What if...

[Dead91silvia]

What if you could get a 1997 or older Imported Legacy GT-B, RS, Turbo Forester, or even a Impreza STi or WRX from Japan with legit papers...? Would you and what would you be willing to pay for one that had an American title (says what car it really is) and ready to drive? Mind you, it would NOT be cut in half like my Pulsar was... haha :grin:

[GTDrifter]

I'd put out 15-20 grand for a v5 Sti or a gt-b

[Danny-G]

I would try to get a '92 Legacy rs type ra. Or a gt-b.

[elislider]

I would pay for one, probably whatever it costs. I'd want a 98+ Impreza though, the 97's arent that great (unless it was a Type R/RA) and nothing pre-96 would be worth the money.

if you have the means, i'd love to hear more

[Huffer]

I'd put out 15-20 grand for a v5 Sti or a gt-b

That's stupid. Sorry, but the vehicle just isn't worth that much! If you wanted one that badly, save your 20grand, move to New Zealand, the UK, or Japan and buy one for pennies.

[Huffer]

What if you could get a 1997 or older Imported Legacy GT-B, RS, Turbo Forester, or even a Impreza STi or WRX from Japan with legit papers...? Would you and what would you be willing to pay for one that had an American title (says what car it really is) and ready to drive? Mind you, it would NOT be cut in half like my Pulsar was... haha :grin:

Getting a legitimate US title on that kind of non-cut, real VIN#, vehicle would be interesting. I'd love to know how someone would prove to the NHTSA that these RHD vehicles are safe for the American road.

I still wouldn't pay more than what I would pay for one in New Zealand though - because the turbo version is the only real, significant thing that separates the USDM from the JDM car. Everything else is cosmetic or reasonably readily available. And with Subaru now currently offering turbo versions of all of it's vehicles it's not really a niche market now. And the newer cars offer much more in the way of reliability, ease of tuning and performance. Plus, they're more comfortable. But they are common.

Now, if you can get a 22B, then we can talk.

;)

[GTDrifter]

I'd put out 15-20 grand for a v5 Sti or a gt-b

That's stupid. Sorry, but the vehicle just isn't worth that much! If you wanted one that badly, save your 20grand, move to New Zealand, the UK, or Japan and buy one for pennies.
that was including price of the car, shipping, every other expense, etc plus that was the max I would spend :smt023

[phi11]

What if......






aliens?

[elislider]

What if you could get a 1997 or older Imported Legacy GT-B, RS, Turbo Forester, or even a Impreza STi or WRX from Japan with legit papers...? Would you and what would you be willing to pay for one that had an American title (says what car it really is) and ready to drive? Mind you, it would NOT be cut in half like my Pulsar was... haha :grin:

Getting a legitimate US title on that kind of non-cut, real VIN#, vehicle would be interesting. I'd love to know how someone would prove to the NHTSA that these RHD vehicles are safe for the American road.

I still wouldn't pay more than what I would pay for one in New Zealand though - because the turbo version is the only real, significant thing that separates the USDM from the JDM car. Everything else is cosmetic or reasonably readily available. And with Subaru now currently offering turbo versions of all of it's vehicles it's not really a niche market now. And the newer cars offer much more in the way of reliability, ease of tuning and performance. Plus, they're more comfortable. But they are common.

Now, if you can get a 22B, then we can talk.

;)
The only way I know of is legally importing to Canada (easy but expensive part) then doing some fancy distracting hand movements while you import the car to the USA as the "owner", then transfer ownership to someone else. or something like that. or a VIN swap

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I would pay a good amount of money to import a V5/6 STi or a GT-B Limited into the country. Then I could say, "Because Race Car!" lol

[Dead91silvia]

No VIN swapping involved and they would come into a West coast port...




I'd put out 15-20 grand for a v5 Sti or a gt-b

That's stupid. Sorry, but the vehicle just isn't worth that much! If you wanted one that badly, save your 20grand, move to New Zealand, the UK, or Japan and buy one for pennies.
that was including price of the car, shipping, every other expense, etc plus that was the max I would spend :smt023

Wouldnt cost that much.... It would be fair to cost of car, shipping, bla bla bla...



What if you could get a 1997 or older Imported Legacy GT-B, RS, Turbo Forester, or even a Impreza STi or WRX from Japan with legit papers...? Would you and what would you be willing to pay for one that had an American title (says what car it really is) and ready to drive? Mind you, it would NOT be cut in half like my Pulsar was... haha :grin:

Getting a legitimate US title on that kind of non-cut, real VIN#, vehicle would be interesting. I'd love to know how someone would prove to the NHTSA that these RHD vehicles are safe for the American road.

I still wouldn't pay more than what I would pay for one in New Zealand though - because the turbo version is the only real, significant thing that separates the USDM from the JDM car. Everything else is cosmetic or reasonably readily available. And with Subaru now currently offering turbo versions of all of it's vehicles it's not really a niche market now. And the newer cars offer much more in the way of reliability, ease of tuning and performance. Plus, they're more comfortable. But they are common.

Now, if you can get a 22B, then we can talk.

;)

Food for thought... MY JDM Pulsar GTIR has a going rate in Japan of about $2-4K for a nice car. Not a spendy car at all. The going rate for a papered one in the USA is $9-10K for a POS... $10-16K for a clean one. Bad paper work is $5-7K.

To me USDM Impreza RS's are only worth about $4-6K, but thats all I would pay if I wanted one. A car is worth what someone is willing to pay, regardless of what people say they are worth.

[jamaha51]

Idk if its just me but I wouldn't want a RHD car, my left hand is too uncoordinated too shift haha.

