JDM Imports - worth it?
Discussion
You might save a few bob importing a car directly from Japan, there are many agents who will act on your behalf and track a car down for you.
Whats always put me off is not being able to see the car myself before buying. I was tempted to bring over an MR2 when I was after one early this year, but was ultimately put off by this. Plus you'll wait anything up to two months from paying the money to having the car arrive at the port.
You've also then got to register the car in the uk, or if its under 10 years old get it SVA'd which will involve renting a model report.
TBH for all the hassle I'd rather just buy an import thats in the UK already, which you can see with your own eyes and will likely have some history to go with it.
Whats always put me off is not being able to see the car myself before buying. I was tempted to bring over an MR2 when I was after one early this year, but was ultimately put off by this. Plus you'll wait anything up to two months from paying the money to having the car arrive at the port.
You've also then got to register the car in the uk, or if its under 10 years old get it SVA'd which will involve renting a model report.
TBH for all the hassle I'd rather just buy an import thats in the UK already, which you can see with your own eyes and will likely have some history to go with it.
Marf said:
I'd rather just buy an import thats in the UK already, which you can see with your own eyes and will likely have some history to go with it.
totally agree. Get a car that has been in this country for a year or two. It would of had all the crap sorted, speedo converted, foglight etc, will also have (hopefully) at least one service, and you will be able to view the car before buying! A car isn't going to rust much in a year, so I don't see the point in going fresh, unless you're after something very specific / rare.Edited by Riknos on Friday 7th November 10:27
Riknos said:
Marf said:
I'd rather just buy an import thats in the UK already, which you can see with your own eyes and will likely have some history to go with it.
totally agree. Get a car that has been in this country for a year or two. It would of had all the crap sorted, speedo converted, foglight etc, will also have (hopefully) at least one service, and you will be able to view the car before buying! A car isn't going to rust much in a year, so I don't see the point in going fresh, unless you're after something very specific / rare.Edited by Riknos on Friday 7th November 10:27
chevy-stu said:
Riknos said:
Marf said:
I'd rather just buy an import thats in the UK already, which you can see with your own eyes and will likely have some history to go with it.
totally agree. Get a car that has been in this country for a year or two. It would of had all the crap sorted, speedo converted, foglight etc, will also have (hopefully) at least one service, and you will be able to view the car before buying! A car isn't going to rust much in a year, so I don't see the point in going fresh, unless you're after something very specific / rare.Edited by Riknos on Friday 7th November 10:27
I imported a Civic EK9 type R and a Toyota Glanza myself this year.
I got them for a good price, but the EK9 broke down almost immediatly. It was a distributer which cancelled out any savings if i had of just gone to a dealer and bought one with a warranty.
I did import a black one which was very rare though.
I got them for a good price, but the EK9 broke down almost immediatly. It was a distributer which cancelled out any savings if i had of just gone to a dealer and bought one with a warranty.
I did import a black one which was very rare though.
I've imported a few over the years. If you have an ounce of common sense and some basic mechanical skills you'll have no problem.
It's very easy with a car over 10 years old and it's not much more difficult with something younger. Why pay a middle man to do some paperwork and a spot of DIY?
Don't be put off by the fact that you won't have seen the car. Each car will be examined and graded prior to the auction by someone who grades cars for a living and who has nothing to gain by being economical with the truth. Everyone I've dealt with has been very honest and very helpful. There's nothing to stop you buying from a dealer in Japan either - not all cars have to come from an auction (although it will cost a little more as the dealer needs to make a profit).
HOWEVER - having said all that, I'd still advise you to buy a car already in the UK - simply because the exchange rate is awful at the moment and is likely to stay that way for a while. It used to be worth it, but as you can see from the costs below, it can easily become pointless if you don't pay the right price for the car. Finding a bargain with the current exchange rates is very difficult.
The price you pay for the car in Japan bears no relation to the amount you'll have shelled out by the time it's registered in this country. On top of the purchase price, you've got handling, shipping, marine insurance, import duty (10%), VAT (17.5% on the price of the car + the import duty), customs charge, delivery from the port, parts (foglight, etc), MOT, registration fee, plates, road tax.
And if the car is under 10 years old, you've got to add to that the cost of additional parts (speedo converter, Cat 2 minimum Thatcham-approved immobiliser, fuel neck restrictor, etc, etc), an ESVA test and the hire of a model report.
That all sounds pretty daunting, but it's really not that hard - just a list of jobs you have to work through one at a time.
All I'd say is do your homework first - don't end up being one of these chumps who buys a newish car first and then realises they can't register it because it doesn't conform to the model report in some way (or finds there isn't a model report!)
Model reports are available free online, so read them thoroughly before buying a car - or buy an older car if you don't want the hassle of an esva.
It's very easy with a car over 10 years old and it's not much more difficult with something younger. Why pay a middle man to do some paperwork and a spot of DIY?
Don't be put off by the fact that you won't have seen the car. Each car will be examined and graded prior to the auction by someone who grades cars for a living and who has nothing to gain by being economical with the truth. Everyone I've dealt with has been very honest and very helpful. There's nothing to stop you buying from a dealer in Japan either - not all cars have to come from an auction (although it will cost a little more as the dealer needs to make a profit).
HOWEVER - having said all that, I'd still advise you to buy a car already in the UK - simply because the exchange rate is awful at the moment and is likely to stay that way for a while. It used to be worth it, but as you can see from the costs below, it can easily become pointless if you don't pay the right price for the car. Finding a bargain with the current exchange rates is very difficult.
The price you pay for the car in Japan bears no relation to the amount you'll have shelled out by the time it's registered in this country. On top of the purchase price, you've got handling, shipping, marine insurance, import duty (10%), VAT (17.5% on the price of the car + the import duty), customs charge, delivery from the port, parts (foglight, etc), MOT, registration fee, plates, road tax.
And if the car is under 10 years old, you've got to add to that the cost of additional parts (speedo converter, Cat 2 minimum Thatcham-approved immobiliser, fuel neck restrictor, etc, etc), an ESVA test and the hire of a model report.
That all sounds pretty daunting, but it's really not that hard - just a list of jobs you have to work through one at a time.
All I'd say is do your homework first - don't end up being one of these chumps who buys a newish car first and then realises they can't register it because it doesn't conform to the model report in some way (or finds there isn't a model report!)
Model reports are available free online, so read them thoroughly before buying a car - or buy an older car if you don't want the hassle of an esva.
Edited by Risotto on Friday 7th November 22:07
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