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Is Importing Worth It?

LKC
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LKC Contributor

LKC

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Im Currently looking for a Non-Turbo auto R33 and am looking at the cheapst way of getting one. I know that there are some around but that all the best condition ones are in Japan so im probably better off getting one from over there but if i look at it paying for freight and broking and then compliance and all other associated costs it might end up costing the same or even more.

Also being on my P's i know that the cops will try and pick up anything on any car i drive so again there are accosiated problems.

any advice or comments welcome.

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kakimoto33 Rising Star

kakimoto33

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We would absolutely agree. When you are looking at cars around this price range it's much better to look locally, especially for this sort of vehicle which is not really sought after because you can get some real bargains locally sometimes.

Keep in mind that importing a car has set costs regardless of what you buy, so for example if you were given an R33 for free in Japan it would still cost you over $6,500 by the time you get it registered after paying Japanese inland costs (FOB fee), ocean freight, customs clearance, import duty & GST, brokers fees, SEVS compliance, new tyres, roadworthy and registration costs ... and considering there are about a dozen automatic R33's (some turbo and some non-turbo) around already registered in Australia with asking prices around this value then you can certainly get one locally without too much hassle.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

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100% agree with craig. I reckon by the time you import, pay a broker, pay an exporter in japan their FOB costs, pay entry costs (tax, clearance etc), pay compliance and then get a car registered you are looking at approx $10K for a car you got for free in japan.

my advice to people is basically this. if the car sells for less than $20K in aus then it's not worth importing as the fixed costs of importing are making up to great a portion of your total outlay for the car. example, you buy a car for $1000 in japan. it will cost you about $11K on the road in aus. but it's still a $1,000 car with all the nastiness that that entails.

there are some exceptions to my rule that fall just under the $20K mark, so I'd probably revise it in some cases to $18K or even $15K for some models but a car that sells here for less than $10K I wouldn't even have to think about. it's 100% not worth importing.

iron chef's advice about where to buy is sound too. in sydney before P-plate restrictions people would not even import NA R32s or R33s and you couldn't give one away. once the law changed all of a sudden turbo R33s were worth practically nothing and in many cases an NA R33 (especially a manual) would be worth more than a similar spec and condition turbo model which was nuts. buying one in a state with no such restrictions makes some sense but only if you can really save some decent money as transport, new registration etc will all cost $$$.

Chris Rogers Grand Master

Chris Rogers

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Im Currently looking for a Non-Turbo auto R33 and am looking at the cheapst way of getting one. I know that there are some around but that all the best condition ones are in Japan so im probably better off getting one from over there but if i look at it paying for freight and broking and then compliance and all other associated costs it might end up costing the same or even more.

Also being on my P's i know that the cops will try and pick up anything on any car i drive so again there are accosiated problems.

any advice or comments welcome.

I have a mate that may be able to help.

LKC Contributor

LKC

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thanks for the advice.

I will start looking local now. though im in no rush and I think any line i get will probs end up as a project car as the car i now have runs really well and my only want for a new one comes from my love of imports. at least its good to know that if your on a budget not to give in to the lure of cheap cars in japan.

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