Imports?

[Kickaha]

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

Normally they only change them if they are snow tyres or don't have the right standards marking

If they were the correct size for the RAV4 they would have been the wrong size for the Odyssey

[Motu]

Back in the late '80's when Jap imports first started coming in we had a tyre kicking around the workshop for amusement - it was a Tomato,and all around the tyre was crap like ''Tomato Boys and Girls Like To Have Fun'' and other drivel about Tomato boys and girls and the life they like to lead.

[YellowDog]

Normally they only change them if they are snow tyres or don't have the right standards marking

If they were the correct size for the RAV4 they would have been the wrong size for the Odyssey

Yep, they were 225 wide All-Terraine tyres. Crap and oversized on an Odyssey on NZ Roads, but Toyota standard on a RAV 4

I bought 4 almost new tyres for less than one new one would cost

[onearmedbandit]

Back in the late '80's when Jap imports first started coming in we had a tyre kicking around the workshop for amusement - it was a Tomato,and all around the tyre was crap like ''Tomato Boys and Girls Like To Have Fun'' and other drivel about Tomato boys and girls and the life they like to lead.

I think you'll find we've been importing Japanese cars since the mid 70's.

[Motu]

Gosh,you learn something new every day - thanks for that!

[HenryDorsetCase]

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...

So, say, $20k out the door? Build it and I'll navigate the Targa for you next year in it......

[slofox]

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

Yep - you may well be right. One of my Subs had "all terrain" tyres on it and it was noisy as hell. Couldn't wait for them to wear out. Replacements were so much quieter.

But the point remains - if you are selling a vehicle new in NZ, wouldn't you make sure the tyres on it suited local road conditions? Well...I would anyway.

[ducatilover]

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??

Or you could ditch the useless B6 or BP motors all together and throw something with what resembles power in there... Still not going to be very decent with an expensive blower kit.
For the price of that you could source a genuine BPT GT-R motor and rebuild it with gold.

[Edbear]

Or you could ditch the useless B6 or BP motors all together and throw something with what resembles power in there... Still not going to be very decent with an expensive blower kit.
For the price of that you could source a genuine BPT GT-R motor and rebuild it with gold.

You know what? The stock standard MX5 with its 130hp is a real fun toy just as it is... It needs no "improving" or modifying, it is what it is and it's the best wee sports car in the world for its money! For $20k I could build a race car, sure, but I don't want a race car, I want a sports car and the MX5 is our sports car.

[ducatilover]

You know what? The stock standard MX5 with its 130hp is a real fun toy just as it is... It needs no "improving" or modifying, it is what it is and it's the best wee sports car in the world for its money! For $20k I could build a race car, sure, but I don't want a race car, I want a sports car and the MX5 is our sports car.

I'm not arguing at all, but, if one was going down the route of extracting power, the B6/BP motors aren't the greatest.

I'd very happily live with a very early, no p/steer, no air con and no elecs MX5

[Edbear]

I'm not arguing at all, but, if one was going down the route of extracting power, the B6/BP motors aren't the greatest.

I'd very happily live with a very early, no p/steer, no air con and no elecs MX5

Apart from power-steer which ours has, I agree. It's basic, but it's fabulous to drive and who cares if it lacks power-roof and electric everything? I got the air-con unit removed as it didn't work anyway and saves a lot of weight. It has Momo wheel and pedals, front and rear spoilers, the rear being the small one and looks good, and that's about it.

The whole idea of it is cheap, basic fun and it's that in spades!

[ducatilover]

Apart from power-steer which ours has, I agree. It's basic, but it's fabulous to drive and who cares if it lacks power-roof and electric everything? I got the air-con unit removed as it didn't work anyway and saves a lot of weight. It has Momo wheel and pedals, front and rear spoilers, the rear being the small one and looks good, and that's about it.

The whole idea of it is cheap, basic fun and it's that in spades!

I don't like them with options, makes them too normal and heavy really.
They are ridiculously fun!!!

[Kickaha]

But the point remains - if you are selling a vehicle new in NZ, wouldn't you make sure the tyres on it suited local road conditions? Well...I would anyway.

No, you would put the cheapest crap you could get away with so you could make the best margin, after all they're just black, round and rubber aren't they

[onearmedbandit]

No, you would put the cheapest crap you could get away with so you could make the best margin, after all they're just black, round and rubber aren't they

As an ex-dealer I resemble that implication.

[Insanity_rules]

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!

Gotta admit, I've seen what Toyota do with those signature class cars and I gotta say that they're quite impressive. They even paint them for crying out loud. The odd import (very small percentage) are good cars to begin with, just pays to go in with your eyes open.