Importing Japanese cars to Australia and New Zealand

Discussion in 'Other Investments' started by worldbubble, Apr 3, 2014.

  1. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    Hi,
    I have some questions:
    What are the most popular Japanese cars in these two countries?
    How popular is it among folks to import cars from Japan?
    What problems might importer face when buying from Japan?

    Questions are for both new and used vehicles

    Thank you

    Beck
     
  2. Nedsnotdead

    Nedsnotdead Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,034
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    No fixed address
    Something in today's paper about the tackos being would back in Japan then imported and sold here
     
  3. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    15,802
    Likes Received:
    2,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    here there everywhere
    I assume your talking about grey imports ?
    Models that don't come into the country via the manufacturer
    You can't bring in vehicles models that are imported from manufacturer
    What ever your thinking the market is flooded with grey imports
    Insurance companies don't like them
     
  4. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    what is tackos?


    yeah, grey imports
    insurance cos don`t like them but do they insure them?
     
  5. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    15,802
    Likes Received:
    2,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    here there everywhere
    YES but not all insurance companies will
    & it's expansive
     
  6. Sa_bogan

    Sa_bogan Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,342
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Adelaide

    i think he was meant to say odometre is being wound back
     
  7. Jislizard

    Jislizard Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2011
    Messages:
    7,518
    Likes Received:
    639
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Australia
    I found one company who imported cars from Japan and they had a BIG notice saying "Don't bother to ask us to import a Mazda RX7 for you, even if you only want to use it on a race track it isn't worth the effort"

    So a company who makes money importing cars and obviously gets a lot of requests for RX7s didn't feel it was worth the effort to import RX7s.

    Shame because I really wanted one :(
     
  8. 2ds

    2ds New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Victoria
    They don't like them because they are hard to fix, the local car industry isn't going to stock JDM parts...

    I think New Zealand has much less stringent import laws than Australia and parts are more readily available
     
  9. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    Well, I know that there are a lot of companies that sell to NZ, so I thought Australia is following. Company I work for is opening devision to sell preowned and new cars, and NZ is one of the target destinations.
     
  10. Jislizard

    Jislizard Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2011
    Messages:
    7,518
    Likes Received:
    639
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Australia
    I had a Eunos Roadster in the UK (Mazda MX5) no problems, I was always worried about finding spare parts but absolutely everything I replaced went straight in with no mucking about, clutch, ladder rack, grindy thing which makes the engine go round, all the same as the domestic acquired versions.

    Just had to change the speedometer to work in prehistoric units, stuck on a fog lamp that was about it.

    When I wanted to bring it over to Australia, I had to drain all the fluids, remove the airconditioning unit because it was only compatible with bad ozone killing refridgerant, have it sterilised by a laboratory to insure no contamination could spread, install side impact bars and then subject it to an inspection, cost to be disclosed on arrival, have it stored in a facility, cost to be disclosed on arrival, pay an import tax, cost to be disclosed on arrival, have it recleaned, cost to be disclosed on arrival and then have a new airconditioning unit put in. And then change the speedo back.

    So I got the feeling they didn't want me to bring it in.
     
  11. zurnaik

    zurnaik Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2010
    Messages:
    398
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Most popular models are the Nissan Skylines (R32, R33, R34), Nissan Silvia S15, Mazda RX7 FD and things like Mitsubishi Delica and Legnum. Lots of folks import vehicles under the Special Enthusiast Vehicles Scheme. It is an exercise in beaurocracy to say the least but there are companies in Australia set up who will charge a fee to help you find a vehicle at auction and take care of all the paperwork, importing process and compliance process. Despite all these mounting costs it can still work out cost effective for the car you get compared to domestic offerings.

    It is popular amongst car enthusiasts who want one of these iconic models that were never sold in Australia or the models here were significantly different to the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) model. It is also popular amonst racers who import full cars or half-cuts for race use without the costs of compliance - which is a cheap way to get engines and race cars.

    The problems faced by the importer are language barrier (hence go through a broker), shipping a car without getting prior import approval, buying a car model that can not be complied here, the fact that you're buying a car based on an auction report written in japanese and 3-4 low resolution photos, having to sort through masses of information, being ready to act quickly and decisively.
     
  12. petey

    petey Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    May 19, 2010
    Messages:
    1,043
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Luxembourg
    This is nothing new. Profit margins are slim, especially if you are having someone import the car for you ($700-$1500 service charge).

    More money in finding the right classic car to bring in IMO.

    Edit: Beck, just saw that you live in Japan. Are you planning to move to Australia or NZ? If so, consider owning a car that cannot be imported to Australia, own it for a year, then bring it in as a personal import. Much better profit margin. :)
     
  13. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    Thank you for your inputs guys.
     
  14. spannermonkey

    spannermonkey Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    15,802
    Likes Received:
    2,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    here there everywhere
    Your better of looking at the other way around
    Find the early classic Jap cars & bring them back to Japan ;)
    Those early classics fetch the biggest $ in Japan
     
  15. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    that's not for personal business ... doubt company would go through the hassle of importing car to Japan )))
     
  16. BiGs

    BiGs Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2014
    Messages:
    840
    Likes Received:
    120
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Sydney
    Look into heavy machinery and wrecked cars/bikes, or unreg imports for race/rally only as I think you avoid most of the import fees. Also look at the European second hand luxury/sports car market, it is very low at the moment.
     
  17. Court Jester

    Court Jester Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2012
    Messages:
    3,502
    Likes Received:
    276
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Gold Coast QLD

    most will insure them and most are about the same price to insure.

    The "grey" import matters muc much less than the actual driver and their history, and performance aspect of the car.
     
  18. ShinyStuff

    ShinyStuff New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2011
    Messages:
    569
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    I can tell you my own experience.

    Bought a "Toyota Granvia" which is a hilux, long wheel base. It has a Camry six cylinder engine. Firstly my mechanic loves to fix it. He says Toyota didn't release v6 Camry engines here, so he likes it.

    In terms of insurance, yes, Nrma is the only mob who were interested. It is dearer, but there is nothing I can do.

    In terms of "tacko" it was legit as I was given copies of the Japanese rego checks for the previous three years of registration in Japan, and the numbers were on the paperwork, so there was no rolling back. Anyway, it runs LIKE A DREAM and had only done 67k Kms in ten years. It was imported to aust as a two seater caravan and when here was reregistered as an eight seater. So, when I was comparing taragos for the most absurd prices, my car was only a quarter of the price, was twice the size, had climate control, driver and passenger controlled curtains, driver controlled side door, two sun roofs and even a tv... The list just goes on.

    All I can say is that when the time comes to get another one, I will ONLY buy a jap import.

    Shiny
     
  19. worldbubble

    worldbubble Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Japan
    Finally, real experience from fellow stacker!
     
  20. Court Jester

    Court Jester Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2012
    Messages:
    3,502
    Likes Received:
    276
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Gold Coast QLD
    I would get new mechanic

    There have been v6 camry's sold over here for many many many years

    and recently it was rebadged the "auron" over here but it is just a v6 camry.
     

Share This Page