Import Or Local?

[liamv4696]

Hi all, first post

I'm going to be getting a first car this year and I'd really love to get a skyline.

Now wait, before you jump up and yak on and on about how teenagers shouldn't drive powerful cars and blah blah blah. I'm not some brain-dead drop-kick who likes to tear down the free way at 200km/h at 1am with 6 drunk mates in the back.

I've been keeping an eye on gumtree/carsales and all I ever seem to see are either expensive R33s (carsales) or crap condition thrashed R33s (gumtree). So I figured I'd have a good read up on importing my own car from Japan. Easier said then done...

It is possible to import R34s through the SEVS but is it just easier to get a broker to do it for me? it seems that way at the moment. But I don't want to be spending 10k on an R34 that cost me 2k in Japan...

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me out and basically explain the steps of importing a car to me (in layman's terms if you could) because it looks like I'd end up having to call 5 different Govt. depts. for permits and customs. Is it all too much hassle for the couple of $$$ saved after you get murdered by taxes?

Surely some people on here have imported their car recently and could share their experience

Thanks alot guys

This is one of the R34s I found which I really like: R34 GTT

[Al Despo]

Hey bud, welcome, theres always a big discussion on whether to import or go local and theres no real 'right' way to go, you might want to post in the import section or pm iron chef if you are leaning that way, he can elaborate more on the process. Just for future reference use the search first and see what you get, you might be suprised you're not the first person to be conflicted on the subject

[Triptych]

My personal way of looking at local vs import is simply if you can't find what you want local then go the import route. The only reason for this is waiting period, with local you have your car straight away but when importing it can be a few months. It doesn't matter how you get there in the end as long as you end up with the car you want in the condition you want.

As mentioned hit up Iron Chef as he has been importing for awhile now but it would always be easier to go broker over doing it yourself. Also you mentioned something like paying 10k for a car that cost 2k trust me the 8k difference wouldn't be a broker fee, Most places has a set broker fee that you pay and are told of from the start.

[defari]

Iron chef

[Stinky Rooster]

A 2K car will cost you 10K because of import duties, tax, shipping, GST and compliance, not just broker fee's.

They are usually the cheapest part of the process.

Add in the piece of mind that someone in japan with your best interests at heart actually looking at the car you are interested in, and the fact that they can usually get you a "deal" on compliance, and IMO you would have rocks in your head to try and do it without one.

[StevenCJR31]

A 2K car will cost you 10K because of import duties, tax, shipping, GST and compliance, not just broker fee's.

They are usually the cheapest part of the process.

Add in the piece of mind that someone in japan with your best interests at heart actually looking at the car you are interested in, and the fact that they can usually get you a "deal" on compliance, and IMO you would have rocks in your head to try and do it without one.

^^^this, the car itself costs SFA, the govt has their hand in your pocket the rest of the time, go thru a reputable importer who will find you a good car in japan with low ks and (more importantly) a warranty

[starwarz]

Teenager, first time car....are you allowed to drive a Turbo ?. Anyway their are plenty of R34 examples to go though that are local. For some people its takes months, took me 2 days going through dealers down at parramatta road walking from one car i didnt like to the next. i walked past the car yard selling my future R34 because it was full of Toyota yaris, Corrolla's and Mazda 3,4,5,6 thinking their was no way the car i wanted was in there......Luckily my dad agreed to come and he decided he wanted to check out some mazda's 3 because he likes them while i chased up some dodgy looking supra at the next dealership.My dad walks over with a smug look not to long after the cleanest R34 was sitting all the way at the back of the dealership he was checking out. So dont think Japan is your only option for these cars.

Edited April 5, 2012 by starwarz

[liamv4696]

jeez, lucky. I'm In WA, there's no laws for L/P platers here for turbos and power to weight ratios like over east. All the car yeards i perth are full of 20 year old camrys and daewoos... And I'm pretty sure if my dad found a good r34 he'd hide it

He's more of a wrx person. I've been having a bit better of a look around and I did find some decent R33s. Definitely no R34s though (unless i want to spend 15k)

[RSFOURDayz]

Broker all the way... They only make around 1000 Bux a car anyway, so a 10k car could be had 9k but you'd hafta do all the work travel and might end up disjointed if u import a lemon. I know my broker only imports good quality cars with log books etc.

[3Katz]

I was considering this some time ago and decided to use a broker. The about of work they do for the price is well worth it in my opinion, he must have checked out 10 cars before we found one that was just what I was after and as Stinky Rooster said he will probably be able to assist you with compliancing back in Aus so you get to keep any goodies that come with the car.