Using a car in Japan, and then sending it here...

[Willdat?]

My little brother is living in Japan at the moment, he's looking to buy a car, use it there for a year or so then bring it back. His GF has put only one rule that it must be 4 door, so RX8 or bigger...up to $20k to spend but that will include shipping it back to NZ and getting it on the road here. Definite preference for manual, and turbo, though wouldn't have to be.

He's in Toyokama, Aichi if that makes a difference.

Basically would be interesting to hear if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips for him, and possibly me as I might get him to send something over for me...05 Fielder Z or something...

[tsoob]

haha and he listens to her..? lol

id go for a r34 pref a gtr

[Leon]

make damn sure that whatever he buys can be put on the road here

• Automobile Association (AA), phone +64 9 966 8800, fax +64 9 966 8893, email aatech@aa.co.nz
• Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ), phone +64 9 580 3170, fax +64 9 525 8910, email info@vinz.co.nz
• Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ), phone +64 4 495 2500, fax +64 4 495 2530, technical@vtnz.co.nz

[Willdat?]

We were looking at something 03/04 or newer to be on the safe side, is there a list of what is/isn't allowed?

Well she's following him to Japan for the year, he's had a fair share of interesting bits and pieces but the 4 door probably suits his need to surf, the 200SX he had last year was a bit on the small side!

[FLAWLES]

jzx100 tourer V ( chaser/mark II/cresta )or 110 ir-V ( mark II/verossa )has four doors will compliy with b/s nz laws at the mo
manual and vvti 1jzgte

if he wants to ship it back to nz be best to double check with the current laws

then have a yarn to ewan @ hayatonka

http://www.hayatonka.com/

[xsspeed]

if he wants to ship it back to nz be best to double check with the current laws

then have a yarn to ewan @ hayatonka

http://www.hayatonka.com/

Both of these points

[Akane]

110 ir-V ( mark II/verossa )

yeap, sex right there.

[Leon]

We were looking at something 03/04 or newer to be on the safe side, is there a list of what is/isn't allowed?!

There isn't a list, because the same make/model/year car could comply with completely different emission standards because it might have been built for (this is for example, not science)

US Standards = high
Japanese Standards = high
Singapore Standards = medium
European Standards = high
Australian Standards = low
Thailand Standards = none at all

So, find a car you're interested in, then contact an entry certifier (details as per my first post in this thread).

Given that a car appearing to be exactly identical to another car made for markets in different countries ... can you imagine just how totally and utterly a general member of the public would f*ck up and fail to understand such information.

Don't listen to ANY internet wisdom (not even what I'm writing) because the law has changed a lot since 31/12/07 (then again this year) so the knowledge that almost everyone is sure of is actually completely wrong.

[Jdawg]

Check here: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/importing/index.html , basically up to 7 years old or over 20 years old is OK.
Haven't used these guys but heard of them and they do MAF checks in Japan before loading. http://www.kiwicar.com/services.html
You may also need a customs agent to pay your fees and gst. (if Kiwi doesn't do that service)
Compliance seems to have settled around the $450 mark and then you need to pay registration.
Depending on the dollar it all adds up, maybe around $2500 (feel free to correct as I haven't imported anything for 18 months) plus cost of car.

[Tha_INS]

buy an r34 gt-4 (non-turb skyline 4wd sedan) in manual.....ship it over and buy one of those non-compliable r32 gtrs and swap the running gear.....4 Door r34 gtr lol

[FLAWLES]

why do that when you could go buy a r32/33 autech 4door factory gtr and ship it over

they do pop up on auction house's every now and again

[FANGIN]

Because the Autech 4 Door GTRs are non compliable

[TRD Man]

The major component in the financial viability of importing used Japanese cars was that they had run out of registration.
Hence imports were usually 7 to 10 years old and any newer than this had other valid reasons why they were cheap enough to import i.e. accident history.
To buy a car for use in Japan requires the car to have current registration and this will almost certainly elevate the price to a level not viable to import.
You would need to do some serious homework before proceeding.