The only thing I have to say is..

To ANYONE who thinks they can get their japanese FD here, in their driveway with canadian plates, registry and insurance and in consistent runnable (i.e. not going to break down when you take it to a meet the first time) condition for anything under 15K-19K...........................................drea m on.

Otherwise - if Im wrong - then show me EVERY recipet you have right from the auction purchase, auction fees, delivery from auciton, shipping from japan auction, storage while it waits to be shipped, shipping out of country, packageing fee, shipping once its landed in canada, taxes, duty, containor inspection fee, registry, insurance on shipping.......everything. edit: even if the importer says to you "all fees included" or something along those lines, its B.S., pure un-refined B.S. If you don't believe me, then purchase one and see if any "hidden fees" emerge......if not, then hey, Im wrong and you've got an FD for 8 thousand.

Associated costs add up VERY quickly when importing things on a small scale, like when importing 1, 2600lb car. So please......prove me wrong and land an FD in you driveway for 8 grand.....

 

I think the reliability issues of FD's are WAYYY exagerated...

ok sure mine has a new motor and trans, and doesn't run /perfect/ but I can't see anything on it failing to the point of it breaking down.

alot of people forget too, these $10K JDM fd's will not be showroom cars! They'll be beat up shitty ones. Low milage mint cars will still command a higher premium, or just not be imported here!

And the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Yay.

 

As I have posted earlier. I will be purchasing my FD around February and once I get it landed and all costs payed for I will post all of my costs and let everyone know how much it cost me to have it landed. Along with the receipts I will also post a bunch of pictures to show you what kind of condition the car is in.

I will be saving some costs that other might incure since I will be purchasing the car in february this gives me a more broad area of cars that I can purchase and have exported without any storage fees. Also, my gf is a flight attendent for West Jet so I will be flying to Vancouver for practically nothing to pick up the car and drive it back to Alberta.

I think that I have been trying to do what I can to include all extra expenses but I am sure that I might have overlooked a couple of things, but I guess we will all have to wait until february or later to find out.

 

It's not only the quantity of problems but the cost of parts and lack of mechanics that can fix them. You can't find parts in the junk yard for cheap and unless you can fix them yourself then you have to pay top dollar for a mechanic. I don't think it's way exaggerated at all.

Most FD's will not last longer than 150K without needing new motor and/or turbos. Once the mileage racks up, you start looking at suspension bushings, tranny, rear end etc. Sure these are common problems on any car with some mileage but on an FD they are expensive.

I'm sure we all here know that but not the kid who's thinks he can afford it.

 

Here we have a rare case. Sure - if you manage to find an auction that is ending 24hours before your arranged shipping containor leaves and they can manage to get the title transfered and have it brought over to the yard quickly then, yes, you'll avoid one fee.

And yeah, if you fly to vancouver and take a few days off work then drive the car home all you'll need to pay for is gas and hotels (although being in alberta you could probably do it in nearly one shot) But you can't expect to say that this would be the norm for anyone planning on buying a JSPEC FD. What about me being from ontario? I know that in fuel alone if I were to drive the car (instead of pay to ship it) back across country I would spend 700-1000 dollars in gas alone. Thats not including the 3-4 hotel rooms Id need to book.

BUT

I still find it very difficult to believe, even with what you're willing to do, that you'll have it running, driving and licensed for much less than the cost of a poor-medium condition USDM FD. Even cutting out a handfull of charges, although it may make it cheaper, is still (again...............I *could* be wrong) not going to make this an 8 thousand dollar affair.

 

http://www.importconcern.ca/stock/100276/

If a company like import concern can get a FD which obviously isn't in great shape, but not too bad of shape and sell it for $7800 (could be lower since im sure they are somewhat flexible on the price) and still make a decent profit off of it I am sure that I can get a FD in better condition, doing all of the work myself for this same price. Like I said I could be wrong, and I might end up spending alot more than I planned but I hope not. I have been very carefull in the questions that I have asked to come up with a decent understanding of what it is going to cost me but there is always the possibility that I have over looked some issues.

Also with the storage fee, it takes a company almost a month to get all the paperwork organized, everything processed and the car transported to the port. This month does not cost me money as it is included in the companys brokerage fee (approx 100,000JPY). I was told that the approx wait time on a car is 2 months by the time I purchase it at a auction to the time it is sitting in vancouver waiting for me. The FOB prices that I am given include all fees to export the car out of Japan, from there I am responsible for shipping and all costs of importing the car. Since this is my first time importing a car I really don't know ALL of the costs involved, but I also added an extra $500 to my original prices just to cover some un-expected expenses.

