MR2 Turbo - Import my own or buy in the UK?

[jmblisse]

Hi everyone, I am a new member to the board living in Leeds and on the lookout for an MR2 turbo.
After searching the boards I haven't been able to find an up to date answer, and also would like the opinion of some MR2 owners.

If you were in the market for an MR2, would you import direct from Japan (not via a UK based company) or look in the classifieds for a JDM car that has been in the UK for a few years now?

I am on the lookout for a low mileage stock example. Is paying the extra to import worth the money, or are there some clean, rust free examples already in the UK?

Really keen on hearing from people who have imported, the process and companies they used.

[C35Rob]

there are pros and cons to both, with a car already in the UK you can view it, drive it, touch it, lick it etc till your heart is content before making an offer however a large amount of cars already in the uk have been neglected, used through winter and are suffering from rust.

Japanese cars are generally in significantly better condition bodywork wise (especially the underside, suspension components etc - the stuff that's horrible, rusty and siezed on cars that have been used over here), the chances are the car will need some work when it arrives though, be it consumables like tyres, brakes etc..


I have personally imported a car from japan before (i.e not through a UK importer who will take a huge cut) so if/when you're serious about doing it I'll happily talk you through the process

[rgb]

you're in the right place to find a turbo . Yorkshires got loads .id buy one of an import company and just accept they're taking their cut. anyone who's got a good turbo in England is keeping it. prices have shot up in the last year so you're looking at 5 grand.

[jmblisse]

Thank you for the replies.
Looking at local importers a good quality Turbo is now commanding 6-7k. I am sure if I were to do things myself I could save myself a good chunk of money, at the risk of mechanical issues.

I think the point of 'anyone who's got a good turbo is keeping it' nails that point home.

Rob, I like to think I am quite clue'd up on the import process although a bit unsure of getting a vehicle from Southampton 230 miles up north. Is it a case of insuring on VIN and then throwing some trade plates in then driving back?[/quote]

[craig]

UK importers fee will be an on the road price:

MOT
SVA
KMH --> MPH coversion
Rear fog light
UK registration

Plus obviously their cut.

I got burnt importing a car from Japan years ago on a rev 2 turbo. Never again.

Car was mis-described, had the stereo stolen and suffered damage coming off the boat.

Both wings, and door damaged.

[2mad]

Yeah for me id find one recently imported , the owner drove it to church on sundays for 2 years and is now selling up ... £3.000 will get you a nice turbo , someone else delt with all the import stress .

[Jaspa]

As the car is >10 years old, you don't need a SVA. the KPH>MPH Conversion isn't a legal requirement.

If you were to bring it into the uk yourself, all you would need is to wire up a fog light and then take the car for an MOT. You can insure the car on the VIN number so can drive the car straight from the Docks to the test centre and then home. Once MOTd you can then register it yourself.

I've been toying with importing a legnum VR4 from japan. There's a guy on driftworks who offers a wealth of information and assistance (I don't have his details to hand but you should be able to find him easily enough).

TBH, with the number of MR2 Turbos available in the UK, I don't think I would bother unless I was looking for something particularly special but if it's just a relatively standard car, there's plenty here that will tick that box. Just don't be afraid to travel for it.

HTH

Stuart

[Draven]

^^^ what he said.

[C35Rob]

Rob, I like to think I am quite clue'd up on the import process although a bit unsure of getting a vehicle from Southampton 230 miles up north. Is it a case of insuring on VIN and then throwing some trade plates in then driving back?

[/quote]

You would get it shipped to liverpool or newcastle, Not so'ton

I drove my car home from the port of Tyne, it's only 13 miles from my house. it was insured on the chassis number. it is a MASSIVE grey area though. the likelyhood of an insurer actually honouring their policy when they find out you were driving the car unregistered and with no MOT is pretty slim. as is the chances of a traffic officer being impressed that you're driving a car that has not been tested for road worthiness, is not detectable by ANPR etc etc is very very slim too. also, there is the possibility the car might actually not be roadworthy anyway - it'd be a right pain in the balls to travel a long way to the docks to drive a car home to find out it had the ECU nicked on the ship/dockside, the tyres were down to the cord etc etc.

I know of one lad who has a set of southern irish plates that he puts on an unregistered import to drive them home without attracting as much attention on a "something is better than nothing" basis - obviously totally, totally illegal though, just get it trailered home unless the journey is short enough that you're happy to take a calculated risk. or just get it trailered.


@ Jaspa, the guy on DW you're probably thinking about (or should be if you're not) will be michael or rees @ autospecs, they're the japanese agent I, and pretty much everyone else uses (including the "big" importers who try to keep it all secret and use smoke and mirrors tactics to fool people into thinking they've got some super special mate running around Japan finding cars nobody else can)

[SonicSW20]

Just use Shiply to get the thing moved to where it needs to go - prices are normally very reasonable.

