Advice on buying a Japanese import

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:47 pm

Looking into buying a Japanese import for my next Work
Horse want something with 7 seats+ looking at either a Honda Odyssey or a Honda Stepwagon. Any advice on either the model or buying a jap import in general. Don’t mind about depreciation or selling it at the end as I usually keep my work cars till the death. Will have to look into insurance increases. Cheers for any help or advice in advance. All the best!

Odyssey

: E47D8F3A-EE1D-4FCE-A50B-556944E3608F.png (981.76 KiB) Viewed 2758 times

Stepwagon

: 499529D5-68A0-41CD-9B24-68BBC586B81A.jpeg (194.03 KiB) Viewed 2758 times

: 6FC274F4-2790-48F0-8D85-45FD5340AEE0.jpeg (184.03 KiB) Viewed 2758 times

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:00 pm

Unless the car is rare it is not worth all the hassle and costs on importing a car from Japan. Car prices in the UK are actually lower for second hand cars
https://www.tradecarview.com/used_car/bmw/z4/

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:04 pm

raymond.harper wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:00 pmUnless the car is rare it is not worth all the hassle and costs on importing a car from Japan. Car prices in the UK are actually lower for second hand cars
https://www.tradecarview.com/used_car/bmw/z4/

I’m not importing it. It would already be her and be registered in the uk and ready to be drive. Legally.

Also I’m not buying a z4 already have a lovely z4mc. Think you may have got the wrong end of the stick. But thanks for trying to help.

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:06 pm

Just make sure the documentation is correct, and that if it's needed to have vat/import duties paid on it, they have been paid, otherwise HMRC can come after the current owner for them.. I know someone that happened to a few years back, he bought from an AT ad, and six months later had a knock at the door and had to pay I think £1200 or they were taking the car away there and then.

Mike

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:15 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:06 pm Just make sure the documentation is correct, and that if it's needed to have vat/import duties paid on it, they have been paid, otherwise HMRC can come after the current owner for them.. I know someone that happened to a few years back, he bought from an AT ad, and six months later had a knock at the door and had to pay I think £1200 or they were taking the car away there and then.

Mike

Cheers mate. Will triple check that as I’m sure u can appreciate I’m sick of paying them bastards every penny! Ur a knowledgeable guy when it comes to cars what do make to the two cars (models) I’ve proposed. Any knowledge on them?

un1eash · Post by **un1eash** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:17 pm

Worth checking if the cars under sealed as a lot of imports aren't and won't like our wet climate and salty roads.

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:27 pm

Wouldn’t of thought of that had seen a few ads that emphasised that they had been sealed which I thought was funny. Cheers

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:38 pm

Truth wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:15 pm
Cheers mate. Will triple check that as I’m sure u can appreciate I’m sick of paying them bastards every penny! Ur a knowledgeable guy when it comes to cars what do make to the two cars (models) I’ve proposed. Any knowledge on them?

Not had much dealing with imports, other than working on the ex-wife's Bongo, when she was still Friendee

But I like the look of the Honda, much nicer than those other two!

Mike

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:41 pm

I like the white ones but the benifit of the bigger white one is with the seats out it’s basically a van. 2.4t vtec should go well and touch wood be reliable??

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:47 pm

Well that white one is a grand more in the trader, and at the price in your pic, a bit of a steal imo.

Mike

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:51 pm

The big white one is £6488 69000 and the smaller white one is £3989 85000 That ones not too far from me in keighly. They have loads of cars online from £300000 lambos to £300 astras

Mister T · Post by **Mister T** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:49 am

Do some digging on the dealer before purchasing, Motorhub in Keighley have an interesting reputation...

Truth · Post by **Truth** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:52 am

Thought they might they have a weird range of cars and a lot of them seemed funny

Buckz · Post by **Buckz** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:55 am

avoid motorhub at all costs! I am assuming the white oddysey they're selling is the one in your picture.

with imports check the documents, check the grade 4 and over is usually good condition for a newer car(less than 10years old) and undersealing is important but you gotta keep in mind that it is the case with ALL jap cars... even the ones sold in uk do not have proper rust protection and they love to go crusty.

other than that I see no issue. I drive a 1994 MK1 mx5 imported from japan in 2007.

sticky · Post by **sticky** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:07 am

I think Motorhub in Keighley used to be Keighley motors, look up Goodmayes for Jap imports, all documented

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com