To get it or not?

[Kelvari]

I've had my eye on a certain MR-2 for a while, but off of my rough calculations, it's going to be ~US$20k to get it over here. Should I go ahead and save up the money for it, or wait until some time in the future to get something comparable? My current ride is a Dodge Grand Caravan, so I know it'd be a major switch to get used to something that light and (relatively) powerful.

 

[MistaX]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/elig010807b.htm

Only AW11's are on the list, and that's the DOT's list.

Just.. buy one here instead of importing one.

 

[Wolfe]

You'd be much, much better off buying a US-market SW20, getting used to how it drives, deciding whether or not you like it, and then upgrading the turbocharger (or adding one) if you find it necessary to do so.

 

[YSSMAN]

Wouldn't $20K be better spent on a different car altogether? I mean, it may just be me, but wouldn't it be easier to pick up a lightly-used Celica GT-S or "insert X car here" sports car from the last few years?

I dunno. I've never been too keen on the MR-2, much less, importing any car from really any market.

 

[Wolfe]

Wouldn't $20K be better spent on a different car altogether? I mean, it may just be me, but wouldn't it be easier to pick up a lightly-used Celica GT-S or "insert X car here" sports car from the last few years?

A ZZT230-gen Celica could be had for half that. A friend of mine got a 2002 GT for $10,000, and then felt jipped when he found a GT-S for the same price...and that was two years ago. Of course, he sold his GT to some college kid about 6 months ago...for $10,000...and bought an MR-2.

I think you may have missed the part where Kelvari said he'd be saving up for the $20k, though.

I dunno. I've never been too keen on the MR-2, much less, importing any car from really any market.

In my opinion, the costs involved with importing (assuming it's feasible/legal) are really only worth it if the car A. is not available in your market in any way, shape or form, and B. is the object of your total, complete desire and obsession.

Skyline freak shipping an R33 over? Sure.
Kelvari importing an MR-2 that we already sorta got for way too much money? Eh...no.

 

[Perfect Balance]

For 20K you could get a FD RX-7. Or basically any other japanese sports car.

 

[lmracer]

anyway, you will need more than 20K in this case. i have looked into importing an MR2 from japan as well. i found that there is a legislation in effect that prohibits any car not older than 15 years from being liscenced here in the US. if you dont want to personally conduct expensive crash testing and safety inspections under the supervision of authorities, you will not be able to get that particular car. your only chance is a 91-92 MR2. then you will only have to worry about the other red tape surrounding a proper liscensing. like seatbelts, airbag steering wheel, proper bumpers for the crash sensors, full vehicle history documentation and factory stampings.

go to mr2oc.com and follows the links to learn more.
the link below will also help a lot.

information on importing a vehicle

by the way, nice choice in vehicle. check out bestjapancar.com, they have a killer deal on a stock 92' turbo. 👍