BUYING DIRECT OPUT OF JAPAN

[BIG D]

I,M NEW TO THIS SITE BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY GREAT SITE I CHECKED IT OUT BEFORE I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM JAPAN SO WAS ON TOP OF IT ALL BEFORE I WENT AHEAD WITH THE PURCHASE.
I WAS A BIT NERVOUS BUT NOW IT IS ALL DONE AND I HAVE MY P35W HIGH ROOF DELICA SAT IN MY DRIVE WAY ME AND MY WIFE ARE VERY HAPPY
WE SAVED A STACK OF CASH BY DOING IT OURSELVES AROUND 6000 GRAND BUT THE MAIN THING WE FOUND OUT IS USE ONE OF THE BIG GUYS IN JAPAN AND AN ENGLISH SPEAKING COMPANY TO!!!!
WE USED JAPAN AUTO DIRECT AS THEY HAD GOOD REVIEWS ON MOST OF THE FORUMS AND THERE SERVICE WAS GOOD THEY HELPED US OUT WITH A CUTOMS BROKER AS WELL.
I THINK THE GUYS NAME WAS DANE AND MY FRIEND MATT PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH HIM AS HE HAD DONE IT BEFORE THROUGH THE SAME COMPANY.
YOU ARE BETTER PAYING A BIT MORE AND GETTING A GOOD ONE.
BUT ALL IN ALL THERE ARE HORROR STORIES BUT FOR US THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.
WE HAVE ALREADY GOT SKI RACKS ETC AND BEEN IN THE SNOW A FEW TIMES AND THE THING HANDELES ANYTHING!!
ME AND MY WIFE JUST WANTED TO SAY TO ANYONE WHO IS THINKING OF DOING IT
MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND PAY A BIT MORE FOR A NICE CAR
USE ANY ONE BIG LIKE I SAID BEFORE JAPAN AUTO DIRECT
AND IF YOU ARE AS LUCKY AS US YOU SHOULD BE UP FOR A GREAT 2008
INTERESTED IN ANY ONE WHO HAS DONE THIS AS WELL.
REGARDS LIQUID

[PcSpecialist]

"WE SAVED A STACK OF CASH BY DOING IT OURSELVES AROUND 6000 GRAND"

So, if I am reading this right. I see a lot of Delicas for sale for between 10500 and 12000 with all work done to make it legal, and you are saying that you got yours here, and on the road for about $4500 to $6000? Is that right? I haven't bought one yet so am curious if I read your post right.
Thanks

[coach]

I too have gone the DIY (do it yourself) route and I hope to have my Deli this week. Nothing against those providing the service of importing them, but I wanted to try to get exactly what I wanted and not have to pay an extra few thousand for it....and I just happened to have the time at this time of year to put into the project as it does require more time and effort than a trip to Parksville or Vancouver.

1992, 90000 km Super Exceed, all the options, it was a 3.5, B at the Tokyo i-AUC. My exporter in Japan did an inspection and all looked good. He arranged a fairly full service of the van in Japan (changed timing belt, all fluids, filters, water pump and some other stuff) for about $850 Can, included pics of the work being done.

After paying for everything on this side of the pond it should come in at a total price of about $8500-87000 including the compliance mods, tax etc....

And, as everyone else says, it's true, this forum has been extremely helpful.

My only questions is......from the time the boat lands to the car clearing customs, how long should that take? I am using a customs broker, but the boat came in on Jan 3, should it be out of the customs car jail soon?

[PolyTek]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Big D, but that price doesn't include a few things, like compliance issues and servicing, and probably PST. I just did the same thing from JAD (picked up my Delica on Dec. 12 and finally insured about 10 days ago). Mine arrived in Vancouver for $5700, but then BNX's crazy fees, courier fees, GST at customs (don't forget to request a soil sample BEFORE you go to customs if you're doing it yourself), headlights, tires (I had to replace 2), a few small mechanical things, new fluids, DRLs & reflectors, compliance inspection fee, a couple A-to-B temp permits from ICBC, & PST at time of registration. My final numbers come out to about $8300 (final detailed tally to come in a while), much more in line with Coach, and I didn't do my timing belt, my brakes were in good shape.

I also had a huge pain in the ass registering the vehicle with ICBC, as Nick at JAD did not send me an official signed/stamped receipt of payment (still hasn't returned my calls). ICBC really wants a signiture from the seller on file. They reluctantly let me register with a record of my emails to JAD (in which Nick thanks me "for arranging the wire transfer", still not an acknowledgement of reciept), and the record of the wire transfer from my bank to JAD's bank in Japan.

Glad its (mostly) done.

D

[PolyTek]

Coach,

Your Delica should be released to the "local" shipper now, or soon. Are you using a customs broker, or are you doing that yourself, too?

If you are doing it yourself, the "local" shipper (usually BNX out of Toronto) will contact you. They will want a copy of the Bill of Lading and some $$$ from you. As soon as they recieve that, it can be clear throught customs. You will have to call customs, have them get you in contact with the soil exam people who will fax or email you a soil exam request from which you must complete and fax back to them. Usually, passenger vehicles have their soil exams waived, but they can choose to inspect the vehicle, in which case, you are charged a fee (no fee if they waive the inspection). A waived form will be faxed back to you. ***You must have this from BEFORE you go to customs*** Also, I was told that the person who make the decision to waive soil exams only works Tues., Wed., Thurs., so keep this in mind when planning your schedule. You will then have to go to customs with your paperwork and a cheque book to pay the GST. They will give you copies of the completed forms which you must take with you to the holding lot to pick up your vehicle. ICBC will issue you a point a to point b day permit with these forms. Make sure you get that before you got to pick up your vehicle. Bring a fresh battery, or some high-current jumpers and a "jump pack", just in case. Many batteries are dead, and they take a long time to charge to starting amperage from another vehicle (I learned this the hard way). BNX offers a $50 jumpstart service. BCAA doesn't like to send service to these kinds of call, but I managed to get them to do it. Make sure they know it's a diesel, and is really dead, and to send a truck with a serious charge/jump system.

Drive your van home, or to a shop for compiance/inspection.

Keep track of all your forms. Make sure you have proof of payment from the seller to show ICBC, preferably, a signed/stamped reciept.

Jeese I'm long winded...

D

[coach]

Hi PolyTek,

Yes, customs broker is doing it as I'm in Victoria and not able to do all the running around as needed. But, I just got the call, it'll be ready to pick up on Thursday, so yay, lucky me.