1994 Japanese Spec Diesel Cruiser In Palo Alto

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patpend2000

patpend2000

Joined
Nov 20, 2003
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I was at the East Palo Alto Home Depot on Sat morning, walking up there is a cruiser in the lumber loading area, I noticed the headlights were 4 square 7" and there was a turbo badge on the grill.

The doors were open and they were loading it up, Yep, 5 spd, center console cooler, cloth interior, winch... all the good stuff.

I asked the owner about it, he said that he imported it from Japan and then took it to Anaheim to have it federalized. He said that it cost him $12K to have it federalized.

so, obviously someone has done this, would the next one be cheaper? I would have talked to him longer but he was busy loading up.

Man, I want one!

Kelly
 
LHD?

-B-
 
It was LHD, that's what makes me a little suspicious about his story.

Yep, those are the headlights.
 
patpend2000 said:
He said that it cost him $12K to have it federalized.
Click to expand...


:eek: :eek: :eek:

Damn I want one but that is kinda steep.
 
Maybe the price for being "federalized" includes being left hand driverized.
 
aamiggia said:
Maybe the price for being "federalized" includes being left hand driverized.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking, I've heard that it costs between 10-15k to do that . . .
 
Why would you pay 10-15K to have it switched? I loved my RHD truck...it is unique. IMHO it isn't worth 10K to make it easier at drive thru's or atm'. ;)
 
Last edited:
From my research with the Canadian importers, driving a RHD is not that difficult. But most average people would probably pay a premium to have a LHD diesel cruiser or a RHD.

I would think the hardest thing to do is make a left turn in RHD vehicle. The line of sight would be bad, although Cruiser have a commanding view of the road.

I've heard that any vehicle can be imported into the US as long as it is "Federalized". My question is how much of the 12k is for federalizing and how much is for LeftHandDriverizing? Do you have to make it LHD, I know a lot of the JDM cruiser guys drive in the US. I don't think it's illegal.
 
The worst thing about RHD is passing. It is difficult to see around big trucks. You must swing out into the other lane to have a look.
Cheers,
Sean
 
LHD or RHD, it makes no difference, its the EPA and DOT. the EPA in this case would be the big hurdle.

aamiggia said:
From my research with the Canadian importers, driving a RHD is not that difficult. But most average people would probably pay a premium to have a LHD diesel cruiser or a RHD.

I would think the hardest thing to do is make a left turn in RHD vehicle. The line of sight would be bad, although Cruiser have a commanding view of the road.

I've heard that any vehicle can be imported into the US as long as it is "Federalized". My question is how much of the 12k is for federalizing and how much is for LeftHandDriverizing? Do you have to make it LHD, I know a lot of the JDM cruiser guys drive in the US. I don't think it's illegal.
Click to expand...
 
You could and maybe still can order a LHD cruiser to be delivered to you FOB a port in Japan for export. A few landcruisers used to go into eastern Russia that way. Optionally you could just go to a left hand drive jurisdiction and buy one from a dealer and export it here.

The purchaser would then have to pay a Registered Importer to get it legal in the U.S.. Read the "Everything I know about Importing" thread in the international cruiser section for details on what would be involved but $12,000 sounds plausible and maybe even cheap. The hard part is that Toyota doesn't encourage grey market imports and would not supply you with much data. However, if someone has done it and you could find the RI who did it it should not be nearly as pricey the second time as long as it is the same model and year.

A 94 north american 80 has no airbags making an export easier so that would be the last "easy" year for importing an 80.
 
RHD vehicles are perfectly legal here in the US. Up until a couple years ago, you could order a RHD Subaru Legacy Wagon at any US Subaru dealership.

DougM
 
Yeah, but then you would have a Legacy..... I think those were used as rural postie rides. Still a Subi that slow just doesn't bring it for me. Now a WRX sti bird of a different feather.
 
speyrod said:
Yeah, but then you would have a Legacy..... I think those were used as rural postie rides. Still a Subi that slow just doesn't bring it for me. Now a WRX sti bird of a different feather.
Click to expand...

That would be a dated statement, the new Legacy GT's put out about 250 hp. . . not that I'd ever get one. . .

There really seems to be some missing information on the subject, no one really seems to be able to say definitely whether importing a RHD is possible NOW.
 
it is possible to import a RHD into the US if you have enough money. The problem is that under the import process for newer vehicles you must demonstrate that the car meets safety standards. Normally as a car manufacturer you must crash test the particular model a few times to do this. This is not a problem with a LHD imported 80 because they were sold here and all you have to do is convince them it's pretty much the same as the n/a model or upgrade it to match. However, they will not necessarily accept that a RHD vehicle is the same safety wise as a LHD model. They might make you crash test it.
 
MTNRAT said:
The worst thing about RHD is passing. It is difficult to see around big trucks. You must swing out into the other lane to have a look.
Cheers,
Sean
Click to expand...


I haven't had the opportunity to pass anything in an 80. What's it like :D ?

David
 
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