I bought a Toyota Crown JZS155 from Justin a few months ago. Was a very smooth process and the vehicle was in exceptional condition. Highly recommend Cult & Classic.
I have been dealing with Justin at Cult and Classic for years now and you will be hard pressed to find somebody more passionate about cars and get a genuine buzz from finding the right car for somebody to import. Coincidentally I was there the other day and got to meet Adam from Redriven as an added bonus!
If i was importing a car it would be a Japanese wagon. They only sell SUV's is aus, and i dont want to pay extra to have a heavier car with a higher center of gravity.
With you on that, so sick of only SUV's being offered, even a sensibly priced fuel efficient hatchback is no longer available here, which is why I'm considering this for my next car.
I bought a Japanese Import 07 ISF350, 90ks, one owner with full service history in immaculate condition. Its an awesome car, I love it and I couldn't have bought the same car here - not available here - and I couldn't find one in anywhere near the condition with such low ks. I recommend an Import and yes, absolutely go through a legitimate and authorised Importer, you can't go wrong.
I am literally this moment, importing 2x cars from Papua New Guinea to NZ. Due in port tmoro. MK4 Supra and S15 Silvia-R Both in a 20ft container. Many many hoops yet to jump. Intense!! compliance rules here in NZ. So far, so good 🤙
@ the Supra had 33600 k’s on the clock but had been semi abandoned and vandalised. The S15 had been parked 7yrs in the back of a dealership. They were both running but I spent 2yrs restoring them. New life begins now, in NZ 🤙
Justin's information was great to hear. The Rover site was something I'd never heard of. I suspect most dont know about Rover because import forums are full of questions about viability. Good video. Thanks.
I am planning to bring in a 5th generation Prius from Japan but not yet chosen an import agent. This video was very relevant and useful. Since I live in Sydney I’ll check out Cult and Classic.
When buying a JDM car, check the auction grade, with at least 4B for newer models and no XX (replacement accident) parts on the sheet. Check the odometer verification website.
Import Monster for the Melbourne folk 👌🏻 Aaron and the team brought me in a Crown RS Advance this year and the process was super easy. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Don’t buy from dealers. You’re paying the mark up because you can’t wait.
We’re more a contemporary dealer that doesn’t wildly mark up cars, but your sentiment is valid for the rest. We send a lot of cars to Victoria these days 😊
@@JC94 since you didn’t buy that car and have no idea, it wasn’t. Keep supporting your mates though, that’s honourable of you. As you know, there are some good eggs out there. I see you’re a fellow crown enjoyer too.
I'm with you there. Aaron and the team are very approachable and do a great job. This is not their first rodeo. I could make a bad habit here if I could afford it, but how many cars do I need to buy? The process has been quite enjoyable.
If I were to import a car some of the ones I'd be considering are; Toyota Cressida, Crown or Century Mazda T2000 Bitter Vero or Vero Sport Lancia Delta Intergrale Evolutione II (if I had the money) Apollo Arrow (same as above) Rambler Hornet or Matador (UK import) Definitely an informative video today guys and unexpected as well. Great work as always guys and look forward to Friday's video as per usual 👍.
Don't buy an import if you live outside of a capital city. Country mechanics simply cannot deal with them. Same goes for travelling 'outback'. Don't ask me how I know this pain.
Typing this in Osaka, the K cars and k trucks over here look so cool and make a heap of sense in the environment. Also saw the current Toyota Century yesterday, WOW it looks better than a cullinan.
justin and the team at cult & classics got my toyota majesta in. I can't recommend enough and to be honest i don't know why you would go the importing a car yourself route. Also ReDriven if you would like to review my car i'm more then happy for you to will round out all the crown engines for you as you haven't done the 4.6 V8 one yet
Privately importing a new or 2nd hand car can be difficult & a pain. Better off to go thru a dealer for a particular model as a special dealer import. Ie, models that were previously sold here & no longer sold here like MB , BMW Audi petrol or diesel variants . The BMW 6 Series GT was last imported by BMW Aust in 2020. BMW Aust bought in a number of privately ordered 6 Series GT's in 2022 for previous owners. MB E 400d was not part of the lineup locally. Initially only for police use , these were then sold to the public here as well. South African vehicles can be difficult to get thru compliance. Cars from the uk & Ireland are easier to get into Australia as they need virtually no mods to comply locally . Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV variants are apparently acceptable from the uk/Ireland. I've imported 3 vehicles from the UK over the last several yrs . 2 were new vehicles initially purchased in the UK Had family drive them until they hit about 10,000km then the vehicles were classed as 2nd hand . Imported thru a dealer as part of their quota here . They were done 2 yrs apart . The last vehicle was one about 20+ yrs old & privately imported by myself . Parts service & warranty on the 2 'Second Hand Ones'? No problem at all . Both were service thru dealers locally, both went thru compliance here with minimal to no mods & both were eventually sold in Australia without a problem . The 3rd but older vehicle eventually sold to an enthusiast here
Thank you, very informative video, I have always wondered how Importers are able to bypass the 20yr Car import rule in Australia, and I got that answer, Its time to get in the import business before Australia turns to NZ, where they are the second largest used car importers globally.
