Did they do an Altezza Wagon with 3S-GE BEAMS Engine?

[Axeboy]

I like the older models personally but it might be hard to find one for a decent price

This is the Fielder, 1.8 190bhp and 6 speed

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/CO...

[was8v]

What are realistic import costs?

I have in my mind £2k for some reason.

Transport price, agent and IVA fees I guess will be fixed

Import duty and vat will be some %

Can anyone help me be more accurate?

[TommoAE86]

Can't give exact figures but I think it would be between £2k & £3k;

my Skyline and Toyota were about £7k ready to drive away, I think the cars were between £3-£5k but i went through an agent (Torque GT) for mine so included in that £7k is the following:

Search, inspection, bidding fees
Deregistration in Japan
Boat fees & transport costs
VAT when it lands here
MOT
Undersealing
Rear Fog Light
registering it with the DVLA
Torque GT's profit

I think the price was worth the piece of mind but everyone is different. I can't find many of the Toyota's over here in my spec but the Skyline worked out at about the price of a UK one in similar condition plus £1k so still had value for money for me.

Edited by TommoAE86 on Thursday 1st November 13:24

[Axeboy]

Generally you are talking about £4k minimum

I can calculate an accurate price if you give me the price of the car in Japan


You will have:

Car price in Japan
Agents Fee
Shipping Fee
Import Duty
VAT
Transport Fee
Customs Agent
Registration & Tax
HMRC Adjustment Fee
MOT & Conversion

Plus of course any tyres etc you will need when it arrives. Some of the above you can do yourself (customs agent).

As a rough guide, a 200,000yen car is about £4k on the road here

Edited by Axeboy on Thursday 1st November 13:31

[was8v]

Altezza rs200 is still tempting.

Although it probably makes more sense to buy from Ireland than Japan to me, there's loads over there

https://www.donedeal.co.uk/cars/Toyota/Altezza

Maybe I'll settle for a bugeye Impreza wagon WRX. Just not sold on turbo engines

[GravelBen]

Altezzas are nice to drive, good balance and a lovely gearbox (IIRC a variation of the same 6-speed box used in the MX5, RX8 etc) but they don't have much torque lower down so you really need to keep the revs up to get them moving, especially with a bit of weight on board.

Still good cars but in some ways they feel like a sportscar drivetrain in a heavier sedan body that dulls the potential fun.

[was8v]

Thread drift.....


A rust free low mileage bug eye wagon WRX (badged 20K in JDM) must be a real rarity. I can barely find any UK cars for sale.

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/SUBARU/IM...

Hmmmm if I could get one here under £5k, the same price as UK late low mile blob eye wagon but not been exposed to rust. And its bug eye JDM.

But then maybe nobody wants them. I do strangely prefer the bug eye even though they were universally unloved.

[TommoAE86]

There are people who can just do an inspection then arrange it on a boat and you do all the UK side. Going for plentiful, unloved cars will make things cheaper. Just don't do what I do and go "what can my 5k get me" as then you end up with too much choice

Failing that the two best importers I've heard of are Torque GT (devon) and JM Imports (newcastle way)

[was8v]

TommoAE86 said:

There are people who can just do an inspection then arrange it on a boat and you do all the UK side.

Any recommendations? I would just want inspection / bid at auction / paperwork and then put on a boat I think.

I can probably arrange collection and UK VAT/duty payment, UK insurance, speedo / fog light, MOT and registration myself.

Ideally would come into Liverpool if the boats stop off there.

Edited by was8v on Friday 2nd November 13:40

[TommoAE86]

Sorry I've not used any of those services just know they exist, both of mine were through Torque GT. Goo net will do the shipping part according to their site, but don't think they do an inspection by looking at it: http://goo-net-exchange.com/howtobuy/

The duty/VAT has to be paid for the port to release it to you, then it's just following an order to get the MOT/registration/fog done. Speedo doesn't have to be done as it won't fail and MOT. Something like the Subaru might have both on the dials?

Again no idea on boats and where they land, as Torque did mine they came into Southampton. Not sure if you get a choice but RO-RO's are cheaper than containers.

[magpie215]

was8v said:

Ooh found a Caldina Active Sport GT, that has a 3S-GE.

Its no looker..... none for sale on goo, just the GT-T turbo charged ones. And none in the UK....

Basically its an avensis, so not holding out much hope for the handling.

Oh I don't know it gripped well but rolled in the corners...great fun throwing an estate around though

[GravelBen]

More or less a Celica GT4 drivetrain in a wagon body, mate had one for a while and liked it. Thirsty though (even compared to the equivalent Subarus) and manual ones are like hens teeth.

[was8v]

Wow,

They did a Toyota Corolla with a 4A-GE and super strut suspension

https://www.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/toyota-co...

Why oh why did they not bring that to the UK? Rorty 170hp engine and multi link suspension.

Bit pricey in Japan. http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/CO...

[TommoAE86]

Would be wasted on the losers that want the next Eurobox here

That looks like a super rare car, amazing fine! 1m+ yen is alot, must be really special! The 80's one looks amazing too: https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-c...

[Scooobydont]

I had no idea these sites (goo-net) even existed. I am totally new to the jap import stuff (and jap cars in general) but already am trawling these sites. I picked up a winter hack blobeye wrx wagon and am totally hooked on the damn thing already. I cant stop looking at JDM cars now!

[was8v]

Scooobydont said:

I had no idea these sites (goo-net) even existed. I am totally new to the jap import stuff (and jap cars in general) but already am trawling these sites. I picked up a winter hack blobeye wrx wagon and am totally hooked on the damn thing already. I cant stop looking at JDM cars now!

So addictive researching all the amazing cars we never got!

[TommoAE86]

Or stuff we did get but with a decent engine... 1JZ over a 7M anyday!!!
http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/SU...

or my personal favorite, how about a 3-series sized Toyota Mark X, nothing's dreary with a supercharger! :O
http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/MA...

more info here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... (page 291 default posts per page view)

The more I get exposed to their cars the more I can't look at anything else closer to home

[Scooobydont]

Why is it we always want what we can't have (or have easily anyway, lol). I watch noriyaro on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/noriyaro

The guy goes to loads of jap car meets. Do we see lots of these posted cars at Japan car shows, well no, they all seem to import american vans and other machinery that isnt available easily in their country as well

Edited by Scooobydont on Tuesday 6th November 06:57

Edited by Scooobydont on Tuesday 6th November 17:38

[TommoAE86]

Desire to be different? You should check out the Initial P video's too, more JDM metal in those

was8v

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Corolla-GT-FX-20... one of those GT FX Corolla's in Ireland, still pricey looks like you have found a super rare car

[atlex]

I have a Sprinter Carib Z Touring - 1.8 , AWD. Looking at still importing a lower mileage one though. The bigger Caldina looks good though... but it isn't 4x100.