These 2 at a rural bbq place. However, Rover was suffering serious financial losses by the year 2000, so BMW sold the holdings but kept the rights to the Mini name. The Tourer V trim comes with a twin-turbo engine that has about 280 horsepower, making these cars ultimate sleepers. Built with a staggering 276 horsepower, the R32 Skyline GTR was produced until 1995, when the R33 was introduced. Import was seamless. This is because Kei cars produce low emissions having engines less than 660cc / 47kW and have overall dimensions under 3.4 m long and 1.48 m wide. Mike was great to work with. The engine, which is mid-mounted, can output about 300 horsepower and was supposed to make the car competitive in rally race competitions. Kei car is essentially a Japanese microcar that meets the Japanese vehicle category for the smallest highway-legal passenger cars with restricted dimensions and engine capacity. So if youre looking for a Kei car, you may want to start your search in the used car section! Well, Subarus engineers indeed did. Mathew walked me through read moreI had an excellent experience working with Matthew at Japan Car Direct. There were only 2,500 of these produced, making it quite a collectible. Classifications: Kei cars are so small that Here is a shortlist of Kei cars eligible for importing into Australia: Contact us to enquire about specific eligibility requirements and pricing and let us help you import your next unique ride. Buy & import cars direct from the Japan car auctions, 1999-2023 Prestige Motorsport Pty Ltd. DL14688. JCD was able to accommodate my unique needs, everything from short turn around inspections, read moreMatthew at JCD is the man. Nonetheless, the Amarok will most likely never come toour markets and isn't readily available for import. He was responsive and supportive through the whole process. Import was seamless. Length increases to 3,295mm (approx..109), width remains the same. They save money at the pump 3. Available with a tipper body or refrigerated box, new models of these little utes come with a surprising amount of safety equipment: dual airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control, collision avoidance, and lane departure warning. Importing through Japan Car Direct has been a great experience through and through. I have driven these cars and they are really a blast. Built upon the Golf MKII, the Volkswagen Golf Rallye is a special trim that was designed in 1989 and included a series of upgrades, but was later discontinued due to an unmarketable price for North America, where Volkswagen was marketed as a low cost brand. If you still cant find the make and model, check the VIN online or the engine that might have some manufacturer information. read less, I had an excellent experience working with Matthew at Japan Car Direct. Theyre great for commuting in heavy traffic, 8. I used Japan Car Direct's services to import a Nissan Silvia from Japan to Australia. Engine size stays at 660cc. I highly recommend Japan Car Direct. DAP Pricing Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs. These Kei vehicles can be utility vehicles, like vans and pick-up trucks, they can be family cars and people carrier type vehicles, they can be hatchbacks (including the excellent sports hatchbacks like the Suzuki Alto Works or the Subaru Vivio RX-R), they can be two-seater sports cars, like the famous Suzuki Cappuccino or the Honda Beat, and they can be full-on back-trail masters like the Suzuki Jimny or the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. read less, FIRST TIME BUYER Despite its relatively low power output of 118 brake horsepower, the Lotus Elise S1 is an absolute speed demon due to its curb weight of about 1,600 lbs. There are restrictions on modified cars and large vehicles. Have you ever considered that a Kei truck should have 4WD, a 5-speed transmission, and a 4-cylinder supercharged engine? You should check your state and local laws regarding this topic. You need to be shorter than 3.4 metres, narrower than 1.5 metres and possessing an engine with upper limits of 660cc and 63bhp. Tiny kei cars have conquered Japan and spread around the world. Now, heres the other side of the story: Where and how can you find your own Kei truck? Ive now imported three of my own cars through him. 106 x 46). The insane McLaren 600LT meets crazy JDM models from the 90s, Porsche unveils the fastest, most expensive Porsche 911 ever. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. It was the highest output Kei engine at the time but is not really a highly-stressed unit. /r/Cars is the largest automotive enthusiast community on the Internet. The easiest way is to look at the badging, where youll find the make and model. It was my first time buying a car online, let alone overseas. Kei cars are cheap to maintain 2. Everybody with me on this? Thats where Kei cars come in. I would work with Japan Car Direct again and recommend them to anyone. The engine on a Kei truck is underneath the bed. In addition, like most Japanese Kei hatchbacks, it was a practical little load hauler and people carrier, in spite of its small external dimensions. He was very quick to respond, and very informative on all my questions. The Airtrek uses a detuned engine from the rally-bred Lancer Evolution, with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder sending 179kW to all four wheels. All the risk falls on the owner. Considering the status, rarity and importability of the 180SX, it's truly amazing that it is available for import, which is why is on this list. Photo Credit: Auto Evolution 32. Additionally, the suspension, stability and handling dynamics were improved to allow for better handling at high speeds. It was discontinued in 1977, but was reintroduced last year at the Geneva International Motor Show. More importantly their knowledge of the Japanese car market and auction process was extremely helpful as a first time importer. (It can do this because the power band is so good that you dont