Yep, I imported for my Alto Turbo RS & it's good & bad. I used legit, recommended agents. Grade 4.5 & a ro-ro is the way unless there's a reason imo. Best bit? Got a great, unique car. Worst bit? Waiting 4 months for a lidar Suzuki windscreen. _PS: I'll just use Go Garage next time & Shannons are ok for insurance on both my JDMs._
Currently going through the process of importing a 1971 Mini Automatic my Great Grandfather bought new in NZ. Discovered with older cars there's the added hassle of asbestos testing. Also for some reason shipping is significantly cheaper for a six week trip via Japan than it is to go straight from Auckland to Melbourne
Took me about 4 months and $25k to import a low mileage Evo 10 but I’m so happy I did. The car was so much cleaner and well kept than any on the Aussie market. Having mostly the same parts as the Aussie delivered models was a huge reason why I went with that over something like a Toyota Crown but you honestly can’t go wrong with how cheap the older generations are now
I brought a JDM import Mitsubishi nimbus with a 4G63 Turbo and drive train from a Evo in 2008 from a car yard never had a problem with mod cert on engine/drive train swap with rego in NSW ever. Man that car would fly for a people mover. Wish I still had it also wish had the 80 series turbo diesel Landcruiser I traded in for that car.
Some good info. If in Melbourne use import monster. As mentioned its well worth the money using a reputable importer. You don't want headaches, they're hard to solve (trust me). The process is fairly simple but be patient. It can take time to find the car that fits your brief. There are sometimes shipping delays from japan which can set you back as well.
Very surprised the Corolla touring has to be imported if an Aussie wants 1.Their quite popular in the UK a neighbour of mine has the 1.2 Turbo, saying that they are made here in England. Looks definitely far more expensive to import a car into Aus than it is in the UK. Were getting quite a few South African cars imported now when previously it was just cars from Japan.
There was a blue DR30 Skyline sitting on the docks at Port Adelaide for several years. It ended up with weeds growing around it. Finally a deal was struck between owner and Patricks to get it out of there, but it was so bad that it got parted out.
While I’ve never imported one, I’ve owned two (Toyota Grand Hiace and a 1995 Mitsubishi FTO). What I wish I knew how difficult insurance was going to be (for the grand hiace mostly).
I would import a 1995 era MR2 turbo GT rev 3 with the CT20b and LSD in hardtop form. I used to own one (TTop model from 1990) After a track day at Wakefield park with 160+km/h down the straight it developed a front end rattle, so I jacked it up and literally pulled the front right control arm bolt out with my fingers. Bad crash repair with a (not high tensile) nut welded in from Bunnings! True story. Get whatever import car you want checked out thoroughly before you buy, even if you buy it locally from the first Aus owner!!
If I had the resources, according to the Governments Specialist and Enthusiasts Vehicle Register, one of the cars listed on there is the S213 E63/E63S Estate as well as the BMW i8. Yes the i8 is a pain in the arse to maintain as ive heard from others, I think those two for me are the cars I’d import first.
My personal experience with an imported car, is that because the Australian dealers are collectively missing out on tens of thousands of dollars of new vehicle sales the Dealerships collectively put the kibosh on anyone going for an import. They will do things like a service but print out a service description that may not actually match your vehicale... in my case each service had it listed as a manual to spite it being an automatic. When paying for the service I would point out the error and ask them to fix it, while they would charge me for checking the clutch fluid! Each time I would ask are you sure the mechanic has check the transmission fluid level, and I was assured they were competent and of course they would have! 1300 km after the fifth service I suspected my auto transmission slipping, so I tried to get it booked in for diagnostic tests, but had several weeks to wait.. I went on UA-cam and discovered slipping auto trasmission could be low fluid level, so I educated myself again with UA-cam to check the transmission oil level...only to discover it was so low it was below the bottom of the dip stick. I added more fluid myself and transmission was saved...so I questioned the Dealership which responded, that to spite the transmission having a dip stick, it is right for the life of the vehicale and never needs checking a different story to the one I had been getting from them. What I learnt is if you buy an imported car, the Dealerships really don't want you there. So find a private mechanic you can trust, and enjoy your imported car as you should be able to, stay away from dealerships if it is an import!
I have imported 5 cars to Australia from Singapore as personal imports. I lived there for 20 years. This included classic BMW and 4 of my daily drivers. You have to be a resident in the foreign country and have the car registered in you name for at least one year.
That classic BMW was cool but the daily drivers were just that. As a personal import you save on duties and taxes into AU. Deregistering the vehicle in Singapore earlier than 10 years can deliver a huge rebate on the huge COE that was paid in SG.
I've got a Suzuki Spacia and genuinely don't want any other kind of vehicle, it's perfect for what I use a car for and it does everything I want of it and then some. the fact that it's not currently available for import is upsetting to say the least.
G'day For decades I've loved the Japanese built Mitsubishi Diamante AWD luxury sedan, with a 2.5 litre V6 I believe it was, this was the donor vehicle for the highly successful Aussie engineered and built Mitsubishi Verada 3.5 V6. I'm now interested in the EV Mitsubishi kei car.
