A friend of mine is considering moving up to a high performance sports car and is looking to spend about up to £8k on an import. He is looking at the Toyota MR2 Turbo, Mazda RX7 Turbo, Mitsubishi GTO Turbo and Nissan Skyline GTR but I didn't think he would get much for his money or would he? What should he look out for and what are these grades I keep hearing about?

Leigh - you do this don't you?

 

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Z first and anything else is secondary!

John Newcomb (NukeEm)

www.geocities.com/jn300zxtt

He most certainly would get a good car for £8K.

 

The Mazda RX7 is the best car I have driven, better than my Skyline, and dare I say it, my Zed.

 

The RX7 which I have now is a 1992, with Blitz exhaust, engine strut brace, HKS EVC Boost Controller, Blitz T Timer, and shift light controller. Oh and a Sony MD, and CD player unit. Mazdaspeed steering wheel, and 17 inch split rims, and upgraded suspension.

 

The car has done 60,000 miles, and goes like nothing else I have driven.

 

So as you can see £8K buys a lot of motor.

 

If hes interested, I can source a car for him. Or if the person who is currently interested in this one doesnt show, he could come and have look at the RX7.

 

Grades I only buy grade 3.5 upwards.

 

Basically:-

 

Grade 0 - is Accident damage, and not good condition

Grade 0A - is Accident damage, but in good condition

Grade 1 - is bad condition

Grade 2 - is higher wear than expected for age/mileage.

Grade 3 - is expected condition for age/mileage

Grade 4 - is above expected conditon

Grade 5 - is showroom condition

 

Leigh

Leigh, what sort of MR2 Turbo and Skyline would he expect to get for £8k?

 

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Z first and anything else is secondary!

John Newcomb (NukeEm)

www.geocities.com/jn300zxtt

Leigh, guys..sorry to butt in.

 

I didn't realise you imported when you asked me about getting a manual TT.

How long and how much would it take to track down a low mileage (around 40-55k), '92-'94, in black, TT, with standard engine and body?

 

No rush for the reply.

 

------------------

Rik

Leigh stop it will ya! RX-7's really are nice cars but I don't want to get rid of me Shed-X.

 

8K would buy a very late MR2 Turbo in mint condition and very low mileage I would have thought.

 

L reg upwards for the 242 BHP monster jobby! Earlier versions were just over 200 BHP I think.

 

 

 

------------------

"If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land

on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a

cat and drop it?"

Steven Wright.

I guess it depends on how you like your cars to handle.. RX7 is lovely, but I at risk of causing an argument the ZX has much more character.. I've only driven an RX7 once, and it was an awesome car.. but my zx was more fun *for me* (important I add that bit).

 

Like Leigh said £8k buys you a lot of machine, but with a mods list that big make sure you check your insurance first. Some insurance firms shy away from imports and heavily modified machines. I actually use Tesco, they were £1500 cheaper than the AA!

 

There's a local importer in Newport Pagnell that has a very nice modified Skyline R33 GT for £9k. So I'm sure they come cheaper...

 

Now I *really* want an R34!

An R33 GT, thats actually a R33 GTS M, which looks like the GTR, but has only the 2.5 single turbo, and 2 wheel drive.

 

So, Yes you can get one of those for less than £9K.

 

The MR2 Turbo I should be able to get a 1994 / 1995 for £8K all done.

 

The 300ZX 92 to 94, I could get one within a week in Japan, and then its 6 weeks at sea. So I would be safe and say 8 weeks, to allow for any delays. I cant promise there will be no mods. Most JAPS ZX have the air filter, exhaust, and turbo timer done.

 

Also all my cars are checked over before leaving Japan, and the buyers stay shy from any heavily modifed cars. They will also not buy any smokers, or colour changed cars.

 

Leigh

This sounds interesting, I wish I imported one now.

When i've got some money again, i'm going to get another Z, or maybe RX7, I would love to have one imported, with all the mod cons (yeah i'm a child).

Am I right in thinking that some insurance companies dont ask for a list of mods if you tell them its an import?????

All the cars that you have mentioned you could get here for less than £5000 (except GTR that would cost you £6000 upwards)

 

Check my site www.japanese-carimports.co.uk

just to get an idear of real prices.

 

If you take off £400-£500 ( our profit margine) on each car that is the true japanese price if you imported one yourself.

 

I am not pushing my site but just trying to show that you can get a hell of a lot for £8000.

Definetly an early GTR with low miles.

 

My customers don't want the agro and know my margins and place orders based on that.

 

hope this helps.

 

Back off holidays now so updating site Tommorrow

 

Rick

 

 

 

Just being curious,but what price roughly would a R32 Vspec cost to source/import!.Cheers.

The R32 GT-R was introduced in 1989 and is still a very sought after car in JDM and the UK, you could get a GTR32 for 8K but vspec... hmm vspec was introduced in 1993 and vspec II in 1994 for the GTR32. Much rarer AFAIK and not that cheap.

 

Dont discount a GT-R just because it is a non-vee, you can chuck more power through the drive train of a non V anyway

 

Anyone considering a Skyline really needs a GT-R, not dissing non GT-R cars but.. trust me on this.. get the GT-R.

 

A GT-R is a GT-R vspec or non vspec - the vees split torque electronically not mechanically, they also split individual rear wheels. That really is the only difference - other than the vpsecs have VERY hard suspension.

