price of the car.

hope this helps and i'll get the rest of the information when i find it....

[BuiltforSin]

I would love to import a car from Japan. An Integra Type R and Skyline would be the ones I would do.

What the hell is the US so worried about smog regulations and shit for? We already got global warming why the hell would it matter now? The USDM makes me wonder sometimes...

[Tom]

I would love to import a car from Japan. An Integra Type R and Skyline would be the ones I would do.

What the hell is the US so worried about smog regulations and shit for? We already got global warming why the hell would it matter now? The USDM makes me wonder sometimes...
very very true, but our gov't just sucks .

[rockinout5432]

very very true, but our gov't just sucks .

yeah, so vote kerry and make it suck less! honestly though, how many people are going to import jdm cars anyway? enough to make a difference with smog or safety? most americans are happy with their saturns.

[se7en]

yeah i know a website that you can import jdm cars from. but ill have to find it.

EDIT:
im pretty sure they are legal.

[se7en]

yeah i found it

http://www.japanperformancedirect.com.au/

check it out

[phuzzit]

i didnt read this whole post - but imin england and did all the research, to help a friend ship his skyline back tot he states - you basicly have two options. ship the car as is and pay to have alot of work done to it to convert it to us spec or spes it as a show car and pay alot for the paper work it takes todo it. and just for record if noone has already said it - the skyline is the only rhd car allowed in the states to stay rhd, and not be show car only. everything else has to be converted to lhd. its only allowed b/c of the great want for that car.

[BoxinEJ20]

well i head a this from a couple of years ago..but i was under the impression that Motorex or something like that was the only company in the united states that had been approved by the government to make skylines legal...through crash testing and what not. If this has changed lemme know?

[phuzzit]

motorex is not like that - they do not "make" skylines they just import and sell them - and yes they are the only ones that are legal to sell them in the states. but they are not the only ones that can import them. you goto japan buy your own car and import it - it is legal and has nothign todo with motorex. they suck anyway - way over priced. you can get a decent skyline for nothing - but gotta weight it.
when you get it back it will cost an arm and a leg to get parts for it. hell even gettin belts for the motor are hard and crazy to get unless you know someone there in japan, then ya gotta wait for shippin.
im me if you need more info

[chile]

i know that trying to bring back a car (supra) from japan cost almost as much as the car itself in order to make it conform to US regs....