Importing an NSX

[Ozwald]

Hi There,

I'm toying with the idea of getting an NSX but as UK supply seems to a little thin on the ground I've thought about importing from ye ole Japland. :cool:

I was wondering if any of you guys on here have had experience importing from Japan and if there are any import companies you would recommend?

Many Thanks!

Oz

[simonprelude]

Prices at the moment would seriously put me off importing a car from Japan.

Cars go for similar prices to in the UK then you need to add duty and shipping costs.

If you still wanted to do it then just contact any of the larger import groups.

[Ozwald]

I've seen that there's not alot of difference in the prices but most import companies I've looked at deal with the import duties within the OTR price, there's also alot more to choose from in Japan, if there was more of a market in the UK then I'd probaly do that... but there isn't... :S

[Sudesh]

GOOD NSX's in Japan are ALOT more expensive than UK cars and by the time you get it here its very expensive.

As an example:

Grade 4
1992
Manual,
60,000km/37,000miles
£27,000 in Japan

Landed in the UK with all the duties and on the road it would be around:
£36,000 and that price will up next year when they put the UK VAT up.

Heres another example

No Grade Listed
1991
Auto
160,000km/100,000miles
£11,000 in Japan

Price landed here on the road would be around £15k

Grade 5
1997
Manual
50,000km/30,000miles
£43,000 in Japan

Price landed here on the road would be around £56,000


Grade 4
2002
Auto
20,000km/12,000miles
£54,000 in Japan

Price landed here on the road would be around £70,000

Grade 5
2005
Manual
10,000km/6,000miles
£82,000 in Japan

Price landed here on the road would be around £105,000

So there are a few different scenarios, obviously there are in between cars and poor examples but when you weight it all up and add the duties and on the road price, you wont be getting a bargin compared to UK cars.

One thing though is, if you want really low miles and an absolutely immaculate example then Japan is the way to go for an NSX, and at the far end, go to Japan for an NSX-R or Type-S. :)

[Ozwald]

Thanks for the info Sudesh,

Guess that goes some way to explaining why there are never any NSX's for sale on Import sites!!!!

Shame there's so little to choose from in the UK!

[Sudesh]

Yeah thats the main reason you dont see any or very few as they are just so expensive compared to UK cars.

There are a few JDM cars in the UK and you also need to be carful when looking at JDM cars for sale here as I have seen a few that are advertised as later models but are infact early examples.

Take this one for example:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1302003.htm

That is a JDM car and its also NOT a 1996 car but more like a 1991/92 model from what I can see.

I also recall someone importing damaged NSX's from japan at one time, fixing them and trying to sell as undamaged here, but as the NSX community is small these things dont go unmissed.

[goldnsx]

In small markets the time you observe it is the most important factor. Give yourself a little bit more time until the right one is for sale.

Importing from Japan would only make sense for a real Type R. But does it justify the money? Any examples?

[Sudesh]

In small markets the time you observe it is the most important factor. Give yourself a little bit more time until the right one is for sale.

Importing from Japan would only make sense for a real Type R. But does it justify the money? Any examples?

Hi,

Yes I have given examples before but here you go:

Grade 5
2002
15,000miles
£102,000 in Japan
Landed here around £131,000

2003
Grade 4
34,000miles
£77,500 in Japan
Landed here around £102,000

1993
Grade 5
10,000miles
£59,000 In Japan
Landed here around £76,000

1995
Grade4
46,000miles
£47,000 in Japan
Landed here around £61,000

[goldnsx]

Wow, it seems like the Type R ones are really highly desired/priced in Japan. It's a shame that Honda keeps the best piece of the fruit cake for themselves. :rolleyes:

[jason]

I contacted a few importers back at the start of the summer asking if any of them could get me one and they all said it wasnt worth their while as they were selling at high prices in Japan. One even old me he had actually shipped a white NSX from here back to Japan as he made a better profit on it....and I've never heard of any importer actually sending stuff back to make more money.

Keep looking though, good things come to those who wait. I kept checking and eventually found mine through checking here, pistonheads, auto trader etc. Good luck, hope you find one.

[amo]

hi mate i got mine from japan was a special one not
from hyeline
http://www.hyeline.com/
speak to steve or kenzo mention me see what they can do
thx amo

[nationofzeros]

Cripes, these are astonishing prices. I am sat on a 1994 NSX-R, 50k miles, fully 'anglicised' re all the SVA stuff etc, full history all the way back to the factory build sheets, not sure what the grades mean but I would like to think in excellent all round condition ; does this mean that someone should be prepared to pay £61k for it ; regrettably I suspect not, but I could be tempted by a cash offer!

Chris



Hi,

Yes I have given examples before but here you go:

Grade 5
2002
15,000miles
£102,000 in Japan
Landed here around £131,000

2003
Grade 4
34,000miles
£77,500 in Japan
Landed here around £102,000

1993
Grade 5
10,000miles
£59,000 In Japan
Landed here around £76,000

1995
Grade4
46,000miles
£47,000 in Japan
Landed here around £61,000

[NSXGB]

Obviously prices at the moment are affected by the lousy exchange rate....

[Sudesh]

Cripes, these are astonishing prices. I am sat on a 1994 NSX-R, 50k miles, fully 'anglicised' re all the SVA stuff etc, full history all the way back to the factory build sheets, not sure what the grades mean but I would like to think in excellent all round condition ; does this mean that someone should be prepared to pay £61k for it ; regrettably I suspect not, but I could be tempted by a cash offer!

Chris

I think that answer is NO Chris, Problem with most cars imported to the UK is that they end up falling in line with the UK pricing. You car though in my opinion should fetch more than a standard NSX but in real terms how many people know or will pay extra for an NSX-R?

I was thinking of importing a NSX-R or two last year but didnt think there was a market for it, so ended up buying an F40 instead and sold it withing a few months.

The cars are grades 0 to 5 , 0 is usually damaged/repaired, 1 poor, etc etc and 5 is showroom condition.

[Auto Spirit]

I imported my NSX directly via auction bid from Japan without using a UK agent at the end of 2007. I therefore saved a lot by dealing direct - for anyone doing it now would be complete non-starter financially.

Although the exchange rate is prohibitive right now, the actual prices in Japan are quite unbelievable...

I'mcurious, is it just high grade manual cars that have seen such inflation in their values or are good autos experiencing similar increases in price?

[JQD84983]

For the last iteration if Honda only imported two and took 1 back to Japan due to lack of interest there is no wonder they are sought after.

Those prices are extraordinary. But the normal cars are rare and type-R even rarer so I guess you have to pay.

[Sudesh]

Auction is different from buying from a good JDM dealer direct. There take on NSX's going through auctions are not great as alot have no grade, accident damaged, poor repairs, got faults and so forth. The japanese market will keep most of the good NSX's for themselves. I have seen a few cheaper ones, but they were not great.

In my first post I mentioned a few autos

No Grade Listed
1991
Auto
160,000km/100,000miles
£11,000 in Japan
AROUND £15,000 landed here.

[Ozwald]

Thanks for all the advice guys! Guess I'm gonna have to save a few more pennies first, still just as determined to get one though!!! :D