Motor Trend is full of shit.

You Canucks can also port over RHD vehicles from Japan an legally register them.:mad0260:

:bellyroll::thanks:

They have to be 15 years or older to qualify for importation, however.

just for comparisons sake (comparing how much more tax/extras we are paying for), are there any toyotas currently being made that are available on both sides of the pond?
how about the yaris/vitz?
you pay about £10k/$17 for a mid range model in the uk
what would you guys pay?
or is there any other model you can think of sold on both side?

Isn't that a bit backwards? You'd think with today's government on car emissions they'd want you importing newer cars because they have more sophisticated emission systems. huh.

15 years? Seeing as how the first car I'd port over would be a AE86 GT-V, pretty sure I got the 15 years part down.:)

www.tyeeimports.com

One of the better known imported of JDM vehicles, and obviously on the left coast. Check it out. No AE86s at the moment (I've never seen on available on that site), but there is a GT4 Celica. 9000 CDN for a car with 100k (or 62k miles).

Is it possible to get any of those vehicles shipped to the states from that dealer?

My memory of this sort of thing is hazzy, and probably out-of-date, but its pretty much illegal to port over a car that was never sold in the U.S. without going through lots and lots of hoops for the Department of Customs. We're talking about shipping over multiple models to put through crash tests to submit to the DoT for validity that its safe, chassis modification in the doors/front/rear to comply with crash tests, changing windows/windshields to proper spec, etc. Not to mention changing emissions to comply with U.S. law.

It requires a lot of hassle and even more money. This is all to get it so you can register it for street use. If the car was going to be used only on the track, then its a bit more simple and cost worthy.

So if that's the case then say like the Civic, 180s, Soarers (SC 300, 400) and other models would be since they were sold in the US or does it have to be specifically that car. Like the Soarer couldn't be since it was the Lexus in the US? Guess I need to research it a bit.

Even if it was sold over here its still going to have to pass those crash tests. I guess the only real difference is emissions. At least with engines that were sold over here you can easily swap over the U.S. version of the emissions.

Pretty much the sum of everything is this: too much money, hassle, time, and hoop jumping to be worth it. Unless you have LOTS of money or you're just going to use it as a track car.

Yeah, that's what it sounds like. That blows. :thumbdown:

There's a highly illegal way to get around all of that though. And like most highly illegal things, it works so long as you don't get caught. I dont' suggest doing it, and as such, I won't even tell you what it is.

I'm not gonna bother with it just for a car. It's not worth it.