[Yamazaki]

Idk if its just me but I wouldn't want a RHD car, my left hand is too uncoordinated too shift haha.
That actually isn't as much a problem as you'd think. I actually learned how to drive manual over here and had no problem adjusting to the US. The problem is when you go to a drive-thru or something like that....

[Dead91silvia]

HA... yeah, thats one thing I kinda cant wait to learn is what it's like to drive RHD with my Pulsar. I figured I would just use the Drive Through in reverse! :grin:

[1996Battlewagon]

HA... yeah, thats one thing I kinda cant wait to learn is what it's like to drive RHD with my Pulsar. I figured I would just use the Drive Through in reverse! :grin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOvRi-VYitI

I'd LOVE to get my hands on a 96 GT-B wagon. The car itself can't be worth more than $6-$8 grand so I'd wouldn't go past $10 or $11 to get one here. I honestly think it would be worth it given that I'd leave the car BOX STOCK and daily it everywhere. Perfect DD in my opinion.

[elislider]

^ i LOLed

[Dead91silvia]

HA... yeah, thats one thing I kinda cant wait to learn is what it's like to drive RHD with my Pulsar. I figured I would just use the Drive Through in reverse! :grin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOvRi-VYitI

I'd LOVE to get my hands on a 96 GT-B wagon. The car itself can't be worth more than $6-$8 grand so I'd wouldn't go past $10 or $11 to get one here. I honestly think it would be worth it given that I'd leave the car BOX STOCK and daily it everywhere. Perfect DD in my opinion.

I have the same plans to do just that with my Pulsar! hahaha...

That might be about the price range to get a GT-B here, legal and driving... I want one for myself as well, or an RS but since I have a BD already, a wagon makes more sense.

[nikolaus.conrad]

What if......






aliens?

^This.

My first choice would be a real GT-B but I wouldn't mind an older STi. LMAO at the reverse Taco Bell drive through. That would make my night if I worked there.

[HeresMyMind]

i've spent 15-20 grand on my car.... so no i wouldnt import one. mines faster and handles better haha

-B

[Yamazaki]

i've spent 15-20 grand on my car.... so no i wouldnt import one. mines faster and handles better haha

-B
This is how I feel. I wonder why people want cars from here when they can:
1) Make their own car faster/more powerful; and
2) just get a few parts and have essentailly the same thing.

The only cars I can understand wanting from here are ones like:
1) Suzuki Mightyboy (the turbo one, of course)
2) Mazda Autozam AZ-1
3) Honda Beat
4) Suzuki Cappuccino
5) and so on and so on... (basically ultralights that we have no chance of finding in the US).

[HeresMyMind]

just so everyone gets some perspective of how addicting modding goes...

buying the car with 110k on it 6500$ (now has 192k)
wrx engine 3000$ for first one, 2000$ for second, 1700$ for third. (I blew up the first two)
5 speed swap 1500$
headlights 800$
fog lights 200$
grill 170$
brakes 1700$
wrx interior 200$
led lighting 50$
exhaust 750$
intake 100$
tune x 2 350$ each
clutch 700$
rims/tires 900$ includes both sets
stereo 300$
200$ struts/springs
350$ sways / endlinks
that does NOT include small things like oil changes, timing belt kits. stuff like that.

[nikolaus.conrad]

This is how I feel. I wonder why people want cars from here when they can:
1) Make their own car faster/more powerful; and
2) just get a few parts and have essentailly the same thing.


Outback and GT-B. Just do a RHD swap and add a twin turbo engine :twisted:

[Dead91silvia]

Ok... So this is in a little perspective...

this is what I have spent so far...

1998 Legacy GT sedan: $4800
JDM bumper: $660+$100 (paint)= $750 ish
JDM headlights: $200
JDM tail lights: $125
JDM mudguards: $120 ish? I cant remember...
2005 17" GT wheels: $260+$75 (paint)=$325 ish
JDM side markers: $30
= $6,355

What do I have? I car that looks JDM, and is still slow as hell. Thats just for the cosmetic part to make it look this way, not the other do-dads such as JDM stainless scuff plates, motor maintenance. I still have a N/A 2.5 with high miles, auto, and poopy suspension for the most part.

I still want to do a motor swap. Well, thats going to be at minimum $2500 for parts if not more like $4000. So add that to the $6300 and it goes over 10K and I have to do all the work myself. Having a shop do it would be more like $15K.

So I see having a JDM car as a price break in many ways. Time and money if I want something Turbo. It's just like building a S13 Silvia. A complete car can be had for $5-8K. Well to do a front end swap, motor swap (CA or SR), and then build it, your well into the $5-8K and thats if your lucky to get a nice clean car.

So money wise, it makes sense to import one if you can... I do agree though, odd cars we never got is more of a selling point. No one knows anything about my Pulsar and as soon as they find out about it they are in awe... :grin:

[camroncamera]

Well if we're gonna play the "What if" game, then H6 3.3 (looking at you, httrdd (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=9389) :)

But really, this (http://wrightspeed.com/circuit.html) or this (http://www.evdrive.com/products/evd-motor-controller/).

[Huffer]

Dead has a good point - a lot of us forget to include the time spent on labor to get our USDM cars to "look" and "drive" like a similar JDM counterpart. True, even if a WRX swap is available to USDM owners, its still not difficult to convert a GT-B car to single turbo.

So, given all of that effort, and the cost point being the same, it's a bit of an even draw. In terms of performance potential, I go with the USDM chassis - you have more access to the later model and more advanced STi and WRX engines, and dropping those in with a minimal wiring fuss is quite possible. Also, the tuneability of the later model ECUs gives them far more of an advantage over the stock JDM engines.

That being said, it's also feasible to rip out the JDM twin turbo engine and replace it with a USDM motor from a WRX or STI.

Personally, I'd much rather spend the money on tinkering with the engine than messing about with body cosmetics.