Why Isn't Importing 93-95 FDs Easy?
 

I was checking out the "Substantially Simular" list by the DOT: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...IG0521-03.html
Anyway, it is VSP 279, and the: "VSP" eligibility numbers are assigned to vehicles that are decided to be eligible under 49 U.S.C. § 30141(a)(1)(A), based on a petition from a manufacturer or registered importer which establishes that a substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle exists.
Therefore, it is declared to be certified, and won't it be as simple as sending one over and applying for a VIN?
Please no flaming, I was just curious.

I don't know why would you want to import 93-95 when you already have those here.

As I understand it, other markets have different specifications for crash testing and emissions, and the United States is about the most stringent on these regulations, so a Japanese car, although pretty much the same, doesn't have some structural peices to help in a crash and different emissions controls. Plus customs fees and registration fees are very expensive.

but according to the list, it is substantially simular and mazda has petitioned to get this...

also, the reason for importing is that RHD is so much fun driving (i know it would get old), its different and gets pretty cool looks (whenever i see a diplomat driving a TVR or something thats RHD, i can't stop staring at it), and also, they are REALLY cheap in japan...

I imported one from canada. Needed letter from Mazda certifying that it met DOT and EPA regulations,
notarized bill of sale at border, pay import duty?
and state patrol inspection stateside.
Low mileage and primo, so worth the trouble vs average local car.

The J-spec ECU's (from what i am told) are use to running on much higher octane i think. Bascially they wouldnt pass emissions.

There are a couple ways to bring one over if you want to do it. Two are illegal, and they are all a pain in the ass.

Seems like an awful lot of trouble, and it will (no doubt!) cost much more than buying a NA spec FD. Jeep is selling the wrangler in RHD in America now....go postal with that badboy!

i know its a pain in the ass and i wouldn't do it, but it was just a theoretical quesiton...
rousu - could you go into more detail about your purchase? so you just got one in canada, payed import tax and brought a form over to the dmv to get the VIN?

I don't believe getting a j-spec 93-95 is an issue, just getting a '96+ model is

right... thats what i thought...

its the same to get any 3rd gen year. And it can actually be alot cheaper than buying one here, with alot less miles, just depends on how you plan to get it here.

Been tried many times before (and discussed at length as well here). Several who are in the import business were not able to import '96+ FD's since they are not 'substantially similar'. We would all love to be proved wrong, though so let us know how it goes:D

i wouldnt import a 96+ just because of the extra cost. You should be able to bring almost anything over as a race/competition only, that can never be driven on the street. If you want to drive it all over the place(which i think everyone would) thats when the illegal stuff comes in.

I knew a guy that said he could get me a 99' jspec JD3 for about 50000. More if I wanted it converted, but it would be illegal and last I heard without a very annoying to get permit its illegal to import whole cars into the US from japan. (why most people build them from jspec front clips)

50,000? shit. might as well buy a skyline.

Looking for RHD FD? We already have one on the lot.

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/jdmrx7.html

$50,000 for a 99 is too much. I can get you a 2002 RZ for that price.

Email me at rotaryextreme@aol.com for a quote.

Chuck Huang

realisticly speaking, in a state with no regular inspections and such, what are the chances of getting busted on a vin swap?

i know this could cost alot of fines and jail time maybe, but does anyone have an idea for what the penalties on swaping a vin of a car you own onto a GREY MARKET car would be?

isn't there some type of thing where you can import it as a rare/exotic or collectible car? maybe register it when all is said and done as a kit/one off car?

this is on a 96+ car only, i wouldn't bother for a 93-95 car, one of the main factors is because i want a clean low mile NEWER car than 8-10 years old.

-i'm going to be up all night so i'm going to keep looking. (i know how many ricers ask this shit)

looks like ~6k (import +taxes&fees) over the cost, plus 150% deposit to customs during the deal.

so i'd need, oh, 30k to blow and another um, 1.50x25k for customs to hold.

you know, that's not entirely undoable...

I believe the primary reason is that Jspec cars do not meet US emission stds. They do not have a pre-cat and they do not have an EGR valve etc.

You can import ANYTHING you want.
Driving it on US hwys is a different story. You can actually import a car and specifiy you will only use it for race purposes. Now if you drive that car on a street and you get caught, it will be impounded for life...

That would be entirely up to the officer who pulls you over for a traffic violation. If the police department suspects that you are driving a car not legal for road use, it's entirely possible that it could be impounded until they determine its true legality. You would basically be rolling the dice with all that import/tax/customs fees tied up in it every time you drove the car.

I believe the word here is "severe". It's called a FEDERAL offense.

It will be very difficult to convince federal officials that a '96 or later automobile is a " rare collectible car". Even kit cars must pass federal emissions (and if IRC, front/rear impact) standards in order to be legally driven on public highways.

yeh, but actually getting cought is a different story. 99% of people don't even know wtf kind of car it is, FORGET about them knowing the diff between US and 99+ bodies other than RHD (which as far as i can tell is legal enough). vin swap off a wrecked FD you own, keep the stripped body after you part it out and say thats the JDM base, IF it ever even got that far. you'd never even need to take it to the DMV.

wreck it? conversions (99 body parts, RHD in other cars) are borderline legal enough for it to go under the radar as fas as i can see.

i duno really, it seems like people are mostly just afraid of the hassle. isn't removing emissions a federal offence on street cars too?

this HAS to be doable. ALONG with a "skyline body/drive train on a maxima/altima" conversion. it's not very easy to convict and i seriously doubt the people of the law want to take the time to track down the details since there is 0% chance of it being a stolen US car with your vin on it.

Hey man, you do whatcha gotta do. If you feel it's worth the hassle and risk (uh, we're talking about tampering with the VIN on a vehicle which is illegal for U.S. road use-- that's called facing charges from both U.S. customs and other federal jurisdictional authorities; not the same as messing with your exhaust or whatnot...), then by all means do so.

There's a reason why the grey market auto import business is basically non-existent now...

i think it's actually more prevalent that people think, but that people just keep their lips shut which i don't blame them for. this isn't something you talk about and when asked you can NEVER hint, it's basically a personal pay off, not a "look at my jdm car" deal. which works for me.

as brave as i am about breaking a few laws, i'm just trying to see if anyone knows first hand. i'm just not a trailblazer when it comes to spending alot of money and this isn't exactly mainstream. basically, it's not the laws, it's the deal of actually buying a car in japan and importing it on a ship and dealing. swapping the numbers is the easy part i could care less about.

god i sound like such a clueless ricer talking about this, lmao.

"hell yeh, i did a full jdm conversion to my '93, chassis and everything!"