Still trying to work out what to import. Looking for suggestions.

"Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman." (ryanwacker02)
08/09/2013 at 23:54 • Filed to: None

Funds are officially earmarked as of today.
Some guidelines.
- Can only import up to a 1998
- Car is coming from Japan, so cool JDM only models are one of the main objects of lust.
- Models sold in the US are okay too! As we all know the JDM got cooler trim levels than us, and in some cases (Like the JZA80 and FD3S) the cars were sold for longer periods of time with better or upgraded equipment.
- No Kei cars, unfortunately.
- No SUVs unless they're like hella cool Pajero Evolutions or something.
- I would prefer cars that have a DOT, SAE, or LHD E-Code headlight available for me to swap in. You have to have LHD headlights in BC, and I would prefer to not have to retrofit my own and get them certified.
- Cars that I can get body panels for stateside, like the Impreza, also get bonus points.
- I live walking / busing distance from everything I need, so I'm not totally dependent on the car for transportation.
- It will be used for one longish road trip in the summer

That's all I can think of off the top if my head. In trying to compile a list of cars to look for at auction, and to give to my exporter. So, lets see what you got!

DISCUSSION (41)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/09/2013 at 23:58

Mazda Cosmo with three-rotor. Because ridiculous.

Kinja'd!!!

If that fails, Honda beat. Because mid-ship roadster yet economical.

Kinja'd!!!

Nerd-Vol > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:03

Can I ask how you are able to get around the USA 25 year rule?

RMudkips > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:05

Kinja'd!!!

If you're talking exclusively JDM (and maybe Australia), I'd suggest Kenmeri Skyline. Not so sure about the headlights though.

Kinja'd!!!

Maybe 240z, since you could probably score some panels?

Your RX-7 suggestion was pretty awesome too.

Kinja'd!!!

If you wanna bring people on a summer trip, might as well.

Kinja'd!!!

To balance out my vintage Datsun suggestions.

Finally, the answer is always

Kinja'd!!!

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:05

Subaru Legacy BE5 B4.

scoob > Nerd-Vol
08/10/2013 at 00:07

Fuck yeah, because Canada.

/NY'er

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Nerd-Vol
08/10/2013 at 00:07

Canada 15 year rule!

Kinja'd!!!

Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:09

Did they sell the Morris Marina in Japan?

Nah, just kidding. I like the Eunos Cosmo 3-Rotor suggestion that themanwithsauce posted.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > RMudkips
08/10/2013 at 00:11

I think that if i car was manufactured before 1989, or something, it's exempt from all the headlight junk. Unfortunately old J-Tin still comes pretty expensive in it's native land.

I have been looking at Roadsters though! I'm not sure if the JDM models were anything massivly different than the North America models, but it'd still be neat to have a RHD one!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
08/10/2013 at 00:11

I've actually been looking at GT-Bs a lot!

Agrajag > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:13

Kinja'd!!!

The 1997 Toyota Soarer 2.5 GT. Sold as the Lexus SC in the states so some parts should be available. I think the Lexus used different engines though.

Notable excerpt from wikipedia page: Starting in 1997, the Soarer was used as a high speed patrol car in multiple Japanese prefectures , using the 2.5GT trim with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Nerd-Vol > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/10/2013 at 00:14

My vote goes towards the Cosmo!

Nerd-Vol > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:15

Got Damn Canadians! With your hockey and mayonnaise fries!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise
08/10/2013 at 00:15

There's a lot of me that wants one. Also a lot of me that knows it's an even worse idea than the normal RX-7.

Did you know that, in the 5 or so years I've stalked RX-7 forums, I've noticed that most of the problems people complain about with FD3S' are caused by the owners themselves, and aren't actually inherent to the car?

cuts_off_prius > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:16

Nissan Stagea 260RS aka the Skyline wagon

Kinja'd!!!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:19

But three rotor.......

Kinja'd!!!

JasonStern911 > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:20

Since price wasn't mentioned and thus obviously not an issue...