I've had 2 grey imports. Back under the old rules, cars could only be sold if the retailer had sufficient spares on hand. The new rules allow alot more cars to qualify but a greater range means less support. I had an Opel Astra and spares for it through Holden took 3-4 weeks.
This is a complete non issue. For a start you’d be insane to get any parts through a dealer - but we have this thing called the “internet” (you may have heard of it) and just buy your Opel parts from Europe.
@@froggy0162 why buy parts when it was under warranty. People who buy imports as a daily driver may not have time to look for parts. Or aren't mechanically minded.
@@alecstasi7that’s the bullshit argument FCAI ran to protect the dealers monopoly. It’s jsut dumb. If you want a new car with warranty you’re not going to be going to the hassle of importing yourself. It’s a stupid argument for a situation that doesn’t exist. Used car imports are for people who know what they’re getting and how to support it themselves. If you’re too clueless or uninterested to do that, buy new from a dealer, importing is not for you.
So you can buy any new car from Japan, just as long as it doesn't conflict with what is currently sold in AUS ? Seems to me to be a no-brainer. Certainly no question marks about condition. I'm guessing you get no warranty ??
@@copaloadofthis Has to be on the SEVS register, otherwise you won't be able to bring it in (exception: if you've lived overseas and you want to bring your personal vehicle in).
I actually bought my Nissan Aura Nismo when I was in Japan last year, I have sighted the car and checked it very thoroughly, the car was still in a near new condition with only 3000km on the dash at ¥2,670,000 (roughly $27k) I dealt with an exporter in Japan who was happy to ship my car to Australia, overall it took 12 weeks for the car to come to Australia, plus another 2 weeks in quarantine, then it got complied, had the car tow trucked to my place, then drove the car to get it blue slipped, then got green slip and then registered. So all up it took around 16 weeks to finally get it on the road.
If I was going to import a car, it would either be the safe(r) option of a Toyota Crown or Lexus IS (latest generation), or a Mercedes S213 wagon. That's if I can't find a good CLS Shooting Brake first!
Finally so many questions answered im looking to get my next uber this way only questions now are ancap star rating and what one's that are comfort rate
I'd love to import one of several different Alpinas from across the years and/or something like the Rapide AMR. Let's ignore my (in)ability to pay for them for now ... .
Can you employ a reputable importer to source a car for you if you have a specific vehicle in mind? Or is it up to you to source the vehicle in that situation?
@ good to know. I was under the impression that most were essentially just another dealership, but for imports. The vehicle I’m considering is quite niche and very limited, so having the resource would be essential.
It varies between importers. Some will bring in limited stock to sell to customers off the floor, others might deal more in bringing in cars already spoken for by customers. Best thing to do is ring around and chat to them. Also as we mentioned in the video, if it's a niche car, find out how easily you can get parts, because that can have implications with owning and insuring etc.
@@ReDrivenDelorean, so I know what I’m in for here when it lands, it’s more finding a decent one and getting it here where I’m a novice. I had a friend import a Viper, and he ran me through the back end stuff, but I’d be more leaning towards getting an importer to help with the due diligence on the other end.
So you're not allowed to import a model that was sold new in Australia. But at the same time it has to have parts available for your maintenance here. Sounds like a bit of a catch 22
I probably will never import a vehicle and l do see plenty of them around from Toyota Nissan and Mitsubishi and the Kie cars and utes l am seeing a couple of them around and there have been many Kie cars that have come into Australia from many years ago lcan remember the Suzuki Carry ect and a informative video
@@laureus31 And salt corrosion and a thousand hours of idle time not reflected by the odometer. But even without that, a low km one here is about $40K. How much cheaper would an import be?
Ha, I seriously looked at importing a Panda 100HP.......even went sniffing around when I was in Japan last year. All got a bit too complex and their prices in Japan were reflecting their cult status. Sigh
Doubtful given they were sold here new, so personal import only for returning expats/migrants until they turn 25... The Pontiacs would probably be in the same situation as well
These ones can only be pre 2000 manufacture. These models have to be 25 years before you can import them. For 4.3l Celsior it covers only the first year of production as they were made from 2000 to 2006. Obviously, this factor alone limits the pool to choose from. Finding a 25 year old car in ok condition is a tough task even in japan especially Celsior. They aren't exactly Corollas in terms of numbers produced. In short, your idea is basically impossible to implement.
Is that the really cool looking little box thing but has the range of throwing a tennis ball? Hard to test something that doesn't exist in Australia tho Jordan.
@@JordysWheels Never heard of one ever landing here. Not even a Honda media car back when Honda Au were talking about it. I doubt there is a single one in Au. There was a guy in Canberra trying to import them but I dont think anything ever eventuated. There may be ADR issues?
@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt that makes sense given the car has cameras for side mirrors. Having said that, there are some other cars new in Oz with cameras for side mirrors
I had a r33 skyline yeara ago. If i was to import another car... it would be the supra. However, im going to be smart and get something local like a mazda mx5. Imports get too much attention from police and idiots on the road....
