RHD Supra, Should I get it?? Options

[tranxendz]

Sup peeps. My Celica is messed up...well not really its just my front bumper was ruined cause my dad decided to drive it one day without asking me! I paid for all the mods for the car but my 'rents paid for the car actually....I want a car for my own that I paid for. So now I got an offer for a 94 Supra...I might get it but I'm iffy cause it's RHD and its imported from Japan..which is cool and all but I want an SUV to share with my g/f cause we're getting serious with each other LoL. Anyways what y'all think? My girl says it's cool if I get the Supra ...And does anyone know if RHD is legal in California??

Ok I need input cause I'm getting the car settled with customs this week...Let me know so I won't blow my whole cash on something dumb...

It only has 33,000 miles on it. If you're wondering.

[Supersprynt]

How much? If its from Japan, they're going to have to make it smog legal, the RHD"ness" shouldnt be illegal. Twin Turbo or N/A? Thats very low mileage too, Supras are hot but not exactly a rear-round car ya kno.

[coustoe]

whos offereing you the car? is it a local dealership or a individual?

[Inferno]

Wow...get us some info on that. Pictures too!

[snadman]

Who cares about a year round car in Cali? LOL. Dude, it doesn't snow there...or get super cold. Even in the winter it's fairly mild! I say get it if you can. Just expect that you WILL pay an extra 1k-2k for importing fees, getting it registered with a title, AND making it smog legal.

[Inferno]

I'm under the impression it'll take way more than 2K to legalize, import, and get it smog certified. If that were the case, how come it cost like 90K to import an R34 Skyline when you can buy them in Japan from 40-70K. You'll probably spend around 5-10K total (guessing).

[tranxendz]

I live in Los Angeles so it doesn't snow around here. The one offering me the car is my g/fs friend who imports cars from Miami. He sold a skyline to some guy 2 weeks ago. Im not very fond of those cars...LoL. The Supra is already in florida it's just going through ish right now. Yeah the smog check is going to be done this wednesday. Papers and ish will be done by Friday. It'll be transported from Florida to here soon. just trying to find a good transportation company that would that. Yeah I'm paying an extra $2 grand just to get it shipped and do all the smog and paperworks done right. I just was wondering if RHD is illegal...Someone told me it was..and i was like um I saw a car with RHD last week. so yeah. The supra is 1994 and its a brown/goldish color..i guess the color is alright but i rather go for black. So yeah.

[Inferno]

How much is the actual car? Also, congrats on getting it.

[97sccelica]

does your friends friend have a website or anything like that?

how much importing does he do?

[bonzaisushi]

i dunno if u know this or not but the reason a r34 is so pricey to get into the states is the rarity, there are more supras than r34s and most of the owners that have these r34s dont sell them..... shoot i wouldnt.

[snadman]

QUOTE (tranxendz @ Jul 20, 2003 - 3:05 PM)

Yeah I'm paying an extra $2 grand just to get it shipped and do all the smog and paperworks done right.

Haha, I'm right. I'm not a dippoopie ya know. I did actually READ about how much importing costs are before posting that figure. And it does not cost 90k to get one here. That's just a dealership price in Cali, because that would be a brandnew/almost new skyline and the dealer wants a lot of compensation for getting it here. If you wanted to, you could fly to Japan and buy a skyline for your 40-70k and get it here for less than 2500 in extra fees.

So no mean to be all poopie about it, but Inferno...man you gots to read about these things and know before you p[ost a figure that's about 3-8k over. If he woulda taken that figure and applied it he might be thinking "Oh crap that much to import? I better not then" when in actuality it would be less.

This post has been edited by snadman: Jul 20, 2003 - 7:21 PM

[KAMiX]

tranx your answer is yes if it's a twin turbo. No if naturally aspirated.

Trust me! The non turbo supra is boring, and once you have it you will be in love with the car, and want to import a new one. You could just mod up the engine, but you would be much better off getting a whole package with low miles.

I believe it is legal to drive a RHD car in a LHD country (and vica versa, if it has indicators - no joke ) This is from old days when you had to use your hand to indicate, and if you are on the wrong side of the car, you can't stick your hand out the window! I would call your road/traffic department to check though. You should get the supra, drive it around, then save up and get a LHD conversion.

[tranxendz]

Hey peeps. thanks for all of your input on this. I got a deal cause the guy kinda digs my girl and like he doesn't know we're dating lol. Im getting it for under than 30 grand thats for sure.

IS RHD LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA?!??!IS RHD LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA??

[Inferno]

Snadman..I also said that was an guess (educated one at that, mind you). I don't really appreciate you telling me I don't read things. But I won't drag this out into a big argument, there's no point. Just know there are people on this board with other opinions. I never said I knew for sure, mang.

Tranx, I'm also pretty sure that RHD is perfectly legal. Just do what Kamix said and contact your local driving departments.

This post has been edited by Inferno: Jul 20, 2003 - 7:39 PM

[97sccelica]

just need to be tested for it at most.

but it is 100% legal.

and for that 30k, does it include the adding of smog equipment?

