Importing cars?

[R33man]

I had someone tell me the other day they could import a near new MX5 for $10000 and a near new WRX for $15000. I was under the impression that you could not import a car that is sold here. Is this guy talking BS?

[Goon]

i believe that u can import jap-spec cars that are different from the stock australian cars sold here. actually there's a version mx5 in japan that puts out a few more kws than the ones availble here. can anyone vertify this?

[SteveL]

AFAIC neither WRX's or MX5's would be eligible because they were sold here, BUT cars could be brought in under the 15+yo rule.....I believe some MX5's were manufactured in 1989 (??)....don't know about WRX's.

[awurth]

as far as I understood before the rules changed J spec s15's could be imported because they where released in japan before we got them. so if they where released in japan in 98 and in Oz in 2000 you could import those 98 and 99 models. Also you could import the subaru sb/t forresters while we had the GT forrster.

[predator]

not WRX, unless it was for race use.. I think the first WRX came out early 90's or so.

[R33man]

Cheers guys. I was pretty sure he was talkin crap but I just wanted to make sure before I told him he was an idiot.

[dAVE]

R33man - he was telling the truth if you think a 15 year old car is near new.. HAHA.. god im sick of these wankers that think they know everything about cars..

had my friend try and tell me you couldnt go on a drag strip unless you had more than 500kw.. :s

[R33man]

R33man - he was telling the truth if you think a 15 year old car is near new.. HAHA.. god im sick of these wankers that think they know everything about cars..

had my friend try and tell me you couldnt go on a drag strip unless you had more than 500kw.. :s

Yeh this guy has a bit of a rep for not being the brightest light in the sky.

Considering you can't get a 15 year old WRX :slap:

As for the 500kw rule. That made my nite

[dAVE]

no point arguing when you speak to people like this... there was a thread dedicated to this kinda thing in the wasteland...

same guy also told me on friday night that the Cayenne (sp?) turbo version was 500kg heavier than the non turbo.. i still havent checked this.. but it must be one big ****ing turbo if hes correct... may go double check now.. print it out too so i can properly rub it in his face

[Abo Bob]

Dunno if I should post this here but a guy told me that he pulled the water pump off his ride on lawn mower and turned it into a turbo. Said lawnmower can now do wheel stands in 4th gear at 120 km/h!

left the blades on too cos he still uses it to cut the grass.

[marianne]

Your friend is telling you the truth... you can import a new new MX5 and WRX for that kinda money.... only problem is it will get scrapped when it lands in Australia..... But he is right about importing it for that kinda cash....

[DaiOni]

WRX - no, not for street use. Unless it is a personal import owned by someone who lived overseas (for example, in japan) for 12 months. You could definitely get an early model and register it in australia for well under $15k (under those regs)

MX5 - yes, if it's an 89 it can be brought in using the 15yr rule (or any year - using the aforementioned personal import regs). Again, you could land one and rego it for well under $10k. For example - last year I owned a 90 mx5 and I bought it for around 250,000yen (= around A$3k). That's a dealership price - you could go even lower at auction, and for a lower quality car.

Goon: the JDM mx5 (earliest version) has around 10kw over the australian version. I believe this is due to ignition timing (a common mod anyway). I loved the mx5 - f@cking amazing little cars with sublime handling - nowhere near enough power though - and as such, I don't regret trading it in for my current rx7

[Duncan]

as far as I understood before the rules changed J spec s15's could be imported because they where released in japan before we got them.  so if they where released in japan in 98 and in Oz in 2000 you could import those 98 and 99 models.  Also you could import the subaru sb/t forresters while we had the GT forrster.

:werd:

this was the case under the old import scheme, they could be approved if there was a gap between release in jp and release here.

The list of cars available under the new system is here:

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/sevs/sevsindex.htm

However, even if they are on this list a registered workshop needs to obtain approval to import them. The list of workshops and what they are approved for is here:

http://raws.dotars.gov.au/rawswebpublic/RA...AWPubSearch.asp

[98r33]

Hi, this is my first thread and may i say its a fine site to be part of. For what it is worth the new raws system is now in place and it is almost impossible to import your own wheels unless you trust the workshop and your man overseas. You are at the mercy of both. Saying that, I have had no problems with raws workshops in vic or qld. Remember also that roll on, roll off freight is booked out. eg kiwi freight. The 3 or 4 ships are booked with toyota etc. for the next few months. Yes, cars were cheap and 1 can give you a mx-5 for 5k but it cannot be reg. My next Nissan is coming crammed in a container which is expensive. There are still some cheap mx5s, nsx etc if you are willing to wait a few months for the 15 years and get exemption from dotars but i would not hold my breath as i have heard all they want to do is make it too hard and costly for anyone to bring them in unless it is worthwile (r34gtr etc). (If i im wrong about something shoot me)