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Best Car To Import From Japan Under Personal Import Scheme

bobo
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d0p3y Grand Master

d0p3y

Posted
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EVO 3/4/5 will sell better than an NSX. NSX market is small. Evo market over here at the moment is huge, Evo 7/8/9 everywhere. The only reason there aren't more 3/4/5 evo's around is because they're rare as hens teeth - they are very desirable and if you brought one over it would most likely sell for a good price.

Big Rizza Mentor

Big Rizza

Posted
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Depends on a number of factors, mainly price range and intended purpose. If it's an investment and you plan to sell as soon as it's landed, then the EVO 3,4,5 suggestion seems valid. Cheap to buy in Japan, but still highly priced in Oz.

If it's for yourself, get something we don't normally see here in Australia. And remember that you're not limited to Japanese models - also consider European and American sports cars that we don't get here. Vauxhall VX220 turbo? Renault Clio V6? Corvette Z06? Perhaps something a bit more outrageous. Van Den Brink Carver? Arial Atom? Campagna T-Rex (although that might be considered a motorbike for registration purposes...)

The other alternative is to import something heavily modified, as I beleive the car does not have to be returned to standard for compliance and registration with a personal import, unlike a regular import. We see the big tuning names on videos over here, but rarely get the chance to actually own those machines. A genuine RE Amemiya RX7 touge monster? A genuine JUN racing Supra? A genuine Mine's Ultimate Response Machine? Now we're talking! Now where'd that lotto ticket get to...

Wink Grand Master

Wink

Posted
Posted
I don't see any EVO 3/4/5 on drive.com.au - are they called something else here? I see some EVO VII for sale...

Evo 3 and 4 are not able to be imported/complied as they are too similar to the locally sold Lancer GSR.

Evo 5 no-one bothers with as you can import/comply the Evo 6/6.5 which looks nearly the same as a 5, and is better and newer.

insanity Rising Star

insanity

Posted
Posted
Evo 3 and 4 are not able to be imported/complied as they are too similar to the locally sold Lancer GSR.

Evo 5 no-one bothers with as you can import/comply the Evo 6/6.5 which looks nearly the same as a 5, and is better and newer.

We are talking about personal imports, Wink, just in case you misread something.

Though I agree with your statement about evo 5.... unless someone was looking for a 5 in particular, the 6/6.5 are a much better option.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

i would suggest a late model legacy. they are cheap at auction and are very nice. with leather, nice wheels, choice of turbo or NA, AWD would sell quite well i think.

or just forget this profit from cars idea and buy something you like. that way if it doesn't sell at least you have a car you want.

m3gtr Grand Master

m3gtr

Posted
Posted

interesting thread. Bobo, im in a similar position as insanity mentioned and im glad you asked the question again, because the answers here seem to differ. Its the old adage.." theres more than one way to skin a cat".

anyway, youve received some good advice on the Evo series and its actually cleared things up for me too. The evo has been largely overlooked by the government after getting burnt on the overpriced ( by Oz standards ) Evo 6 and 6.5 and while the GTR, supra, WRX et al have received much of the publicity ( some of the VERY negative kind ), the Evo in a way of sorts has gone under the radar and has in essence become a black sheep of the import scene. The flow on from this is that they are scarce and desirable.

with that in effect, what has happened is that prices have remained quite decent. i have a copy here in Japan of unique cars Jan, 2005 and evo 4, 5 6 and 7 were fetching between 35k and 50k.

prices done seem to have shifted much and in Car smile, which is a free car mag you can get from the convenience store in Japan, they have around 10 evos now between evo4 and evo6 asking for around ( once ive converted it to Oz dollars ) 12 thousand dollars! Thats dirt cheap to buy but then you have to factor in having the car here for a year and then sending it back. To house it here which can be expensive, depending on whether or not you get "shak-en" ( which is compulsory road worthiness every couple of years ) included in the deal plus all the necessary, by oz regulations, driving of the car, plus receipts on basically everything, and youre looking at between 4 and 5 thouand.

Then you have to import it and that could, depending again on what you do, set you back an additional 4 or 5 thousand.

all up you would have spent 12 to get plus 10 in having it there and sending it back. thats 22 thousand and could be even less if you manage to cut corners. this is all speculative because how longs a peice of string?

lets say you get the thing back at 20k. it has the potential to make you AT LEAST between 10 and 15 thousand. find the right person and it could be anywhere between 15 and 20.