 

JOE: Shipping a car from Vancouver to Ontario by train is ~$1000... you just need to arrange to get it from the boat to the train, though if you're shipping container, it might not be too bad.

 

Importconcern also ~ quadruples the cost of ANY RORO quotes I've ever gotten and doubles the cost of a container shipment..

If you shop around you can get better pricing and I think that's the key to import at a reasonable price, shopping around for the best price.. picking a specific car is still is your hands.. choosing who will get it to you is another.. also most towns in Ontario of any size have their own customs office and bonded warehouse. Clearence and import is easy to do and I know here in the local Barrie office they walk you through the paperwork.

 

I'm not trying to be a *** here, but out of everyone who has stated prices and numbers, how many of you have spent a decent amount of time researching the costs and processes of importing a car, also the price of cars at the auctions? I'm trying to figure out if I have overlooked some things or if there are any good websites that I may not have visited to help out with the importing process.

 

Ive spent about 3 years looking these types of things. Ive always been interested in buying (and importing) rare cars for our car lot. My girlfriend also deals with international shipping for her store on a regular basis.....so believe me Ive contemplated going in on a container and having her fill the excess space with product. Even at that I would still be in the 1500-2K range (my % of the container cost) to bring it across the pond only. So to answer your question, Im not talking out of my ***.

And its not that you can't get a decent deal on the car itself. Its just that you have no idea how many little fees and nick-nack charges you'll incur when trusting strangers to ship a vehicle half way around the world. They (shipping companies, auctions, insurance, the importer) deal in a business too....which have to turn profits.

And again......Im not saying that if you take a bunch of steps yourself, and take the time necessary to insure you've got a good car that you won't end up with a reasonable cost on the car. Im just saying that this HONESTLY will NOT be an 8 thousand dollar affair. 14-17.....perhaps.

Even think of it this way. Buy a car.......any car.......right now. A 99 VW passat for example. Say you buy the car for 9995. Put tax on that. Transfer the plates and ownership. Buy a package for it. Buy a new sticker. Saftey it. E test it.............now all you have to do is insure it and its driveable. Your 9995 car now just cost you around 12,500 to get on the road. See where Im going with this?

I just find that as soon as people see "auction" they think its some mystical land of $.99 2007 corvettes or something. I get people asking me all the time what I will pay for XXXXXX at the "auction". Well by the time you pay auction fees delivery and spend a day running around through the maze/craziness in Milton - your "deal" on the car has gone from medeoker to non-exsistent.

Lets face it. IF you really really could bring a car (FD), landed and registered and the whole nine yards in Canada for 9-10K Don't you think there would be HORDES of them here right now for sale for 12-14? Because let me tell you if I could stock my car lot with 10 FDs that I pay 9 grand for each......Id have them here in a heartbeat and up for sale for 14. Trust me on that one.

EDIT: Fedsythats a decent price on a cross country shipping!

 

Well I will let you know how everything goes and what my total costs are.

Here is how I have my costs figured out.

To buy from japaneseusedcars.com the car as a FOB price will cost around $5,000.
Shipping as roll on-roll off costs are $70cu/m = about $700 USD = 810 CAD + shiping insurance (guessing to be 2% which is $100) so a total of say $1000 for shipping to be sure.
Duty to get into canada is around 13% or so on purchase price of vehicle = $650
misc. charges of for port fees, a/c tax and anything else say $1000.
OOP is probubly around $150 but if you have a lot im sure its alot cheaper

total= $7800. I haven't added shipping across Canada because as you have stated it all depends on where you live.

If you can think of something that I have under-estimated or something I have forgotten please let me know. I am doing my best to not have any surprises upon ordering the car. As for solid proof of costs I wont have any until about May 2007 as that should be when my car will be landed since I am most likely purchasing it feb or march.

 

Its a general consencious to all people, on the forum or in the public eye. This is how i look at it, the only reason most of the people that are getting all excited about the FD being imported here are people that can not afford one normally. All these people do is sit around and complain that the FD is not worth what it is today and should only be in the $9000 mark. Its a case of to many people on beer income with champagne taste, or in some cases just not old enough to have built equidy for them self so they can go out and buy a vehicle of choice.