You can import a newish Holden to the UK with no hassles, but can’t do the opposite. Despite the UK have more stringent safety and emissions standards. It’s a joke and the FCAI are the ones laughing.
I imported my UK Civic Type R EP3 to Perth when I moved down under, but luckily as I'd owned it personally for more than 3 years in the UK, it qualified as a personal import, and as such was exempt from AU compliance and ADR's (only needs to comply with lighting and seatbelt ADR's :) I still got stung for all the other taxes and duties etc. Still more hassle than I expected. New Honda spares direct from UK are fairly cheap and easy to order, as the Civic was UK made (even the JDM model)
The Special and Enthusiasts Vehicles register has quite a few LHD exotics on there. Stuff like the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, Lamborghini Countach LPI-800, LaFerrari, Daytona SP3, Bugatti Veyron and others are on the register and have been successfully registered by others.
@@EamonMYT Yea but have you driven a LHD in Australia? It's a shit experience. Just because it's on the register doesn't mean you can road reg it. I give you South Australia. Permit for event use only.
@ Yes absolutely it depends on the state. As a Queenslander, it’s one state where it is possible to register a LHD car. Portelli’s P1 is registered in QLD, a Veyron in NSW is also registered in QLD. Plenty of LEE’s exotics are registered in WA. People in that position will do what they can to get around it and I don’t blame them.
Shop Idemitsu's full range of specialist Japanese motor oil here - bit.ly/3CDAgpi
I find it crazy Australia still has so many import restrictions when it no longer had a domestic car industry to support.
All about the corrupt government loving tax and dealers paying them off
lobbied by dealers, led by a well known one started with M
Still have the taxes as well to support the local car industry which the government got rid of
Politicians have fucked our whole economy
Exactly, they like all the taxes that come with it.
I bought a Toyota Crown JZS155 from Justin a few months ago. Was a very smooth process and the vehicle was in exceptional condition. Highly recommend Cult & Classic.
I have been dealing with Justin at Cult and Classic for years now and you will be hard pressed to find somebody more passionate about cars and get a genuine buzz from finding the right car for somebody to import. Coincidentally I was there the other day and got to meet Adam from Redriven as an added bonus!
What a sorely needed video. Thank you for organising this
If i was importing a car it would be a Japanese wagon. They only sell SUV's is aus, and i dont want to pay extra to have a heavier car with a higher center of gravity.
With you on that, so sick of only SUV's being offered, even a sensibly priced fuel efficient hatchback is no longer available here, which is why I'm considering this for my next car.
I have a corolla fielder hybrid, perfect car.
Wagon version of the corolla. The corolla touring also looks really good.
Toyota Caldina 😉
I bought a Japanese Import 07 ISF350, 90ks, one owner with full service history in immaculate condition. Its an awesome car, I love it and I couldn't have bought the same car here - not available here - and I couldn't find one in anywhere near the condition with such low ks. I recommend an Import and yes, absolutely go through a legitimate and authorised Importer, you can't go wrong.
I am literally this moment, importing 2x cars from Papua New Guinea to NZ.
Due in port tmoro.
MK4 Supra and S15 Silvia-R
Both in a 20ft container.
Many many hoops yet to jump. Intense!! compliance rules here in NZ.
So far, so good 🤙
What on earth were those doing in PNG? Would stand out alongside the troop carriers..
I guess I've come across rx8s in Tarawa, lol.
@ the Supra had 33600 k’s on the clock but had been semi abandoned and vandalised.
The S15 had been parked 7yrs in the back of a dealership.
They were both running but I spent 2yrs restoring them. New life begins now, in NZ 🤙
@@TripleJ85 the car scene in png is amazing, just think fast and the furious crossed with the flintstone's hahahahaha
Justin's information was great to hear. The Rover site was something I'd never heard of. I suspect most dont know about Rover because import forums are full of questions about viability. Good video. Thanks.
I am planning to bring in a 5th generation Prius from Japan but not yet chosen an import agent. This video was very relevant and useful. Since I live in Sydney I’ll check out Cult and Classic.
Corolla touring would be an awesome one to review. Super keen on one - I wish more manufacturers made wagons
When buying a JDM car, check the auction grade, with at least 4B for newer models and no XX (replacement accident) parts on the sheet. Check the odometer verification website.
If you're going to be sponsored by a Japanese lubricant company; maybe you could also be sponsored by the Hitachi magic wand,
🤣
Import Monster for the Melbourne folk 👌🏻
Aaron and the team brought me in a Crown RS Advance this year and the process was super easy. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Don’t buy from dealers. You’re paying the mark up because you can’t wait.
We’re more a contemporary dealer that doesn’t wildly mark up cars, but your sentiment is valid for the rest.
We send a lot of cars to Victoria these days 😊
@ I dunno. That blue Crown was pretty pricey from memory 🤔
@@JC94 since you didn’t buy that car and have no idea, it wasn’t.
Keep supporting your mates though, that’s honourable of you. As you know, there are some good eggs out there.
I see you’re a fellow crown enjoyer too.
