Importing an RX-7 (less than 25 years old)
02-04-16, 08:26 AM
#28
FD's are quite cheap up here in Canada because many people hear horror stories about the motor blowing up as soon as they turn the key. Last fall a very well kept FD was listed in Ontario for $10,000 ($7,500 USD). There's a single turbo RHD 1994 listed in Halifax for $9000 ($6,750 USD) at the moment. I picked mine up in October for $5,500 ($4,100 USD) but it needed some tlc.
Here's the Halaifax FD:
1994 Mazda RX7 Efini | used cars & trucks | Dartmouth | Kijiji
I don't know how much it is to import a car in to the US. Japan --> Canada usually ranges from $3000-$5000 with most of the costs being tax and shipping. I'd assume importing in to the US would be less expensive.
Here's the Halaifax FD:
1994 Mazda RX7 Efini | used cars & trucks | Dartmouth | Kijiji
I don't know how much it is to import a car in to the US. Japan --> Canada usually ranges from $3000-$5000 with most of the costs being tax and shipping. I'd assume importing in to the US would be less expensive.
Last edited by H_M; 02-04-16 at 08:38 AM.
02-04-16, 02:40 PM
#30
That's true. Many are purchased by early 20's guys who import the cheapest ones that they can find, beat on them for a couple of years, and then get rid of them. Many like that up here too.
You've gotta watch out when buying cars from Quebec as well. Especially if they're hot import cars like skylines/ supras/ rx7/ evo/ subaru. Quite a few cars that come out of Quebec are salvage with fake documents or are hack jobs that have been pieced together.
You've gotta watch out when buying cars from Quebec as well. Especially if they're hot import cars like skylines/ supras/ rx7/ evo/ subaru. Quite a few cars that come out of Quebec are salvage with fake documents or are hack jobs that have been pieced together.
02-04-16, 03:02 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: England
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm always amazed as a uk resident how strict your import laws are. Importing one myself currently, called an importer with a good rep "can you get me a 99 spec Rb?" "Yeah, sure"
Called my insurance company "does it have an alarm", "It will do", "that's fine then".
All I need to do is pay road tax when it turns up.
Called my insurance company "does it have an alarm", "It will do", "that's fine then".
All I need to do is pay road tax when it turns up.
02-04-16, 06:01 PM
#32
I'm always amazed as a uk resident how strict your import laws are. Importing one myself currently, called an importer with a good rep "can you get me a 99 spec Rb?" "Yeah, sure"
Called my insurance company "does it have an alarm", "It will do", "that's fine then".
All I need to do is pay road tax when it turns up.
Called my insurance company "does it have an alarm", "It will do", "that's fine then".
All I need to do is pay road tax when it turns up.
02-04-16, 06:27 PM
#33
Not all RHD cars are "ragged out parts cars".
My 1992 JDM RHD was the pick of the litter as it had been so carefully maintained in Japan by a very cautious one original owner, and it had only done 70,000km when I bought it (now convert that odometer reading to miles, and consider its a 1992 car...)
And its been the best car I've ever owned. Its not a Spirit R or anything, but it was a great deal nicer than many of the 1998+ cars (including Spirit R and RZ cars) that I walked around Japan and saw.
Many Canadians import some heaps of junk RHD FDs because they can't fly over to Japan and pick the cars themselves and see them in person. Its a crapshoot that ends with a poor example of an early JDM RHD car coming to Canada and giving the really nice RHD cars a blanket bad name.
My 1992 JDM RHD was the pick of the litter as it had been so carefully maintained in Japan by a very cautious one original owner, and it had only done 70,000km when I bought it (now convert that odometer reading to miles, and consider its a 1992 car...)
And its been the best car I've ever owned. Its not a Spirit R or anything, but it was a great deal nicer than many of the 1998+ cars (including Spirit R and RZ cars) that I walked around Japan and saw.
Many Canadians import some heaps of junk RHD FDs because they can't fly over to Japan and pick the cars themselves and see them in person. Its a crapshoot that ends with a poor example of an early JDM RHD car coming to Canada and giving the really nice RHD cars a blanket bad name.
02-05-16, 02:20 AM
#34
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: England
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can import anything from any where of any age. Just get a short test done to prove the car is safe, pay the government a **** ton of tax and then pay a few more to the DVLA (British DMV) to register it. Once you've done that stick your number plates on and off you go.
It's pretty relaxed tbh, I'm not sure how true it is but I've heard stories of Mitsubishi using this to get away with selling evos that would technically be illegal if they were "uk" cars (our dealerships will sell you a 450bhp one but it does cost £50,000).
