"lonestranger" (lonestranger)
05/09/2015 at 18:45 • Filed to: canada, brag, JDM Brah
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"lonestranger" (lonestranger)
05/09/2015 at 18:45 • Filed to: canada, brag, JDM Brah | 6
| 44 |
Today, I saw my first Evo VI in the flesh, and moments later spotted a RHD Mk IV Supra.
The Supra was less special, since I remember when they were on dealer lots and “The Fast and the Furious” was a movie from 1955 that nobody had heard of. Still, you’re not going to see too may clean JDM Mk IVs in the States.
P.S. My dashcam is kinda crap at picking up details in bright light, eh?
UPDATE: And just a day later, saw another Evo.This one was red with yellow fog light lenses. Could’ve been an Evo IV, but I think it was a V. They look pretty similar from the front.
No SR20, so I ‘shooped this one:
djmt1
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 19:37 |
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0 year import rule FTW
whoarder is tellurium
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 19:49 |
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Toyota did sell the Supra MKIV in North America...
I wonder if RHD even matters?
I’ve also heard of crazy Civic and Integra owners purposely swapping over to RHD.
MegaSuper
> whoarder is tellurium
05/08/2015 at 20:19 |
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From everything I’ve ever read, there is no benefit to a JDM MKIV Supra, unlike how the NSX-R was JDM-only, or the special-edition Bathurst/Spirit R RX7s, for example.
If anything, the North American ones came with more standard equipment and nicer seats IIRC.
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lonestranger
> whoarder is tellurium
05/08/2015 at 20:25 |
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I know they were sold here, but virtually any car originally registered in Japan is likely to have much lower mileage, be better maintained, and cleaner than an equivalent North American model. I know I’m generalizing, but if you‘re looking for a nice clean example of a used car and don’t mind RHD, Japan is where it’s at.
Matvei
> djmt1
05/08/2015 at 20:41 |
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Almost every country has a “0 year” import rule so long as they are party to the UN agreement.
Except the US and Canada, which are not.
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djmt1
> Matvei
05/08/2015 at 20:47 |
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Feel free to add your country via a shirtless man with body paint.
RustedSprinter
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 20:56 |
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The Fast and Furious was made in 1955? Imagine what cars they used? What kind of mods?
Flavien Vidal
> Matvei
05/08/2015 at 20:57 |
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In France you can import brand new cars if we want, but to make it up to french standards costs on average between 3 and 6000$ per car. If you want to import it, license it and don’t bother dealing with that, you have to wait until the car is 30 years old.
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lonestranger
> MegaSuper
05/08/2015 at 20:57 |
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Yeah.
The thing is, there’s so few clean, low mileage Supras (or any 15+ year old car) here compared to Japan. I didn’t see this one up close, but if it’s anything like most of the JDM cars here, it’s in better shape than an equivalent year USDM or CDM model.
Still, like I said, it wasn’t as rare a sight as the Evo.
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lonestranger
> RustedSprinter
05/08/2015 at 20:59 |
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I know you’re joking, but I can answer the first question: http://www.imcdb.org/movie_46969-Th…
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Matvei
> Flavien Vidal
05/08/2015 at 21:00 |
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That’s a small technicality. Many countries have reasonable requirements such as taxes or fees relating to imported vehicles. However, the reality is you can still import any car you want for a nominal cost. You cannot do that in the US or Canada. If you want to get your new car federally legalized (that isn’t on any list) expect to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. Possibly millions.
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RustedSprinter
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 21:02 |
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Holy cow! This is better than what I thought! Such taste! BTW is your username a Medabots reference?
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Flavien Vidal
> Matvei
05/08/2015 at 21:04 |
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From what I understand it would take A LOT of patience and paperwork, buying 2 or 3 of the same car, to then hope having one in hands that yo ucan legally drive. Importing a brand new car car in the US is doable. It’s just that you are required to pass the crash test inspection.
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lonestranger
> RustedSprinter
05/08/2015 at 21:10 |
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Nope, sorry. Never heard of Medabots.
Just a mix of one anonymous person (me), The Lone Ranger , and my old Ford Ranger (hence the typeface):
P.S. the first two Google hits for “lonestranger” are NOT me, and are NSFW.
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RustedSprinter
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 21:13 |
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haha thanks for the tip. I might have to look into that for some giggles.