CA is the hardest place to import a car, but i will do it with a gt4, even if i have to bring it in as a show car to be driven only 2500 miles a year(so who needs a working odometer?)

[Inferno]

Snadman, I'm just following this up to let you know no hard feelings, man. I didn't mean anything by my post, sorry if it offended you. I apologize.

It really only takes 2500 to legalize, ship, and pass emissions with an import? By all that, I mean you can drive it legally.

This post has been edited by Inferno: Jul 20, 2003 - 8:11 PM

[Guest_Matthew_*]

yea i am with 97sccelica

why wouldnt you try to get a GT4? instead of a supra

most people will know that your car is fast just by seeing that movie

a lot of people that see my celica dont know what kind of car it is.

[coustoe]

QUOTE

Snadman, I'm just following this up to let you know no hard feelings, man. I didn't mean anything by my post, sorry if it offended you. I apologize. It really only takes 2500 to legalize, ship, and pass emissions with an import? By all that, I mean you can drive it legally.

hehehehe, hahahahaha, LOL yes it cost more then $2500 to legalize a jdm, anyone who says diff needs to read my post on how to import a GT4.
$2500 will probably just get you the shipping, broker fees and duty paid for, but it wont cover the craploads of money your gonna waste to legalize the car. Dont believe me? Most supras in japan for under 50k miles go for $4,000-$10,000 for a TT why do you think the guy is charging you close to $30,000 for the car, its to cover the modifications. I swear they need to make my post part of the FAQ

heres a TT supra $4700 in japan

[coustoe]

Oh yet another reason why I'm getting my TT JDM Supra shipped to mexico instead of the US. Because the cars only gonna cost me $6,000 including shipping vs $30,000 for a USDM TT supra

[No0bOne]

Imagine walking to your car and others are lookin at you and your chick. As you approach the car you go to your right while your girl goes to the left. By than peoples be thinking "She driving!?" and when you do actually pop in the car and start her up and roll out...they be like "ooooo WOW". hehe...

[snadman]

Actually, I read in two magazines now that it only costs max 4k...but for most times it will only cost around 2k to import. If you are impatient and go witht he first offer you get and need the car immediatly...you sure will pay a lot more. But if you calla round, and speak the right words you can definitely import it for 2k.

Oh and Inferno. Yeah man I gotcha! I deserve to get a snappy comment lol. I was pretty rude myself in my saying that. Sorry bro! I don't like to be that way and I guess I was kinda crabby when I wrote that for other reasons...so sorry bout it. No hard feelings I hope!

This post has been edited by snadman: Jul 20, 2003 - 10:54 PM

[Cody]

So, uh, wouldn't it just be cheaper to buy a domestic Supra? Or is this car a 99+? I would only buy it if it's a model year after they discontinued it in the US.

[97sccelica]

QUOTE (coustoe @ Jul 20, 2003 - 6:49 PM)

Oh yet another reason why I'm getting my TT JDM Supra shipped to mexico instead of the US. Because the cars only gonna cost me $6,000 including shipping vs $30,000 for a USDM TT supra

yeah about shipping to mexico, i understand how it will be cheaper but how will you bring it into the US?

[Charlie97L]

the reason it costs so much to import a st205 is because it doesn't EXIST in the US. supras are both places, and identical. i have a regular JDM RHD 91 st185 gt4, and it's gonna be no problem at all to legalize. RHD is not illegal. what is usually illegal is the lack of crash test standards that the US holds... but the supra should be exactly the same.

[97sccelica]

QUOTE (Charlie97L @ Jul 20, 2003 - 8:53 PM)

the reason it costs so much to import a st205 is because it doesn't EXIST in the US. supras are both places, and identical. i have a regular JDM RHD 91 st185 gt4, and it's gonna be no problem at all to legalize. RHD is not illegal. what is usually illegal is the lack of crash test standards that the US holds... but the supra should be exactly the same.

but the crash testing shouldnt be a problem if you only plan to import one for personal use?

at least thats what i got from reading around on the net.

the thing that sucks about CA is the emissions gotta install an egr system, a cat and if it is a 1996+ car, it has to be converted to OBD2.

that's what makes it hard to legalize the car. its hard, but no where near impossible

[KAMiX]

Btw it sounds like importing sucks where you guys are. You are paying 30k for a na supra, and its easy to find a low mileage TT supra in Australia for $20-22k USD. Damn!

[tranxendz]

So you got a supra? That's awesome bro...I'm thinking of shipping to Mexico instead since you are going to...Is it better that way?

A lot of guys (and chicks too LoL) look at my girl...it's whacked man! Oh well i'm used to it.

I would get a GT-4 but I want something other than a Celica...I do like Celicas they are my top choice..Well, 6th generation Celicas cause the 7th gen's are ugly looking to me...

[XE_Nathaniel]

Dang, I can't believe all this fuss happens...I remember when I bought my Supra Twin Turbo it was only 16.5K used.......that was before Fast and Furious tho....

-Nate

if you need any info on supras...just ask......