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

[vsideboy]

try lifesure for your insurance mate. they beat my best quote by £600 when I first got my car. I'm still with them 3 years later.

as for looking for differences between uk and import it might be a bit difficult other than the odometer being in KM's as you could buy an import without headlight washers and retro fit them, as with every other part (rear numberplate surround etc.)

Shiny-ness will probably be that the early part of the cars life in its original country didn't have all the crap thrown at it that a UK car will have had to endure. Road salt and crap weather will damage the paint. It also depends entirely on who has had it previously and how they have looked after it. Poor washing techniques will dull a shine quicker than you can say 'wow my paint is now matt!'

Mr2 or celica... well it will depend on if you ever plan on transporting anything or anyone. taking 2 people to a show with alot of camping gear is a bit difficult in an mr2 (not impossible though I have seen proof!) but it is certainly easier in the celica cos the boot is huge!

Also, if you do get one and fancy a drive to italy then check out my link below. gonna be great!!! Got 17 cars from the UK so far.