Japanese imports

[Flying Carrot Steve]

 

Anyone here know how it may affect things like insurance if I were to buy a Japanese import car?

 

Any other downsides?

 

I notice that every Japanese import car I've seen has a different number plate font than the standard UK one. Is that just to make identification of an imported car easier?

[Quinten]

I bought an imported 2013 Audi RS4 Avant last year (it was imported by the previous garage owner) to save money on road tax.  But it did make it harder to insure.  Not impossible, just harder.  Probably compounded by the fact that it is a performance car, which also reduced the number of willing insurers/underwriters.

 

The car itself was immaculate and to quote the guy who modified the exhaust internals (so it sounds a little fruitier), he's never seen such a clean car underneath either.

 

Mine was already on regular UK plates, so I imagine if the space is available, you can do the same to whatever you import.

[Flying Carrot Steve]

 

I've often wondered about Japanese cars, why are they so clean? Are they fanatical about keeping them well or is it just they don't have any rain? 😬

[tex]

Japanese plates are square. Not long like ours. 

They have an MOT test certificate from new showing all faults the factory found during production and given to the customer. 

They also have tighter panel tolerances so if EU cars were hood/fender flush +/- 1mm... It'd be half that on the Japanese car. 

They ARE hugely fanatical over exterior appearance right down to the floor it's as important as eyeline. This is different here. 

Although they are right hand drive there are huge differences. Speedo is kph not mph. 

No rear fogs usually 

Majority of parts are physically different even tho same model. This is down to the different environmental needs and government laws. So for example steel brake pipes here.. In Japan it'd be different steel and corrosion protection. Trust me they are not the same thing. I worked inspecting jap cars built in the UK sent to Japan for 30yrs....

[Mathew Vernon - Membership Secretary]

1 hour ago, tex said:

Majority of parts are physically different even tho same model. This is down to the different environmental needs and government laws. 

I had an imported MR2 years ago and found this - the front wings for example are completely different on JDM cars to UK spec

[Flying Carrot Steve]

Yes they are definitely not the same thing, but are they generally considered better or worse than a UK equivalent? 

 

 

I'm guessing it will depend upon the particular car and also age? I'm after a TVR one day and had considered getting a Japanese one imported. GRP so not sure if the same thing would apply re parts and body panels etc?

[Mighty Mart]

Japanese cars aren't undersealed as a rule as no salt used on the roads over there...at least that used to be the case.

I imported an imprezza in 2000 and had to get the speedo converted to mph, a rear fog light fitted and the 110mph limiter negated. Plus of course registered and motd...

[mega ade]

46 minutes ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

Yes they are definitely not the same thing, but are they generally considered better or worse than a UK equivalent? 

 

 

I'm guessing it will depend upon the particular car and also age? I'm after a TVR one day and had considered getting a Japanese one imported. GRP so not sure if the same thing would apply re parts and body tvr steve you need one of these a beast at a car show last week 

 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

Nice! I will be driving a few over the next 6 months or so, see if one is for me or not. Am actually considering the entry level TVR, a Chimaera. Mainly as I really want something more comfy for touring.