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Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4720
Reg: 11-2005

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Friday, June 25, 2010 - 04:44 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi fellow Soarer enthusiasts

So I was looking on the New Zealand Transport website about importing a used car from overseas, most commonly from Japan.

Usually to road register a car they now have to be 20+ years old if they don't comply with this silly frontal impact rule that came into force a little while ago, this means most 1990's cars cant be road registered.

However, if they are 20+ years old when imported they can in most cases. So at the moment I could import 1989 and some early 1990 model Celsiors.

Where it gets more interesting is I spotted you can import cars under 'special interest'

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/44b/special-interest-vehicles.html

Now I think Soarers come under the required criteria for that, namely UZZ31 and UZZ32s (only soarer submodels I am interested in)


quote:


Requirements that the vehicle must meet

To have a vehicle identified as a special interest vehicle, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) must deem it to have historic value or it must meet three of the following four requirements:

The vehicle (or its make, model and submodel) is identified as being a collector's item in one of the following magazines or their respective websites – Australian classic car, Car and driver (US), Automobile (US), Motor (Australia), Motor trend (US), New Zealand autocar, New Zealand classic car, Road and track (US), Top gear (UK), Top gear NZ, Unique cars (Australia) or Wheels (Australia).

The vehicle's make and model has been (or was) manufactured in annual volumes of 20,000 units or less.

The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a two-door coupe or a convertible.

The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a high-performance vehicle.




I am sure one of those clubs or magazines would recognise particular soarers as collectable - but that requires further investigation...

The second critera is there in my opinion, only 12,500 UZZ31s were made from my readings and as we know only 873 UZZ32s. Well under 20,000 per year!!

They are a two door coupe!

They are pretty much an ultra high performance coupe of the 1990's

So that almost makes 4 out of 4 ticks there?

What do you guys think on the matter?
Daniel Blomfield
TryHard
South Island
Soarer Limited V8 UZZ31

Posts: 112
Reg: 02-2010

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Friday, June 25, 2010 - 04:55 pm, by:  Daniel Blomfield (Soarer_nz) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

sounds like it could be worth investigating but whats it cost to import a UZZ31 or 32 all up landed in NZ ?
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4722
Reg: 11-2005

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Friday, June 25, 2010 - 05:48 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

For a mint, well under 100,000 kilometer 1994-97 UZZ31 landed I would say around the 15k mark. Give or take a few

Not sure on a UZZ32, but probably 20k ish.
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla

Posts: 4722
Reg: 09-2005

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Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 07:29 pm, by:  Callum Finch (Sigeneat) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You might be better off starting with a structurally/mechanically 'solid' car locally for ~$6k or whatever and then spraying $10-$15k on repairs and rejuvination like retrim and respray.

Just a thought?

I have considered snagging a uzz31 and doing this, slapping a supercharger on in the process...
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4729
Reg: 11-2005

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Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 06:06 am, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah but that is a restoration, quite different to finding a genuine original one thats a later improved model, I realize too they are 13+ years old so would need some work still and some will have fake mileage.

A friend of mine has a contact in Japan so that is how I can find one, he has recently found a GTR R32 for them to import. Top bloke.
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla

Posts: 4725
Reg: 09-2005

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Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 08:48 am, by:  Callum Finch (Sigeneat) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Fair enough, Mike. It makes sense that we both have different goals in what we would want in such a car ;D

I understand the value of original good condition as well. It is one of the reasons why i havent pulled the trigger on a Mustang yet (original good condition ones are rare and pricey =s )
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4731
Reg: 11-2005

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Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 03:22 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

True Callum, though I would also like to do that, but it would need to be an active 1991 model in need of a restoration. That would be a great worthwhile, long expensive project!

Though, for the same money I could get in one of these instead.



Quite tempting for their quirky appeal and fact NO one has one!

Guess they are collectible, rare and high performance just not 2 door. I would say that easily makes them a 'special interest' car.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm shall send some emails around
Phil Gibson
Goo Roo
WA
'91 UZZ31 track bunky, '94 blk/blk UZZ31

Posts: 1655
Reg: 07-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 12:01 am, by:  Phil Gibson (Sciflyer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So are NZ import laws now even worse than here? wow thats a turnaround?
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 5640
Reg: 10-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 06:53 am, by:  Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The last government tightened them up a lot. Imports are still way cheaper over hear though.
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4739
Reg: 11-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 07:55 am, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Trouble is they are all molestered by now, apart from the good ones which are being held on to. (Soarers)

Ive been asking around the various club to see what they think of a Century as being collectible, unique or a classic.

Much rather have one of those to put in the lock up down the road and bring out on the right days.

Could get one landed and on the road for the 12k mark give or take a couple.
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla

Posts: 4729
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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 08:36 am, by:  Callum Finch (Sigeneat) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A Century would be a nice car to have tucked away in a shed.
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4742
Reg: 11-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 10:46 am, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Callum Finch wrote on Monday, June 28, 2010 - 08:36 am:

A Century would be a nice car to have tucked away in a shed.




Agreed,

Not everyones cup of tea, for obvious reasons but I think they are amazing.

Especially because you can have a 'classic American' looking car thats built in the 90's, is Japanese made and reliable as any other Toyota/Lexus, if not more so.

Would be fascinating too get an idea on what they are like on the road, must be a more refined version of a Celsior.

Though on paper, they do ache for a 1UZFE, the standard 5V-EU 4.0L V8 is extremely under powered for a 2 tonne barge, seems the engineers followed the American route with the engine making only 120kw/250nm. (Along with the styling)

In a way, I am surprised they didn't replace the 5V with a 1UZ when it was released in 1989 with the Celsior/LS400.

Phil Gibson
Goo Roo
WA
'91 UZZ31 track bunky, '94 blk/blk UZZ31

Posts: 1656
Reg: 07-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 11:45 am, by:  Phil Gibson (Sciflyer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ah of course, im guessing you cant get the V12 version because of age - that sucks.
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
E36 Coupe

Posts: 4746
Reg: 11-2005

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Monday, June 28, 2010 - 12:09 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Phil Gibson wrote on Monday, June 28, 2010 - 11:45 am:

Ah of course, im guessing you cant get the V12 version because of age - that sucks.




Can't because they are 2-4x the value of an older early 90's one.

Otherwise I could.

Obviously a better car but 10k vs 20-35k... it's quite a jump, plus series 1 is more classic looking, the newer one went a bit Celsior looking, more bland.

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