I'm with you there. Aaron and the team are very approachable and do a great job. This is not their first rodeo. I could make a bad habit here if I could afford it, but how many cars do I need to buy? The process has been quite enjoyable.
If I were to import a car some of the ones I'd be considering are;
Toyota Cressida, Crown or Century
Mazda T2000
Bitter Vero or Vero Sport
Lancia Delta Intergrale Evolutione II (if I had the money)
Apollo Arrow (same as above)
Rambler Hornet or Matador (UK import)
Definitely an informative video today guys and unexpected as well.
Great work as always guys and look forward to Friday's video as per usual 👍.
Always have good posts, TD. No wonder the boys like ya.
@elgordo9031 cheers, mate. I try to balance them between being supportive, constructive criticism and basic banter/comments.
Don't buy an import if you live outside of a capital city. Country mechanics simply cannot deal with them. Same goes for travelling 'outback'. Don't ask me how I know this pain.
Since 2017, literally *every* car is basically an import..
Typing this in Osaka, the K cars and k trucks over here look so cool and make a heap of sense in the environment. Also saw the current Toyota Century yesterday, WOW it looks better than a cullinan.
Great video!
justin and the team at cult & classics got my toyota majesta in. I can't recommend enough and to be honest i don't know why you would go the importing a car yourself route. Also ReDriven if you would like to review my car i'm more then happy for you to will round out all the crown engines for you as you haven't done the 4.6 V8 one yet
TG the MX-5 is my dream car. Didn’t have to jump these hoops. Interesting video nevertheless. Thank you for doing it.
Privately importing a new or 2nd hand car can be difficult & a pain. Better off to go thru a dealer for a particular model as a special dealer import. Ie, models that were previously sold here & no longer sold here like MB , BMW Audi petrol or diesel variants . The BMW 6 Series GT was last imported by BMW Aust in 2020. BMW Aust bought in a number of privately ordered 6 Series GT's in 2022 for previous owners. MB E 400d was not part of the lineup locally. Initially only for police use , these were then sold to the public here as well. South African vehicles can be difficult to get thru compliance. Cars from the uk & Ireland are easier to get into Australia as they need virtually no mods to comply locally . Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV variants are apparently acceptable from the uk/Ireland. I've imported 3 vehicles from the UK over the last several yrs . 2 were new vehicles initially purchased in the UK Had family drive them until they hit about 10,000km then the vehicles were classed as 2nd hand . Imported thru a dealer as part of their quota here . They were done 2 yrs apart . The last vehicle was one about 20+ yrs old & privately imported by myself . Parts service & warranty on the 2 'Second Hand Ones'? No problem at all . Both were service thru dealers locally, both went thru compliance here with minimal to no mods & both were eventually sold in Australia without a problem . The 3rd but older vehicle eventually sold to an enthusiast here
Thank you, very informative video, I have always wondered how Importers are able to bypass the 20yr Car import rule in Australia, and I got that answer, Its time to get in the import business before Australia turns to NZ, where they are the second largest used car importers globally.
Yep, I imported for my Alto Turbo RS & it's good & bad. I used legit, recommended agents. Grade 4.5 & a ro-ro is the way unless there's a reason imo. Best bit? Got a great, unique car. Worst bit? Waiting 4 months for a lidar Suzuki windscreen. _PS: I'll just use Go Garage next time & Shannons are ok for insurance on both my JDMs._
Currently going through the process of importing a 1971 Mini Automatic my Great Grandfather bought new in NZ. Discovered with older cars there's the added hassle of asbestos testing. Also for some reason shipping is significantly cheaper for a six week trip via Japan than it is to go straight from Auckland to Melbourne
Took me about 4 months and $25k to import a low mileage Evo 10 but I’m so happy I did. The car was so much cleaner and well kept than any on the Aussie market. Having mostly the same parts as the Aussie delivered models was a huge reason why I went with that over something like a Toyota Crown but you honestly can’t go wrong with how cheap the older generations are now
The not cheap ?? Evo 9 silver 220000km bid $17000 in japan = $25000 with taxes . I see on oz market evo 9 under 150000km
I brought a JDM import Mitsubishi nimbus with a 4G63 Turbo and drive train from a Evo in 2008 from a car yard never had a problem with mod cert on engine/drive train swap with rego in NSW ever. Man that car would fly for a people mover. Wish I still had it also wish had the 80 series turbo diesel Landcruiser I traded in for that car.
Cant wait to import a delorean in the future!
🏆
Some good info. If in Melbourne use import monster. As mentioned its well worth the money using a reputable importer. You don't want headaches, they're hard to solve (trust me). The process is fairly simple but be patient. It can take time to find the car that fits your brief. There are sometimes shipping delays from japan which can set you back as well.
Very surprised the Corolla touring has to be imported if an Aussie wants 1.Their quite popular in the UK a neighbour of mine has the 1.2 Turbo, saying that they are made here in England. Looks definitely far more expensive to import a car into Aus than it is in the UK. Were getting quite a few South African cars imported now when previously it was just cars from Japan.
Despite wagons generally being popular here, the tide has turned towards SUVs and we've missed out on some good new wagons.
