yes, just because it's virtually the same on the outside, you won't know what's difference underneath the car until you do a comparison.

Porsche had different bumpers for the euro 997 and american spec 997

No. The fundamental differences between left and right hand drive construction, along with different Japanese safety standards means that they still MUST do the test. RHD, not on the list, must be tested. Manufacturers don't just mirror the car when building it for a different market. Many components are different, and the Federal Government deems it different enough to want to test it to make sure it complies with our standards.

You could circumvent the EPA testing if Toyota grants a letter of conformity, but they have absolutely zero interest in pleasing the 12 or so people that would actually seriously push for this. The cost/benefit ratio is staggeringly weighted to cost.

Even if you did get around said tests, the Bond is still 150% of the car's value. New car value? So you pay 38k for a GT86 Limited (if you're spending, might as well go big). Then you pay to ship the car. What is that, like 6k unless you're stationed overseas? Then you get here and you still have to pay the 150% bond to get your car through customs. That's another 57k. then you have to pay sales tax in your state of registration. Figure that's another couple grand.

If you could import, with no federal testing, a GT86 Limited today, it would cost around 100k.

I say: Buy a Japan-Spec 86, send some Scion Badges to your guy in Japan, Cut, Paste, Send.

Boom, profit.

Oh and make sure to send him USDM-Spec Headlights too, you wouldn't want to blind someone lol.

Hope this helps:

http://www.180sx.co.uk/resources/gui...sx-from-japan/

Might have to send the computer too. In NY, the state inspection for OBDII cars is plug-in. No more sniffer. That's if you even make it into the country. You still have to deal with the fact that everything that comes into America has to go through Customs. Which is where you'll be paying that 50k+ bond. And the Customs inspectors will take one look at it, see it's RHD, and start asking questions.

Great information! Thank you for finally answering the question. :bow::thumbup::thanks:

And seeing that I have to pay 150% of the cars value through customs that was it for me I didn't think it would be that pricey. Especially since individual buyers have no inclination to sell the public. I guess the man wants to force us to buy from within our borders-:barf: its all money/politically driven, which doesn't surprise me. With money spent to get the damn vehicle over here I can do a complete conversion for far far far far far far far far far less lol.

What bummer though:sigh:

That's 100k if someone else did all the work for you to certify the cars. If you're going to be the first one, you really are looking at at least 500k.


I went through all this when I wanted to import an HSV Series 3 GTS. For the money, I could have a CTS-V sedan for a daily, a ZR1 weekend track/toy, and enough money left over for a nice house with a garage for the two of them.

Im quite surprised by the amount of people that dont realize such a task isnt feasible. perhaps if you had half a million burning a hole in your pocket and a massive hard-on for a Toyota that is built and stamped with Subaru parts.

This thread is boarderline trolling, hahaha.

You could also make friends with a military member overseas who can ship a vehicle back for you as part of his/her official movement. I know plenty of folks who've shipped back Japanese cars........now how much money it cost to convert everything to US standards I can't speak too!

*LSxJunkie* laid it all out pretty well for me- I'm putting the idea of importing a JDM vehicle to bed. I'm better off switching out parts and so forth- good suggestion though.

I think this thread is done