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Ty Mackay
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT 1jz-gte

Posts: 1496
Reg: 01-2009

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 11:06 am, by:  Ty Mackay (Duo89) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi all. im looking at getting a new import! (still keeping the soarer!!!)

but looking at S15,Series 7-8 RX7, or my beloved SUPRA!.... however i heard that importing cars is alot cheaper than say a private dealer or car yard... can anyone enlighten me on importing?
Warren Moore
DieHard
Victoria
JZZ31 N/A

Posts: 623
Reg: 01-2010

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 11:11 am, by:  Warren Moore (Warreng) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

the good thing about importing is you can choose exactly what car you want, however it is time consuming. i dont think you would get it much cheaper, maybe a grand or 2 after compliance etc.

another option is going to an import agent. you tell them exactly what you want and they will search for you and they will do all the paperwork. not sure how much this would cost though.
Matt Sartori
DieHard
Western Australia
Rx7

Posts: 816
Reg: 08-2008

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 12:56 pm, by:  Matt Sartori (Klutch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Series 8 Rx-7.

Do it honey, you know you want to =P

[Edit - Pen]
Mike Bradberry
Goo Roo
Queensland
LS400

Posts: 2007
Reg: 07-2005

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 04:32 pm, by:  Mike Bradberry (Halflife) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Little sick of your slanderous attitude Matt. Can't you just say what want without the insults?
If you import, of course you don't get to see the car until it arrives and there is no guarantee you won't have to spend money on it to bring it up to what you expected it might be.
I looked into doing it through an agent and this was to cost $1100.00 plus compliance and rego. As Warren said, you can choose exactly what you want but you are going to wait some time to get it.
Once you have found what you are after, there is still a 6 to 8 week wait before you get your hands on it.
Matt Sartori
DieHard
Western Australia
Rx7

Posts: 817
Reg: 08-2008

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 04:49 pm, by:  Matt Sartori (Klutch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Mike Bradberry wrote on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 04:32 pm:

Little sick of your slanderous attitude Matt. Can't you just say what want without the insults?



Ty knows i'm only joking. I'm sure you'll get over it Mike.
Mike Bradberry
Goo Roo
Queensland
LS400

Posts: 2008
Reg: 07-2005

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Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 05:23 pm, by:  Mike Bradberry (Halflife) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Clearly Matt, you don't see my point and I won't labour it.
Ali Saeed
Goo Roo
WA
UZZ31

Posts: 2852
Reg: 09-2007

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 12:51 am, by:  Ali Saeed (Ali) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i always reckoned importing was a viable option ONLY if you had someone you can trust up in Japan looking at the cars for you. s-15, supra = boring. over done, way too many in australia. go for the rx7..do it.
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31

Posts: 11859
Reg: 11-2004

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 01:23 am, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Matt, the rest of us don't want to read your crap. Save it for when you talk to family members, not public forums.
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 5884
Reg: 10-2005

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 07:31 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)

Go the RX7 or Supra - Silvias are just so boring and common as muck - Series 8 RX7's and JZA80 Supras are both real head turners - there is a hot looking black Series 8 RX7 I see a lot around town - it ALWAYS makes me stop and look, and I don't even like rotories, its just such a beautiful car - I can't remember the last time I noticed a S15.
Matt Sartori
DieHard
Western Australia
Rx7

Posts: 819
Reg: 08-2008

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 09:18 am, by:  Matt Sartori (Klutch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Matthew Sharpe wrote on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 07:31 am:

it ALWAYS makes me stop and look, and I don't even like rotories, its just such a beautiful car



+1

I'm not saying this because im a rotor lover, but in my honest opinion the Series 8 rx7 is one of the nicest looking cars to ever get released off a showroom floor. Nothing apart from wheels and a lowering needs to be done to make them beautiful.
Austen Menze
Goo Roo
WA
GT-TL

Posts: 1136
Reg: 07-2009

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 09:26 am, by:  Austen Menze (Mercyfulfate) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

JZA80.
Ty Mackay
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT 1jz-gte

Posts: 1497
Reg: 01-2009

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 10:48 am, by:  Ty Mackay (Duo89) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hmmm, makes me think, i do know someone who waited a long time for a Evo 8, had 40 grand extra under the bonnet, and it got trashed on the way over, so he had to wait months and months to sort it out, its kinda why im worried about importing as i dont want to get ripped off or loose my money somehow, alot more practicle going to a car yard or private dealer.
Austen Menze
Goo Roo
WA
GT-TL

Posts: 1139
Reg: 07-2009

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 10:51 am, by:  Austen Menze (Mercyfulfate) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

And it gets thrashed to by dock workers
Matt Sartori
DieHard
Western Australia
Rx7

Posts: 820
Reg: 08-2008

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 11:03 am, by:  Matt Sartori (Klutch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Ty Mackay wrote on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 10:48 am:

hmmm, makes me think, i do know someone who waited a long time for a Evo 8, had 40 grand extra under the bonnet, and it got trashed on the way over, so he had to wait months and months to sort it out, its kinda why im worried about importing as i dont want to get ripped off or loose my money somehow, alot more practicle going to a car yard or private dealer.