There was a blue DR30 Skyline sitting on the docks at Port Adelaide for several years. It ended up with weeds growing around it. Finally a deal was struck between owner and Patricks to get it out of there, but it was so bad that it got parted out.
Pity we can't easily import a long wheel base euro spec Corolla Wagon.
Toyota Soarer 3rd gen. Hands down best car I have ever driven.
While I’ve never imported one, I’ve owned two (Toyota Grand Hiace and a 1995 Mitsubishi FTO). What I wish I knew how difficult insurance was going to be (for the grand hiace mostly).
Thanks for the video Sir.
Aww man really wanted a Crown but hearing that the Corolla Touring would be easier to import is good
I would import a 1995 era MR2 turbo GT rev 3 with the CT20b and LSD in hardtop form. I used to own one (TTop model from 1990) After a track day at Wakefield park with 160+km/h down the straight it developed a front end rattle, so I jacked it up and literally pulled the front right control arm bolt out with my fingers. Bad crash repair with a (not high tensile) nut welded in from Bunnings! True story. Get whatever import car you want checked out thoroughly before you buy, even if you buy it locally from the first Aus owner!!
If I had the resources, according to the Governments Specialist and Enthusiasts Vehicle Register, one of the cars listed on there is the S213 E63/E63S Estate as well as the BMW i8. Yes the i8 is a pain in the arse to maintain as ive heard from others, I think those two for me are the cars I’d import first.
Great video! Well researched.
I'd import Subaru STI wagon, S201, Kia K8, Kia shooting brake Proceed GT.
My personal experience with an imported car, is that because the Australian dealers are collectively missing out on tens of thousands of dollars of new vehicle sales the Dealerships collectively put the kibosh on anyone going for an import. They will do things like a service but print out a service description that may not actually match your vehicale... in my case each service had it listed as a manual to spite it being an automatic. When paying for the service I would point out the error and ask them to fix it, while they would charge me for checking the clutch fluid! Each time I would ask are you sure the mechanic has check the transmission fluid level, and I was assured they were competent and of course they would have!
1300 km after the fifth service I suspected my auto transmission slipping, so I tried to get it booked in for diagnostic tests, but had several weeks to wait.. I went on UA-cam and discovered slipping auto trasmission could be low fluid level, so I educated myself again with UA-cam to check the transmission oil level...only to discover it was so low it was below the bottom of the dip stick.
I added more fluid myself and transmission was saved...so I questioned the Dealership which responded, that to spite the transmission having a dip stick, it is right for the life of the vehicale and never needs checking a different story to the one I had been getting from them.
What I learnt is if you buy an imported car, the Dealerships really don't want you there.
So find a private mechanic you can trust, and enjoy your imported car as you should be able to, stay away from dealerships if it is an import!
Find a private mechanic you can trust? tell him he's dreaming.
I have imported 5 cars to Australia from Singapore as personal imports. I lived there for 20 years. This included classic BMW and 4 of my daily drivers. You have to be a resident in the foreign country and have the car registered in you name for at least one year.
Wow, cars in Singapore are crazy expensive. Must have been v.nice cars
That classic BMW was cool but the daily drivers were just that. As a personal import you save on duties and taxes into AU. Deregistering the vehicle in Singapore earlier than 10 years can deliver a huge rebate on the huge COE that was paid in SG.
5 cars in singapore? Are you a billionaire?
@@kidoctane Singapore is by far the most expensive place in the world to purchase a car.
Bmw 340x touring. Everyone loves a fast wagon
new video setup? lighting and bokeh looks phenomenal.
Cheers mate! Just a new camera
I've got a Suzuki Spacia and genuinely don't want any other kind of vehicle, it's perfect for what I use a car for and it does everything I want of it and then some. the fact that it's not currently available for import is upsetting to say the least.
And don’t forget there is 10% sales tax in Japan when you purchase the car from auction.
G'day
For decades I've loved the Japanese built Mitsubishi Diamante AWD luxury sedan, with a 2.5 litre V6 I believe it was, this was the donor vehicle for the highly successful Aussie engineered and built Mitsubishi Verada 3.5 V6.
I'm now interested in the EV Mitsubishi kei car.
many years ago I had a JDM Diamante 30M with the 199kw 3.0.
I reckon a Daihatsu Hi Jet would be a handy little rig
Great for delivering bark chips to hard to get into kindergartens. Or big pizzas.
When people look at eurpopean car prices in oz blame government greed ! 2010 c63 in nz $23000
I've had 2 grey imports. Back under the old rules, cars could only be sold if the retailer had sufficient spares on hand.
The new rules allow alot more cars to qualify but a greater range means less support.
I had an Opel Astra and spares for it through Holden took 3-4 weeks.
This is a complete non issue. For a start you’d be insane to get any parts through a dealer - but we have this thing called the “internet” (you may have heard of it) and just buy your Opel parts from Europe.
@@froggy0162 why buy parts when it was under warranty.
People who buy imports as a daily driver may not have time to look for parts. Or aren't mechanically minded.
@@alecstasi7that’s the bullshit argument FCAI ran to protect the dealers monopoly. It’s jsut dumb.
