My journey Buying and Importing a legal R32!

[ODS]

Thanks everyone!! Just and update both cars are state titled and insured (with full coverage). The process was super simple and Kunio gave me all the paperwork I could have needed.

[laurel4]

Just out of curiosity who did you go through for insurance? Cars look great by the way, look forward to our rhd meet sometime

[ODS]

I used Geico and they were very receptive,

[g35gabby]

What value did they put the cars at through Geico and did they ensure them as a basic driver car like they would any other daily? I had horrible time dealing with them and have 3 other cars with them.

[laurel4]

I know I had to go through progressive for my cefiro because everyone else gave me shit.

[S14kouki805]

sORRY IF I MISSED IT BUT HOW MUCH DID IT WIND UP COSTING TO GET THAT BAD BOY?

[ODS]

I just told them what I thought they were worth and they said ok. Im not sure if that means they accepted that value because they said if anything happens their "claims team" will determine the value.

[laurel4]

Originally Posted by S14kouki805

sORRY IF I MISSED IT BUT HOW MUCH DID IT WIND UP COSTING TO GET THAT BAD BOY?

I've personally come to loathe this question, to the point I've just started to make up more ludicrous numbers. It's frankly no ones business how much you paid for your car.

Not trying to single out S14kouki805 by the way, I get that question constantly from all kinds of people.

[GTR-Garage]

Originally Posted by g35gabby

What value did they put the cars at through Geico and did they ensure them as a basic driver car like they would any other daily? I had horrible time dealing with them and have 3 other cars with them.

Our demo R32 is insured through Geico and we didn't have much of an issue with them. We did have to provide justification for the high value it was insured at due to the fact that the cost that we could prove via records of purchase is less than we wanted to insure it for as we invested a great deal of money in upgrades. All we had to do is send them copies of invoices from purchases made.

[S14kouki805]

It's a legit question that's why people keep asking, I understand if you don't want to answer though. Who wouldn't want to know what people are paying for an R32?

[GTR-Garage]

A good R32 GTS-T can be imported, registered and on the road for $8,000~$12,000 depending on the particular car, mileage, level of tune, etc. For a GT-R you would be looking at at least $15,000~$20,000.

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

A good R32 GTS-T can be imported, registered and on the road for $8,000~$12,000 depending on the particular car, mileage, level of tune, etc. For a GT-R you would be looking at at least $15,000~$20,000.

Thank you! I've been wondering for a while, but not enough to ask any owners. There is a local guy that got a 2wd rb20 r32 imported from Canada before the exemption date... his is now on the local CL for $19k which seemed a bit steep for what it was.

[g35gabby]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

Our demo R32 is insured through Geico and we didn't have much of an issue with them. We did have to provide justification for the high value it was insured at due to the fact that the cost that we could prove via records of purchase is less than we wanted to insure it for as we invested a great deal of money in upgrades. All we had to do is send them copies of invoices from purchases made.

seems it totally depends on the day and who you talk to. Specially if the car isn't in the country yet. Heard a few people have the same basic experience with them and would have been happy with that, but I got some tool on the phone who told me they wouldn't do anything other than liability (30/month) because it is a "super car". Others have had the same problem, kind of disappointed with it as it makes for another bill I have to remember once a year, but 306/year with full coverage and 15k stated value sure didn't upset me.

if you have a specific rep or agent that is good to deal with, that would be great info to have out there. That is how I ended up with collector car insurance, just by word of mouth from another skyline owner.

Originally Posted by S14kouki805

It's a legit question that's why people keep asking, I understand if you don't want to answer though. Who wouldn't want to know what people are paying for an R32?

if you follow GTRgarage or any of the other importers for more than 5 mins you start to get a feel for where the market is and what things cost. I paid 8500 for my GTST, seen a few come through that were a little cleaner than mine w/o a cage for less, but they definitely aren't all that expensive when compared to your 1/2 jacked up Sr swapped coupes from the same era with all kinds of "I think it has" or "it just needs". I don't mind telling anyone what I paid as anyone with access to google can utilize my vin number and find the buying price, it will also be on all the proper paperwork if/when I sell it with how much in taxes my importer paid to get it into the country.

I used a different importer than GTRgarage, but I wouldn't have a question about using Kunio. hell I think I may have spent more with him than I have on my car at this point.... woops...