[Jaspa]

@ Jaspa, the guy on DW you're probably thinking about (or should be if you're not) will be michael or rees @ autospecs, they're the japanese agent I, and pretty much everyone else uses (including the "big" importers who try to keep it all secret and use smoke and mirrors tactics to fool people into thinking they've got some super special mate running around Japan finding cars nobody else can)

Aye, That's the fella. Cheers

[C35Rob]

@ Jaspa, the guy on DW you're probably thinking about (or should be if you're not) will be michael or rees @ autospecs, they're the japanese agent I, and pretty much everyone else uses (including the "big" importers who try to keep it all secret and use smoke and mirrors tactics to fool people into thinking they've got some super special mate running around Japan finding cars nobody else can)

Aye, That's the fella. Cheers

no worries mate, though I'd personally prefer a Stagea to a Galant/Legnum

either WGC34 - in 250 rs four RB25DET (available as a manual)




or an early M35 250t rs four - 2.5l VQ25det, v6 turbo, 280bhp

[MR2 Rich]

Jaspa, the guy on DW you're probably thinking about (or should be if you're not) will be michael or rees @ autospecs, they're the japanese agent I, and pretty much everyone else uses (including the "big" importers who try to keep it all secret and use smoke and mirrors tactics to fool people into thinking they've got some super special mate running around Japan finding cars nobody else can)

Just been on their website. Japaneseusedcars. OMG

There are some awesome cars out there. Just looking through a few different cars on there. Mr2 with 4k km! I so want that or a Starlet Glanza with 22k km or Supra Or a hundred other ones on there.

[C35Rob]

Jaspa, the guy on DW you're probably thinking about (or should be if you're not) will be michael or rees @ autospecs, they're the japanese agent I, and pretty much everyone else uses (including the "big" importers who try to keep it all secret and use smoke and mirrors tactics to fool people into thinking they've got some super special mate running around Japan finding cars nobody else can)

Just been on their website. Japaneseusedcars. OMG

There are some awesome cars out there. Just looking through a few different cars on there. Mr2 with 4k km! I so want that or a Starlet Glanza with 22k km or Supra Or a hundred other ones on there.

you have to register to see all of the auction cars, it was £860 to register when I did it (that was @ ~175y/£) but you can redeem that against the first car you buy.

[cosmos]

Personally i used www.carimportsdirect.co.uk in Bristol which were very good, the SVA test becomes the ESVA after 1995 i think as the E means an emission part of that test. I was told in 1997 MR2's were built as world cars (like other manufacturers) so underbody protection became standard across all markets. North Island use salt whereas South Island not so was also mentioned.
Good Luck.

[cosmos]

Personally i used www.carimportsdirect.co.uk in Bristol which were very good, the SVA test becomes the ESVA after 1995 i think as the E means an emission part of that test. I was told in 1997 MR2's were built as world cars (like other manufacturers) so underbody protection became standard across all markets. North Island use salt whereas South Island not so was also mentioned.
Good Luck.

[Jaspa]

no worries mate, though I'd personally prefer a Stagea to a Galant/Legnum

either WGC34 - in 250 rs four RB25DET (available as a manual)

Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://www.j-spec.com.au/f17130/2000-Ni ... R_S_01.jpg


or an early M35 250t rs four - 2.5l VQ25det, v6 turbo, 280bhp

Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/ ... tagea2.jpg

I like the idea of the Stagea, I just can't get past the looks I've also considered a Caldina previously but you can't find a manual one anywhere, saying that my current Legnum is Auto and I'm getting to enjoy it more and more. I've ruled the scooby and similar as they are just too common. I like the fact that nobody knows what it is most of the time.

Personal preference and all that anywho... back to MR2s

[jmblisse]

Thanks guys. I think I would like to import myself just to cut out the middle man and save a few quid and also do the changes required for MOT.

I use this site to check cars going through auction and past prices, its pretty good and you dont need to sign up.
(pacificcoastjdm (cannot post links yet))

Although the temptation of a RX7 FD(dream car), an MR2 turbo is a solid second with better UK support and availability of parts and I wouldn't need to remortgage my house to keep it on the road.

I guess new concerns for importing are...
Items being stolen from the car
Car being pranged/scratched by the people at the port
Paying over the odds
Not knowing the history of the car

[C35Rob]

I would use autospecs as your japanese agent, I've used them and pretty much everyone else does, never heard a bad thing about them.

Another one to consider would be powervehicles, although they're more focused on selling high spec drift cars they're really good and will often remove expensive parts (gauges, boost controllers etc) and send them via the mail to stop them being stolen in transit.

As for the car getting damaged etc, thats the risk you take.

[craig]

As for the car getting damaged etc, thats the risk you take.

Yep, and in my case, the car wasn't standard 3E5 red. Was never told it'd been painted some custom colour with a metal fleck in it.

Needed a full respray, as the colour couldn't be matched perfectly