Figured I'd start a thread to share my experience with the import process on my new 90, track progress on the project and keep track of part numbers and the like. Hope fellow members can keep me from running too far astray, and if I learn any lessons I'll track them here for posterity. I assume these 90's will get more popular as time goes on.
I did my import through The Import Guys, after reading good experiences with them in Jalopnik. They offer an inventory of imported cars, and also have an import service. Most of the cars in stock are Skylines, Supras and the like, along with a few Kei cars. I tried Steve at Land Cruisers Direct after reading the reviews here, but I couldn't get a response from him even when offering to buy a vehicle he had in inventory. I tried multiple times to contact him and never heard back. At The Import Guys, I mostly dealt with Dylan, who was responsive, helpful, and gave me advice on bids and reserves.
After losing about a dozen auctions, I saw this 90. It's a 1996 3-door in RZ trim (which I believe is the highest tier on the 3-door), with a 1KZ-TE and 190k km on the clock. I had initially wanted a manual, but I thought an auto would be a little easier on my first RHD car- one fewer thing to think about doing backwards. The first round, the auction failed to meet reserve. Dylan was able to find out what the reserve was, and I waited for it to come back up and bid to win the second time. Won the auction January 13 for 829,000 yen - higher than I initially budgeted, but this one was clean and the 3-doors seem to be a little pricier than the 5-doors.
Total cost from the Import Guys on top of the vehicle was just under $4k. That includes shipping to Newport News, insurance, all costs on the Japanese side, all costs on the US side (excepting NC state sales tax and registration), a WA state title and The Import Guys' flat rate fee.
I'm still waiting for a ship date, but will update with dates as soon as I get them.
I did my import through The Import Guys, after reading good experiences with them in Jalopnik. They offer an inventory of imported cars, and also have an import service. Most of the cars in stock are Skylines, Supras and the like, along with a few Kei cars. I tried Steve at Land Cruisers Direct after reading the reviews here, but I couldn't get a response from him even when offering to buy a vehicle he had in inventory. I tried multiple times to contact him and never heard back. At The Import Guys, I mostly dealt with Dylan, who was responsive, helpful, and gave me advice on bids and reserves.
After losing about a dozen auctions, I saw this 90. It's a 1996 3-door in RZ trim (which I believe is the highest tier on the 3-door), with a 1KZ-TE and 190k km on the clock. I had initially wanted a manual, but I thought an auto would be a little easier on my first RHD car- one fewer thing to think about doing backwards. The first round, the auction failed to meet reserve. Dylan was able to find out what the reserve was, and I waited for it to come back up and bid to win the second time. Won the auction January 13 for 829,000 yen - higher than I initially budgeted, but this one was clean and the 3-doors seem to be a little pricier than the 5-doors.
Total cost from the Import Guys on top of the vehicle was just under $4k. That includes shipping to Newport News, insurance, all costs on the Japanese side, all costs on the US side (excepting NC state sales tax and registration), a WA state title and The Import Guys' flat rate fee.
I'm still waiting for a ship date, but will update with dates as soon as I get them.
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