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

A good R32 GTS-T can be imported, registered and on the road for $8,000~$12,000 depending on the particular car, mileage, level of tune, etc. For a GT-R you would be looking at at least $15,000~$20,000.

That seems to be the going rate for the reasonable businesses out there. There are a few importers out there that like to throw on a "tax" or "service with a smile fee", but if you follow 3-4 different ones you start to pick up pretty quick who is marking things up more than the others. specially when the same car come across at auctions and all 15 of them advertise that they can get this for you.

[hobbs]

The Mines GTR looks absolutely fantastic, these R32s are becoming more and more appealing to me. I guess it's time to start looking into importers and get one for myself. Congrats on the pickup!

[spools420a]

Originally Posted by laurel4

I've personally come to loathe this question, to the point I've just started to make up more ludicrous numbers. It's frankly no ones business how much you paid for your car.

Not trying to single out S14kouki805 by the way, I get that question constantly from all kinds of people.

understandable but at he same time when making these sort of threads it tends to make it everyones buisness and a very large piece to the owning a import puzzle is the price,Just saying.

[laurel4]

Originally Posted by spools420a

understandable but at he same time when making these sort of threads it tends to make it everyones buisness and a very large piece to the owning a import puzzle is the price,Just saying.

I understand it's a fair question in context of this thread, I was speaking more generally. Like the random guy on the street who knows nothing of the importing process and often doesn't even know what the car is, whose first question is how much did it cost. Perhaps it bugs me more because I imported my car myself without an importer.

Also would like to say that Kunio and GTR garage have some of the most reasonable prices around and have been great to deal with for getting some parts brought over.

[ODS]

His prices are very reasonable and he has superior customer service!!!

[LEG1T]

I should have a full write-up on my experience with GTR Garage soon, as I too am in the process of getting a vehicle.

For anyone on the fence about where to go in getting their vehicle sourced I strongly recommend http://www.gtr-garage.com as you can see by his companies posts on here, Kunio offers tons of information and is ready and able to answer any questions you might have. I can't say that I see any other importer posting on the forums with support like he does.

Can't wait to get my R32, and I hope more ppl can chime in on there experiences to help the community with some re-assurance on this relatively new practice

[shihabby]

FYI, I purchased my '90 R32 GTR a few weeks ago from The GTR Shop in the UK and it cost £10995 shipped which translates to $18,433 including exchange rate and roughly $500-$600 in Paypal international fees. I'm factoring in another $1500-$2000 or so in customs broker fees and Texas tax, title, and inspection fees. And this is with me picking up the car myself from port at Houston or Galveston. Mine is a well-modded, excellent shape R32. It is NOT as cheap as you think, the paper/legwork is a big hassle and future costs will be even more PITA. Dedication is absolutely required.

[shihabby]

Originally Posted by g35gabby

JDM cars as "kit cars" have been tried, repeatedly. Kaizo did this, as well as others. I believe the end result was how much "kit" it was, verse just trying to subvert the law. just like there are now holden UTE kit cars using GTO chassis's and vin numbers. the car still has to maintain 60% GTO to be registered as that.

little article by motor trend on the "kit car" work around and how well that went for them.
http://wot.motortrend.com/feds-begin...rnia-6257.html

There is some guy out in Cali right now selling and registering "his kit cars" as "nissanie"

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s370x247/10420263_965622666797802_2982996166684020180_n.jpg ?oh=4c571f5e926ab6362d2edb7b45bf0d9f&oe=548B0DDF&_ _gda__=1422060898_ed759d2b2d14cae30f23b1bf81944ac6[img]
[img]https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10712866_965622770131125_1709484230752466141_n.jpg ?oh=bd43ebff420193236bd225b85b09fdcd&oe=54CDCC9B[img]
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10647013_893830753980463_8227546277420178972_n.jpg ?oh=b5aa016f2d7ff49b5a49aeb4bfbb3350&oe=54CDE9DD&_ _gda__=1422338405_8672c9b1c7bf7d8e1a77450563b9955e[img]

Dude has this one f/s for 180k if you are interested..... sounds like a big gamble to me, but some are willing to risk it.

anyways, enough of the thread jack, cars look amazing ODS. That Mine's tuned car is sublime. Look forward to seeing more.

