Iron Chef

One of two explanations - it's a Spec S that has come in as a personal import (in which case the price matches the condition and kms) and the seller has no idea what they're trying to sell... OR it's a Spec R with Spec S badges, the kms have been hideously wound back, and the seller has no idea what they're trying to sell...

Hi Alex, I had a quick look through your stuff, I don't think we can get it in, sorry mate.

I'll just leave this here... http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=26627

^^I agree with that last bit for sure

^^that made me vomit in my mouth a little... To answer your other question, yes there's more to it - make sure it has as much shaken as possible, or you can add another 200,000+ to your bill....

Higher cost = wider gap between good ones and crap ones = potential for more profit for dealers...

Genuine low km cars do exist, but you have to pay through the nose for them. The problem with buyers who spend top dollar and get genuine low-km cars from Japan is that when the time comes to sell, asking $55K for a V-Spec with a legit 50,000km is impossible when old mate down at Dodgy Brothers is selling them with wound back odometers for $45K with a 12-month warranty. Simon to answer your question, the question is not where it is done, but who by Export certificates list odometer readings every two years now, which has all but wiped out odometer tampering on the domestic market in Japan (gauge cluster swaps excepted - but even then that is noted).

There's no probs getting a VL wagon to Japan LOACH, it's getting shaken on it that would kill you... Before you get too excited on Cappuccinos, check prices, they're becoming quite collectible these days.

**awkward moment when the owner realises his 60,000km R33 isn't genuine...**

Hmmm, no promises but we MAY be able to help - shoot us an email via the Iron Lady website contact form.

HI Alex, welcome! If you have just moved to Australia and you're here on a 'permanent' visa (as in not here as a student, or on a working holiday or tourist visa), you should be able to bring it in as a personal import. www.ironladyimports.com

lol you're not the first one to say that

Only if you want to use it as a track car...

Jeez it looks like it has been sitting there for a while! Chances are it's a red one with a sticker on it - unfortunately I've seen plenty sporting Nur stickers that shouldn't be.

Personal import, so it will be street registered.

Suspend your cynicism, Alkatraz - Hipogtr (presuming it's the same person I think it is) just brought in an R35 with an entire Greddy catalogue on it, and yes Todd (and me too, by association...)helped him with it.

Dude if the build plate says it's an ECR33, you've been ripped off. What's more, the good bits inside your car were probably stripped from a stolen one, so you'd want to be checking your engine number quick smart.

Lol that one never left Japan until I got sick of waiting and moved all the gear elsewhere...THEN it got sent...

Red was never available on series 2s, wedge, but someone with some coin may well have ordered it as a special order on a Nur. I've never seen one come red from the factory though. I've heard rumours of midnight purple Nurs though, and given they were quite a popular colour earlier on, that wouldn't surprise me. There's a midnight purple Z-tune getting around too.

Sorry, but "a mate filling a container" is the best way to ensure you end up with all your parts stuck on a wharf accruing storage for 6 months.

Welcome, Steph! A secured loan means the bank uses your vehicle as security on the loan - in other words, if you stop paying your loan, they take your car back. If the car isn't in Australia, it makes it pretty much impossible for a bank to repossess your car if you default on your loan. Unsecured loans are your only option if you want to get something from Japan. A lot of my guys get an unsecured loan with low break fees/higher interest rate while the car is on its way over, then switch to a secured loan once it's registered.

No worries, will keep an eye out.

Rare colours for the early models are: Midnight Purple II (limited edition) Lightning Yellow (only available in series 1) Active Red (only available in series 1) Silica Breath didn't come out till 2001 with the M-Spec, Millennium Jade didn't come out till 2002 with the Nurs.

Hi Jordan, welcome to SAU! Light mods (exhaust, rims, sus, intake etc) are usually fine for compliance. $15K should be fine to import yourself something nice.

You'll be going to for a Tier 2. Ring them to get a list of modifications you'll need to have done before you take it in.