Twitch de la Brat Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I'm sure some of you have seen my thread about needing a RHD vehicle or parts. Well, I found a website that imports vehicles. JDM prices FTW!!! Anywho, has anyone tried to import a vehicle lately? I've been researching and am having a hell of a time finding any info on bringing car up to EPA spec. I think that's my last hurdle, please correct me if I'm wrong. I've got links to importing companies, shipping companies, and ports that handle vehicles. Without bringing it up to EPA spec, its currently going to cost me about $3k to buy, import, and ship/drive the car to my house. Any other suggestions? Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 What vehicle are you looking at importing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted June 11, 2010 Author Share Posted June 11, 2010 I'm looking at importing either a Lego Wagon or a Forester. Preferably a Forester, as they are bigger, have more ground clearance, and overall more capable for mail delivery. Not to mention I can get one for $500 Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I've done a lot of research regarding importing a Pinzgauer, specifically the newer, Diesel one. If its less than 25 years old you're probably in for a major headache. If its OBDII, as I believe most Japanese cars are, you should be able to import it with relatively few issues, and if it shares the same chassis, the crash testing should be the same. Google it and let your fingers do the walking, but ultimately, I decided to wait until 2015 to import the Pinz I want to avoid the hassles and headaches of getting a newer car. It takes time and money, lots of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaru360 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 You can't legally import jdm cars that are less than 25 years old. They do not comply with us emissions and crash test requirements. Those companies with the websites will take your money and put the car on a boat, sure. As soon as it gets it here it will be seized by customs and you get a choice, pay to send it back or have it crushed. With all that said, there are ways to get the cars here that are semi legal. These are called gray market cars. You can pay to have the car disassembled in Japan and have the body and drivetrain shipped in seperate containers. Then put it back together when it gets here. Or have it imported into Canada where they only have a 15 year rule. Some of the Canadian importers have been know to drive the car across the border for you. What you do with it after that is your business. Some states let you title and register jdm cars. Most don't. If you want a mail car just buy a rhd legacy mail wagon. They made them 90-99. There are still plenty of them around. I've bought/sold 2 of them myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lone500 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 how are those rhd wagons? there cheap as hell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durania Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 how are those rhd wagons? there cheap as hell Not those around here. They get snatched up real quick and people use them on their rural mail routes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 (edited) On of the guys at my shop had some issues importing a JDM car. Might have something to do with it being a Nissan Skyline though... He had to have it shipped to a state on the east coast, maryland IIRC, which has funky laws. It had to sit there for a few months, then a guy drove it across the country, where we had to equip the motor with EGR. PITA Also, i found one not too far from my house http://skagit.craigslist.org/cto/1755724115.html and another in seattle http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1787657615.html I would be happy to help you obtain it Edited June 12, 2010 by Markus56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted June 12, 2010 Author Share Posted June 12, 2010 On of the guys at my shop had some issues importing a JDM car. Might have something to do with it being a Nissan Skyline though... He had to have it shipped to a state on the east coast, maryland IIRC, which has funky laws. It had to sit there for a few months, then a guy drove it across the country, where we had to equip the motor with EGR. PITA Also, i found one not too far from my house http://skagit.craigslist.org/cto/1755724115.html and another in seattle http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1787657615.html I would be happy to help you obtain it I've heard about the horror stories of the Skylines But I don't have any emissions to fight with. And the shipping companies I've priced will ship it to LA. I know, smog nazi's down there, but it would only be received in LA. But I'm still working on finding a certified importer who can legally make a car EPA, NHTSA, and FMVSS compliant. Thanks for the offer, but right now I'm just gathering info, don't quite have the cash as I haven't even gotten to start training But as soon as I get into training and start working I will have the money really fast, like, within a few months Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'subaru Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Whats the advantage of a jdm, rhd? I occasionally see rhd legacy wagons for sale, ex postal delivery vehicles and someone is getting them imported or is it special order from Subaru, may be worth looking into but probably usdm through out I would guess. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durania Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 The RHD postal wagons were made in Indiana and marketed to the USPS for the rural mail routes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Whats the advantage of a jdm' date=' rhd? I occasionally see rhd legacy wagons for sale, ex postal delivery vehicles and someone is getting them imported or is it special order from Subaru, may be worth looking into but probably usdm through out I would guess.Cheers[/quote'] I've been looking for a Postal USDM RHD, but they are usually beat to death and overpriced. My parents have checked into every manufacturer, and the only one that still offers RHD is Jeep. And I don't want to be driving no stinking heep on a mail route out in timbuktu. But if I play my cards right I can get a car that hasn't seen a dirt road, with fewer than 60,000 miles on the clock for about $5k. This bad boy is the one I'm currently drooling over, but I'm going to have to wait until I get my first couple paychecks before I can start heavily considering anything. The RHD postal wagons were made in Indiana and marketed to the USPS for the rural mail routes. Bingo, hit it right on the nose. They were all USDM and almost all of them were built in the US. Only a small number were built in japan, and those were the earliest ones. Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiDan Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Have you thought about getting a front cut from japan and converting a USDM car to RHD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'subaru Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 (edited) Nice car, looks like it would be worth the import hassles, good luck! Edited June 22, 2010 by T'subaru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Have you thought about getting a front cut from japan and converting a USDM car to RHD? Yes, I have, but I really don't want to have to rewire an entire car. Esp one that has that many accessories. If I was going to go that route, I would probably just find a USDM that had the front end mashed up and just chop it off wherever the JDM was cut at and weld it up, with necessary supports of course. Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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