Import Monster

A neat 22b in Japan still sells for 3.5-4 million yen as a minimum (for one worth having) so that's a purchase price of $50k ish just in Japan, before you pay freight, duties and so on. For me, a good one is worth every bit of $70k for if it popped up, but I have lusted after a 22B for the last 12 years so in my eyes, they're very desireable car. Normally I'd be inclined to agree with locally delivered models being worth more - this is certainly the case with the 2 door version 5 STI which was offered in 1999, we only got 399 of them. But in Japan, the 2 door STI is nothing special as it was just another car available in the Subaru lineup. However in the case of the 22b, there were only 400 of them made available world wide and god knows how many have been rallied into the ground by now. Hand made alloy widebody guards, stroked motor, DCCD and that fat stance.. I'd give my left nadular for one I wouldn't care if the car came from Antarctica originally, they're a car that's going to be worth very big dollars in the future in my humble opinion!

I'll send you a pm mate, as I think price discussion on a particular import gets away from the original intent of this thread ------ In relation to how I think Govt policy is more likely to ruin the import industry than the industry itself - there are a few reasons, but the main one is the Govt's ability and willingness to move the goal posts without notice and without justification. The most obvious instance of this being their recent change to the importation of modified pre 1988 model vehicles. For myself and many readers of this thread, the impact from this would be minimal, however there is an entire industry centred around the importation and sale of vehicles that is going to be badly hurt by this decision. Where I sit in my office, there are half a dozen businesses within cooee all involved in importing American and european vehicles - all who are locked into leases, who have employees on the books, all who have significant investments in time and money into their entirely legitimate businesses that centre around importing these vehicles. This is just one industrial estate of hundreds around the country that are going to be hit by this. Plus the knock on effects of lost employment, lost revenues from the quarantine yards, the towing companies - all these businesses who will miss out on revenue as a result. It's just one decision that can have a devastating knock on effect. It's practically knocked an entire subsection of the industry on the head. Or forced them to circumvent the new rules in some fashion. If DOTARS enacted rules and changes which could have such a massive effect on the volume vehicle sellers, all hell would break loose and for good reason. Look at the Miner's reaction to the introduction of the Mining Super Profits Tax. It's the same kind of thing, just with different economies of scale. It's NOT ok to ruin anyone's livelihood with such rushed and arbitrary rule changes and that's precisely what has occurred here. I was talking to a guy who brings in 7-8 40ft containers a month full of US cars through the same yard I bring my gear in to be checked and he's just gutted by this. Just as things were picking up for him after the disastrous exchange rates from Oct 08 through to mid last year, he cops this kick to the gut which was just as unexpected and senseless as the GEC! The whole issue with the El Grand is another example. And as you say - because what the RTA were found to have done was not legal, they'll find a way to punish the industry as a whole. It's human nature to try to find a way around beauracracy, which is exactly what happened with the El Grand. It's not the intent, it's the letter of the law in this instance that counts. They found a way that satisfied the letter of the law, yet still allowed them to achieve their end goals legally. The decision to cease accepting engineers certs to register the vehicles as 6/7/8 seats was purely vindictive and I was very pleased to see it over turned. Interesting discussions

email sent

Compliance via a RAWS is to ensure compliance with the ADR's, rather than state to state requirements. We have many vehicles complied in one state and registered in another without issues such as this. If the vehicle were a pre 1989 model, then some states have different requirements for registration, but a SEVS vehicle complied by a RAW should not differ from state to state. THe only time I can see this becoming an issue, is if the compliance work were not done correctly or completely and this were picked up at registration for a vehicle being registered for the first time. I know that SA and WA RTAs check things far more stringently than Vicroads do when registering a vehicle for the first time, going over the consumer information notice step by step - whereas Vicroads assume the car has been complied, approved by Dotars and that's that. Unless the car were blatantly modified or dangerous, then all they do is check the paperwork. But once the vehicle has been registered in one state, then the process becomes exactly the same as transferring ownership of locally delivered vehicles. IE - fill out transfer papers, get a RWC/blue slip or whatever passes for that in your state and then transfer ownership.