To me and this is based on a lot of research, the Evo makes the most sense when it comes to private importing. It wont be hard to find a good 40 to 50 thousand Kms example in 4 5 6 variation for 10 to 15 thousand Oz dollars in Japan. They are largely overlooked by even the Japanese themselves. If you want a GTR for comparisons sake, just having the badge will cost you 10k!! perhaps a slight exaggeration but you see my point.

...by writing this, what ive done is cleared the matter up for myself as well! Time to start shopping!

which would it be though? 4...5...6...or later? :happy:

Nismo_Boy Grand Master

Nismo_Boy

Posted
Posted
The NSX is a sexy car and seems pretty rare here - only 7 for sale on drive.com.au. If I bring out such an expensive car, I hope I can sell it! What's the market like here for such an expensive import?

I’ve been keeping an eye on NSX’s for sale currently, as it’s a potential option for another car.

Generally the market for these cars are older people due to the price, your normal middle aged man looking for a sports car wont go for the imported version over the local model.

You might get lucky and get a NSX enthusiast like myself, but the car would have to be something pretty special, or cheap.

I personally think you’re better off with a VIP style car that can’t be imported, under the current system. The wanabe VIP kid scene is getting bigger, and everyone wants to be different.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted
with that in effect, what has happened is that prices have remained quite decent. i have a copy here in Japan of unique cars Jan, 2005 and evo 4, 5 6 and 7 were fetching between 35k and 50k.

prices done seem to have shifted much

I can tell you in the 2 years between jan 2005 and jan 2007 prices HAVE shifted plenty. for starters you can now buy a current model evo for the same price as an STI wrx so they are quite cheap here now. and believe me there are plenty around. no one in their right mind would pay $35K for a an old evo any more I don't think. plus always remember prices in unique cars are asking prices, not selling prices. and there is a crucial difference there.

seriously throw the jan 05 unique cars in the bin. I'll do you a deal. :( post me a current GTR magazine, and I'll post you back a current unique cars :D that will give you a better idea of where things are at now.

m3gtr Grand Master

m3gtr

Posted
Posted
I can tell you in the 2 years between jan 2005 and jan 2007 prices HAVE shifted plenty. for starters you can now buy a current model evo for the same price as an STI wrx so they are quite cheap here now. and believe me there are plenty around. no one in their right mind would pay $35K for a an old evo any more I don't think. plus always remember prices in unique cars are asking prices, not selling prices. and there is a crucial difference there.

seriously throw the jan 05 unique cars in the bin. I'll do you a deal. :laugh: post me a current GTR magazine, and I'll post you back a current unique cars :P that will give you a better idea of where things are at now.

ahaha, ok BB, ive done the deed. the mag is in the bin. Wow..im pretty surprised how quickly theyve depreiciated over only 2 years! Still...the evo wagon hasnt been bought into Oz and thats SURE to turn a tidy profit!!

ive seen them going for under 30k here in JPN..

send me your addy via PM and ill post the GTR mag asap!

EKSMUD Proficient

EKSMUD

Posted
Posted (edited)

my mate just sold his black 1991 NSX 2 weeks ago, he imported the car like 6-7 years ago. i dont know how much he bought it, but he didnt get any profit for sure.

Edited by BiAsA
Sharif Newbie

Sharif

Posted
Posted (edited)
A little birdy told me that Mitsi AUS still have a few EVO 6.5's lyeing around new...could get em cheap as chips I reckon

I was excited when you said that as it's my favourite Evo ever made, I am in the market for a new car and rang Mitsubishi Nundah the guys who specialise in all the Evo's. The sales guy Nathan contacted his regional manager and he said to me there's nothing available ?

I'd be very keen on a new 6.5 I have pm'd you so tell me where you heard this rumour and if you know more about where to get one let me know.

Thanks

Also I'd recommend importing a Honda NSX for your own driving pleasure they cost about $30-$35k AUD on auction in Jap

DON'T KID YOURSELF IF YOU THINK YOUR GONNA MAKE MONEY ON IT !!!

They struggle to sell here and the imports aren't looked at too keenly unless they are really cheap.

Edited by Sharif
  • 2 weeks later...
cracker_15 Newbie

cracker_15

Posted
Posted

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the kpgc10 skyline gtr, although you may be able to import them anyway!?

I dont really know my stuff but just love those kpgc10's and they seem to be a car that will only appreciate in value, if genuine.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

you don't need personal import to bring them in so it would be a waste of your once a year personal import "allowance". plus they are already very very expensive in japan. in fact I would say there is much more demand for them over there, than over here.

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