If you want a new car with warranty you’re not going to be going to the hassle of importing yourself. It’s a stupid argument for a situation that doesn’t exist.
Used car imports are for people who know what they’re getting and how to support it themselves. If you’re too clueless or uninterested to do that, buy new from a dealer, importing is not for you.
Late model Corvair is on my bucket list
Why are people always focused on used cars. You can buy a new car from japan far cheaper then buying new in australia
Interesting point you should have dropped a few examples.
So you can buy any new car from Japan, just as long as it doesn't conflict with what is currently sold in AUS ? Seems to me to be a no-brainer. Certainly no question marks about condition. I'm guessing you get no warranty ??
@@copaloadofthis Has to be on the SEVS register, otherwise you won't be able to bring it in (exception: if you've lived overseas and you want to bring your personal vehicle in).
More than 125 taxes why a audi s4 $110000 in oz and 9 million yen in japan new
I actually bought my Nissan Aura Nismo when I was in Japan last year, I have sighted the car and checked it very thoroughly, the car was still in a near new condition with only 3000km on the dash at ¥2,670,000 (roughly $27k)
I dealt with an exporter in Japan who was happy to ship my car to Australia, overall it took 12 weeks for the car to come to Australia, plus another 2 weeks in quarantine, then it got complied, had the car tow trucked to my place, then drove the car to get it blue slipped, then got green slip and then registered.
So all up it took around 16 weeks to finally get it on the road.
If I was going to import a car, it would either be the safe(r) option of a Toyota Crown or Lexus IS (latest generation), or a Mercedes S213 wagon. That's if I can't find a good CLS Shooting Brake first!
Well ackshually almost every car in Aus is an import 🥸
Vehicle Identification Number Number
😁
It's called Redundant Acronym Syndrome. Like ATM Machine, PIN Number etc. Expected better of you Adam.
@@bod02 Thats Adam Adam to you Boderick Boderick
RAS syndrome
Finally so many questions answered im looking to get my next uber this way only questions now are ancap star rating and what one's that are comfort rate
Insurance doesn’t like these. I tried and they’re never in the dropdown menus
With insurers never use their websites, just call them, stop being lazy.
@ imagine being so arrogant that you assume someone is lazy when they are actually deaf and hence don’t speak 🤷♂️
@@superwag634 yeah look my bad, please accept my apology on that one.
3 grade evo 9 silver 220000km bid in japan 1.59 million yen . Shipping & taxes would be $25000
Love the channel! I'd import, or go to a renowned importer for a Toyota voxy/noah. Would also love a review!
I'd love to import one of several different Alpinas from across the years and/or something like the Rapide AMR. Let's ignore my (in)ability to pay for them for now ... .
dream car to import, evo 9 wagon
Can you employ a reputable importer to source a car for you if you have a specific vehicle in mind? Or is it up to you to source the vehicle in that situation?
Of course, that's a large part of their job. Whatever car you have in mind, they can work with you to get it. So long as it's approved for import.
@ good to know. I was under the impression that most were essentially just another dealership, but for imports. The vehicle I’m considering is quite niche and very limited, so having the resource would be essential.
It varies between importers. Some will bring in limited stock to sell to customers off the floor, others might deal more in bringing in cars already spoken for by customers. Best thing to do is ring around and chat to them. Also as we mentioned in the video, if it's a niche car, find out how easily you can get parts, because that can have implications with owning and insuring etc.
@@ReDrivenDelorean, so I know what I’m in for here when it lands, it’s more finding a decent one and getting it here where I’m a novice. I had a friend import a Viper, and he ran me through the back end stuff, but I’d be more leaning towards getting an importer to help with the due diligence on the other end.
I'd love a 3 door Suzuki Swift Sport. They should be a lot of fun. 1.6 lt and light.
So you're not allowed to import a model that was sold new in Australia. But at the same time it has to have parts available for your maintenance here. Sounds like a bit of a catch 22
It's called beurocrasy....anything to grab a dollar from already over taxed Australians.
Sold new with same engine as sold new, different engine/drive train you can.
Not an issue if you buy Toyota, Lexus or similar.
S15 was a weird one, because sold here new, but certain versions could be imported.
How much would a 2021 Lexus RX450h cost to import, roughly?
Cheaper buying locally
@@imaxsameer 2011 lexus isf silver 209000km bid $14000 in nov
can anyone recommend a good importer for brisbane?
Had a JA Starion back in the day so I reckon I'd import a silver (wide body) starion..👌
Mate you should've reached out to Phil Lee from Sun Rise Cars. He's a faaarrrkn Legend.
yeah if you wanted to learn about how to tamper with odometers.
I probably will never import a vehicle and l do see plenty of them around from Toyota Nissan and Mitsubishi and the Kie cars and utes l am seeing a couple of them around and there have been many Kie cars that have come into Australia from many years ago lcan remember the Suzuki Carry ect and a informative video
I wouldn’t mind importing(
1. Isuzu 117 coupe
2. FTO or GTO
3. 280zx 2 seater turbo
Low km Japan 80 series with the kitchen sink and console fridge option with low kms.
