Import question!

[nicman]

Gday fellas,

I'm a new member of the board and im in the market for a R32 GTS-4 5 Speed from prestigemotorsports.com.au

I was wondering since the car is still in japan under auction, I need to find out more details about the car and make sure im 100% happy with it before placing any bids. Im sure some of you have purchased cars through these guys. Through your experience, what kind of things should I be looking out for?

[zanda]

1) 1989 cars that are almost free theyre so cheap, but will cost twice the repayments just to maintain

2) things that will cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars to rectify once they get here - in order to make the car road legal

3) funny marks in the paint that look like little scrapes but are actually huge gouges in the front bar. especially if it's "pristine and grade 4.

4) anything left in the car for long periods of time on a wharf - it will get broken into and stolen. My advice is to try and ensure that they are taken out of the car until shipping. not all import brokers can / cbf arranging this....

the issue of '89 cars has been discussed a few times - so do a search on it. My opinion is that theyre only an option if you could afford to pay for a mid 90s one anyway. they might look like a lot of bang on a budget - but if you buy a $20,000 gtr, it's not gonna cost the same as a new corrolla to maintain. furthermore - expect to pay for the car several times over in insurance over the first ten years.

89 R32 GTS-4 5 Speed = $7 to 9,--- buy = $3000/year insurance for under 25s.

PM me for any more information.

[CC]

As far as the import process goes, prestige motorsport are excellent - I personally recommend them .

I couldn't say a bad word about their service and assistance in the process of importing a car from Japan.

[C-Red]

Well put Zanda. nicman check to see that you can get insurance and finance before you say yes. Also bear in mind that after about 15 years and 150+ thousand k's an RB20 will be a bit sick.

Jash

[C-Red]

Oh and I meant to say most of Prestige's stuff these days is ripped off auctions.yahoo.co.jp so you can check it out for yourself.

Jash

[JH32]

Also if you buy a car in Japan now, and the Government decides to change the ruling from 15 years to 20 years, then ... your farked. I've spoken to a few import people now and they all say that this is more than likely going to happen at some point.

[nicman]

Thanks for the information guys!

I'll keep looking and keep you guys updated

[zanda]

nicman, if you are considering using an import broker, ask around - there are a lot of people who have imported cars through PMS and others (myself included).

My advice is to do waay more research than you think you need to - it still wont be enough.

And dont beleive everything you read.

[MrSnrub]

Originally posted by GTAAH

Well put Zanda. nicman check to see that you can get insurance and finance before you say yes. Also bear in mind that after about 15 years and 150+ thousand k's an RB20 will be a bit sick.

Jash

You planning on getting any 89 GTRs in Jash?

[C-Red]

Nope,

I cant think of anything worse than having a batch of 15yo 32 Rs on the floor. You've got to realise that a 15yo 32R is going to be a pretty shagged out bit of kit. 26s can generally go 115-120kkm or ten years without needing a freshen up which is rings and bearings bare minimum. Plus the fact that no-one will insure or finance the things. I havent bought a single '89 vehicle (and I can get free lockup storage for as long as I want) even for myself because I honestly believe that the feds will shut the door before its even been opened.

Jash

[rob77]

Having brought my import in myself prior to the changes with a low volume compliance plate, I dont think I would go through the same process (although not available anymore) or the new process again. There is just too much government crap/red tape to wade through. I sent my import approval off to canberra 2.5 weeks before the car arrived, after 2 weeks I rang them up to see if it was processed yet, to which I got the reply no sorry you didnt send in a photocopy of you photo id signed off by a JP. The forms made no mention of it and they werent about to ring me up and tell me I needed to get that in to them. So my car got here sat on the wharf for an extra week getting covered in sea salt and costing me money. Its a long drawn out process and to be honnest you could end up getting a dog. Buy one that has been imported by a yard at least you can see it in real life and drive it before you buy it. Importing yourself you have to pay for the car just by looking at photo's it isnt the best. When it comes to buying an R, I'm gonna try and find one locally.