When i was 16 i would have loved to have a FD, dreamed about them, did i get one? No! So did i go around telling any owners out there that there car is not worth what it is and degrade their value to justify the reasons why i should have had one? Never! I respected the car and in my mind was glad the car held such a high standard, and it just pushed me to work hard for one! Just because someone cant afford something, what gives them the right to say our cars should be worth less just so you can have one to.

This brings us to the JDM versions, now the only real reason i see to have one would be for an enthusiest or collector. One thats in pristine shape to show the way it came from over seas. Besides that it just looks like an easy way out for all the people to buy one that could never before. And if thats not the reason, then if you love the FD so much then why not buy a LH drive version instead of going through all these importing hassels.

Look at all the post that have been made as of late about JDM FD's. Everyone of them is the same, going on about how they can FINALLY AFFORD one and how they cant wait till they become legal. But here is how i look at it..........
If you cant afford the north american price of an FD how are you going to be able to afford all the stuff added to your JDM FD? So you get an FD for $8000, do you think it stops at that? I agree with TERREH, they are not as bad as people say. But when you do run into a prob look out! Not only the maintenance but the cost of go fast parts. You want a new FMIC $800 or a exhaust $400-$1000, injectors $1300, PFC $1000,fuel pump $300 and so on and so on and soooooo on. And thats in US dollars! I have droped approx $15000 or so dollars into my car, but not nickle and diming myself, but as a hobbie!

Then we get the ones that buy the FD as a DD, because hell if you cant afford a Canadian FD you definatly cant afford a JDM FD and a beater. Or lets say you do get a beater, heres another $100 a month for a GOOD winter storage shop ontop unless you have a garage to keep it in. But the ones that cant do that end up using there car as a neighbouthood snow plow and clearing the streets for you and yours only to get stuck just 20 feet from your house!

I could go on forever but im just showing the big picture here to some who just might be in over there heads. There are many of us FD owners on here that have and use our cars for different pourposes, Im more of a show and shine type, Jim K is a track guy and so is Mr zoom, but you know what. we all love our cars and keep them in the best condition we can for us to enjoy and others to see.

Shawn

 

^^^What he said^^^

 

I totally agree with your post, and do agree that the general public doesn't have the knowledge that they should when deciding on buying a FD. Also as others have said that there is going to be alot more FD's on the road that are in shitty shape.

I also agree that people who can't afford LHD FD's shouldn't go around stating that they aren't worth the price when in reality no one person can say what something is worth, and in general fd's are selling so they are obviously worth the price.

I may be buying a JDM FD for a different reason than most, but the reason that I personally am buying a JDM FD is because when I add up the total cost of everything I think that I will have a better quality FD for approx. 14-15grand than I would if I were to spend that money on a LHD FD. This is my person opinion though. If everything works out and I do get a fairly decent FD imported and sitting at my house for around 8 grand This gives me approx. 6 grand to put into the car for reliability mods, for fixing any problems that the car might have, and for maintaining the car. Where I feel that if I bought a LHD FD I would probubly face somewhat simular problems with the car, but be spending around 6grand more for it just so that I can drive on the left hand side of the car. As I have stated, I might be in over my head with this project and might overlook some issues, and possibly could end up with a complete lemon of a car. But if all things go right I could have a decent FD for a fraction of the cost which gives me extra money to put into the car.

 

.............Only thing I have to say is prove me wrong on the total cost to import and get it in your driveway licensed in your province.

If you land an FD with 80,000kms that doesn't need 5 or 6 grand in repairs to be driveable/reliable, registered and all, for (your estimated price) of 8 thousand, at that point Ill be contacting you to get me 3 that I will sell in ontario. No joke.

So please, good luck and post reciepts when it gets here..................all of them

EDIT: and shawn....part of your ideas about the cost of parts can be applied to FC's as well. I think it goes without sayign that modding ANY car for high horsepower and looks (while staying with recognizable brands) costs an arm, a leg and also a bit of foot

But there's no doubt its accentuated on the FD.

 

I get to drive in Europe every couple of years when I visit my granny but I can never get accustomed to shifting with my left hand. Which is why I am not looking for an FD from there or Japan. If you take the time to look in the UK autotrader there are alot of very reasonably priced FDs that can be imported from there rather than Japan. The climate is a wet one but they do not salt the roads (well not while I was there) and the cars can be in very good shape. Plus it only costs $500 in the off peak period to go and physically check it out.(plus accomodation)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/
(WV11 3TU is a valid postal code and input national for your search.)

