I think I'm going crazy
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I think I'm going crazy
Well I was just reading the importing rules and regulations for importing a car into the US. I think I'm crazy, but I think theres a way for someone to import a JDM GC8 STi or other similar vehicle into the US:
Now In my rendering of this, if a person were to prove that a RHD STi is SUBSTASALLY similar to the 2.5RS, or other impreza sold here they could import it. Also, I take it that if you were to have a letter FROM THE MANUFACTUER that the car is substansally similalr to the model sold here you could import it. Even if there were some diffrences (which there are) if it stated the diffrences between the models, you change those to make it comply with the code and tada! Car.
Now say, it wasnt substansally similar. You get a large group of people (say 100+) who wante to import one. You split the cost of the amount of cars taht they NEED to crash test the car.
Cost of 4 Version V Sti's at 15k a piece: 60,000 dollars. Split that between 100 people and it is less than 1000 dolars per person. Then say, 40,000 for all the crash testing, and another 5k for emisions testing of all the cars. Still, only slightly over 1k per person. Then factor in say 7 grand in modifications to make it comply and you have
Car: 15k
Testing: 1050$
Modifications to make it street legal: 7000
TOtal: 23,050
I know I'm probably crazy, but I just was thinking of this and how it could possibly work
Cheers
-Jeff
***all info gained at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...LIG102803.html ***
Under 49 U.S.C. § 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act)), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. § 30115 (formerly section 114 of the Act), and of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Where there is no substantially similar U.S. - certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. § 30141(a)(1)(B) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Act) permits a nonconforming motor vehicle to be admitted into the United States if its safety features comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive test data or such other evidence as the Secretary of Transportation decides to be adequate. Under 49 U.S.C. § 30141(a)(1) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(C)(i) of the Act), import eligibility decisions may be made "on the initiative of the Secretary of Transportation or on petition of a manufacturer or importer registered under [49 U.S.C. § 30141(c)]."
While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, an eligibility number based on a substantially similar U.S.- certified motor vehicle may not apply. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider them "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the certified left-hand drive vehicle in crash tests. If the vehicle is not substantially similar to one sold in the U.S., the RI would have to demonstrate that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, which could involve crash testing several vehicles.
Cost of 4 Version V Sti's at 15k a piece: 60,000 dollars. Split that between 100 people and it is less than 1000 dolars per person. Then say, 40,000 for all the crash testing, and another 5k for emisions testing of all the cars. Still, only slightly over 1k per person. Then factor in say 7 grand in modifications to make it comply and you have
Car: 15k
Testing: 1050$
Modifications to make it street legal: 7000
TOtal: 23,050
I know I'm probably crazy, but I just was thinking of this and how it could possibly work
Cheers
-Jeff
***all info gained at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...LIG102803.html ***
Chewwwwy
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
Why would right hand drive vs. left hand drive amke a difference as far as collisions go?
Why would right hand drive vs. left hand drive amke a difference as far as collisions go?
it has nothing to do with the drive side, they are just using that to describe the difference between usdm and jdm.
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the thing that will stop you is the fact gc8 is turbo and your impreza of the same year model is not which makes them hugely different.
drive train, gearbox, engine, seats to name a few things that are different from a standard one to a wrx.
but if you still think they are similar go right ahead and try.
oh thats right you said sti which has a diff controller, different sway bars, controll arms, power output, exhaust, wheel size, brake size and so many more thing that make them different it's not funny.
but nice try mate.
drive train, gearbox, engine, seats to name a few things that are different from a standard one to a wrx.
but if you still think they are similar go right ahead and try.
oh thats right you said sti which has a diff controller, different sway bars, controll arms, power output, exhaust, wheel size, brake size and so many more thing that make them different it's not funny.
but nice try mate.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 174
From: Las Vegas
Car Info: 2005 STI
if anyone is in elizabeth new jersey, they have a harbor there which is where JDM cars coem from. theres a company in japan that specializes in importing JDM cars over to the US. Last time they had a R33 Skyline for $31000 US but would cost an additional $15000 to make it legal (give or take a little).
What I read from that legalspeak is that you can import a JDM car IF you add all the safety features and it ends up being a relative carbon copy of the US model. As far as the engine goes, no deal. JDM GC8s have those crazy variable valve timing EJ20s which don't resemble any US engine. If they came with, for the sake of arguement, the same engine as the USDM STi but without the emissions stuff, you could upgrade the engine to USDM emissions specs and it would be much easier to get certified.
What you could do, it looks like, is import a RHD JDM GC8 and fit it with all the safety gear......and then drop a USDM engine/trans combo into it.
The safety stuff would be doable, but the engine would be a hell of a problem. Bummer.
What you could do, it looks like, is import a RHD JDM GC8 and fit it with all the safety gear......and then drop a USDM engine/trans combo into it.
The safety stuff would be doable, but the engine would be a hell of a problem. Bummer.
Last edited by The Mirror; Nov 23, 2003 at 06:03 PM.
Or...spend all that money on the WRX or 2.5rs that you have drop an STI engine and trans in and add some suspension, brakes, sway bars, ECU and so on and so forth and you have one sick WRX that is 50 state legal (on the outside) 
but having a JDM STI would be insane
but having a JDM STI would be insane
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That is very very true...
As for the engine issue, from what I read, you only would need it too pass emmisions. Would it be that hard to get it too pass? THe fact that the engine is not similar to the USDM version doen't really matter as long as it does not hamper emmisions results in my mind.
As for the engine issue, from what I read, you only would need it too pass emmisions. Would it be that hard to get it too pass? THe fact that the engine is not similar to the USDM version doen't really matter as long as it does not hamper emmisions results in my mind.
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well if anyone wants to import one from aust i am more than willing to do the work for you on this end such as finding the car and making sure it is shipped to you properly.
now i know none of you know me that well but i am willing to provide the buyer with any identification they ask for.
i would just like to see you get them there.
now i know none of you know me that well but i am willing to provide the buyer with any identification they ask for.
i would just like to see you get them there.