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

[Aus]

The main aesthetic difference between the UK and import celicas is the front headlight washers in the front bumper for the UK cars, also most imports didn't have the little bonnet spoiler behind the windscreen wipers. There are also many other general differences such as the rear liscence plates being square, the heater controls were different I think etc. I'm not sure about the ST, but this is definetly true for the GT and GT4. By the way im selling my UK GT if your interested mate!!

edit. I don't think there was any difference in power between UK and JDM GT models (3SGE) & you have to remember that the celica has two more seats and looks better, but the mr2 does has the option of a T-Bar................the choice is yours! (Oh and also if you buy an MR2, people may think that your a hairdresser! )

This post has been edited by Aus: Feb 7, 2007 - 6:33 PM