 

With a Skyline, a 32,33 or 34 - make sure it has RB26DETT and you will never ever look back....

 

 

 

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->Glen

-

..hang on a minute lads... I got a great idea..

Very informative Glen Maestro Munster Muncher. Cheers indeedy oh teapot swami-g!!! LMFAO

 

 

 

------------------

"If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land

on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of

a cat and drop it?"

Steven Wright.

Thanks for the info Glen,interesting that,thought there was a bigger difference between the v-spec and non v-spec.

 

Buy an S13 200SX , mod it to buggery and you have a wolf in sheeps clothing !!

Sorry Nelson I know the 200sx is an underestimated car but it is not taken seriously. Even a 800bhp 200sx would not be in the class of an RX7 or Skyline. Maybe as an upgrade from a corsa.

Originally posted by jvnewcomb1961:

Maybe as an upgrade from a corsa.

ROFL

 

Right, that's not just Nelson but also an entire other forum we've got to hide from now!

 

No wanting to start an urgument here, but not all the cars mentioned can be got for less than £8K.

 

The R33 GTR VSPEC or NON VPEC can not be got in descent grade and condition for less than £13K, by the time it arrives here.

 

Yeah you can buy written off, damaged repaired, and raced stuff cheap but not proper, looked after, Grade 3 and above cars.

 

If I could get a good R33 GTR NON VSPEC for £8K, then please tell me why I paid £15K for mine??? Thats with all the VAT, DUTY, SVA and Shipping paid for.

 

You cant buy good cars at those prices, I know because I buy direct form the Auction houses, and the guys I use charge 100,000YEN to do the buying, paper work, and they check the car over, take additional photos, and make a note of the VIN should I need any parts for the car in the future.

 

Leigh

 

 

Leigh/Rick,

How much would a last of the line Z32 cost? More than £12k?

 

Something like this 98/99 Twin Turbo 2+2:

(yum!)

 

Trev

 

 

[This message has been edited by Trey (edited 12-09-2002).]

 

[This message has been edited by Trey (edited 12-09-2002).]

I'm with Trev (in the supportive, non-biblical sense, natch).

 

If I wanted the latest model available (1999?) how much? (Manual, 2+2). Hopefully now that the 350Z is out, prices on ours might go down.

 

Anyone know what colours?

I am afraid there still fetching good money in Japan. I have looked because I would like the later Z32, with the electronic HiCas, and the optional sports seats, also the ECU is a 32 bit as oppose to the 16 bit we have.

 

The cars would be about £12 to 13K, thats including shipping, DUTY, VAT, SVA, etc.

 

They are avilable from auction, but not many each week. Probably only 4 to 5 cars out of 150 Zeds are the 2+2 TT from 1997 onwards, with manual box.

 

If anybody is interested let me know.

 

Leigh

 

 

Originally posted by Trey:

 

(yum!)

 

Trev

 

 

Mmmmmmm, nice ... !

 

oooh - only £12k - £13k. Not completely barking, then. (With my tech ability, I'd rather spend that on a newer ZX than throw £8k at my current one.)

 

Definitely interested - just not until next year at the earliest. Any idea on colour availability? (Now I'm off to waste some time on AndyPs model comparison pages.

 

Cheers, Leigh.

 

(I never thought I would ever use the word "only" in front of the figure of £12,000 )

FOA Rick:

 

Do the two words "Trendy Information" mean anything to you, eh?

oh yea also:

 

ive just seen a 1999 Z32 with 500 miles go for 40grand!! in japan

Hi Tim, yes I know Trendy. They are not the cheapest of our suppliers.

We use several.

But still better than AutoTrader.

 

If you hide things from customers it dosen't do anyone any favours. A lot of people know where to buy cars, but don't.

 

Most Japanese car Auction advertise in UK mags, but only a handful of people actualy use that route.

 

Its the people like me and Leigh that actual send the cash halfway around the world and wait 10 weeks that get the cars here.

 

Would you do it?

 

 

Most of my customers are trade buyers looking for a specific type of car on a regular basis.

I would also agree with Leigh that you can't get R33 GTR for 8 grand, but you can get a nice R32 for that money.

 

We do not use the auctions very often I don't find that the cheapest way of getting a car from Japan.

 

But Its horses for courses realy. Cars are cheaper from Japan, but they don't give them away.

And we all have to make a living.

 

I had a guy last week wanting a Pajero Exeed on a '95 for £5000 and he was suprised that I couldn't help him. LOL

 

When I collect my cars from the docks there are at least 100 cars there most go away with trade plates on.

 

But I do admire the private guy who buys one for himself and takes a chance and gets a good deal.

 

Who dares wins!!

 

 

 

Hi Rik,

 

I have looked at other options, such as dealers, and the car clubs in Japan. But as you said when your sending money half way around the world its a risk, and so I havent gone with these routes.

 

With the auction you do at least get an appraisal of the vehicle, and pictures, plus a fairly standard grading system.

 

Any how, you could by a mint car, but by the time it comes off the boat it could be scratched and damaged. So far no problems, plus all my cars are insured for damage during shipping.

 

Do you collect yours from Southampton??

 

Maybe we could meet up sometime.

 

Leigh