Has anyone had any experience of buying a Japanese Import? Went to see one yesterday - a 1996 TDi. Appears to be immaculate both inside and out, but priced quite low for it's 60,000 mileage. Can anyone offer me any advice? Is there anything specific I should ask or look for? I would be greatful for any imput.
G13SJC
New Member
I see a lot advertised in LRO Magazine. There is a company which specialises in them and normally has over 100 in stock.
Japanese models usually have a higher spec (look for rear aircon etc) and have very tight emission regulations, so should sail through our MOT inspections. Most have spent their whole lives on tarmac and have never been used off road.
I have only ever seen Series 1 Disco's. I would be very interested in a low mileage japanese imported series 2
(Maybe they will appear in a few years)
G13SJC
New Member
Do you happen to know the name of the company you saw in LRO? I could wait till I get home and trawl through some mags, but at work at the moment and could look up on internet (in lunch break of course)! Thanks for your reply.
Just done a search on the net, but no luck. I'll check my copy of LRO later (also at home) and post the details.
revjames
New Member
I lived in NZ for a few years and they had a lot of jap imports. Being probably the nearest RHD country to japan. I bought a 5 year old mitsubishi eterna TDi (a bit like the newer galant) and for a while all was OK. High spec lots of extras. Mileage was 147K kilometers which is not a lot for a diesel. 2 years later the engine was scrap and I had to replace it at enormous cost.
The thing is this:
1 How trustworthy is the service history and mileage? Jap cars have to pass a very stringent MOT after 4 years so most users neglect them and then sell them off after 4 years.
2, Getting parts can be tricky as the spec is so different.
3, Insurance costs will be higher.
However, if you really know your stuff then give it a good going over and buy it on the basis of its condition.
The place you are looking for is Car Equality - The Land Rover Specialist but £8500 for a P reg 300tdi I wouldnt bother.
The thing is this:
1 How trustworthy is the service history and mileage? Jap cars have to pass a very stringent MOT after 4 years so most users neglect them and then sell them off after 4 years.
2, Getting parts can be tricky as the spec is so different.
3, Insurance costs will be higher.
However, if you really know your stuff then give it a good going over and buy it on the basis of its condition.
The place you are looking for is Car Equality - The Land Rover Specialist but £8500 for a P reg 300tdi I wouldnt bother.
i bought one last year it wasent used off road or had a tow bar fixed they nearly always low milage make sure it has had a cam belt changed since its been brought over here and a full service as for all you know the service history that comes with it could be a menu from a jap restraunt unless your fluant in japanese just dont tell the insurance people unless they ask if they havent had it done haggle abit
I have been phoning round to see if I would have any problems with insurance and have found that most of the big names won't touch it. However, a company called Algy's Autos who import cars from Japan recommended a company called Life Sure. They specialise in insuring Japanese imports, but also do 'normal' insurance. They actually understand that a discovery is a European car and therefore will still insure it under a standard policy and actually quoted me less that I have been paying for my Freelander, but with better benefits!
dangerous dave
New Member
sureterm, 08702020230 our lass just re-newed her insurance £190 quid full comp!
Hi,
I bought a series one Disco "County" 98 R plate Jap import last year with
59K on clock. Km speedo had been changed to miles & odometer adjusted
for conversion & I have the original Km speedo with import documentation.
This was brought back to UK thru Car Equality and is in great nick,
no corrosion,good spec i.e. aircon,cruise,1/2 leather,twin suns,
waxoyled & timng belt changed.
Got it insured ok thru Endsleigh & no issues with parts i.e. all standard as car is UK built.
I'm the second owner since it was brought back to UK so the guy I bought
it from paid the high premium that Car Equality seem to charge.
Cheers.
I bought a series one Disco "County" 98 R plate Jap import last year with
59K on clock. Km speedo had been changed to miles & odometer adjusted
for conversion & I have the original Km speedo with import documentation.
This was brought back to UK thru Car Equality and is in great nick,
no corrosion,good spec i.e. aircon,cruise,1/2 leather,twin suns,
waxoyled & timng belt changed.
Got it insured ok thru Endsleigh & no issues with parts i.e. all standard as car is UK built.
I'm the second owner since it was brought back to UK so the guy I bought
it from paid the high premium that Car Equality seem to charge.
Cheers.
revjames
New Member
'County' is similar to the ES in spec. I saw a p reg one going for £8.5K in car equality which seems an awful lot considering you would get a very good one for half that which was UK new. I would be interested to see what an import costing £8500 would be worth a year later.
hughesy
Well-Known Member
JC is Conwy I believe. EY is Anglesey, CC is Caernarfonshire.
hughesy
Well-Known Member
Yeah they've changed em all now anyway, they're all CX or CW now. I'd love an old Anglesey plate just EY and a few numbers
hughesy
Well-Known Member
Less than a UK one I would have thought assuming the condition was the same
yella
New Member
have a look here UK CAR Registration plate and year data
you will see that all tha above mentioned are actually bangor reg's as this is where the main dvla office is
I agree, £8500 is way over the top. The car I'm looking at is £3995 and I have an envelope of cash with £3500 in it - that's what I'm going to offer if it test drives ok and my friend who is a Landrover specialist mechanic thinks it's ok. I will let you know on my return! This one was imported last August, so that may answer your question on what it's worth after a year!
G13SJC
New Member
Bought for me in 2001 as an Xmas gift.
Number 1-20 are cherished numbers. The 1 and the 3 together make a 'B', so the plate reads
GB and my initials SJC
In the family we also have G13 JLC, G13 RSC and we had G13 ELC, but lost due to an MOT expiry and lapse. The vehicle stood for a few years, but had to be RE-MOT'd, taxed, insured and inspected before the plate could be transferred. The car (metro) needed £800 worth of work, so we decided to leave and buy back. My sister then decided she couldn't be bothered and would change her last initial anyway upon marriage!!
Regards,
Steve
