In 2017, Japan (legally) exported 4993 used cars to the US...

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
06/13/2018 at 09:04 • Filed to: None

... under the 25 year old. I sold exactly 50 cars to american customers last year... Therefore, yours truly represents 1% of the JDM market in the US!! Fuck yes! haha

DISCUSSION (36)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 09:10

Which cars under 25 are legal to come in?

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 09:11

You are the 1%!

interstate366, now In The Industry > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/13/2018 at 09:22

A handful of R34s, and, if a company wants to do the federalization work, facelifted R33s (although with R33s about to become legal starting this fall this would be a waste of time). The Civic Mugen RR and the Toyota Mark X GRMN are theoretically eligible for Show Or Display if someone wants to shell out the money for them.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 09:23

I’m likely looking to import something within the next year. Do you have an email I can contact you at?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 09:26

That seems like an expensive civic and an expensive Camry to get show and display. Interesting

fintail > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 09:36

If DOTUS had guts he’d repeal the 25 year rule. But if Putin doesn’t care, no go.

Do you know if any diesel G-Wagens made it there?

interstate366, now In The Industry > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/13/2018 at 09:37

Very expensive Civic that is handily outclassed by the current Type R (but 9000 RPM redline!) and very expensive IS350 with a stick. But yeah.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 09:38

that total is more that i was expecting.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
06/13/2018 at 09:39

Or put another way, six fifths of fuck all!

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 09:44

They made a IS350 look like a Camry and then put a stick in it.

Kinja'd!!!

Flavien Vidal > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/13/2018 at 10:24

I thought it’d be closer to 20000 honestly... That’s not much considering how big the US market is...

interstate366, now In The Industry > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
06/13/2018 at 10:24

That price tag though...your ISF was much cheaper.

http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/TOYOTA/MARK_X/700100180430180217001/index.html

Flavien Vidal > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 10:24

Sure contact me on Facebook directly (just type my name it’s uncommon enough that you’ll find it easily :) ) or via email... flavien dot vidal at this thing called gmail dot com.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 10:26

That’s almost an ISF when new.. and I get 100 more hp and torques. and 5.0 liters of naturally aspirated growl

Flavien Vidal > fintail
06/13/2018 at 10:26

For now used imported cars will also be taxed 25% instead of the current 2.5% so he is making it worse... Not that I mind doing invoices that are “easily modifiable” lol, but still... 2000$ FD RX-7 are great deals the CBP doesn’t seem to care about lol

Flavien Vidal > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
06/13/2018 at 10:27

Yep, I’ve clearly killed it lol

fintail > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 10:31

LOL yeah it’s easy to use creative numbers on invoices, it happens with private sales here too. The powers that be don’t really know or care.

Do you know if any LHD diesel G-Wagens made it to Japan around 1993-94? Hint hint, I am thinking of doing a private import, hint. Most I see in Europe seem to be made of compressed rust.

Flavien Vidal > fintail
06/13/2018 at 10:38

I have yet to see US legal G-Wagen... Diesel might be asking much as Tokyo doesn’t allow the registration of older diesel vehicle anymore. Most have disappeared. They would most likely be LHD when they’ll start showing up though.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 11:07

Great, thanks. I’m not on Facebook so I’ll email you within the next few days.

fintail > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 11:15

I’ve seen a couple local private import Gs from Japan, ~1990 models, but all 6cyl gasoline . I would much rather have a diesel. One was RHD, which I wouldn’t want with a non-JDM style vehicle. I understand diesel isn’t a thing there, and my brief past looks at goonet don’t seem to have diesel MBs.

A local JDM private import dealer has an oddball Japanese diesel - not cheap, but rare:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/toyota-crown-hard-top-lsturbo/6590248802.html

Flavien Vidal > fintail
06/13/2018 at 11:23

You can find diesel vehicles here... especially 4x4 stuff... But they are not common nor liked as they can’T be registered in Tokyo. Finding Crown and stuff like that diesel is not THAT rare...

Flavien Vidal > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 11:28

Sure, anytime! :)

fintail > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 11:40

I was surprised something like the diesel Crown sold at all when new, I’ve never associated diesel with being a particularly Japanese thing.

What would a minty old car like that cost there?

