UK Import Help, Need advice on non-import cars as the insurance is too high on import Options

[meph137]

Hi all, I'm looking to get a Gen 6 Celica cus they look pretty damn fine and apparently are a good drive, I've been looking around and have some problems though - basically most Celica's I see on autotrader (or most palces for that matter) are imports, a lot of the sellers dont state this so I see one, think it looks good and then ring and its an import! My problem with imports is that insurance is way too hgih for me, on a UK GT its about £900, on an import Gt its about £1,300! I could insure a UK GT4 for that so I'm no way paying that much.

My question is - is there any way I can tell easily which cars are imports and which aren't? I've noticed some with the foreign style, more square numberplate (dunno if thats japan or us?) so they seem obvious, but others look totally UK standard (right hand drive etc) but are in fact imports.

Also, is it just me or do import cars always look a hellof a lot more shiny? this sounds ridiculous to say but they do...one guy is selling his on autotrader with nice alloys, lowered etc in Astral black and man does it look shiny, every UK car I see just looks dull, though its probably the camera doing the car injustice, unless there are different types of black, some are shiny and some are not?

Also, some Cel's don't seem to have spoliers, is there a general rule to which will and which won;t, such as what year they were made? I thought UK Gen6 got a facelift in 95 or something, but I though it had a spolier before than anyway, I don;t like the look so much without the spoiler

Also, any other helpful advice would be great, I'm 22 and would lvoe a GT4 but insurance I beleive would be too high, unless someone else knows otherwise, Bell Direct seem to be the best for insurance in my age group for Celica's.

Also hello everyone, looks like a nice active forum

[san0]

Hi matee

I had the choice of going for a UK red GT with all the options but i decided to go low spec import in black (ie no abs, no sunroof and other stuff). The insurance was virtually the same (directline) even though i'm in my 30's.

The Jap imports apparently have 177bhp as oppose to 125bhp or similar. Also yes you're right, the imports look shinier - mine is so glossy compared to some guys blue ST.

One of the things you can tell if its import is it's in Kilometers, not MPH - they often have a new dial converter plate on.

I can see most imports at the moment are pre-face lift and you can tell by the rear spoiler without the gap in the sides. Mines an N reg but still is the older style which i think looks better.

You can see if it's import by the stickers sometimes left on the windscreens and also I have an emergency flare still left under the glove box as standard in japan!

Mine didn't have airbags so watch out for that. Whatever you choose, you won't regret the Celica - it' will bring you smiles and you'll be often researching about it on this forum!