Ship FR-S to Japan or Keep in States

[reni]

Sell it now while you can still get a good price for it. By the time you go back the 2015 MY will already be selling at a discount and probably have a lot of little improvements.

Then, in Japan, take the opportunity to experience some great cars you can get for cheap that aren't available in US, like R32, S15, GC8V, etc

[charged86]

Originally Posted by jasper

I think it might sell for more over there because it's sold as the GT86 there but there are restrictions on sales i know that because people use to bring American classics like the GTO and sell them for 3 times what they are worth here. But if you brought it drove it and sold it for way more than you would get here you could come back and buy a new one.

A new one that hasn't been wrecked. :- ). Do itty. Or trade straight up for a right hand drive ft86. Ship that here and sale that for a profit.

[sbxjap]

thought it was just "86" in Japan, not GT86... but I drive a BRZ so I never followed too deeply into the badge. Could've sworn it only had the Toyota emblem and Toyota badge.

Depending on how long you are over there, wonder if it's doable to sell FR-S here and buy the 86 over there. By time you are coming back, the 10 Series will be out so you can buy those headlights since they are aimed differently. It all comes down to cost effectiveness.

Wanna know what else car they don't have? Mitsubishi Eclipse. That's a USDM car, lol. Find use one here and sell over there... GSX model is possible.

[alderaan34]

Originally Posted by OmarGC

See if they have any Toyota/Scion E plate services in Japan for us military members. Know Japan/US have an agreement where you can purchase new US spec vehicles through I believe an aafes service while in Japan... but believe your vehicle has to be exported by a certain agreed date. (usually your expected PCS time)

Sorry forgot about this, know they have BMW, Merc, and just about every US automaker available to this.

I was at misawa and they no longer offered the e plate if you bought through aafes. But yes dont ship your car out there, especially if you go out to northern japan. Buy a beater and drive it around for 3 yrs, then when you get back to the states take all the money you saved and mod away

[jstans84]

I say keep the car here in storage and buy something over there for your time there. Not sure how it is in mainland but I know when I was in Okinawa I bought an R32 for $1,500.

[Ericc B]

Originally Posted by sbxjap

thought it was just "86" in Japan, not GT86...

It is indeed.

[Sasquachulator]

Ship it, sell it (if it does indeed sell for a lot), then buy the 86 variant, ship that back over when you're done, make some FT8club members jelly you got the 'proper' 86

[briang0901]

Lol, I'll keep that in mind...still got 18mths to decide on what I want to do...

[Ishii Motors]

Originally Posted by briang0901

Anybody in Japan currently have any thoughts on this issue?

I don't know about the differences being in the military as far as what you'd go through but I'm sure it's not much different than a normal person.

The standard steps are.
Export the car to Japan @1200-10,000usd depending on shipment method
Pay import tax 5% of Value of car.
Have transported to a vehicle registerer @ 10,000jpy to 70,000jpy depending on location
Have a exhaust gas test about 280,000jpy
Pay all registration taxes most likely around 100,000jpy
Pay the registering agent maybe 100,000jpy
and don't forget all the unexpected little fees between every step.

So it is around a 6,000usd-8,000usd expense to do a grey market import (more technically called a reverse import for a Japanese car)

Oh, and don't forget. To export a car out of the united states you must have the title. Which means the car can't be on a bank loan.
(again perhaps different for millitary personel)

[needair]

if you dont mind,you drive a right side steering car in US.

sell your 86 and bring it some unique one!

[briang0901]

Originally Posted by needair

if you dont mind,you drive a right side steering car in US.

sell your 86 and bring it some unique one!

You know I thought about that, I've already spent 3 years there and dont mind driving on the other side of the road or car. Plus it would be unique. Biggest issue would be the price gouge on a Japanese car, our currency is significantly weaker over there.

[akuhei]

Originally Posted by briang0901

You know I thought about that, I've already spent 3 years there and dont mind driving on the other side of the road or car. Plus it would be unique. Biggest issue would be the price gouge on a Japanese car, our currency is significantly weaker over there.

Its actually almost back to 100 yen = $1. It was down to 80 yen = $1 but its come back up now.

[briang0901]

Originally Posted by akuhei

Its actually almost back to 100 yen = $1. It was down to 80 yen = $1 but its come back up now.

No shit, didn't know that, when I left it was like 78 yen to the $1, thats good to know. Well good and bad because the negative difference results in more COLA from the government.

[akuhei]

Originally Posted by briang0901

No shit, didn't know that, when I left it was like 78 yen to the $1, thats good to know. Well good and bad because the negative difference results in more COLA from the government.

Wife is japanese and works in Japan every so often (2-3 times per year), so we have to keep aware of the exchange rate.