It isn't even the "modded" harleys. I sat behind a couple Cops on harleys the other day, and couldn't hear my stereo. It's totally a double standar with those things.

 

Even if importing is restricted to "individuals," how would you restrict or control businesses claiming to be merely "facilitators" acting as "agents" of the individuals who use their "services"? Wasn't this approach used in the case at hand, to avoid liability? Manufacturers such as Chinese car companies could associate themselves with such "facilitators" and sell directly to individuals--possibly in large volume.

Titles (and in some cases VINs) are issued (mainly) by states, and subject to state laws and provisions for the criteria under which they are issued, and regarding what information is associated/displayed with them. Even now there is not 50-state consistency for tracking speedometer readings and salvage/flood damage/rebuilding information on titles. Adding a "grey-market" indicator to all 50 state's titles and ensuring it is transferred correctly during interstate sales transactions is probably not a realistic proposal at this point in time.

 

Keep in mind it is an issue of double standards in enforcement, not the actual law as written (Code of Va § 46.2-1049). On the other hand, our friends at SEMA have tried to introduce a change to the law which would specifically exclude motorcycles (in order to avoid protests from the motorcycle lobby).

 

FDNewbie,

What cars are you able to get into the US legally from overseas?

 

+1, you make a very solid argument. I was actually thinking somewhat along those lines myself. I understand that it is rare, but considering the fact that soooo many FD's on the road these days are actually already converted to "99 spec" it definitely looses a LOT of its rarity in the eyes of common folks. The only advantages are that its newer and its much much more rare, plus the fact its RHD. Other than that it's really only recognizable to the diehard RX-7 enthusiasts. Infact, I've seen a few FD's on this forum that look EXACTLY like the Spirit R RX-7 aside from the difference in driver position so to me it kind of seems like a waste also.

Note: I'm not trying to hate because I LOVE the Spirit R just as much as anyone possibly can, but I don't see the reasoning behind importing one, especially when it can't even be made street legal.

 

100% agreed on this one. Who is the government to say that I cant import and use a vehicle on the road, when it has a us counterpart with only minor differences on it. That crash testing is bull ****. If an accident were to occur, the only one facing the bad side would be the driver of the imported car, its a sports car not a tank. This government is getting to be more controlling than ever. They let cigarette companies make millions of cigarettes a year that are proven to kill and cause so many diseases and deformalities and deaths a year, and people buy it themselves knowing this. Yet, they won't let someone import and register a car from a foreign country because of "crash test" ratings.

Jail time? ******* please. Theres drug dealers and REAL criminals out there that are commiting crimes and terrorists killing innocent people, and these dumbfucks would hunt you down to throw you in jail for a CAR? What a waste of tax dollars. any politician that complains about the federal budgit needs to be slapped. Stop going after the useless **** and go for whats important.

It should be the owners responsibility as to what happens when he drives the car, its his own mortality he is messing with, and the car has no significant differences that would make it dangerous to other people on the road, no more than another car accident would. This government is becoming a very shitty government at that, from freedom to force.

Load of bull ****, they just want money. ******* government.

 

Yes, my point precisely. I live in a Harley hotbed, and as much as I think they're great machines, they are just SO DAMNED LOUD. While this does not apply to all motorcycles , but there are an overwhelming number of them rolling out of the factories that blare exhaust noise. As a child, I remember being woken up in the middle of the night by bikes blasting up and down the road outside my window.

The emissions thing tends toward light trucks, etc and was just me soapboxing about how most laws address automobile pollution, where the big polluters are industry and trucks.

Dave

 

In california your motorcyclye can be as loud as you want legally. They passed a law allowing it, to help with motorcycle car accidents. They say the amount of motorcycle death in cali had risen to high. And the louder your bike is the more likly cars will hear you.

One of the guys I ride with is highway patrol. Also just so you know the number one killer of all motorcycleists in america is cars(and trucks) making left hand turns.

 

Shameless plug.

 

Well, that's what I was referring to with regards to Harley getting some leeway with emissions/noise regs because it's an "American" company. Meanwhile, the Japanese and Euro manufacturers are forced to jump through hoops in order to pass tests.

 

Sorry that some boneheads made life tough for you as child. As far as "rolling out of the factory blaring exhaust noise", that label doesn't apply to any machines other than Harley. Even the metric (Japanese) cruisers are far quieter. Listen to any stock-exhaust-equipped bike other than a Harley and you'll see what I mean. It's one of the reasons why the exhaust aftermarket is so strong.
And that's what I was referring to with regards to a powerful political lobby. The trucking industry is very influential, which is why they are just barely getting started with emissions regs for heavy trucks. And big industry? Yeah right.

 

There is no California state law that makes tampering with the stock exhaust legal, because that is modifying a component that is mandated by FEDERAL law on a motorcycle.
Um...you think?

EDIT: Sorry everyone, guess we're getting a bit off-topic here...

 

Even if that is from a paid motorcycle lobbiest it sounds ridiculous.

If noise mattered cars would never be struck by trains. It's even terribly obvious to the cars exactly where a train may pass, and yet you'd be surprised how often trains strike cars.

Heck, we could prevent accidents by mandating that every automobile must have the horn blaring anytime it's in gear

 

It didn't make my life tough, because I knew they were just boneheads.

However, yes it's the Harleys out there making the noise. There are too many; I'm just 15min from a major Harley assembly plant.

My point is that our vehicle laws make no sense, and trying to read into the logic is silly.

Exactly.

Dave

 

That is one reason I like living around the Daytona area. When I drive the FD. A bit loud isnt even noticeable compared to the bikeweeks! No problems here. G

 

so what ever happened with this guys Spirit R?

I live in orlando and have heard a lot about this company, if you call him up and talk to him he will invite you to come check out a car he has there, when you show up, its not actualy "there" but its "on the way" and you can put a deposite down on it and he will cut you a deal on the price.....SURE.

I have seen some of the cars he gets in are damaged/crashed and he has them repaired before the customer sees them.

I have also seen him giving JOY rides in cars that he flat out say "this car was bought by my customer and ships to him in 2 weeks" Then he leaves the parking lot with a full clutch dump or comes sliding into a parking spot with the ebrake. He BEATS on the cars once they are sold, up untill the point they are sold they are pretty well taken care of.

This is the first ive heard of him sending a car that shows up with parts missing, but I have heard several people that have gotten cars from him that look great in pictures, but when they show up they car is in B condition, with scraches, small dings/dents, nicks/rips in the seats, carpets...ect.

Also several of the people that bought "Evo 7's" from him that were "JDM" Showed up as LHD models......he says he got them from Germany....but all it really was is a used (sometimes crashed/rebuilt) Evo 8's with the evo 7's bumpers and lights....

The guy is a straight up scamer and lies to get whatever money he can.

I wouldnt be suprised if he filed for bankrupcy just to protect the many cars he has as well as his other belongings.

 

It's a MUCH more complicated issue than you know. So to keep it short and say R32s, R33s, and R34s can STILL be brought in legally via our method. We've obtained a new MSO #, and the process is 100% FEDERALLY and state legal, and has been done numerous times, and I'll leave it at that. For any further info, please feel free to email me at Info@FDNewbieImports.com.

I have no idea. But we'll see

I've been doing it for over a year now Phil. I even listed my Skyline for sale on the forum a while back. Where have YOU been?

~Ramy

 

Ramy I am looking to import an FD. Only thing I ever bought from you was a pulley kit lol! PMme back with details.

Alex

 

FDnewbie, how much would a legalized R32 cost? Roughly.

 

(Also see my sig)