CPT Speedbump
> lonestranger
05/08/2015 at 22:11 |
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There’s a few Evo V’s around me that are super clean, as well as a R33 GTR and R34 GTS..T?..one of the RWD ones *shrugs*..most of what I just listed I don’t think is legal :D Also, a suppperrr clean rhd 85’ Toyota Surf Turbo..that I want...
Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> Flavien Vidal
05/08/2015 at 23:12 |
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you can’t import a JDM car,
at least I think it would be pretty hard since you live in Japan :P
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lonestranger
> CPT Speedbump
05/08/2015 at 23:17 |
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There are quite a few R32’s around here of all varieties, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if 2nd-gen Hilux Surfs here now are more common that their Canadian Domestic Market 4Runner counterparts that have rusted away. Those and Delicas. Delicas for days here in B.C.
Dsscats
> whoarder is tellurium
05/08/2015 at 23:20 |
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Yes, RHD does matter. The LHD models carry a premium even in places where RHD ones can be imported legally because the RHD TTs had smaller steel turbos.
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Flavien Vidal
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
05/08/2015 at 23:30 |
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In France? Because I can import a JDM or British car all I want in France...
In the US, it’s doable, just extremely expensive.
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Dsscats
> CPT Speedbump
05/08/2015 at 23:46 |
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You’re in CO, right? Is the R34 wrapped blue?
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Matvei
> Flavien Vidal
05/09/2015 at 01:10 |
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Read my article about it on my blog, here: http://mvevitsis.kinja.com/psa-dont-buy-i…
It depends on your definition of doable. If by doable you mean it is possible to go to the moon, then yes, it is doable. But it would be easier to lobby a politician to change the law than to federalize many cars...especially post 1996 cars which are required to have a functioning OBDII system.
You would have to:
1. Buy multiple units of the car. You need 2~3 to crash test, and maybe one or two for R&D. Cost = cost of the car x the number of units required for R&D.
2. Change out all the minor stuff to make it comply with FMVSS (things like the speedometer, headlights, etc). Cost = 5 digits
3. Strengthen the side walls until it passes the side impact test, which is different in the US. This will be a case of crash test, more strengthening, crash test, more strengthening, rinse & repeat. This part will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars i.e. Cost = 6 digits.
4. After you have gotten your car on the NHTSA eligibility test, the next thing you need to do is do all of these modifications again on your actual car i.e. one you didn’t crash. Cost = 5 digits again.
5. Modify exhaust and engine management to meet EPA requirements. This won’t be that hard. Cost = 5 digits.
6. Research, develop, and certify an EPA compliant OBDII system. This could cost anywhere from $250,000 up to $1,000,000. *IF* the EPA decides to approve your system, then you’re good there too. Cost = 6 digits to 7 digits.
7. If you want to register it in California, the next thing you need to do is do the direct import procedures, which will cost another $10,000 or so. Cost = 5 digits
8. Congratulations, you have just spent over $1,000,000 to legalize your $50,000 R34 GT-R. You could’ve bought a Pagani.
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Matvei
> Dsscats
05/09/2015 at 01:19 |
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A good condition JDM MKIV Supra is no different in price than a good condition USDM MKIV Supra. Cost = condition. Period.
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Matvei
> whoarder is tellurium
05/09/2015 at 01:20 |
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The NHTSA, unlike Euro NCAP, does not consider RHD and LHD to be equivalent for the purposes of crash testing.
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Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> Flavien Vidal
05/09/2015 at 01:38 |
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I was saying that it would be hard or pointless for you (Flavian) to import a jdm car because you already live in the japanese domestic market, I wasn’t referring to france, I was referring to japan.
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Flavien Vidal
> Matvei
05/09/2015 at 03:17 |
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250k$ might sounda lot for an individual, but why hasn’t a company done it for r34 already?
I would think that even 500k$ spent in R&D would be quickly forgotten if they were the only ones who could bring R34s to US compliance no?
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Matvei
> Flavien Vidal
05/09/2015 at 03:36 |
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It would cost over $1,000,000 to do the work necessary to legalize it entirely with both agencies. And there is no guarantee the NHTSA and EPA will approve your modifications. OBDII is the biggest problem. Anyone who tells you they can develop a working OBDII system that would get EPA approval is full of shit. There is no registered importer who is capable of doing this work.
The simple answer as to why no one bothers to even attempt to do this is because if you can afford to spend $1,000,000 legalizing a car you can also afford a winter home in Vancouver or a condo in Cabo San Lucas.
