How to Import from Japan?

rdwarr

Sorry if this has been done before - I did a search but couldn't find anything.

It's coming up to car change time and, being one who likes to drive somethig a bit different, the ideal replacement would seem to be the Nissan President. They're not available over here, even from specialised dealers, so I'll have to organise the import myself.
Car will be pre-1995 so that I don't need to SVA it but that's pretty much as far as I've got.
Does anybody have experience of a "personal import" from Japan? I don't have time to go over there (and wouldn't know what to do if I did) so would want a good agent to buy the car for me and organise shipping etc.
If anybody knows anything about Nissan Presidents (over and above what's on the web) I'd be grateful for a line as well. Many thanks.

fgaughan

rdwarr wrote:

Sorry if this has been done before - I did a search but couldn't find anything.

It's coming up to car change time and, being one who likes to drive somethig a bit different, the ideal replacement would seem to be the Nissan President. They're not available over here, even from specialised dealers, so I'll have to organise the import myself.
Car will be pre-1995 so that I don't need to SVA it but that's pretty much as far as I've got.
Does anybody have experience of a "personal import" from Japan? I don't have time to go over there (and wouldn't know what to do if I did) so would want a good agent to buy the car for me and organise shipping etc.
If anybody knows anything about Nissan Presidents (over and above what's on the web) I'd be grateful for a line as well. Many thanks.

Try nice new car at http://www.nicenewcar.co.uk/
They import second hand cars too
i have bought a car from them and the thing is japan MOT more strict than here and i had no problems :-)
give em a email and i got a reply wihin half hour and i was impressed

Fintan

rdwarr

Thanks - I've filled in their enquiry form so will see what they can do.

Silent_Bob_3

Pop along to www.ftooc.org and then go to the newbies section and ask there. There's a few people that have done it themselves and a few that have used import companies that can advise you.www.japaneseimports.co.uk or www.neweraimports.co.uk are ones that spring to mind. Expect to pay more on insurance too.

rdwarr

Thanks - I'll check those sites out. I doubt the car has a UK Insurance Group per se but I'd imagine it will come in as a 20. I'm paying sub-300 for fully comp on a Group 18 at the moment so hopefully the jump won't be too bad.

Silent_Bob_3

I paid £480 (down £100 from the year before) for my FTO back in March which is classed as a group 20.

TokyoJoe

We lived in Japan for 6 years and brought a car back with us. Because the car was actually older than 10 years it was classed as a Classic car and was exempt from all of the DOT tests.

Many expats in Japan use the company below to export cars . They have a good reputation and will organise all the paperwork and shipping at both ends. this will possibly work out more expensive than if you did everything yourself but will probably have fewer headaches in the longrun.

http://www.occidental.co.jp/

one thing to watch out for is that insurance companies will try to increase your insurance on imported cars.

Smiley_Mum

This company may be able to help you in Edinburgh. If you don't see what you are looking for on their website then they may have it in transit or have it taken in as a special order.

http://www.mackaytrading.com/specialorder.asp

olykun

I have done this a few times and its pretty easy. Just find a dealer out there to buy the car. Get one that you can trust as some can buy a load of rubbish and by the time you find out its in our docks. Once its here all you have to do it stick a fog lamp on it and put it through an MOT. Also factor in for other bits and bobs as it is over 10 years old, and with any car that age it is going to need the odd thing or two. Jap tyres are fine, but made to a different set of safety standards so you might want to get these changed also for insurance purposes. The speedo will be in KMH, not for the MOT but for the law get this changed to MPH likely the only way on a President will be with a gearing system as nobody is going to make faces for it unless it shares its face with another more common Nissan. Factor in for a new radio or at least a band expander though these don't work too well. A Nissan President will likely have Car Navi and TV. If you can live without these that's fine, if not then you will have to get them converted or replaced.

Word of warning though. If I were you I would not go for a Nissan President. They have 4500cc engines and with the price of juice over here you are going to be skint before long. Also they are incredibly rare over here I have seen one (I think) in London before, but that's it ever. With an odd American import at at least you can pass the service manual in English to the garage who will care for it, but with this all being in Japanese you are going to be lost. Parts for a rare import will have to come from Japan if they are not shared with an English model. Also resale value will be nout. Who has ever heard of a Nissan President over here? Who wants a 10 year old gas guzzler?

If you want quirky Japan is the place. The odd quirky model is often based closely on another less quirky model which parts are available for. Get something that is recognised over here and has some sort of a following.

Anyhow if you really want it, do your research on it and find out all you can about the President. Another similar option is the Toyota Century. Maybe this shares more parts with big Lexi and Toyota's over here. This site gives you the prices that they have gone through the auctions in the past. Add to this about £300-£500 for your man over there, then the taxes and charges over here and see if you want to go on. If you want names and contacts then PM me.

Here is the link to help and go for either a grade 3.5 or if you can afford it 4
http://auctions.amayama.com/search/?fid=6+47&year_from=0000&year_to=1995&price_from=&price_to=&km_from=&km_to=&volume_from=&volume_to=&mark_from=&mark_to=&trans_type=&frame=&compl=&s=1