Interesting, as I have a client who registered his Sydney as an 8 seater and then transferred the rego down to vic and it remained as an 8 seater. Re the DOTARS rulings, completely unsurprising as they really are a law unto themselves. Making stuff up as they go along with no real thought for the greater implications. Nor communications as to the reasons behind them either.

It's quite interesting to see how different the car compliancing industry operates vs the motorbike compliancing industry. THe bike guys all seem to watch each others backs and a gentleman's agreement means a lot to them. Car industry. One guy gets compliance for a particular vehicle. He'll then get the MAX dollar for that plate for as long as he can, knowing that for the moment he has no competition, while flogging evidence packages to anyone who wants them - then he finds himself competing 6-12 months later with a dozen or so other companies who all had the same idea. Lo and behold, the prices of the plates are then cut by 30-40% for that vehicle as those dozen compliance shops are all fighting over what is basically the same slice of pie that was available before. Sure, the extra availability from state to state increases the amount of people who will import those cars (dealers, brokers and privateers wanting it easy, instead of transporting from interstate) but really there comes a point where the market is flooded with RAWS holding compliance for a vehicle and they have little choice but to start competing with each other on price. Consumers WILL choose one RAW over another based on $1-200 difference and when they have a lot of choice in RAWS to do the work, the cheapest is going to prevail. This is not driven by the consumer, but by the industry itself. Bike compliancers do it differently. One shop will get compliance for a bike and then lockup deals with one or two other compliancers for the evidence packages AND also lock in exclusive deals with dealers. So instead of 11ty brokers being able to bring in and gain compliance on a bike, therefore cutting the throat of the prices down, they all agree in essence, to lock the plates down to specific dealers OR, if someone outside that circle wants compliance, they have to pay through the nose for it. I see some comments blaming a certain section of the broking community for driving the pricing of compliance down... hmmm I'm in two minds about this. Having forged quite solid relationships with a number of RAWS, I find myself being approached by their competition on a pretty regular basis - wanting to know what we're being charged, with the intention of offering a better deal. I'm not approaching these guys, trying to screw them down - they're approaching me to try and pick up extra business. One of my regular shops told me flat out that he's not interested in trying to compete with *insert RAW here* on price as he would not lower his standards to maintain his margin, in order to be able to price match. This is a guy I trust implicitly to do all of my own compliance and I take that advice very seriously. Result? He's $400 per car on average dearer than *insert RAW here*, yet he still gets my business and my recommendations to my clients who, 9 times out of 10, go with that recommendation. I'm always happy for my clients to choose their own compliance shop if they wish and some do have a preference, the majority however are happy to go with who I suggest. Oftimes, I could get their cars complied for $3-400 cheaper at another shop AND I tell them this - but I believe there is a tripping point where the quality/value for money equation gets triggered and it is not worth the money saved, vs quality of work compromised. Most times they are content to heed my advice, but as per Brad's comments - some people just want the plate affixed to their car as cheaply as possible. Putting aside the argument of legality of the work being done, there seems to me to be a Niche for each type of shop, even with our Niche industry. Given two of my regular guys called me this week and said they have maxed their plates for the year and are waiting week by week to get their plates back, I can't see the industry falling in a heap in any great hurry. Many of the plates they are issuing are going to clients of people like myself, Kristian, J-Spec and so on - they're essentially being handed the work on a plate by guys who are being paid to do all the running around for the client. No mess, no fuss. Car gets delivered, work gets done, customer pays bill and car gets picked up. So the margins are slimmer than perhaps they'd ideally like, but the work is constant. Funnily enough, these guys say it's car dealers they have the most dramas with. Bringing cars in, holding a plate for that car and the car sits in their yard uncomplied til it's sold (as the dealer doesn't want to tie up capital in a compliance plate until the car is sold). In his words "I love dealing with you, I know when I apply for an approval, I'm going to get paid inside of 3 months". If RAWS all worked together closely in each state, then they could really have their cake and eat it. Instead of having 10 shops, each with 100 plates per category, each having compliance for the same vehicles and competing with each other for business - they could pool resources to do testing and share revenues on plates (all plates issued by a shop are easily tracked through dotars so there's really no room for rorting here) then the RAWS industry could not only save money on their outlays, but maintain a far more steady rate for compliance. Sadly, I think this would be seen as price fixing by the ACCC. So, we have our capitalist natures driving competition, consumers pushing for ever better deals and hence the status quo. Either way, the only thing that WILL kill this industry is Govt legislation. DOTARS think they can run roughshod over us and sadly, we tend to lay down and accept it. Recently however, we've seen that Govt is not all powerful - NSW RTA taken to the supreme court over ceasing to accept engineers certificates converting El Grand campervans to 7/8 seaters. Industry 1, RTA nil. Of course, these are my observations only and can be taken with a pinch of salt - as all opinion based diatribes should be

