OK, I have considered exporting/importing an 80 with turbo diesel and 5sp from Europe(except the UK) to the US when I move back next year. But I have not had too much promising of a lead, yet. Not to mention it seems like most of them have a lot of miles on them, too. I guess not any more than ones in the US, but...
It seems like vehicles here in Japan have less miles/kilos(it's a small country)and in immaculate conditions(not many of them even have rock chips on them).
So I'm wondering, would it be a worthwhile option to export a 5sp turbo diesel(maybe with a cool console box) or a petrol wagon with rear AC and then convert it to LHD later on.
Has anyone done anything like this, not necessarily with an 80, but RHD vehicles in general or vise-versa? I guess if I had to, I could drive it RHD for awhile(my wife would kill me, but...)
Or would it be too cost prohibitive(I know that's all relative, but...). I could not do the conversion myself, so I would have to have the dealer or a shop do it for me, either with new or used parts. Any ball-park figure on either one of them?
Would the dash with airbags or without them make that much difference('93-'94 and '95-'97); i.e., steering wheel with air bag and the passenger-side airbag interchangeable with LHD model's?
Who knows, it might not even be legal. One guy here said that it would be next to impossible.
By the way, here is the YAHOO JAPAN auction link with Land Cruiser search done with pics shown. I don't think you'll have to log on to be able to view. I didn't have to. But if you do, I apologize in advance. Take a look and let me know what you think. You might find it interesting.
http://list1.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/2084016698-category-leaf.html?f=&alocale=0jp&mode=2
Note: The "H10, H3, H..." numbers between the mileage and the price mean the Japanese year(we use 2003, too). But "H7" is 1995, "H8", 1996 and so on, meaning how many years the Emperor has been running the country
Anyway...have pity on me. :
Any wisdom would be very much appreciated.
mot
It seems like vehicles here in Japan have less miles/kilos(it's a small country)and in immaculate conditions(not many of them even have rock chips on them).
So I'm wondering, would it be a worthwhile option to export a 5sp turbo diesel(maybe with a cool console box) or a petrol wagon with rear AC and then convert it to LHD later on.
Has anyone done anything like this, not necessarily with an 80, but RHD vehicles in general or vise-versa? I guess if I had to, I could drive it RHD for awhile(my wife would kill me, but...)
Or would it be too cost prohibitive(I know that's all relative, but...). I could not do the conversion myself, so I would have to have the dealer or a shop do it for me, either with new or used parts. Any ball-park figure on either one of them?
Would the dash with airbags or without them make that much difference('93-'94 and '95-'97); i.e., steering wheel with air bag and the passenger-side airbag interchangeable with LHD model's?
Who knows, it might not even be legal. One guy here said that it would be next to impossible.
By the way, here is the YAHOO JAPAN auction link with Land Cruiser search done with pics shown. I don't think you'll have to log on to be able to view. I didn't have to. But if you do, I apologize in advance. Take a look and let me know what you think. You might find it interesting.
http://list1.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/2084016698-category-leaf.html?f=&alocale=0jp&mode=2
Note: The "H10, H3, H..." numbers between the mileage and the price mean the Japanese year(we use 2003, too). But "H7" is 1995, "H8", 1996 and so on, meaning how many years the Emperor has been running the country
Anyway...have pity on me. :
Any wisdom would be very much appreciated.
mot