Imports?

**Old Steve** · 21st April 2011, 19:45

In the early 90s I was on the oil industry committee working with the MOE to introduce unleaded petrol. We talked to all the auto agencies to find out what their requirements were. BMW said they couldn't wait for the introduction of ULP, they imported their cars from South Africa (all right hand drive BMWs are manufactured in South Africa) and because NZ was such a minor market they couldn't get cars NOT fitted with emmissions gear. So until ULP was completely available (95 as well as 91) they had to remove the emmissions gear and fit ordinary non-catalytic exhausts at a cost of thousands of dollars er car.

**AllanB** · 21st April 2011, 19:53

Surely, like any vehicle, the service history or lack off will be ultimately more telling on the life of a vehicle than the original market it was made for.

**YellowDog** · 22nd April 2011, 08:30

Originally Posted by Owl

Wouldn't a California spec Tiger come with "SAI" and "Evaporative loss control system"?

Oops, missed this post:

Yes it did come with all that stuff.

The "Evaporative loss control system" canister and "CAT" came off fairly soon after I got it. I did some other mods too like ripping the snorkel out and sticking a free flow airfilter in, plus a race exhaust too.

I don't think it would be accepted back in LA

**Insanity_rules** · 22nd April 2011, 10:03

Originally Posted by AllanB

Surely, like any vehicle, the service history or lack off will be ultimately more telling on the life of a vehicle than the original market it was made for.

Well yes and no, service history does say a lot for the longevity but for instance the japanese market have a lower finish standard for rustproofing and paint thickness as their cars have a roughly 10 year obsolessence built in so they protect their local industry. I had a friend try to get his 10 year old Jaguar (based in Japan) through a 10 year fitness check (Think warrant of fitness but much worse), apparently it was brutal. He ended up selling in to a scrap company for almost nothing and he noted it then turned up on one of those export sites!

We are litterally taking their junk people!

**YellowDog** · 22nd April 2011, 10:58

Originally Posted by Insanity_rules

Well yes and no, service history does say a lot for the longevity but for instance the japanese market have a lower finish standard for rustproofing and paint thickness as their cars have a roughly 10 year obsolessence built in so they protect their local industry. I had a friend try to get his 10 year old Jaguar (based in Japan) through a 10 year fitness check (Think warrant of fitness but much worse), apparently it was brutal. He ended up selling in to a scrap company for almost nothing and he noted it then turned up on one of those export sites!

We are litterally taking their junk people!

If your car is any good, you'll sell it privately and get a good price.

If it's crap, you dump it at at the auction house. They charge you a couple of hundred to dress mutton up as lamb, and some mug takes it with no comebacks

And if the car is subsequently exported, this goes to prove the saying: "You don't shit on your own door step"

**Edbear** · 22nd April 2011, 11:45

Originally Posted by Insanity_rules

Well yes and no, service history does say a lot for the longevity but for instance the japanese market have a lower finish standard for rustproofing and paint thickness as their cars have a roughly 10 year obsolessence built in so they protect their local industry. I had a friend try to get his 10 year old Jaguar (based in Japan) through a 10 year fitness check (Think warrant of fitness but much worse), apparently it was brutal. He ended up selling in to a scrap company for almost nothing and he noted it then turned up on one of those export sites!

We are litterally taking their junk people!

Originally Posted by YellowDog

If your car is any good, you'll sell it privately and get a good price.

If it's crap, you dump it at at the auction house. They charge you a couple of hundred to dress mutton up as lamb, and some mug takes it with no comebacks

And if the car is subsequently exported, this goes to prove the saying: "You don't shit on your own door step"

It was that way fort 99% of the imports for a long time. Nowadays the major dealers are looking to source late model stuff and sell them as alternative to new or near-new NZ cars. Toyota are doing this with their Signature range now. The truth is, though as you say, they are a disposable appliance in Japan and are treated accordingly. After owning several imports as I've posted, I'll stick with NZ new from now on.

Except for our MX5, which is too much fun to give up and in too good a nick to have any worries about... Besides it doesn't get the daily use of the Pulsar either, it's purely a toy!

**Motu** · 22nd April 2011, 12:24

Originally Posted by Edbear

Except for our MX5,

Surely it's a Eunos Roadster....you are not trying to pretend it's a real MX-5 are you?

**Edbear** · 22nd April 2011, 12:28

Originally Posted by Motu

Surely it's a Eunos Roadster....you are not trying to pretend it's a real MX-5 are you?

