Importing a car ?

[Takumi Fujiwara]

It's true as far as I know. It's the only Japanese car that can be imported and legalized for street use in CA without a drive side swap. I don't know about UK cars.

 

[Klostrophobic]

I was under the impression that any car could be converted to right hand drive.

 

[Acroth]

that might be true in cali.... guess it differ's in different states.... i personally know of a RHD 300zx, and RHD civic hb, that were both imported that way....

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara
Additionally, the Skyline is the only car that can be legalized with RHD. Any other has to have the drive side swapped to LHD.

Completely untrue - there's no law that says anything of the sort.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

All right, I get it. I guess the place I saw the info was wrong.

Here's the list I saw:
1990-1999 Nissan SKYLINE (every type allowed)

1990-1996 Toyota Soarer (same as Lexus sc300/sc400 in the US except they are faster and come with turbo's)
1990-1991 Toyota MR2
1990-1995 Mazda RX-7's (twinturbo and TYPE-R's)
1990-1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1994-1997 Honda Prelude
1991-1999 Honda accord

All vehicles except for skylines must be converted to left hand drive. That is included and the main part of the estimated legalization price. ALL Skylines stay as right hand drive vehicles.

 

[LancerEVO Boy]

How much would it cost to perform an operation such as switching the side that the steering wheel is on?

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara

All vehicles except for skylines must be converted to left hand drive.

As I said - completely untrue. I have no idea why you'd think that in order for a vehicle to be street legal it must be left-drive, excepting just one. As I said there is no law on any level stating that a car must be left-drive, and Jeep certainly made no excuses for their right-drive, US-market products:

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

What was in the last post was a direct quote from somewhere else. It, I guess, applies only to Japanese cars being imported into the US.

But, OTOH, the source could be totally wrong. I finally tracked down the info, and it turns it's from Omega Skylines, who aren't known for honesty or correctness....

 

[MiXx]

They are right, Any car can be RHD. Its just the registering a RHD is a pain in the ASS. If its not a well know RHD vhecial I heard you have to present crash test data and other hard to find things for it (not the american data, the JAPANESE data. and I havent heard of much crash testing over there that meets US standards)

Also, JDM Evolution is going to start importing S15's soon just like Motorex and the skyline, all RHD.

Back to what EVOboy here was saying, Im going with everyone else. An EVO is nothing for a first timer to be toying with. Ive driven Evos, I even learned to drift in a Evo. It takes skill and reasoning to drive a car that responsive, somethign that 16 year olds wouldnt have. But hey, im not stopping you, its your money, u do what u want to do with it. But I do seriously reccomend getting a non AWD non rally style car first.

But if u do go agianst all reasoning, check out PRUVEN autosports. They are the creators of the Fastest EVO VIII on earth as of currently at 11.62@121.27MPH runnin on 22.5PSI

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by MiXx
They are right, Any car can be RHD. Its just the registering a RHD is a pain in the ASS.

Well no - registering it is exactly the same.

If its not a well know RHD vhecial I heard you have to present crash test data and other hard to find things for it (not the american data, the JAPANESE data. and I havent heard of much crash testing over there that meets US standards)

You do have to present crash test information when importing cars unofficially, but I haven't heard anything about having to present home-country statistics to meet US standards, especially because many countries have no crash test ratings at all.

 

[MiXx]

Originally posted by M5Power
You do have to present crash test information when importing cars unofficially, but I haven't heard anything about having to present home-country statistics to meet US standards, especially because many countries have no crash test ratings at all. [/B]

I may be wrong, im getting it straight from a gov site. Might of miss read it, but I ment u have present the data for the RHD version of the car as it may be "different" from the LHD

The site:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ELIG0521-03.html

And I read that someone said importing a EVO VIII isnt possible. This is true as it doesent have a Front Bumper which is required in the states according ot what ive read...dun remeber where...

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by MiXx
I may be wrong, im getting it straight from a gov site. Might of miss read it, but I ment u have present the data for the RHD version of the car as it may be "different" from the LHD

The site:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ELIG0521-03.html

The wonderful direct quote from the NHTSA concerning general safety is: "§30141 A1B permits a nonconforming motor vehicle to be admitted to the United States if its safety features comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards ... as the Secretary of Transportation decides to be adequate." Now, as the Secretary of Transportation (Norm Mineta) is the member of President Bush cabinet, I'm sure he hasn't got time to deem every vehicle adequate or inadequate, but the point is made - it isn't a Federal standard's call, it's a human's judgement.

The quote concerning right- and left-drive cars is very complicated. Practically, it says that the NHTSA feels than right-drive cars aren't as safe as left-drive cars, but if the manufacturer or registered importer can prove a close similarity in crash tests between a left-drive and right-drive version of the car (and, assumably, the NHTSA feels the crash test is satisfactory), the NHTSA will allow it without conversion. They are also very quick to note that "there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle."

And I read that someone said importing a EVO VIII isnt possible. This is true as it doesent have a Front Bumper which is required in the states according ot what ive read...dun remeber where...

It's missing a five-mph front bumper, the point of which is to cause no damage when in a minor accident at under five mph. This restriction is only for cars sold new, so imported cars for private use can dodge it entirely.

 

[Klostrophobic]

Could I import a Honda Civic from London that has been imported from the United States?

 

[LancerEVO Boy]

What happened to the Eggs and Ketchup?

 

[MiXx]

Originally posted by Klostrophobic
Could I import a Honda Civic from London that has been imported from the United States?

Im thinking so....Not totaly sure, but Ive got friends in the AF that take their cars everyhwere with them. so im etting you can, especially as it started off as a car here in the US anyway....