looking forward to an update on this one mate!

All our web and coding work is done in house by the other half of Monster, Daniel. btw no rexies nowadays, GT-Rs bouncing off the walls re the new J-Spec site - epic is the word. Extremely well done

I feel thicker for having read your reply. I hate being kept in the dark!

Hi Mate vehicles are not eligible to be imported complete for "parts" or "restoration" purposes. I'd like to help out, but would need to know exactly how the car ended up being landed in Australia as a complete vehicle. An import approval from DOTARS is ALWAYS required for a complete vehicle and as mentioned above, there is not provision for importing a vehicle for parts use. The only two possibilities for this being a "parts only" car are that it was illegally imported without an approval, or an approval was granted and the vehicle failed to meet the standards required to gain compliance (either rusted out or damaged in some way rendering it uncompliable, this could be anything from poorly repaired damage to the parcel shelf being cut for a subwoofer) If you'd prefer to discuss privately, pm me your contact # and I'll give you a call Otherwise, without mentioning the names of any companies you've dealt with as it may contravene the site's rules, can you explain the following - How did you purchase the vehicle? From Japan yourself, or locally? Do you have an import approval for the vehicle? Who told you it could not be registered/complied? What was the reason given? There's usually a very simple answer for scenarios such as these, I hope you haven't been stooged by someone! Cheers Aaron

I think it was JG's in Glen Waverley where I had the best dumpling's of my life. It also happened to be on the night that a waitress got into a screaming match with a customer, which then became physical. The uglier things got, the better the dumpling's tasted

Well of course, how could the labour govt afford more police when they've pissed so much up against the wall on Myki and other disasters? Maybe this can of worms should stay closed?!

Just more proof that the Skyline is number 1

Hi Guys, link below will redirect to the updated thread in our SAU section. More rims to be added in the next few days, including 19 x 10.5" CE28n and others http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Wh...27-t318263.html Cheers Aaron

I had a crack too, the interior was still ok http://www.facebook.com/pages/Import-Monst...;id=31456643067

THese generally don't make it to auction, they get bought by dealers or fixed by the owners. Plenty of rattly 32/33s go through but generally the type of person who owns a 34 has the money to fix the car before selling it.

LOL, I just dropped a whole heap of work in his lap for our sites so he's gonna be busy for quite some time to come

Play nice!

I saw a rolled NUR Spec in Millenium Jade at Nagoya a few months ago. There was not an undamaged panel on the car and it sold for 1.1mill. Prices lately are just bizarre, absolutely all over the place.

www.importmonster.com.au Yoshi the Monster is awesome

Hi Mate I have no grille, but have 3 x R32 GT-R bumpers in stock http://www.importmonster.com.au/shop/produ...products_id=982 http://www.importmonster.com.au/shop/produ...products_id=979 and another white one with lower lip, can email pics Cheers Aaron

I have several bumpers at $450 each mate, I will have a pair of headlights available soon off my R34 GT-R for $980 the pair. Postage t Sydney for bumper and headlights will be around $80

I've said it before Matt, but mate - I LOVE this car. It's my second favourite GT-R, of course I love mine more I'm loving seeing the rare bits and pieces you source through us making it onto the car. I spoke to Chris yesterday and he said drilling the holes for the harness was a nervous moment for all involved Keep up the great work, I keep wondering when you will consider this "finished".

verdicts on the new maps? Am playing Battlefield - Bad company atm (campaign) Getting used to the online play, but prefer COD so far.

*shrug* I play on Xbox so I'm covered