I went to a few dealers when I was looking for my z. There were a lot of dodgey, small, back street blokes, but the company I finally bought from seemed really professional. I was very impressed with how they treated me and the state of their cars. Anyone had good/bad experiences with importers?

 

I have only good things to say about the guys who sold me mine

Who are??

You should name them if they give good service!!!!

Car-imports-direct in Bristol.

 

I think they had good quality cars, they were honest about the car I was interested in, they took time to show me what was available in Japan, said they did not usually buy zeds, but could get what I was after. One guy (the buyer) speaks Japanese and went through the auction listings with me.

 

They had very thorough history for my car. The cars had a service and were undersealed, three month warranty, upgradable to a year (which I got thrown in as part of the deal). The fog light switch was really professionally finished with a little rocker and converted back light, not a dangler. The alarm was well installed- I had options (which were very reasonably priced) for Cat 1 or 2 with certificate. I also got an English manual for the car.

 

I sound like an advert, or like I work for them, but I am just saying it as I saw it. I thought I got a good service and a good deal.

I imported my car on my own and never regretted it, saved LOADS and I mean SH!TLOADS OF MONEY. The car starts FIRST time every time and was exactly as described, plus the guy in Japan chucked in some nice split rims :D

 

XTT

Tell me more. How did you do it? Contact an auction buyer in Japan? How did you select your car? Did you have to pay it all up front? Were you not worried they would take the cash and run?

 

How much was sh*t loads? I am interested in how you went about this. Any existing threads deal with this?

Car = 130k Yen

Freight = 420 quid

Customs Clearance/VAT/Import Duty = 280 quid

add the km to mile convertor/undersealing/MOT(£35)/ registration(£150something) and the insurance first installment and you get the picture ;) :D

 

Where's me prize ? ;) :D

needless to say that you always ask for a second(with a lower price) invoice from the seller..... ;) :D

 

 

 

I used http://www.bell-trading.com

 

here's some more:

http://www.w-a.co.jp

http://www.bestjapancar.com

http://www.ramadbk.com

 

I have some more address in my internet site but haven't tried them :)

and you'd say they were trustworthy? you had no scary moments when you thought your car just wouldn't turn up?

Is it the car you drive now? What year and milage? I'll stop asking you questions now...

I had exactly the same fears as you do, otherwise i would import the car two years ago, lol :)

 

I just called them and spoke to them, that was the most i could do.

 

I chose to risk and it paid off.

It's the car i drive(well not yet). The car arrived 3 days before i leave for holiday in Greece, came back 2 weeks ago, now preparing the docs for the registration. The cars a 1990 T-bar LWB non-turbo with 60k miles.

 

The twin-turbos were about 40-50k yen more expensive.

I will investigate the links. It sounds like you got a LOT of car for the money. Got to take a risk whatever car you buy

Rich, forgot one of the biggest companies...

 

http://www.tau-net.co.jp

 

:)

If you won’t a car i can get what-ever you wont, i buy directed from the auctions no middle man. i have an agent in Japan who can look at the car for me before it is auctioned. just a few hints always allow for new tyres and a few and a small paint chips / scraps which shod be on the auction sheet also allow for a radio i have had some that have been swapped or gone missing lately. be careful if you buy from an agent in Japan it my have been clocked. Always ask for an auction sheet. if you need any help email me and i will send you my phone number my web sit is under construction at the moment so if you wont any moor info email me.

All the best Sid

 

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sid, that means that you are a trader, right?

I bought from newera imports and i cant fault them one bit they did an excellent job with my car.

 

Bought it for a wicked price 2 and with low mileage.

 

Took it to jeff at zedworld a few weeks later and he did a diagnostic on it and said it was performing excellentlly. Told me i had bought a very good condition car.

 

Fas

Yes- I have heard good things about NewEra Imports. From what I can see, many imports just ARE in better condition (rust-wise etc) than many UK private sales. I do not know why. I just looked at a few cars that, while they wern't total wrecks, were shoddy, and overpriced- or sold by snooty traders who thought I was scum because I don't wear a suit.

 

I do worry about getting a clocked car. Mine had immaculate history, even though I still wonder about the ultra-low milage. I don't think it would be worth forging records for such a low return on your investment though, would it?

 

I had the option to buy something that had a good engine- it sounded really nice, looked good, low milage (45k), but had NO history, no auction sheet, nothing. That's the main reason I passed on it. Is there any way to have better piece of mind when personal importing? Will an auction sheet or information include car history or records available?

 

XTT- so what was the all in cost for you, if you don't mind me asking? How did you save over going to somewhere like, say NewEra?

 

Cheers

Yes i am a trader but only in a small way at the moment.

Please don't forget that the service history you get may be fake, it is very easy to do, especially if you can’t read Japanese.

i have been involved in jap imports since they first started coming in on mass so i have seen i thing or two.

Originally posted by Rich

they took time to show me what was available in Japan,

 

Now thats what I call service!! :D

Rich, dunno how much it would cost me with new era, but mine car will cost me less than 2k on the road

THAT'S a good deal! That is worth a little risk. Quite exciting knowing you have sorted it all out yourself. I am seriously looking into this

I do worry about things like fake service history. Is it REALLY worth producing this for a car that is worth in Britain less than 6k? I think, is that service book I have full of Japanese characters that say 'Ha, English fool- insurance write-off? This car was scooped from under a truck and knocked back together' or ' cam belt? what's a cam belt?'

 

That's why I valued the service I SEEMED to be getting. I don't know if I have been ripped off, the importer has been, or what. I wonder how many cars we get are MOT failures. All you can do is go on the state of the car you get at the end. If the risk pays off, even if there are problems with the car, you have to balance the price you paid with the quality you have and you can see in front of you.

 

Rich