Kinja'd!!!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Agrajag
08/10/2013 at 00:20

I'll look into it! I know I can get pretty much everything, engine included, in the US. But I had assumed that they all had the same engines as the Lexus models. Turns out, Japan had a gnarly little 1JZ-GTE model that was never exported!

RMudkips > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:21

I think there were some different trim levels that sold in Japan, besides, surprise your friends with "Eunos" and "Roadster" badges

I can agree on the Kenmeri and Celica being expensive, but I think 240zs are still pretty easy to get, so as long as they haven't taken up the entire supply for restomods and what not.

Kinja'd!!!

And another suggestion. It's surprisingly fun apparently. I've always loved the HK Taxi Crown Comforts.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > JasonStern911
08/10/2013 at 00:22

Ah! I wish! Most of the time there are more Porsches for sale than there are Supras or RX-7s.

I didn't bother listing price since auction prices flux a lot.
But gee, I wish.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > cuts_off_prius
08/10/2013 at 00:23

Kinja'd!!!

I like the Stage 2 personally. One of the only cars I'd actually mess around with a headlight rebuild and certification for.

JasonStern911 > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:24

Did you know that, in the 5 years or so I owned an RX-8 and was on their forums, I notice everyone that hadn't had a catastrophic engine failure claim the same thing. And those that did, suddenly stopped posting that it was all ignorant owners...

Agrajag > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 00:31

Yeah, I didn't really know what engines it had until I read the wiki page right before I suggested it. I just knew it kicks ass in GT5. Turns out it's a much better car than anticipated. This kind of meets all your criteria as well.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Agrajag
08/10/2013 at 00:38

It does! I hadn't given it much thought, because i thought "Well how is it different than the Lexus." But I'm a big fan of the 1JZ. I have a soft spot for this car from the first Grid as well.

Bird > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 01:12

I'll 2nd the Cosmo.

Kinja'd!!!

Too bad you can't have the S15 Varietta yet...

Kinja'd!!!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Bird
08/10/2013 at 01:15

Don't want one to be honest. I'm hate fun, and thus hate convertibles. I could have a normal one in January, but I really don't want to go through the headache of rebuilding and headlights and getting them certified.

promoted by the color red > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 01:25

Yeah, of course Ritsu would wear a hat like that...

Bird > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 01:25

I guess I totally ignored the headlight part of it...

skrom > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 01:43

If you are looking for something classy you could go with a Toyota Century with a V12.

Kinja'd!!!

daender > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 01:50

Galant VR-4, particularly the 8th gen (1996-2003). You can source headlights and most of the body panels (might need to get them widened, not sure) from American-spec Galants. Performance-wise, twin-turbo V6 and AWD with a 0-60 in the sixes and a top speed in the 150's. It also comes in wagon form for maximum Jalop points.

Kinja'd!!!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > daender
08/10/2013 at 02:12

Oh snap. Forgot about these. You can get them for next to nothing as well.

daender > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 02:38

Cool to hear! I'll also suggest the Evo IV since it started production in Aug '96 and you can source headlights and such from US-spec Mirages. Body panels might be harder to get though.

Kinja'd!!!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > daender
08/10/2013 at 03:34

Evo Vs as well! I've found E-Codes in the Netherlands, since they got the facelifted lancer. They're up there with GC8 STis for me, and were actually one of the original cars I was looking at.

KnowsAboutCars > RMudkips
08/10/2013 at 04:26

Kinja'd!!!

The supercharged GT-Z version would probably be fun.

Sparf > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
08/10/2013 at 06:54

May I ask how you're looking at auctions? I love window shopping for J-Tin new and old!

Oh and RX-7/Cosmo if you have some other car to DD since a rotary is often (but not always) a high-maintenance engine. If not, I second the Galant/Legnum (Legnum is the name of the wagon variant, so the distinction is important) and Stagea. Still though, something 70s/80s like RMudkips suggested would be even more badass! Headlights for old J-Tin shouldn't be much of an issue since they've been possible to import to the US for quite some time now and several companies specialize in importing them.