Excuse my language but that is illegal as fuck. An R34 in no way meets the EPA definition of a kit car ( http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm --> 1st paragraph). Even modifying/assigning a new VIN to a car that already came with one from the factory is illegal under NHTSA rules ( http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/VIN%20ERRORS.pdf ).

Shady outfit is shady.

[shihabby]

ODS, sorry for going off topic. Cars are amazing! Please please please do not change the outer appearance of the GTS-T, especially to that of a GTR. I think it looks gorgeously understated as it is.

[GTR-Garage]

Originally Posted by shihabby

FYI, I purchased my '90 R32 GTR a few weeks ago from The GTR Shop in the UK and it cost £10995 shipped which translates to $18,433 including exchange rate and roughly $500-$600 in Paypal international fees. I'm factoring in another $1500-$2000 or so in customs broker fees and Texas tax, title, and inspection fees. And this is with me picking up the car myself from port at Houston or Galveston. Mine is a well-modded, excellent shape R32. It is NOT as cheap as you think, the paper/legwork is a big hassle and future costs will be even more PITA. Dedication is absolutely required.

The fees can add up quickly and it can feel like you're being nickled and dimed. Especially when it comes to container shipping. Depending on where it is going and who someone uses drayage and de-vanning can end up adding 30% plus to the overall freight charges. It is definitely worth using a broker as well as you've obviously already realized. The fee for their services is typically a bargain if it lets you avoid having to deal with the paperwork.

Although we are technically "exporters" we offer to handle import arrangements for our customers like many of the importers do. That is one of the advantages of going through a dealer/service. You show up at their place and pick up your car and you are handed all the paperwork you need to register.

If there is one thing we've learned it is to our customers advantage to notarize everything. We have the Japanese title translated and the translation notarized. The Bill of Sale is notarized, lien releases are notarized (if required by the state), odometer statements are notarized, etc.. Not every state or even every DMV in said state is going to require all the notarizations, but it makes everything easier.

We have cars registered and on the road in 8 states now and the two documents that have been the most important are the HS-7 and 3520-1. Also, even though the Japanese titles/de-reg certificates are mostly in Japanese and English now, most DMVs are going to want a translation.

So far the only state that has been a bit difficult has been Arizona, but that is because they wanted everything notarized and forced our customers to go through inspections of the cars (one failed the first time around because of a bad bulb for a third brake light). We aren't currently exporting to California so there is no need to get into that nightmare!

Washington - Easy
Oregon - Easy
Arizona - Slight PITA
New Mexico - Easy
Texas - Easy
Colorado - Easy
Florida - Easy
Indiana - Easy
Illinois - Easy

If anyone needs help with import arrangement feel free to email us. We're happy to help and just want to see more of these cars on the road. That includes customs brokerage, intermodal, registration and even notarized title translations. We are more than willing to field questions as well and pass on any knowledge we've gained in terms of the process.

[s14kkouki]

No regrets going with Gtr garage. Congrats op. Can't wait to get mine.

[ODS]

Im glad to see the information is flowing about importing cars!

[spools420a]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

A good R32 GTS-T can be imported, registered and on the road for $8,000~$12,000 depending on the particular car, mileage, level of tune, etc. For a GT-R you would be looking at at least $15,000~$20,000.

are you guys importing cars like mitsubishi evo 1/n14 nissan pulsar gtir in the upcoming future?the evo1 would be a thrill since its the lightest evo made.you would think there would be a be a bunch of excitment on this site for a nissan pulsar gtir?that should be next year correct?will you be shipping these if so whats the average price for one?

[Backintoans13]

Good to know New Mexico is easy, we usually are seeing as how we don't even smog, hopefully next yr I can try and grab one, definitely dealing with gtr garage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GTR-Garage]

Originally Posted by spools420a

are you guys importing cars like mitsubishi evo 1/n14 nissan pulsar gtir in the upcoming future?the evo1 would be a thrill since its the lightest evo made.you would think there would be a be a bunch of excitment on this site for a nissan pulsar gtir?that should be next year correct?will you be shipping these if so whats the average price for one?

The Pulsar will be eligible in late 2015. They can definitely be landed for under $10,000. We are looking forward to a number of cars becoming eligible. The 1JZ powered JZX81s are not far off.

[shihabby]

BTW, I know it's the silliest thing in the world to buy for $100 but I grabbed this from you guys last night. I'd actually been looking for one for over a month

[ODS]

[ODS]