If i can sell my Octy i am considering getting either a Toyota MR-S (MR-2) or possibly an

Evo IV.

There is a specialist near York that sells Imports.

http://www.japaneseimportspecialists.co.uk/

I am just wondering how much higher insurance costs are and are there any other special requirements that an imported car would need?

Cheers

Insurance will depend on the company - some won't touch them and some treat them as just a bit more of a risk than UK cars. The car should have had an SVA when it came into the country (KPH -> MPH, rear fog light, radio, etc). One thing which is often overlooked is that Japanese cars are often set up for 100 RON Japanese fuel so you'll want to make sure it's been remapped to be able to use our fuel (95 RON or 97/98/99 RON if you can guarantee super unleaded). Alternatively, you could use 95 RON and some kind of octane booster, but it's a lot more hassle....

I'd also recommend finding a good independent specialist for servicing, etc.

Chris

What about underbody sealing???

Do they have this or do i need to get it done myself or do i not need to bother??

i like the look of this one :-

http://www.japaneseimportspecialists.co.uk/stocklist_2/Mitsubishi_Lancer_EVO4_GSR_silver_forsale.html

There are certainly plenty of people running grey imports these days, and the market does seem to have got a lot less 'grey' and a lot more reputable. Even so, IMO I'd rather stick with a car/marque that has been developed and manufactured for my home market, but it might just be that it seems like too much hassle too me, and despite my earlier comment, I'd never feel 100% secure that the car was totally legitimate! No disrespect to any traders of these imports, but there is obviously a lot more scope for one of these cars to have a 'dodgy' history than a UK car. I wouldn't think you could HPI check an import, but I am very happy to be corrected if I am wrong on this matter.

Remember also, any saving you make at purchase will come back to bite you on the @ss when you want to sell it, and with 6K service intervals and approx.18-20 mpg, (if driven like an angel), that day might be sooner than you would care to imagine!

Anyway, best of luck with what ever you decide. Hopefully it will be another Czech.

What about underbody sealing???

That's a good point - the ones I looked at (which had been in the country a while) had been undersealed, but it's probably worth getting it done if it hasn't been...

Chris

Remember also, any saving you make at purchase will come back to bite you on the @ss when you want to sell it

It's not about saving money! The Japanese get better specced cars for their market which is the main reason why they get imported here. You're also not going to lose a whole lot of money on something like an Evo or MR2 as there's always plenty of buyers looking for them....

Chris

I think it will more likely be an MR-2 TBH.

Looking in autotrader there seems to be a lot to chose from for not a lot of cash, which seeing as it will mainly be used for my 30 mile round trip to work and back is good news, as i am not going to be spending more than about 7k at most.

If you sway toward an evo , check out Mitsubishi Lancer Register , they are a fountain of knowledge on there for everything evo-related , I was on there when I had mine.

when I was selling my roadster, a lot of peoples 1st question was

"its not an import is it ?"

just thought I'd let you know as lots of people had doubts on the imports.

better spec and interior on the mr-s though.

I've had loads of imports, never had any trouble with any of them, or any trouble getting parts/servicing/insurance etc.

Depending on the model it might need undersealing, as cars that are built only for sale in there domestic market sometimes aren't from the factory, but generaly any car that is also available in the UK market will already be undersealed, and any decent trader will have already done it when the car is SVA'd anyway.

It's not always true about jap imports having better specs too, they have more spec levels and many different models than we do, we tend not to get the lightweight versions officially over here, but some UK cars are far higher spec than the imports so do your re-search.

E.G. the UK Supra had better turbos, gearbox oil cooler, unrestricted ecu, bonnet air scoop etc etc, a far more desirable model than the imports (if you discount the hens teeth rare targa twin turbo).

I've got an imported Landcruiser. I bought it from a specialist near Newcastle (if you are prepared to travel - there are LOADS of import centres around there). It came freshly under sealed and had a rear fog/uk speed conversion. The only problem I had was that the TV in the dash wouldn't pick up UK stations but I sorted it with an adaptor in the end.

Servicing is fine, Toyota have never had a problem with it being an import, nor have any parts supplier. Toyota ask for a model number and frame number (both on the VIN plate) when ordering parts but otherwise there is no difference from a UK car.

Insurance was not a major issue. Direct line wouldn't insure it but others didn’t have a problem and charged no more than a UK car.

I realise it's not a sports car, but the basic principal is the same. I say go for it... I got a higher spec than available in the UK (well, it is available if you don't mind using lube whilst ticking the options list) for around

don't get a fresh import without a warrenty i have had loads of them that i have sourced myself,you will have a few problems when it first arrives,for one of the cars you are looking at i would go on the forums and buy a car that people on there know,you will also be able to check its history by running through what the person has had done and his/her ownership expierience through looking at past posts:D

Personaly never had any problems with any of the imports I've had, bought several from specialist dealers, a few from newera imports (IMO one of the THE best importers) (Newera Imports - Homepage) and personaly imported quite a few as well.

I've owned such cars as -

MR2 Turbo's x2

Nissan Skyline r32

Nissan Pulsar GTiR

Honda Prelude Type-S

Honda Civic Type-R (previous shape to uk versions, never available here)

Honda Beat (for the missus)

Nissan Cube (just cos it was wierd, only kept it 2 months)

BMW E30 M3 (seems a strange car to import from japan but the spec was far higher than uk, including xenons believe it or not)

Toyota Starlet GT Turbo

Only problems I head of through friends with imports can be parts. Things like window glass seems to be different for some reason. Maybe just his.

not a problem to get just a delay with the parts coming from Japan.

I ran a grey ZXR400 for 3 years with no problems. You'd need to research the model you are interested in.

Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated, if i do go for an import i will probably go to a specialist impoter like the on in York. All of their cars come with a 3 month warranty that can be extended.

However i am no longer sure about an Evo. I think it will be too much to run for my pockets, unless i just have short arms

My latest thinking is one of the following 3 vehicles may be the one to go for in either UK or import spec. what do you think :-

MR-2 or MR-S (still edging it as my fave)

Nissan 200sx - any advice on these would be appreciated.

Honda Integra Type R DC2 - a work colleague had one of these on a w plate and i thought it was awesome.

Still got to sell mine before i can do anything though. But no harm in looking and researching all the options eh?