I'd import a current spec Suzuki Hustler II 4X4 Hybrid 2 tone
Have you guys managed to test the Arial Atom yet?
Is it even allowed into Australia?
Could you reveiw used ford courier gl around 2005?
Was thinking of the lc500 or Honda... Mini one in yellow... In some of your frames..can't remember the name
Wanna do an ep on the Mitsubishi legnum? I’ve got one you can drive
If i was going import it would Unimog, Scania truck from Europe or IH truck from USA. Maybe Kingswood ute from South Africa.
after watching the Lexus IS F video I want to import a IS F. I currently have my M135i up for sale sad times ahead.
beware the import ones came with open diff 😂(early models)
@laureus31 cheers for the tip. It's the only complaint I have about the M135i.
Curious.. why import a car that is Au release anyway? These 20 of them on CarSales right now. Could you get it even cheaper?
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt yes, most of the time. If price is similar the jdm one will come with a much smaller mileage.
@@laureus31 And salt corrosion and a thousand hours of idle time not reflected by the odometer. But even without that, a low km one here is about $40K. How much cheaper would an import be?
....cult car becoming/reaching classic status "Panda 100Hp" boss of ferrari big fan..!! Lol
Ha, I seriously looked at importing a Panda 100HP.......even went sniffing around when I was in Japan last year. All got a bit too complex and their prices in Japan were reflecting their cult status. Sigh
Corolla Touring Wagon Hybrid - Toyota should have brought it here, it would have sold well.
How about a monaro from the UK?
Doubtful given they were sold here new, so personal import only for returning expats/migrants until they turn 25... The Pontiacs would probably be in the same situation as well
Id want to import a WALD or TOMS lexus LS430/toyota celsior, SC430/Soarer and or a LX470/Cyngus.
These ones can only be pre 2000 manufacture. These models have to be 25 years before you can import them. For 4.3l Celsior it covers only the first year of production as they were made from 2000 to 2006. Obviously, this factor alone limits the pool to choose from. Finding a 25 year old car in ok condition is a tough task even in japan especially Celsior. They aren't exactly Corollas in terms of numbers produced.
In short, your idea is basically impossible to implement.
I'd love a Honda E, infact can you redriven one? There's no car like it on the market, way more appealing than Hyundai Inster
Is that the really cool looking little box thing but has the range of throwing a tennis ball?
Hard to test something that doesn't exist in Australia tho Jordan.
@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt yeah there must be a handful of them in Oz
@@JordysWheels Never heard of one ever landing here. Not even a Honda media car back when Honda Au were talking about it. I doubt there is a single one in Au. There was a guy in Canberra trying to import them but I dont think anything ever eventuated. There may be ADR issues?
@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt that makes sense given the car has cameras for side mirrors. Having said that, there are some other cars new in Oz with cameras for side mirrors
It's on the ROVER website
I'd import a BMW Z8 Alpina. Except for the fact they're $200k+
Shipping " 5% custom duty ' 10% carbon tax on a truck " compliance " 10% gst " cars over $70000 lct 33% " 5% stamp duty " rego & ctp
I had a r33 skyline yeara ago. If i was to import another car... it would be the supra.
However, im going to be smart and get something local like a mazda mx5.
Imports get too much attention from police and idiots on the road....
Thinking Evolution
Honda legend 2018
You can import a newish Holden to the UK with no hassles, but can’t do the opposite. Despite the UK have more stringent safety and emissions standards.
It’s a joke and the FCAI are the ones laughing.
I imported my UK Civic Type R EP3 to Perth when I moved down under, but luckily as I'd owned it personally for more than 3 years in the UK, it qualified as a personal import, and as such was exempt from AU compliance and ADR's (only needs to comply with lighting and seatbelt ADR's :) I still got stung for all the other taxes and duties etc. Still more hassle than I expected. New Honda spares direct from UK are fairly cheap and easy to order, as the Civic was UK made (even the JDM model)
suzuki cappuccino, pajero mini
Ra grade i wouldnt bid on at auction bent chassis
25% hiden taxes in oz people forget ! Audi s4 in japan 9 million yen new ?? Why $100000 plus in oz lct & import duty lol
Id import more caldinas
1st generation Toyota HiMedic😆
An Integra Type R!
Cheaper buying locally simlar km & condition
R grade 98 365000km bid 911000yen
IS500
Pity we drive on the wrong side. The really good stuff is LHD only. 😔
The Special and Enthusiasts Vehicles register has quite a few LHD exotics on there. Stuff like the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, Lamborghini Countach LPI-800, LaFerrari, Daytona SP3, Bugatti Veyron and others are on the register and have been successfully registered by others.
@@EamonMYT Yea but have you driven a LHD in Australia? It's a shit experience. Just because it's on the register doesn't mean you can road reg it. I give you South Australia. Permit for event use only.
@ Yes absolutely it depends on the state. As a Queenslander, it’s one state where it is possible to register a LHD car. Portelli’s P1 is registered in QLD, a Veyron in NSW is also registered in QLD. Plenty of LEE’s exotics are registered in WA. People in that position will do what they can to get around it and I don’t blame them.
GTR
Jeet.
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