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Flavien Vidal
> Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
05/09/2015 at 03:43 |
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oh yes, they are called HDM for me now :D (Home domestic Market lol)
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Flavien Vidal
> Matvei
05/09/2015 at 03:54 |
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A US 100% street legal R34 could sell for 100k$ in the states fairly easily. They are worth about 40k$ in Japan.
I would think that for someone who can make a r34 compliant with this million dollar, he can easily prepare and sell 20 to 25 cars and start making profits after that no?
BTW, ain’t that what Motorex did at the time? Maybe they didn’t do the OBD2?
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Matvei
> Flavien Vidal
05/09/2015 at 04:22 |
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Motorex legalized the R33. Then they started selling R32 and R34 Skylines. The NHTSA asked Nissan whether they would perform similarly in crash tests, to which Nissan said “lol no”. So the NHTSA got all mad and Motorex got shut down. The cars that Motorex imported, even the improperly imported ones, are still to this day federally legal as they have a federal bond release. Motorex was working on, but did not complete, a OBD2 system. Motorex cars sell for over $100,000 in the USA. But you cannot simply copy what Motorex did because the rights holder (JK Technologies) has kept this information private. So you would have to start from square one. JK Technologies claims they can federalize R33 models (the only ones that didn’t have eligibility rescinded are 1996-1998 R33 GT-R and GTS models), but they appear to be unable to do the OBDII conversion. So you could have them make it FMVSS compliant but you would have to find someone else (an ICI) to do the EPA compliance and this would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for what is today a $30~40,000 car.
The market is very small. And you have to make all your sales before the car is 25 years old or you will not be able to make a profit. There is little incentive for any company to do this. It makes more sense to buy a vacation home in Cabo or Vancouver.
Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> lonestranger
05/09/2015 at 09:39 |
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That is absolutely correct. I had a 1990 JDM Fairlady Z (300ZX) Twin Turbo 5spd T-tops and mint leather interior. It had 76,000kms (47,500 miles) full service history with fresh timing belt and I paid $10,000.00. The equivalent car here was twice as much with twice the mileage. Plus there is something cool about being RHD.
I’m contemplating getting a non turbo MKIV Supra. A Mint one is under 8K in Edmonton. The Turbo Supra is about twice that. But Still 16K for a JDM low mileage Turbo Supra is peanuts compared to what people are asking for ragged on high mileage USDM ones.
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> lonestranger
05/09/2015 at 09:41 |
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I thought you said NSFW. Needless to say I was pretty disappointed with the result.
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> lonestranger
05/09/2015 at 09:45 |
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I see your Supra and raise you the Holy Grail R34 GT-R Spec-V !!! Spotted this one Just north of Edmonton (Fort Saskatchewan)
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/spotted-in-edm…
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lonestranger
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
05/09/2015 at 11:22 |
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Did you Google “lonestranger”? This should be the first result: http://lonestranger.tumblr.com/
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Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> lonestranger
05/09/2015 at 12:10 |
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A yes now I see. I thought you mean the fist image results and that was some sort of two headed anime woman.
That’s no human that’s a damn horse
Blondude
> lonestranger
05/09/2015 at 19:05 |
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I saw a WRX STI Type R in Vancouver when I was there a few months ago. It was awesome.
(not my photo)
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Griffen
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
05/10/2015 at 02:19 |
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To click the link. . .or not the click the link?
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CPT Speedbump
> Dsscats
05/10/2015 at 19:37 |
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Yup and yup
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CPT Speedbump
> lonestranger
05/10/2015 at 19:39 |
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Yeah, plenty of R32’s now that they are legal, haha. Not many Hilux’s around me, lots and lots and lots of 4runners and pickups though
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lonestranger
> CPT Speedbump
05/10/2015 at 19:50 |
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I’m not sure if maybe you misunderstood me. By “Hilux Surf”, I was referring to the JDM version of the 4Runner, not the Hilux pickup.
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Dsscats
> CPT Speedbump
05/10/2015 at 19:57 |
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It’s for sale for $37k. Also not really legal......
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CPT Speedbump
> Dsscats
05/10/2015 at 21:44 |
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Already? O.o and yeah, didn’t think it was, haha.
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CPT Speedbump
> lonestranger
05/10/2015 at 21:45 |
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I’m referring to both, did understand you :) Not really any JDM versions here aside from that one RHD Turbo as mentioned before
5isrightout
> lonestranger
05/12/2015 at 17:08 |
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I just...I feel...why...ughhhh. So many possibilities...