What non-high performance car would you import?

In reply to Appleseed :

That's just it though, you can buy minivans and pickup trucks more powerful than GT3s   Is a Cappuchino high performance?  Kei car limits, but it could surgically address some roads in ways that would embarass big cars like Miatas.

Just ruminating here.  JC Cosmo would be squee.  NOT A 20B license plate of course.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

I'm amazed that there are even any 20b Cosmos left intact, there were only about 1500 produced and it seems like there are at least that many 20b swapped RX7s..

I'd be really tempted by a JDM Honda Odyssey or equivalent, I rode in one while in Australia and the second row seats were like a high tech recliner, I fell asleep for an hour or so in that car. They also look a lot more sleek than the US versions. 
The kei car I'd want is a Suzuki Fronte, the generation that they first went to a 4 stroke engine. I'm also partial to the Mk3 Golf Variant and the later VW Caddy vans. 

How about an old  Fiat Cinquecento?

They don't fall into the sub-$2500 limit but I love Delicas.

Easy.  Old Syncro Golf

Too hard to find USA ones that aren't rusty garbage. Not sure what the non-performance variants go for in the UK these days.

Appleseed said:

Stagea.

Because GTR potential.

Great minds think alike. 
 

Under 2500 would be really tough for me as most anything I would want is either sold here or worth way more.

W203 C250 Turbo Diesel. I could find one that won't pass inspection and bring it in as a drivetrain donor. The US never got the OM605 and it would be a lovely engine/trans for a swap.

ddavidv said:

Too hard to find USA ones that aren't rusty garbage. Not sure what the non-performance variants go for in the UK these days.

I can't imagine it is much easier finder ones that aren't rusty garbage in the UK given that cars seem to rust worse over there.

The last year of the X class that did not have the Nissan engin. 
 

Another ROW car we never got  

https://www.hotcars.com/dolomite-sprint-first-mass-produced-multi-valve-car-best-features/

This

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

I want a JDM Mini, but not a chance in hell of finding one for $2500.  There was a time when $10K wasn't an unreasonable budget for a decent Mini in the US.  About double that these days. 

Other than a Mini... I'm not really sure.  Probably a Falcon XB from down under.  But those are way over the budget as well. 

In reply to Appleseed :

Seras are super fun. I have ridden in a Sera, and I felt like a rock star every time I opened the doors to get out. There's also so much glass it's like riding around in a fishbowl lol

In reply to thatsnowinnebago :

Maybe not the 3rd gen that everyone already has, but I think it might be possible to get the 4th gen jellybean vans. They don't appear to be quite so popular and based on what I can see the prices reflect that.

I should probably clarify that the $2500 limit is the declared price of purchase, not value here in America or even street value in Japan. Since these cars come from wholesale auctions, most kei vehicles (including Cappuccinos and Beats) fall under that limit, as do several of the cars listed here. I'm really enjoying all the neat forbidden fruit everyone has been posting so far!

What about a Ute from down under? 

Erich said:

Can you talk through your process? How you purchase them, and how you get through customs with the informal entry process? This is the first I've heard of that and it sounds right up my alley for what I'd be looking for. 

Apologies, I didn't see this comment earlier, but I'll do my best to answer it now. Warning, long post ahead, but I'll try to keep it brief. First off, this is the guide I used when I first imported a the Beat back in 2017: How to Import a Car From Japan Step By Step Guide. It lists everything step-by-step, from dealing with shipping lines to getting your car registered at the DMV. I followed this guide for both cars and had everything work perfectly both times. It very helpfully lists each step for both the informal entry process, as well as a conventional entry, and how to fill out the paperwork for each one. The article is a little old, at this point, but to my knowledge nothing has really changed.