Might be worth having a look at a few import car yards over east?

That way when you find something you like you can get someone to look it over or if you're very serious about it, fly over and check it out.
David Grima
DieHard
WA
1JZ-GTE TT

Posts: 641
Reg: 07-2007

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 01:02 pm, by:  David Grima (Maltezr) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Austen Menze wrote on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 10:51 am:

And it gets thrashed to •••• by dock workers




I agree with you Austen, heard some stories about imports getting thrashed as they take em off the ships.
Dave Rose
Goo Roo
wa
uzz31 v8

Posts: 1326
Reg: 03-2007

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 01:41 pm, by:  Dave Rose (Sand_groper) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

email sent Dave
David Grima
DieHard
WA
1JZ-GTE TT

Posts: 642
Reg: 07-2007

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Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 02:38 pm, by:  David Grima (Maltezr) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Dave Rose wrote on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 01:41 pm:

email sent Dave




didn't receive anything from you Dave....
David Tra
Goo Roo
qld
AWD

Posts: 1556
Reg: 11-2007

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010 - 05:18 pm, by:  David Tra (Bookie) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I took a look on the prestige motorsports website. 1998 jza80 vvti imported here roughly 28k. OMG! EXXY AS BRO!


Im going to import my next car. Unsure what yet but its going to be 2doors. I have a friend who can help :-)
Layton Molenaar
TryHard
SA
Soarer + 96RZ6spd

Posts: 119
Reg: 12-2009

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010 - 08:23 pm, by:  Layton Molenaar (Rbdestroyer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just bought a 2jza80 6 speed (v161). Test drove an rx7. Nothing to compare.
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla

Posts: 4747
Reg: 09-2005

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Friday, October 01, 2010 - 09:11 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)


David Tra wrote on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 - 05:18 pm:

I took a look on the prestige motorsports website.


I havent heard a good thing about that mob.
Ty, if you are looking for an importer to help you out (ie, find a car, land it and put it on the road here) give Shaun @ HC Imports (same complex and people as at Distinctive Cars) in Wangara a call. In the past he has offered cheaper compliance for cars he hasnt done before because he can use it as evidence to bring more in.

http://hcimports.com.au/
Kadir Hussein
TryHard
Victoria/Western Australia
'97 SC400 Limited

Posts: 176
Reg: 12-2009

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Saturday, October 02, 2010 - 07:16 pm, by:  Kadir Hussein (Khuss888) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've actually imported a car via Prestige Motorsport way back in 2005. Not a Japanese car actually - it was a Daimler (Jaguar XJ)

It arrived not running and wouldn't start. I thought it was just the battery, so I bought a new one. Within 5 mins of driving the car stopped again. The reason was a little $500 box of diodes had failed meaning the alternator wouldn't charge the battery. Probably because the car wasn't jump started properly.

Once this was sorted, the car was a pleasure to drive for the 5 years I had it.

So for what its worth that was my experience.
The service from Prestige Motorsport was actually quite good. All emails/phone calls answered promptly.

My advice to you is to stick with the japanese vehicle condition ratings.

No matter how good an import agent makes the description sound, the rating will always tell the truth. Generally speaking, (with the exception of modified vehicles which always get a low rating) Anything less than 4.0 rating will be a bit dog eared/tired.

If there is no official rating (as with some cars from a japanese dealer) - and you MUST have that particular car, Look closely at the photos, ask for high resolution.
Note that the import agents/jap dealers will take photos of the car from the most favorable angles! So be paranoid when assessing these photos. If something doesn't look right - ask for another photo of that particular area. - (is that the light or is the door a slightly darker shade than the quarter panel?)

All other normal assessment tactics apply too - does the condition of the interior support the millage? Is the wear consistent throughout the interior? - For example, if the car reads 40,000klms, the seats look new but you notice the hardbrake cover is ratty, be very suspicious.

If you're looking for a bargain of sorts - I would look for the car with the absolutely perfect; mint, factory interior. Which has sustained some sort of exterior cosmetic damage. - that's my opinion anyway.

You do here of people importing cars for bargain prices with $1,000,000 worth of modifications included. But this doesn't mean the car isn't completely worn out by the time it gets to auction. In fact, in my experience they usually are thrashed. Personally, I run would from imports heavily modified overseas.

I would recommend you have a look at j-spec imports, I haven't actually used them, but they always seem to stock high quality cars, and were very honest and helpful when I made some enquiries.

And on another note - I have heard directly from a fool working at the docks that they thrash the imported cars around.. unfortunately not much we can do about that.
Steven Anderson
DieHard
NSW
UZZ31 Manual

Posts: 517
Reg: 05-2006

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Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 12:20 am, by:  Steven Anderson (Cusscuss) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jspec did my car, it was exactly as described and the service was pretty good. Make sure you ask lots of questions though.

Also expect to pay 1-2k more than anyone quotes you because they will always leave things out like new tyres, customs cleaning etc.

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