Foot_Tapper

Hi chaps, I'm thinking of coming back into the scooby ownership fraternity again after ages without.
My previous and only scoob, I imported myself.

I am trying to find out if it is cost effect to import my own again, and do all the bits an bobs associated with that, or just buy one already in uk.

Does anyone know how much you can pick up say an MY 95 or 96 STi from,
at the Jap auctions ??
Average price will do nicely, I can factor in mileage etc.

Many thanks

Glenn

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

ooops - i should learn to read

GC8

I will answer that for you when Im off dial-up and back on broadband (in a couple of days if Plusnet get their finger out). The auction price is a only part of the cost though; do you have an agent and the means to de-register and export the car after youve bought it?

Simon

GC8

There is no 'average price' though; mileage and grade makes a massive difference on a car of this age.

Foot_Tapper

Hi Simon,
yes I know about the agents for buying/freight, de-reg
- no dont have any of that yet

I will be looking for grade 3.5 , cars around the 100kilom equiv mileage will be ok
(but i understand the grade may drop below 3.5 just because of the mileage)
so a grade 3 of around 100k, would be most likely ok.
Only after good all round condition, mods not important, but deffo no bling.

When I imported my last one, I found an agent on the t'internet.
(can't remember their name now )
Basically for the year of car I imported, after all costs. For the same MY & price as in UK, my car had 40,000 miles less on the clock.
Thats about as best I could equate it.

They did not have massive websites with loads of stock like you see at the mo.
I emailed them for details etc etc, then told them what i wanted.

They organised, the buying, de-reg, shipping ( after asking my pref),
bill of laden sent to me.
I have no idea if i was ripped off or not, but they were straight up an i got what i asked for.
I tried to contact them 2 years down the line, but unfortunately looks like they no longer operate. I dealt with a nice sounding aussie bird.

So "if the price is right" so they say i'll have to look for a new agent.

know anyone

I know how to do all the add-on prices, so looking for auction prices of between £1200 & £2000 if possible , for WRX's MY95/96 ( or up to dec 96 )
or STi2/3 ( if I can pick em up for 2000 in auction)

cheers

GC8

Id suggest loking for a Grade4 car only; 3.5s can be alright. Grade4 quality cars can be listed as 3.5s due to their odometer reading being over 100K (depending on the auction). Grade3 cars are ****e and you shouldnt entertain one.

1995 STIs are quite rare (white STI Type-RAs with a roof vent) so Id look for an STI2. I think that you should expect to pay ¥400,000 for a decent car, whichll equate to about £4,000 duty paid but excluding agents fees.


Simon

wideybrook

Yes you should


As usual CG8 is spot on.

RON

You know you want to mate.... just do it...

GC8

I appreciate the big-up; thankyou.

Simon

Foot_Tapper

STi 2...suits u sir...That would do nicely

Hi Ron long time no see
Am not in dorset anymore, long story.... lol, but when am surrounded by scooby metal will be happy again.

Got a veccy V6 at the mo, great on MWays, ****e otherwise..good thing is it just goes on n on.

Foot_Tapper

Was waiting for Simon to turn up an give me the SP

Simon u didnt answer my for an agent

GC8

I might be able to help you Foot_Tapper; but it could take a while to find a decent 1996 STI.....

Foot_Tapper

Morning... am in no rush Simon.

jayscoobra

im in the process of importing a car with www.autoadvan.co.uk and they seem to be good guys. i also tried www.yam3.com just give them the model/age and spec your looking for and they came back with some very good cars (example-96 sti ra 80,000kms- 600,000jpy thats including shipping)

GC8

Ive been sat here for a while wondering exactly how to type a long intake of breath sound.....

Foot_Tapper

Sorry simon....over my head that one

GC8

Sharp intake of breath over the firms suggested above; 'Yam' especially.

oscarprezza

best 2 source your own car throu a decent agent / dealer in japan, cos uk based import dealers take the pee, cheap low grade cars sold at a big profit, i am prob going to tokyo for a week in the next couple of months to find sommit special for a summer toy

Foot_Tapper

Yes oscar , you are likely to be correct;
I have already decided it will be a private sale import already in country.
Already registered, mot'd, alarmed etc
or direct fom japan..... and japan looks favourite

and although by no means infallible, i will hopefully get more for my money but most of all, a good car.

GC8

Id advise anyone who doesnt have an agent in japan against visiting to purchase a car. It wont work. You cant visit auctions; dealers wont entertain you and no one speak English (those who can wont in case they lose face). Should you overcome this you might as well be on another planet trying to arrange transportation; state inspection, shipping and stevadoring.....

The low grade cars mentioned arent sold by importers; theyre sold by traders who represent themselves as 'importers'. These clowns buy their vehicles from docks auctions (which buy the ****e from reputable auctions in Japan, then spam it up) and, on the whole, couldnt point out Japan on a map, let alone import a car from there.


Simon

oscarprezza

simon , i use a very reliable agent in japan and have done for the last 3 years, he works for a large export co just outside of tokyo, his command of the english language is prob better than most peeps on s/net, he has been very thorough in finding cars for friends and my self , only one **** up so far and that was with some paper work which was easily sorted.i always make sure he sources cars with complete service history and most with only one prev jap owner, when i spoke to him last week on his mobile he said he would be delighted to see me , but did say that the older high quality preza's were expensive to buy at the moment and said i should poss look at other manufactures, so poss a modded skyline!, i was originally meant 2 be going with a couple of friends but they have had to put off due to tragic circumstances and i have had a death in the family, so once things sorted i will poss be off to the land of the rising sun all be it on my own, dont much fancy the 11 and a bit hours in the sky with no cigs tho

MattN

How have you found autoadvan?

The prices on their website don't add up at all.

Chris79

Hi Glenn,

Just bought my 3rd Impreza at auction in Japan, its an STI3 1996 59k miles one owner, standard grade 4 works out at £5200 on the road.

Won the auction 10 days ago and it should be here around 10th of April.

Well worth the wait.

Good luck.

Chris

jayscoobra

i bought one of their stock vehicles so price was fixed, car is on route so i am still nervously waiting to see if ive bought a lemon(knowing my luck and past experiences it will be) . you'll probably find it cheaper and less hassle to buy a car already imported from a private seller though.