In my experience, it looks something like this: You contact a vehicle exportation company in Japan to help you source and purchase a car. I use these guys and they have been totally awesome the whole time, but there are any number of companies that cater to Americans looking to buy cars from Japan. You tell the company what car you are hoping to buy, and they keep an eye on the auctions for you, though you are more than welcome to look yourself. If you see an example that looks promising, the export company will arrange for an inspector to look at the car more closely before the auction, usually for a small fee (about $30). If the report looks good, the export company will bid on the car on your behalf to your agreed upon price, since only Japanese corporations can bid on cars at wholesale auctions. Once you win the car, the export company will handle everything on the Japan side - arranging shipping, unregistering the car, etc - and will usually charge you one lump sum for the car and all these services. Shipping prices on RORO-type ships is determined by vehicle volume, so a kei car will be much cheaper to ship than a bus. The export company will also send you pictures of your new prize to drool over for the next two months while your car meanders its way across the Pacific.

While the car is on the boat, you'll receive all the car's documents in the mail from the exportation company. You will also probably have to pay the shipping line, usually over the phone or online. Once the car arrives, it will be unloaded in the port. You then have a limited amount of time to retrieve it from the port before it is moved to an expensive storage lot. You hook up your trailer, drive to the customs office, and submit your customs entry. You pay your import taxes with a check - you can use exact change, but that makes them mad. Once you get your paperwork approved you drive to the port. Since ports are secure areas, you have to arrange for an escort with TWIC credentials to accompany you. As a bonus, they know the port very well and will help you find all the places you are supposed to go. The TWIC service will probably cost about $50 an hour, though it may be more now. Once you get inside the port, you have to go to the port office to submit the release forms that you got at the customs office. Once those are approved, they'll tell you where the car is. You'll drive over to the car, which is usually in a corral with a bunch of other cool imports, load the car on the trailer, and drive home.

Once you get the car home, you'll go through registration in accordance with your state laws. In NC, you have to get the car inspected by your local DMV inspector, who will verify that your car is what you say it is. After you get his signed form, you go to your local plate office, submit all of your paperwork, pay your registration fees, and you'll walk out with a new plate in your hand and a street legal import to drive wherever you like! The title will show up in the mail a few weeks later.

I hope that helps give a picture of what the process looks like. It takes a couple of months and probably adds about $2500 to the car's purchase price overall, but it's very rewarding and super exciting when it goes smoothly.

Since ports are secure areas, you have to arrange for an escort with TWIC credentials to accompany you. 

Pro tip: Make sure you include TWIC in your search.  Searching 'Baltimore Escorts' will NOT provide the desired results.  

I assert that this is not a high performance car.

If $2500 is a budgetary limit, then I would want something like an AvtoVAZ or one of the smaller Peugeots from the 80s/90s.  Maybe a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting if they have no value.  (Yeah it was the top model.  No an 1100cc subcompact is not "high performance")

You can go into the port at Freeport Texas without the escort, but you do have to be wearing the appropriate safety vest and glasses. 

Also, I've found Freeport's importation fees to be way less than others. Doesn't do any good for folks on the east coast but anywhere in the southwest or even center of the country it would work.

I didn't know about the $2500 rule, but I'm a little unclear on how that value is determined - it it the actual sale price of the car at the auction at current exchange rates less fees or???

I like all of those Nissan cars from that plant, the S Cargo, BE4, Pao and Figaro, tho the Figs are really bringing a lot of money now. If you can get any of these with a manual it's way better, tho much rarer.

I think I would like a Honda City II, don't care about the Motocompo......

We bought a Nissan Pao from Duncan a couple of years ago.  My wife loves this thing and it gets tons of attention, way more than my "fast" cars.  It's been a great, reliable, surprisingly practical car.  It helped that it was a very nice, all original example with very low miles.  A/C works, she drives it sparingly since she works from home, and we bring it out to special events and find back roads to restaurants for date nights.

A Toyota Hilux, it's a proven apocalypse surviving multi use platform,  

68TR250 said:

https://www.hotcars.com/dolomite-sprint-first-mass-produced-multi-valve-car-best-features/

This

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

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