15 year rule is officially... OVER!

[NXTIME]

Prestige Motorsport claims that no one in Australian has publicly available compliance plates for R32's under SEVS.

[druzilla32]

Prestige Motorsport claims that no one in Australian has publicaly available compliance plates for R32's under SEVS.

WTF! I have a gtr coming over next month, I hope they are wrong.

Il have to find a place for complience tomorrow

[Adam_RSX]

Yeah, so buy more DR30's

Actually, don't

Then mines more collectable

[AlexCim]

dont worry you are fine, your car can still be complianced as a 15yo+ car, just cars that get approval after today need RAW's compliance.

[Zactor]

ODE TO THE 15 YEAR OLD IMPORTS

It was good whilst it lasted, that 32 GTR will forever remain unmastered.

For the few that got in early the rewards are there, for the majority that missed out will forever be in dispair.

I feel sorry for the poor brokers, that gold plated back scratcher may have to go to the porn brokers.

So raise your glasses to the Right Honerable Jimbo Lloyd, whom is import friendly de-void.

Start looking for a RAW for compliance as anything less would be Government defiance.

Say bye bye to that R32 and Zed,start looking for a Commodore instead.....

[Duncan]

damn that was the worst of the options put up

thumbs up to Toyota for having more clout than the combined car enthusiasts of Aus. Luckily cheap landcruisers will not be allowed in. BTW we better stop skylines at the same time

[Beer Baron]

what a coincidence . my 15 yo GTR arrived today! bummer. I wanted to buy a cheap silvia too. oh well. you know what they say: "you snooze, you loose"

[danozgriff]

dont worry you are fine, your car can still be complianced as a 15yo+ car, just cars that get approval after today need RAW's compliance.

So Basically I verbally agreed to buy the car on Tuesday last week. The supplier sent the invoice to me on Friday (dated the 27th Janurary for some reason) and I committed to sending my payment today and it will actually be processed and sent off tomorrow (telegraphic transfer).

a) When I go to apply for my import approval will it be accepted

B) Will I have to get the car complienced for RAWS or still under the old 15 yr rule?

I can't believe it was all so sudden

[DRIFTT]

This means workshops will look more at the R32 and 300 as they will now be viable to import a 1993 model when the 15 year unrestricted imports finish.

[blacky]

Thanks for the quick post Funky. Finally we see the demise of our beloved 15yr old rule. And isn't it a big surprise that they took the option we knew they would- that of shutting out all 1989 onwards cars, instead of the other, and in my view, fairer options.

Good on you Jim Lloyd and the Federal Government, again you serve your own interests over what the people of this country want. Did anyone other than the major automotive manufacturers (who I admit do substantially contribute to the Australian economy) actually object to the 15yr rule? Not one person I discussed this with (car enthusiast or otherwise) could find reason to agree with the Government's view of this issue. Sure, we can't deny that the increase in private importation (especially 15year old and older cars) has made *some* sort of dent in the local market (no matter how small) but the use of this as a reason is just ludicrous.

"The Government is closing a loophole that has enabled mainstream cars over 15 years of age to be imported in commercial quantities, and not subjected to safety and emission certification," Mr Lloyd said.

The above, to me, seems like a facade - as many have already stated, Japanese vehicles of equivalent age are usually far superior in safety standards than their Australian counterparts. And are the cars we import not made to comply with Australian Design Rules to meet required safety levels? Hello, comlpiance? Side intrusion bars? Seat belts? Emissions I cannot comment on as I havn't seen any data on it yet. So whats the real reason for closing the 15 year rule?

I'll leave that for others to comment on.

(unhappy) Blacky

[Cambo]

I've just written the following to Jimbo and my local member for parliament:

Your Honour,

 

This is ridiculous... hundreds of Australian businesses are set to be disadvantaged by this new 'loophole closure', just so our thriving local market can be strengthened even more.

 

I hope you realise this will be very dis-advantageous to our environment, as locally built 15+ year old cars will increase in value, most of which have no-where near as effective anti-pollution systems as their similarly-aged Japanese counter parts (ie: economy, cat-back systems, computer sensors etc)

 

It's no coincidence that 1st January 1989 has been set as the cut-off mark for this rule, as it is well known that in 1989 Japanese manufacturers (particularly Nissan) introduced many popular models (ie: R32 Skyline, Z32 300zx, S13 Silvia, 180sx etc).

 

What will you be doing to ensure existing businesses built around the trade of post 1989 vehicles will not collapse under your new changes?

Regards

Don't know if it will make any difference, but maybe if they had 10,000 letters like that they may have to take notice...

[MADGT4]

So correct me if i'm wrong but does that mean the price of 32's are going to go up?

I'm selling my 93 GTS4 does that mean i can get more for it?

[PTR33]

Damn that sux.

Odd thing is that something made me make an "impulse purchase" of a 89 180SX just over a week ago. http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=1894

I guess now that $5100 (landed) purchase looks better in the potential resale value if/when we ever sell it.

We also have a VR4 Galant that should be landing here on the weekend.

Guess we will just have to make the most of them.

bugger, I was looking to get hold of a MR2 or even a 3000GT later in the year for my wife.

[funkymonkey]

I think DOTARs will be fielding a lot of phonecalls tomorrow morning

As for those writing in and complaining... now's a bit too late, maybe you guys should be part of those 737 or so people that they consulted hey? From memory they included regular private importers (individuals).

Ah well, there's still SEV's and the R32 is a SEV's OK car... just need more people to get certification approval for em and sell the plates to public.

[linksys76]

Dori if you've got the receipts to show it was purchased before today, I can't see why not. I ran into the same situation with my brother's car after they changed the rule from year to month and year. I submitted my Import Approval with a short letter explaining the circumstances to DOTARS, and it was approved with no questions.

FYI, stickied this thread as well for the time being.

I purchased a GTR in dec 04 will it still be ok to import it?!!!! what did the letter say? could you send me a copy so I can use the same excuse?

[DRIFTT]

It's no coincidence that 1st January 1989 has been set as the cut-off mark for this rule, as it is well known that in 1989 Japanese manufacturers (particularly Nissan) introduced many popular models (ie: R32 Skyline, Z32 300zx, S13 Silvia, 180sx etc).

It was written a long time ago not knowing it would lead to this,

Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 was made/Date of Assent 19 June 1989

http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/...t/0/161/top.htm

[Kaido_RR]

i guess no one can READ! if u pay for the car before 2day, then you are fine you car will still come under the 15yr old rule.

[Kaido_RR]

just a tip, if anyone wants to import a 15yr old car, contact j-spec and Prestige Motorsport, they still have some cars in which they can import (they were pre-approve)

soo u still got a chance

[funkymonkey]

actually that's where the doubt is... is it before the Act is actually amended sometime in March (as per the FAQ which says that the 15 year rule still applies till that date) OR is it any car paid for in part or whole prior to the 7th of Feb. I'm faily certain its the latter.

[Nathan]

Our PM on the back Of George W Just spent a motza on a free democratic election in another country they bombed the PHuck out of. Whilst at home the Local pm's want to decide what you want, Australian spec holden, ford, hyundai, Toyota or Mitsubishi?

Pretty democratic?

Say I want a car out of the USA??? Free trade with the US? how is that going to work???