How to buy a FTO straight from Japan?

[itsDaniel]

Hey guys, i was just wondering how you would go about buying a FTO straight from Japan? Anyone know?

[Sahin]

Good luck

[Eltnot]

There are probably very few left in Japan by now, but if you were you'd have to go through a dealer there.
This will give you a bit of an idea:

[kiz]

Best process is through an importer, unless you actually have seen the vehicle in Japan and know what it's like, then I wouldn't recommend taking a pot shot of luck on it.

If you do buy it on your own you take the risk, whereas if you go through an importer they take the risk.

Either method is expensive, I should know as I'm pretty sure I'm still the most recent to import a FTO from Japan

[-Nighthawk-]

Some of the importers give a full mechanical and body inspection (after the deposit) so you can be sure it's a good example. You're going to have to spend big though for a decent example.

I'm pretty sure JSpec is a good company for this, check out their site

[woot woot]

iron chef is also a very good guy to deal with. Look to spend about 11k all up to get it here and to your door

[ObsidianRadio]

iron chef is also a very good guy to deal with. Look to spend about 11k all up to get it here and to your door

Heard a lot of good things about Iron Chef as well.

However, I think that spending anything more than $8K on an FTO that isn't a mint Version-R is a bit steep when there are plenty of examples already here in Australia.

[woot woot]

Very true. Not worth it unless getting a GPVR. The car will be in amazing condition though. They will not import a dud car. I am still contemplating it also but will see if I get a different car since so few in AUS that are worth the money.

I think you need to give Ironchef a 1k deposit which can be refunded if you wish not to go through with it, and he sends you pics of what is available and lets you decide. Each car is checked out heavily before he recommends them. Then if you agree he puts it forward. It may take a while to find a good one as they are a bit rare these days.

Hope it helps.
Just shoot him a email either way

[dstocks]

I imported mine. Best choice I could have made.Having said that, prices in Australia have since fallen and its now borderline as to whether its worth doing. Youd be paying around 8 -10K to get a good one landed and for that price, there are many good local examples

[woot woot]

I cannot find a GPVR at all here. I might have to import and then turn it into a handling monster on track and road, but yeah cost is borderline. Just not sure if a FTO is worth 11k but i might do it for a mint GPVR.

[dstocks]

There would have to be a version R around somewhere

[edit]See what you mean - not a single one,[/edit]

[kiz]

Well just to give you an idea of what a GPVR from Japan costs. Mine was $14k imported on February 2012. Car was worth $3k in Japan, then import duty, stamp duty etc etc.

Before they got me the GPVR that I own now, they showed me HEAPS of others. There are tons of poorly looked after ones out there, trust me on that... I was very fussy with mine

[dstocks]

Same.Took me 6 months to find mine over there.

[woot woot]

Who did you use to import the car?I think 14k is pretty high to import a car. That is Type R and polo GTI territory.

[kiz]

I got mine through Edward Lees.

It doesn't matter what vehicle it is, it's the taxes, shipping, compliancing and stamp duties that'll hit you.

[dstocks]

Mine cost 16K at the time. But then then car itself cost 11K at auction (I had a mate comply mine). Remember this was 4 or 5 years ago. A lot has changed since then. One thing hasnt changed though. Add around 7K to the cost of the car at auction and youll be pretty close.

[Eltnot]

I cannot find a GPVR at all here. I might have to import and then turn it into a handling monster on track and road, but yeah cost is borderline. Just not sure if a FTO is worth 11k but i might do it for a mint GPVR.

If you're going to turn it into a track car, why not just get a GPX? By the time you pull off stuff (Like the aircon and mirror motors) and upgrade other equipment, there would be little difference between the two.

A local GPX could be had for a lot less freeing up the cash to upgrade the components that are inferior to those on the GPvR.

[dstocks]

Because the GPvR stuff that is worth having can be almost impossible to source (LSD, different suspension setup etc). Finding a Version R being dismantled is even rarer than finding one to buy.

[woot woot]

If i do get one it will be more of a daily/track car. It is basically ready to go and i would just maintain it and just keep it pretty much stock, besides some very good coil overs and exhaust and bushes mostly and a clear vinyl wrap to protect the paint on the front.
All the GPX i see for sale are owned by P platers or poeple that do not know much about cars and that add lots of useless rubbish to them and more than likely thrashed. (i was a p plater a while ago and know you do not spend money on maintaining it, but modifying it)
ie perfect condition, needs new motor or my fav, needs nothing done, expect tyres and a whole lot of servicing, rego, rwc and then good to go.

Sorry to hi jack the thread lol

[silverGPX]

Lol I love pipe dreamers