It's pretty relaxed tbh, I'm not sure how true it is but I've heard stories of Mitsubishi using this to get away with selling evos that would technically be illegal if they were "uk" cars (our dealerships will sell you a 450bhp one but it does cost £50,000).
02-05-16, 04:54 AM
#35
Senior Member
You can import anything from any where of any age. Just get a short test done to prove the car is safe, pay the government a **** ton of tax and then pay a few more to the DVLA (British DMV) to register it. Once you've done that stick your number plates on and off you go.
It's pretty relaxed tbh, I'm not sure how true it is but I've heard stories of Mitsubishi using this to get away with selling evos that would technically be illegal if they were "uk" cars (our dealerships will sell you a 450bhp one but it does cost £50,000).
It's pretty relaxed tbh, I'm not sure how true it is but I've heard stories of Mitsubishi using this to get away with selling evos that would technically be illegal if they were "uk" cars (our dealerships will sell you a 450bhp one but it does cost £50,000).
Japanese Used Car Exporting - United Kingodom (UK) Help Importing Japanese Used Cars
Basically if importing a car that is under 10 years old, it needs a Extended Single Vehicle Approval Test. The car must have a Model Report, i.e. a document stating its spec, that it meets UK regs etc etc. Model reports are not a government thing, they are owned by the person/company that paid to have it created. Therefore you pay the owner of the model report to rent the report to get the car through the SVA.
More info - http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/A...-Model-Reports
Over 10 years old you can bring in what you like so long as it passes MOT.
But yes, certainly less restrictive than other countries. Not hard to believe when you can make a sofa road legal here in the UK!
Last edited by Marf; 02-05-16 at 05:01 AM.
02-05-16, 10:35 AM
#37
^ In the states, you can only import a "show and display" car if it's on the approved list. Not surprisingly, all of the cars on there are rare and expensive vehicles. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/
Motorex used to split the motor from the frame and import them as "car parts" and would stick it all back together to register the vehicle under a kit car. They were eventually found out, so I'm sure anything coming in that way is probably looked on a lot more carefully than it used to be.
Motorex used to split the motor from the frame and import them as "car parts" and would stick it all back together to register the vehicle under a kit car. They were eventually found out, so I'm sure anything coming in that way is probably looked on a lot more carefully than it used to be.
02-05-16, 11:20 AM
#38
^ In the states, you can only import a "show and display" car if it's on the approved list. Not surprisingly, all of the cars on there are rare and expensive vehicles. Vehicle Importation and Certification Requirements
Motorex used to split the motor from the frame and import them as "car parts" and would stick it all back together to register the vehicle under a kit car. They were eventually found out, so I'm sure anything coming in that way is probably looked on a lot more carefully than it used to be.
Motorex used to split the motor from the frame and import them as "car parts" and would stick it all back together to register the vehicle under a kit car. They were eventually found out, so I'm sure anything coming in that way is probably looked on a lot more carefully than it used to be.
02-05-16, 11:27 AM
#39
Edit: Found a good read on it here http://skylinegt-r.wikidot.com/0-60mrex
Last edited by RapidCancel; 02-05-16 at 11:41 AM.
02-05-16, 03:44 PM
#40
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: England
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not that straightforward
Japanese Used Car Exporting - United Kingodom (UK) Help Importing Japanese Used Cars
Basically if importing a car that is under 10 years old, it needs a Extended Single Vehicle Approval Test. The car must have a Model Report, i.e. a document stating its spec, that it meets UK regs etc etc. Model reports are not a government thing, they are owned by the person/company that paid to have it created. Therefore you pay the owner of the model report to rent the report to get the car through the SVA.
More info - ESVA Type Approval testing / Model Report Rental - Litchfield Motors
Over 10 years old you can bring in what you like so long as it passes MOT.
But yes, certainly less restrictive than other countries. Not hard to believe when you can make a sofa road legal here in the UK!
World record with sofa car.mp4 - YouTube
Japanese Used Car Exporting - United Kingodom (UK) Help Importing Japanese Used Cars
Basically if importing a car that is under 10 years old, it needs a Extended Single Vehicle Approval Test. The car must have a Model Report, i.e. a document stating its spec, that it meets UK regs etc etc. Model reports are not a government thing, they are owned by the person/company that paid to have it created. Therefore you pay the owner of the model report to rent the report to get the car through the SVA.
More info - ESVA Type Approval testing / Model Report Rental - Litchfield Motors
Over 10 years old you can bring in what you like so long as it passes MOT.
But yes, certainly less restrictive than other countries. Not hard to believe when you can make a sofa road legal here in the UK!
World record with sofa car.mp4 - YouTube
I do love how having a crack in your windscreen is not road legal but if you remove it entirely that's fine!