Flavien Vidal > fintail
06/13/2018 at 11:52

Honestly this one is massively overpriced lol... A regular gasoline one would be 6k$ or less in super nice condition. Wouldn’t be diesel but well... To give you an idea this pretty much new Y31 manual Nissan Cédric I’m currently selling is 7000$. Shipping the US included. And it doesn’t really get better than this one. It has 22000 original kilometers lol

fintail > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 12:15

Yeah, I always assume a JDM importer is at least doubling their money, especially after shipping.

Nice old car there, but I am not sure if I’d want a manual in a barge like that, reminds me of the oddball W126 or W140 with manual. It’s a curiosity anyway.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 15:03

I’m sorry, I’m only impressed if you represented 2% of the entire JDM US export market...

:P Kudos though friend!

On a random side note, just out of complete curiosity, what would a basic kei car run cost-wise to get at auction in good shape with relatively low kms exported to Canada...? I’ve seen some kei trucks around town and they always give me a smile...I know the trucks seem to go up a bit in price as they seem to get exported far more than the kei cars do, so was just wondering what the price difference would be between the two?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/13/2018 at 15:05

If such an import goes through I expect much Oppo posting, pictures and videos of your trials and tribulations. It’s an Oppo requirement. :P

interstate366, now In The Industry > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/13/2018 at 16:16

It’ll either be that or the complete opposite, where I keep the vehicle a complete mystery until I have the review completed. But most likely the former. And I have it narrowed down to two very similar chassis.

Flavien Vidal > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/13/2018 at 22:20

It really depends on what kind of keicar you want... econobox? Sports keicars? Through me, prices go from as low as 3000$ for a really cheap Honda Today or something with higher mileage but in good condition to 8-9000$ for perfect Suzuki Cappuccino. Keitrucks start as low as 2800$ landed. Maximum would be 5000$ landed for something really nice... They are cheap. Add the importation cost and broker fees on top of that and that’s about it. For Canada, you’re looking at an extra 600 to 1000$ to get the car ready for registration.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 22:26

Cool, not too bad....I was just curious of the prices of the kei cars vs. the trucks (Econobox keis that is - something like a Daihatsu Move or Mitsu Minica or some such, basic spec, but at least with front airbags. I know the sporty ones go for a lot more! :) ).

Sounds like the trucks are still cheaper, but I imagine they are in rough shape far more often, being work vehicles...

Flavien Vidal > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/13/2018 at 22:45

You won’t get airbags in keicars... I don’t know of any other than the Honda Beat and it was only an option. There are no keitrucks with airbags at all. Not to mention that you are the crumple zone in those, so airbags would be totally useless. If you worry about safety like that I would never recommend buying a keicar lol

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Flavien Vidal
06/13/2018 at 23:13

Plenty seem to have airbags after around ‘98 or so (driver air bags, at least)? I can import anything up to 2003 here in Canada. I know they’re not safe, but may as well get the safest not safe thing I can get if I were to ever get one! :)

‘99 and up Honda Actys have at least a driver airbag as standard AFAIK!

I would love to import a Suzuki Alto Lapin SS someday, but they seem to be very rare and somewhat expensive in decent shape. :(

Flavien Vidal > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/13/2018 at 23:53

Oh you’re in Canada I keep on forgetting that haha... Yes later in the 90's the first airbags appeared on keicars... Be ready to be disappointed by this kind of Alto though... They are really not good :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Flavien Vidal
06/14/2018 at 15:05

That’s unfortunate...most later kei cars seem to come with automatic transmissions or CVTs, I always thought the Alto Lapin SS had interesting styling :)

Racinx > Flavien Vidal
06/23/2018 at 17:50

Do you have a website of cars you are currently selling or this by email and taking it from there?

Flavien Vidal > Racinx
06/23/2018 at 20:11

Yes, that’s the company I work with: http://amagasakimotor.net/ though the stock list isn’t up to date on the website. You can also check our Facebook page, which is more up to date with what I have: https://www.facebook.com/amagasakimotor/

But contacting me directly through email really is the best. flavien dot vidal at this gmail dot com thing.

I have a few cool cars in stock now... FD RX-7, Impreza WRX Version 1, cheap Miata, Minis, Galant VR4...etc.