Problems with importing...

[insanenissan]

Im now thinking of importin the good ol r32 gtst.

Now, what are the main problems with importing? How do you really know you are not getting a piece of sh*t that some jap has absolutely flogged! Because the thing i dont wanna do, is import one drive it for a while then have to get a engine rebuild... new transmision... turbo rebore or whatever it is.

So how can you make sure you get a good car? With many importing places you see the car in a photo and have to choose within a few hours wether you want it or not. So you really dont know what you are paying pretty high cash for do ya?

Some one help me out before i make a decision.

Thanks

[RiverSide]

Unfortunately there is of course an inherant risk involved with importing, it is for this very reason that impoting is not for everyone. Not everyone is happy to purchase with only a description and a few pictures.

If you are extremely concerned about this then i suggest you have a look around locally in dealers yards and privately, this will allow you to touch/drive the vehicle and have it checked out by your family mechanic.

You may well pay a tad more by purchasing locally, but if you feel more comfortable doing so then it is money well spent.

[slow13dude]

I'd nominate two considerations:

1. Find someone you trust to examine the cars. I'm importing through Prestigemotorsport and Geoff has warned me off several cars that pop up at auction because they're dodge.

2. Look for the auction grade. If it's a grade 4 then it's pretty good all-round. If you see the auction sheet and there's xxxx everywhere then you're rolling the dice.

[linxus40]

when i imported i went throug j-spec.com.au. better to get an angent that has people to check the cars out in japan and better to avoid the only 1 day to buy bs as there is no need to rush. get them to get a mechanic to fully check the car out (will cost you about $250) but you will get a full report as well as about 80odd photos. put ya deposit down so they start looking for ya but take ya time and dont take the first car ya see, wati till ya get a feel for the types of cars that are avaliable.

i did it this way and my machine is a rocket with no problems whatsoever.

[wises]

on the other hand, i bought my 89 gtst through prestige, looked awsome in the pics, and the condition notes said all was good. HA HA heres the kick in the teeth, i went to collect the car to see it with bald tyres, missing an indicater (found in the boot), parker lights not working, no water, crack in the front bar (not in pics, i looked) and a terrible miss in the engine. after later examining the car found it was pissing water out of the head gasket staight onto the turbo cracking it (still waiting for replacemnet), im a happy person so i still love my car i just wouldve rathered not go through all this stuff.

WHEN i do it again, i will be getting a under 15 year old car through sevs, i think it takes alot of the aingst out of it and at least a grade 4 auction value

[predator]

depends what u want.. if you are getting a cheap car, you have to expect to have to do some work on it. I don't mind working on a car to fix little problems, I just see it as a challenge and part of the fun

If something is perfect it can only go down hill, whereas if something needs a little TLC you can only be happy with every little thing you do to it. My thoughts anyhow!

[wises]

tlc is good new head gasket and turbo is a little bit excesive.

but good in the long run save upgrading turbo later good excuse to tell the misses too

[MRK25T]

depends what u want.. if you are getting a cheap car, you have to expect to have to do some work on it. I don't mind working on a car to fix little problems, I just see it as a challenge and part of the fun  

If something is perfect it can only go down hill, whereas if something needs a little TLC you can only be happy with every little thing you do to it. My thoughts anyhow!

His car would have been checked over by the guy in Japan and pictures sent. It is the fault of the guy checking the cars in Japan if he missed obvious problems.

[redline2003]

So say if i were to import through prestige, would they be able to take the car i wish to buy to get it checked for accidents/compression/faults/etc, before i hand over the rest of the cash? Because i cant just buy a car by looking at auction sheets, if i cant feel or drive it, i at least need some checks done...

[MRK25T]

you can get the broker to get his mechanic to look at the car you'd like to buy but first you have to hand over some cash - something like $500.

With this you get a report and photos.