Still looking for a car Been in contact with someone who has just imported type r (be here in 4 weeks) 98 type r 46k on clock standard. All in on the road mot tax etc..... 4k from bonsai cars. Everyone saying how crap exchange rate is but looking on piston heads etc..... same car would be 5-6k easy. Is import the way to go? even now? with less traders bidding more chance of gettign a bargain?

cheers

 

If you can get it at that price then go for it.

Been looking myself but imports are a few grand more than uk at the moment

 

I believe not. British traders who are able to bid directly (through an agent) are a drop in the market ocean in Japan; and our falling demand doesnt affect price or availability.

Simon

 

hawkins, I've been considering doing the same thing myself. Bonsai are one of the places I'm looking at so please let us all know how you get on if you do use them.

If you want an unmodified JDM then getting it imported specifically for you seems to be the best way to get what you want. I have rarely seen an car already in the UK that fits what I want but they seem to come up almost every day in the Japanese auctions.

I would really love to hear from anyone who has used Bonsai or one of the other importers that offers to bid on and import a car on your behalf. Can you refuse to accept it if it turns out to be a dog or the engine knocks?

With the Japanese economy going down the tubes, Sterling is gaining on the Yen once again. The best time to buy, I would guess, will be later in the year, if you can wait that long.

Good luck!

 

The car shouldnt 'be a dog', nor should 'the engine knock', if youre buying off auction appriasals.

 

OK, that sounds reassuring.

 

What about stories like this one?

I can (kind of) see how this sort of thing might get missed, given the sheer number of cars going through the auction house - I don't see how there can possibly be time to give every single car the sort of thorough examination that you might hope for prior to actually buying a car unseen. In this case it's down to the company bidding on your behalf to inspect the car properly.

I'm contemplating bringing over a classic STI via a company like Bonsai - a quick google shows up one or two problems with the company they use for SVA preparation, but at least that's something I could potentially do myself.

 

Whats the score with the SVA now? I thought they were changing the rules, apparently making it easier to import cars registered in Japan for 6 months?