There are some REALLY nice deals out there, but to actually get one of these cars legally in your driveway is a huge process.

Anyone considering to buy a JDM FD?

There are so many potential problems that could happen, such as RORO theft, container damage, customs denial (due to modifications), storage fees, duty and taxes, inland $hipping , OOP inspections, and provincial registration!! Yikes..

SO, is it really worth it? Anyone going to do it?

 

https://www.rx7club.com/canadian-forum-42/rhd-fds-will-soon-hit-our-shores-579219/

 

roro theft, barely happens. Container damage,, you can get money back for the damages. Getting it onto your driveway, actually pretty damn easy. Get your Out Of Province Inspection done, and its good to go.

 

How did I not see that thread..

 

I was reading about someone on the GTR forums, and apparently he had his car shipped by container. When it arrived, it was damaged and cost over $2000 in body work to fix. The shipping company said it wasn't thier fault because they didn't pack the container. The responsibilty was then put on the shipping yard's workers who pack the containers. The guy apparently called the shipping yard in Japan and asked for some compensation but they refused by saying they are not responsible for anything that happens regardless of who packed the car.

 

Read the paper work before its signed?

 

i will be doing it soon, but i think i will send the car to Amemiya-san before bringing it over. Depending on how many airmiles i have left, i'll probably go inspect cars myself and then bring one back, my friend has been bringing skylines over for some time now on the GTRForums and he's had some pretty awful experiences with the canadian importers, so i'll follow in the footsteps of my friend who actually went with the family for vacation, and drove them nuts because all he ended up doing was looking @ cars

those of you who have imported before, can you recommend some trusted importers or even dealers on the japanese end?

 

^^^ I like your idea, but realisticly, to fly to Japan just to look at car, you can look at so many here in the states..Air miles wont cover taxes and airport fees that they charge you allegedly fly for "free".

The importers essentiall find the car and charge their $1000 fee. They handle communication between the seller and shipping company. Importing companies wont be held accountable for the problems that could and will occur.

 

Yeah but i've always wanted to goto japan anyhow just for vacation, so it'll be a double whammy benifit for me.

 

Exactly, somewhere on the bottom ii probably says "By signing this paper, you are allowing us to not have any responsibility for anything that could happen to your car"

 

Only real thing that can be said about JDM FD's is that you get what you pay for. You pay $25,000 for a clean canadian FD, its worth (in most cases) $25,000. You pay $10,000 for a JDM FD, its worth $10,000.

You get what you pay for. A good deal on an FD might turn into another loan from the bank to get the out of province passed.

 

I myself was thinking about importing an FD. What I've learned and from what everyone elses experiences have been from importing a jdm car, is that it's not going to be cheap. It is too good to be true to get an fd for 7k. Sure you can buy it for that much, but check the auction sheet to see where the damage has been repaired. Because if it was a quick fix, they'll catch you on that on the out of province and you'll have to get it replaired properly. And that's where the real money gets dished out. Check the auction sheet and see where the damage is on the car. You'll be suprised how the price reflects the damaged repaired.

Personally I want one. And although the price may seem too good to be true, I still plan on putting a diposit down. Also keep an eye open for other JDM's. The price will go down slightly as the demand for them won't be going up anymore until the later models arrive.

 

For what its worth, most of my friends who have imported vehicles have done so thru Adam @ Feast Auto Export. The GTR he brought in for my friend was absolutly stunning, mint interior, mint paintwork. (This was one of the cars stuck @ customs because it was totally modded and had a rollcage installed).

I'll be using adam's services to help obtain my FD and will make a report on the experience when my car arrives later in 07.

 

Well, I have a LHD FD, but what i'm hopeing for, is that 6-8 years from now, if my FD is getting sorid, i could get a low mileage Bathurst or Spirit R, and swap my LHD stuff into that vehicle.

 

sounds exactly like my plan, although i will probably keep the spirit R RHD and not modify it at all..keep it showroom stock mint condition and turn my 92 FD into an Amemiya car

 

that's a load of crap.

You pay $25K for the simple reason that thier are so few of them In Canada.. one years worth of sales. In Japan these cars were produced IN VOLUME till 02. and after a specific time owning an older car becomes more and more expensive, value is not held and they depreciate like any other car. If your paying $10K for a 92' FD then it's a private sale and they see YOU coming from the otherside of the pacific. or it's got some serious work ( eg: 3 rotor ) Iv'e had my buddie price watching for me for the last year or so, in the Fukuoka/Osaka area ( south of Tokyo ) the avg price for well maintained, private sale FD's is $2500 to $4500.

THese come to virtually rust free and for the most part, like FD owners here , well takien care of.. ( mostly).