Auto Thread: Talk Cars or Trade Parts

[RustyRyan]

Has anyone here had any experience with importing a car from, say, Japan?

Yes, I've bought my last four from Japan.  It's straightforward if you live in Canada.

I'm in the U.S. I'm guessing several things would be different with regulations. Anything difficult from your experience? Have you gone to Japan to check any of them out, or if not have you simply used a certain company online (which one/s did you use)?

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[Bimmerhead]

The main difference is that to bring a car into the US easily it needs to be 25 years old.  Otherwise you'll have to Federalize it which is very expensive.

I've always bought at auction through the services of a broker, never travelled there.

I would recommend Scott at http://www.japancardirect.com/

[AndrewBUD]

it says 15 years old on that site

[Bimmerhead]

it says 15 years old on that site

15 for Canada, 25 for the U.S.A.

[RustyRyan]

Anyone here with an SR20 swap on a Silvia have/know any issues with inspection or passing smog in certain states? Heard that might be an issue.

[RandomQ]

Anyone here with an SR20 swap on a Silvia have/know any issues with inspection or passing smog in certain states? Heard that might be an issue.

Problem with engine swaps depend on the state laws(if any),California is pretty bad, all aftermarket parts have to have a CARB test sticker and engine swaps have to go to state testing location for inspection to make sure the car has all the smog equipment still on it. The guys that run is this state testing stations are super sharp(Unlike test only stations lol) and unless your on there good side they won't let anything slide.

A Trick a few people use in California, register in Louisiana. The top writing of the plate looks the same and most of the state didn't have smog laws.

I moved all my cars over to Arizona registration, No smog, and 50% cheaper than California, and I can register my cars for 5 years and my drivers license doesn't expire till 2044.