"Dumb Britain" - Japanese import claims
Discussion
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt"?
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
tuborgman said:
Is it not the salt that the UK uses to grit the road that's different. I know here in Ireland a lot of the UK imports have rust issues compared to Irish cars of the same age and millage and the Jap import cars seem to be better again IMO.
Yup, it's the fact that we heavily salt our roads in winter that adds to corrosion issues.in Japan the do not use bast amounts of salt in the roads like we do over here,
in fact I believe the don't use any salt at all the use something different, I have been
trading with Japanese imports for many years, and you always get 2 things, the they are fresh of the boat, no rust and no under seal..
in fact I believe the don't use any salt at all the use something different, I have been
trading with Japanese imports for many years, and you always get 2 things, the they are fresh of the boat, no rust and no under seal..
bobt said:
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt"?
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
I think the salt think is common knowledge and in the main representative of the rust free nature of the imports Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
Why aren't they also as honest to say
"good chance it has been repaired after a large smash"
"good chance it has had a haircut (mileage wise)"
"no service history or any other relevant documentation"
^ they are the real issues with buying imports from Japan
B'stard Child said:
I think the salt think is common knowledge and in the main representative of the rust free nature of the imports
Why aren't they also as honest to say
"good chance it has been repaired after a large smash"
"good chance it has had a haircut (mileage wise)"
"no service history or any other relevant documentation"
^ they are the real issues with buying imports from Japan
true of any car though isn't it, just that it's more likely you won't have any service history pre import. it annoys me all these import scare stories have now become the last word - apparently my car is cheap, nasty and dangerous because it was imported, yet compared to a car of the same year sold in the uk market, the shell's 10 times better condition. i wish people would think for themselves, if the car is going to cost you a lot then get it inspected for crash damage! interior condition, drivetrain lash, oil/coolant comsumption, bodywork condition etc. are all good signs for clocking, if it's still in better condition than a uk equivalent doesn't really matter, does it?!Why aren't they also as honest to say
"good chance it has been repaired after a large smash"
"good chance it has had a haircut (mileage wise)"
"no service history or any other relevant documentation"
^ they are the real issues with buying imports from Japan
dylan0451 said:
B'stard Child said:
I think the salt think is common knowledge and in the main representative of the rust free nature of the imports
Why aren't they also as honest to say
"good chance it has been repaired after a large smash"
"good chance it has had a haircut (mileage wise)"
"no service history or any other relevant documentation"
^ they are the real issues with buying imports from Japan
true of any car though isn't it, just that it's more likely you won't have any service history pre import. it annoys me all these import scare stories have now become the last word - apparently my car is cheap, nasty and dangerous because it was imported, yet compared to a car of the same year sold in the uk market, the shell's 10 times better condition. i wish people would think for themselves, if the car is going to cost you a lot then get it inspected for crash damage! interior condition, drivetrain lash, oil/coolant comsumption, bodywork condition etc. are all good signs for clocking, if it's still in better condition than a uk equivalent doesn't really matter, does it?!Why aren't they also as honest to say
"good chance it has been repaired after a large smash"
"good chance it has had a haircut (mileage wise)"
"no service history or any other relevant documentation"
^ they are the real issues with buying imports from Japan
And frequently they don't bother to prepare the car for the hostile conditions of the UK roads so two years after import and having done a couple of winters with the usual oveloading of salt on the roads (when they don't run out) and the underside looks a shocking mess!!
Being an import doesn't mean the service history is always missing. I've imported cars that have had fully stamped books and receipts. Couldn't tell you what they said but they looked very comprehensive 
The fact that the majority of Japanese cars arrive in the UK without evidence of service history doesn't necessarily mean that the cars haven't been serviced. A thorough inspection of the car in question should indicate whether it's been well cared for. There are other clues too like cambelt stickers, etc.
The nature of the Japanese system means that the older the car gets, the more frequent and more expensive it becomes to get a permit to keep it on the road. Because of this it’s more economical for Japanese drivers to drive newer cars - hence the reason they prefer to export their older but perfectly roadworthy cars.
As for crash damage, the vast majority of imports to the UK have come through one of the big Japanese auctioneers. Their business reputation depends on honest and accurate auction sheets. If the car's damaged, the sheet will document the nature and extent of that damage. If it's been repaired, the sheet will detail the areas that have been repaired. The mileage will also be recorded.
If you're buying from the person who imported the car, they should have paper or electronic records of the auction sheet. Do some homework to allow you to interpret it and be wary if the seller can't or won't produce any documentation.
The fact that the majority of Japanese cars arrive in the UK without evidence of service history doesn't necessarily mean that the cars haven't been serviced. A thorough inspection of the car in question should indicate whether it's been well cared for. There are other clues too like cambelt stickers, etc.
The nature of the Japanese system means that the older the car gets, the more frequent and more expensive it becomes to get a permit to keep it on the road. Because of this it’s more economical for Japanese drivers to drive newer cars - hence the reason they prefer to export their older but perfectly roadworthy cars.