And it has also become easier to import from the states since every month from now a new set of FDs will no longer have to comply with the RIV program. I just missed picking up a well cared for FD (with a blown motor) from down south that would have cost me less than 18k including a fresh rebuilt 0km engine and brand new paint.

I see the importing rules as making more well maintained FDs available to us. I am looking for an FD with a blown motor but I just cannot find one in Canada worth buying. I will continue to look south for it since the import rules are not that cumbersome anymore. I don't think that makes me cheap. I just don't see the point in buying a FD in Canada for 20k plus and then having to rebuild it shortly thereafter or spending additional money on cosmetic touch ups that are going to be required on any 15 year old car.

 

fd's will easily see 550-600km per tank (highway driving)... if you have a 5000 km trip you're still only looking at between $450 and $600 for gas.

 

what i wouldn't mind seeing in a few years time is enthusiasts or collectors importing some of the special edition S7 models. we didn't get those over here

 

People People.

SUPRAS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 8 grand end of next year dont WASTE the money on rotaries.

Save and Buy SUPRAS !!! yes yesss . they dont blow up , etc.

 

I have been researching this for 2 years. In my opinion it's not worth importing a FD from Japan. I could write a small book about it; right now I don't feel like it.

Have you not considered the states? The 15 year rule applies to the USA too. You can import a 15 year old FD pay duty, GST and you're done..so much easier.

Read every thread posted on GTR Canada forums...there's a lot of bullshit when importing from Japan. every day theres a new problem.

 

You do realise that you can't import a 15yr old FD from the US concidering they don't have any 15yr old FD's unless if theirs came from japan. Japan got FD's in 92 and the US got FD's in 93. Also you can legally import a FD from the US before it is 15 years old since the US models and Canadian models are identical. I have talked with a few people who eather work for importers or who have imported their own vehicles and have heard their stories. I am definatly a little scepticle about it but I haven't heard anything thats going to turn me away from getting one.

 

lmao, what he said

 

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think you should do a little more research before investing your hard earned dollars.

All FDs US or Japanese were manufactured starting December 1991, which is why some are now 15 years old. These cars were labelled 1993 in the US, however the manufacture date is the relevant date for importing.

FDs younger than 15 years are subject to the RIV program, which involves changing the Rebar, daytime lights etc. since FDs from the US are not identical to their Canadian brethren.

I had made a tentative deal for a US car that had a manufacture date of July 1992. I would have stored the car in the US until July next year and then brought it over without having to comply with the RIV program.

 

I'll chime in here also and say that half of you are smoking crack. Before you invest your money in an auction car, take a trip to Japan and check the car out. Either that or get a friend to. Dont expect ANY decent FD under $15k. If it is, it's probably junk. Of course with that said, there are deals to be had. The prices quoted at most auction sites are prices that the car is opening at or prices that a previous (junked) one sold for to get you interested. Also sites like Terra2 don't own half of those cars...the prices quoted are usually made-up to get more buyers interested in bidding. The Japanese auction industry is not the cleanest system and not always run by professionals...let alone Japanese people themselves. Just thought I'd throw my 5 cents out there. Just tired of seeing all of this..."I'm importing a 20B Tokyo Drift car next year for $5k" crap.

 

I'm not going to argue with anyone anymore about me being or not being able to import a car from japan for aruond 8 grand and have it be a decent car. This is retarded.

Sorry I overlooked the fact that all you had to do was change a bumper and then you can import them. But why would you pay a storage fee for a car for over half of a year when all you need to do is change a bumper and you can then drive the car emediatly.

Daemon, I am not going to be getting my car from a place like Terra2 or Monkeys. I am going directly through eather www.japaneseusedcars.com, or www.hashinon.com or www.best-trade-auctions.com. This will save me a decent amount of money isntead of going through a broker. I do realise that this gives me more of a liability when it comes to the car concidering I don't have a second party involved to include some what of a guarontee but I am sure that if I do my fair share of research and shopping around that I can get a good deal.

But as I said, I'm not going to get into any more arguments with people on here about my chances of getting a decent FD for under 10grand. I will creat a thread as soon as my car is purchased and show pics of what I have bought, and then keep everyone informed of all costs that I incure during this process and give everyone a final price at the end and then we will see what kind of a deal I get then. Until then whats the point of debating this? No one is yet to give me any hard evidence to show that my figure are wrong and all it has been is people going off of personal opinions or rumours.