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck...

Strictly, yes, it's a Eunos Roadster, but I like to think I've got a genuine MX5...

It's also apparently the best ever model being the first of the 1800's and a Mk1.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 22nd April 2011, 13:34

Originally Posted by Edbear

Every Jap import we've owned has had problems of one sort or another including the cracked head on the turbo-diesel Estima, throwing ancilliary belts on the Nissan Caravan coach, transmission failure on the Nissan Caravan van, and several engine and transmission, (manual as well), failures on the Mazda Bongo Brawny, a blown headgasket on the Toyota Custom coach 2.4D and rear suspension issues and a failed rear passenger window winder on the Honda Legend.

Apart from that they were very reliable...

the worst problem with Jap imports is the stupid names they have. Mazda Bongo Brawny? really?

Nissan Cedric? seriously?

Estima? what the hell.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 22nd April 2011, 13:38

Originally Posted by Edbear

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck...

Strictly, yes, it's a Eunos Roadster, but I like to think I've got a genuine MX5...

It's also apparently the best ever model being the first of the 1800's and a Mk1.

it needs this:

really it does. cheap as chips too

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/Vi...teIndexID=7997

$7k plug and play

you might need

http://www.rollcage.co.nz/MX5_Half_Cage.php

also.

can I have a drive Mister? can I pleeeeeeeeease??

**onearmedbandit** · 22nd April 2011, 14:25

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

the worst problem with Jap imports is the stupid names they have. Mazda Bongo Brawny? really?

Nissan Cedric? seriously?

Estima? what the hell.

Estima Emina.
Mitsubishi Chariot Thanks.
Mazda Friendee.
Nissan Prairie Joy.
Isuzu MU. (Mysterious Utility - I kid you not)

And I've sold them all. And numerous others.

4wd's were the best, only if they had wheel cover on the back. Typically it read something a little like this -

Toyota love nature with open arm. Smell the wet asphalt and escape the open road and return to nature beginnings.

Why oh why couldn't they employ someone who actually spoke English? Or is that how they view our language?

**Kickaha** · 22nd April 2011, 14:41

Originally Posted by slofox

EDIT: Regarding "built for NZ conditions". My partner has a Honda Civic - NZ new, fairly recent model. Having driven it to d'Auckland and back many times, I can categorically state that it is NOT the best for NZ conditions. Road noise from the chip seal is excessive. And I mean excessive. Have to shout to be heard over it if the chip seal is new. I'd hardly call that "suitable for NZ conditions". But then Honda probably don't do anything to make them "suitable for NZ conditions" anyway.

That is more likely a tyre thing than anything to do with the car or where it is built

**YellowDog** · 22nd April 2011, 14:48

Originally Posted by Kickaha

That is more likely a tyre thing than anything to do with the car or where it is built

I bought a great set of almost new Dunlop Wrangler tyres for my wife's RAV4 for $160.

They came of a Jap import Honda Odyssey. The first thing the dealers do is put new tyres on.

The tyres I got are crap for a Honda Odyssey, but perfect for a RAV4

**Edbear** · 22nd April 2011, 15:34

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

it needs this:

really it does. cheap as chips too

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/Vi...teIndexID=7997

$7k plug and play

you might need

http://www.rollcage.co.nz/MX5_Half_Cage.php

also.

can I have a drive Mister? can I pleeeeeeeeease??

Then you add the Powerchip upgrade kit and the Intercooler, then the heavy duty clutch and upgrade the brakes and suspension, rebuild the gearbox and diff...

When you've only paid just over $5k for the car to start with... But yes, if I was inclined to do track days and had the money...

**Edbear** · 22nd April 2011, 15:41

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

the worst problem with Jap imports is the stupid names they have. Mazda Bongo Brawny? really?

Nissan Cedric? seriously?

Estima? what the hell.

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Estima Emina.
Mitsubishi Chariot Thanks.
Mazda Friendee.
Nissan Prairie Joy.
Isuzu MU. (Mysterious Utility - I kid you not)

And I've sold them all. And numerous others.

4wd's were the best, only if they had wheel cover on the back. Typically it read something a little like this -

Toyota love nature with open arm. Smell the wet asphalt and escape the open road and return to nature beginnings.

Why oh why couldn't they employ someone who actually spoke English? Or is that how they view our language?

My Estima was an Estima Lucida X, I wouldn't own an Emina...

Aren't the imports a never ending source of amusement?