As for crash damage, the vast majority of imports to the UK have come through one of the big Japanese auctioneers. Their business reputation depends on honest and accurate auction sheets. If the car's damaged, the sheet will document the nature and extent of that damage. If it's been repaired, the sheet will detail the areas that have been repaired. The mileage will also be recorded.
If you're buying from the person who imported the car, they should have paper or electronic records of the auction sheet. Do some homework to allow you to interpret it and be wary if the seller can't or won't produce any documentation.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 12th October 11:10
IMHO unless you can inspect in person importings a lottery.
After a bad experience with a "PR" heavy importer in the past, I would now buy an import either after someones owned it in uk or I could inspect before purchase.
The biggest risk is buying a car from an importer without having seen the car and from pics - I did this and was frankly stupid.
Having said that having owned a few imports they are indeed much cleaner than cars over here, just budget for underseal!
After a bad experience with a "PR" heavy importer in the past, I would now buy an import either after someones owned it in uk or I could inspect before purchase.
The biggest risk is buying a car from an importer without having seen the car and from pics - I did this and was frankly stupid.
Having said that having owned a few imports they are indeed much cleaner than cars over here, just budget for underseal!
bobt said:
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt"?
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
Japan doesn't use salt on the roads. They basically use an antifreeze solution that is sprayed from trucks. source?: me, been there seen it. osaka winter 2006Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
therefore these stupid claims are not stupid at all.
Edited by cmackay81 on Tuesday 12th October 11:29
I did but that didnt help me when later down the line I found it had accident damage and it had been put back to some kind of standard hiding the fact it had been wanged about and beasted during it's lifetime.
What I got was a top dollar mess waiting to happen which I got no help with. Thr pics, auction sheet and service info didn't reveal much of this.
However I would put this down to the hype of that importer. If I could visit, inspect and drive a car before purchase then the import route doesnt scare me.
But a big lesson learnt, don't fall for hype and inflated prices expecting high quality - eyes open!
What I got was a top dollar mess waiting to happen which I got no help with. Thr pics, auction sheet and service info didn't reveal much of this.
However I would put this down to the hype of that importer. If I could visit, inspect and drive a car before purchase then the import route doesnt scare me.
But a big lesson learnt, don't fall for hype and inflated prices expecting high quality - eyes open!
Edited by halo34 on Tuesday 12th October 11:28
halo34 said:
I did but that didnt help me when later down the line I found it had accident damage and it had been put back to some kind of standard hiding the fact it had been wanged about and beasted during it's lifetime.
What I got was a top dollar mess waiting to happen which I got no help with. Thr pics, auction sheet and service info didn't reveal much of this.
However I would put this down to the hype of that importer. If I could visit, inspect and drive a car before purchase then the import route doesnt scare me.
But a big lesson learnt, don't fall for hype and inflated prices expecting high quality - eyes open!
what did the auction sheet grade the car as? from my experience the grading is based on a very tough examination of the car. a 3.5 rating is bloody hard to achieve with any slight imperfections. I haven't known anything get past them.What I got was a top dollar mess waiting to happen which I got no help with. Thr pics, auction sheet and service info didn't reveal much of this.
However I would put this down to the hype of that importer. If I could visit, inspect and drive a car before purchase then the import route doesnt scare me.
But a big lesson learnt, don't fall for hype and inflated prices expecting high quality - eyes open!
Edited by halo34 on Tuesday 12th October 11:28
bobt said:
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt - but doesn't have undersealing anyway"?
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
EFAJust because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
bobt said:
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt"?
Snow does not equal lots of road salt.They either use antifreeze, pure grit (as in crushed stones), and WINTER TYRES. So, no, most Jap imports have never had their arses bombarded by highly corrosive road salt.
There's only one stupid person in this thread, and it's the person who started it.
cmackay81 said:
bobt said:
Why do sellers of cars that have been registered for some years in Japan then imported to the UK make stupid claims like "Japanese import, therefore never seen salt"?
Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
Japan doesn't use salt on the roads. They basically use an antifreeze solution that is sprayed from trucks. source?: me, been there seen it. osaka winter 2006Just because Japan lies further South than the UK, does not mean it sees no snow. The pacific side may not see much, but the sea of Japan side does. Just google "Japan winter" images. Japan did host the winter olympics too.
therefore these stupid claims are not stupid at all.
Edited by cmackay81 on Tuesday 12th October 11:29
The fresh Japanese imports i've seen have always been in much better overall condition when compared to similar age UK models. Mostly better than the auction sheet would lead you to believe anyway.
Yes you usually need to underseal the car yourself but if this is done before its first UK winter then it shouldn't be a problem.
My experience of service history is that its there but its usually decipherable.
Yes you usually need to underseal the car yourself but if this is done before its first UK winter then it shouldn't be a problem.
My experience of service history is that its there but its usually decipherable.
Nash_wrx said:
you always get 2 things, the they are fresh of the boat, no rust and no under seal..
could we ever put this to bed?! since forever all i've heard is that imports are never undersealed. then i bought a fairly recently imported eunos, and it had undersealing from factorydid they start undersealing after a certain time, or just specific manufacturers?
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