Anybody Here Imported A Car Direct From Japan?

[SherwoodNash]

Will be moving and downsizing soon, and am seriously considering buying a JB23 with some spare funds.

Before I embark on hours of online research, just wondered if anybody here has any direct experience of importing a late model Suzuki direct from Japan.

If you have, what's your story please?

Thanks!

[SherwoodNash]

After a cursory search it seems as though a good used 10 year old Jap vehicle will have lower than UK average mileage, have less rust due to salt not being used on most islands, will be impeccably (mostly dealer) maintained and driven on smoother roads by more respectful drivers.

Bottom line though a £2K vehicle there, may well end up at £4K+ once over here on your driveway. once all taxes, fees, shipping etc are sorted out


Hmmm......

[Tramp]

Would you be better picking up a Cypriot zuke? They are a European country, are RHD and are from a dry climate? I know that zukes in Cyprus hold their money better than the UK but if your getting a good condition clean zuke it would be worth it and as it's a European vehicle it wouldn't need any type approval or whatever you need to bring a car in from outside the EU, also you wouldn't have to pay import tax on it (I don't think)

[twiss]

We get coilies here which might be of interest... but not that many jimnys
I think the coily suspension is pretty similar to jimny suspension if its ride comfort you want... still not that comfy though
For a decent one you'd be looking at about £4000 though... but there is no VAT, no import duty.... just need a European certificate of conformity (from suzuki I think)
and a £55 registration fee

Difference here is you could drive it straight back in a few days, no shipping

(Also - Tramp, jap cars are all RHD anyway )

[twiss]

My friend's wanting his 1998 (i think) at the minute... he wants about £6000 for it (as the pound is so crap against the euro at the minute)
but he only put a £2200 lift kit on it last year...

[Rhinoman]

Importing from Japan has been done for years, go through an established importer and you should be OK. Japanese vehicles tend to be a bit light on rust-proofing so that will need to be done. Lights won't be E marked but that doesn't seem to be an issue, my Mazda Bongo never failed an MOT because of that. You would need to convert the speedo from KMH to MPH. IVA may be necessary as its not a UK model unless someone has already put one through.
I drove a coily around Turkey, it was a rough ride with horrible bump steer - nothing like the ride a Jimny has.

[twiss]

Ahhh I still havent had a chance to go in a stock coily yet... just the one with the expensive suspension kit

[ScottieJ]

Only the rear coily suspension is 'similar' to a jmny...the front is a crap design.



Personally I'd never consider buying a coily SJ, certain parts are oddball and hard to get hold of as well as being weaker than leafer SJs

[Rabid Rhino]

Why not a nice 5 door Katana from Indonesia ? (Its what I want next) but the IVA for the UK could be a deal breaker.

I just imported a few of mine from the UK to the US in a whole 40' container for £2K which was cheaper than bringing 3 cars on Roll-on Roll-off. The container fitted a LJ, a LWB & 2 disassembled KJAs. They were classed as personal effects so no tax. I wonder if you can do the same. There are different catagories so it may not be the 20% VAT rate. I used to import stuff from the US. Tyres were like 4% duty. Way cheaper than getting them from UK specialists.

Here in the US, cars over 25 years old are exempt from any automotive compliance regulations but they still will have to pass the yearly "MoT". I think England is easier as it doesn't have a minimum age restriction.

I'd speak to specialist car an import agent that would handle the shipping & duties, not one of those guys who you buy the car from directly in the UK. I spent about an hour one Sunday afternoon speaking to one of those sellers..... his markup was phenomenal.

Do some homework first and maybe fly out there for a holiday to snap up a unique bargain. I'd love another Highroofed JA71

I know a Brit over here who flew out to South Africa at the beginning of the year to buy 3 MkII Escorts. RoRoed one over here which he's now trying to sell to fund bringing the other 2 over which are in cheap storage. If you can get 3 cars in a container its cheaper than RoRo. Plus you can put anything else you want in the container to fill the gaps. For some reason the cars have to be empty (You can't load them with spares.) & all fluids drained.

[SherwoodNash]

Very interesting! thanks for your input.