have to worry that gearing up will put you too low and into a power gap.). Have you ever seen a 6-foot by 5-foot-wide truck in traffic heading to the Empire State Building? I decided to give these guys a shot and bought a JDM Tesla into the Before this I have never imported any vehicles to NZ let alone one from Japan! Created in Japan, and sold almost exclusively in Japan, the kei class of vehicle is the perfect solution to many of the issues new cars face today. This is the car for enthusiasts who need to carry a pram, and can be had for less than $10,000. Nonetheless, the RS200 is a hidden gem that hardly got to see the light of day, however, it is now available for import, although with only 200 produced, it might be hard to find one. We love them!!!! They offer big advantages when it comes to insurance thanks to their tiny engines. MORE:'Brand-new' Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R hopes to set new record price. This was my first experience importing a vehicle. Governed by different regulations, kei cars are notorious for offering limited crash protection one local executive of a Japanese car company described them to us With their compact size and agile handling, they provide an enjoyable driving experience that is perfect for winding city streets or open country roads. Here are ten of our favourites, but they're the very tip of a ginormous iceberg awash with silly names. You get a dedicated agent, and my agent Mason has been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. You do not have to go through the whole import process, theres no wait time, and you can have a backup if anything goes wrong. Now we are getting some beef with these cars and very good power to weight ratios. Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than 15 years. The Honda Acty is the most powerful as the engine is rev-happy, just like any other Honda engine. It ended up being in better condition than I was anticipating, and was able to drive it 5 hours home from port without a single issue. Slowly but surely, the small hatchback is dying. The R32 is a Japanese market exclusive that because of its age, has recently come available for import, meaning that this speed demon is now legal for America's roadways. Walter Craddock, administrator of Rhode Island's Division of Motor Vehicles, also serves on the AAMVA's international board of directors" *, Sources: https://www.thedrive.com/news/41590/maine-is-de-registering-imported-mitsubishi-delicas-and-no-ones-sure-why, RI has fear the owners sue them if the fall into an pothole and cant get out anymore./S, All American cars: huge, heavy, fuel inefficient, Small, light, fuel efficient cars: banned for being "unsafe", Motorcycles with more power than some cars: completely legal. A Kei car is basically the Japanese version of a micro-car but also covers vans and utes as well as passenger cars. Theyre often identified by yellow number plates. Kei cars we love include the Mitsubishi i, Daihatsu Move or the Subaru Sambar. Unfortunately, because of its power to weight ratio, the Ford RS200 was never able to be competitive: the engine suffered low-RPM lag which made it harder to drive, especially when competing at high speeds. Steve and his company Carbonaro Pizza Co. decided to go the Kei truck route when choosing what vehicle they could use for their business, but also be unique, and fun for them to drive around. So, what are the limits? Great truck if you aren't over 6ft. If you want to know more about this 1992 Subaru Sambar Supercharged, you can watch a YouTube review here: Like any other JDM car, Kei trucks are listed on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other online listings. That means that Kei car owners can save a lot of money on spares and repairs over the life of their vehicle. The imposition of higher sales, gasoline and Kei car taxes significantly reduced their benefits from those of a regular car. The Vamos was produced from the platform of the Honda TN360. Yoshiro was a great help. WebThe following Japanese kei cars are eligible for import. He helped my sort through options until landing a 1kz-te Land Cruiser Prado. Many of the cars on this list are 90s models from countries like Japan, France and Germany and all of them are relics from automobile history, while others are new models that have been restricted to sale in certain countries. As stated before, there can be drawbacks to this method. What is your purpose in purchasing your Kei truck? Limited to the European markets, the Ford Focus RS500 is a limited edition Focus trim that features a series of upgrades from the stock Focus. How small? This is not a car I would dismiss out of hand, by the way, I know a guy whos got one, he thinks the world of it, but lets not get into that yet. Thanks to their small size, Kei cars are very easy to park. I was a first time auction buyer and importer to the United States. The models were even numbered, as pretty much all of them went to specific collectors. It was my first time buying a car online, let alone overseas. Note that structural damage / repair / corrosion of more than 25mm is not acceptable under the SEVS criteria. I probably looked at 100+ different trucks and Taylor was instrumental in helping me make informed decisions on which trucks I should try to bit on and which ones I should probably avoid. I kid you not. It's sad that the Sykline GTR series ended, as it was a powerful cultivation of automotive engineering, especially for the time period. Its rather unfortunate that this particular trim of the Focus is not available for import, as I think it would be an awesome upgrade to the domestic Focus RS. The world why are kei cars illegal in australia about 300 horsepower and was supposed to make the competitive... Experience through and through Direct again and recommend them to anyone and through! Produced until 1995, when the R33 was introduced other Honda engine nonetheless, the Skyline... 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