scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Looking at the www.lexus.jp website for the past few years, I've always wanted one of those super cool color combos that we cannot get here in the US. After seeing the eternal jewel, that would be the ultimate SC to have.

I was checking out some sites where you can import j-spec cars to the US...

Anyone ever done this? So you would have a right handed drive car...would it be legal in the states?

The silver on red is soooo cool-Neiman Marcus but with 2006+ updates!

YIKES I just saw the price...$45k for a 2006. Wow

http://www.batfa.com/usedcar-lexus-sc430-stock.htm

IcEnPinKi

iTrader: (1)

That price is to PORT only meaning once it get here in the US...you're on your own...when it gets here your would still have to pay terminal/warehouse fees, file customs and pay duties..ect...

scrdstr

Lots of cars imported from Japan in Canada, so I would think you could import them to the states. I have seen Toyotas and Nissans here in Victoria.

JerryB

Hi scrdstr,

Just as I was leaving the BMW-thing ( ~2008 ) there were a lot of BMW 850's coming in from Japan.

It was due to an age thing, over 15 yrs old IIRC. Also, they were all left-hand drive cars, not the right-hand drive that I would expect a Japanese SC430 to be.

Just a thought . . .

Jerry Baumchen

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Ohhh, nice idea. I LOVED The 8 series...especially that special 850 with the Dinan under the hood. WOW! That car was way ahead of its time. Too bad BMW stopped that...and the Z8 of course!

tromly

, bet the final price would be north of 50k by the time SCDROPTOP is done

JohnnyCake

Not to mention the biggest fee by far, which is bringing the car up to US emission and safety standards for the year of manufacture. The only alternative is to wait 25 years, which provides for an emission waiver as an antique.

The only reason I know this is I'll be importing an Nissan Figaro in 2016.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

YIKES! Maybe it would be cheaper to create my own US-spec Eternal Jewel!!!

Would be great to buy a very cheap 2002 black or silver and gut out the interior, replace with two tone, do the top and pillars with the contrast color and update the head/tails and make your own! That black with a white top is sharp or the silver with black top.

scrdstr

Before I bought my sc430 I looked into importing one from the USA. There are four money factors to consider; currency exchange, just about par now so not a real factor but can change fast, 4% duty for anything not made in USA no duty if made in USA (free trade agreement), brokerage fees if you hire someone to do the paper work, and finally two taxes in Canada provincial and federal about 13%. So if you buy it yourself and do all the paper work you have to buy it first the leave it there til the paper work is done cuz no way you can bring it across the border til thats done and there is also a waiting period after the paper work is subitted of 48 hrs before you can bring it across the border if memory serves me correct. The other option is to get a auto broker to do the paper work and you pay a fee. There is no emission concerns as the sc430 meets Canadian standards but there are other things to be done like change the speedo to klm's with a decal, really stupid but thats goverments for ya. Also all provinces require DRL's now. I don't know if the US is the same when importing vehicles but the the regulations i'm guessing are similar. The bottom line or rule of thumb is if you pay $30,000 for a vehicle in the USA then cost of importing on top of that is $10,000. So you have to find a good deal to make it worthwhile. Then on top of all that you have the cost of traveling to buy the vehicle. God i'm tired just thinking about it, now wonder i opted to buy one here haha!! Its lots of work