Personally Importing A New Car

[slash_lk]

Hi All,

I'm planning to buy a new car and have thought of bringing down one from Japan because of the low cost associated with it. Since I don't have any experience at all in this, I would like know some information from those who are in this business or have already imported vehicles.

1. Is it true that even if the car is of '0' mileage it is marked as a reconditioned vehicle unless you buy it directly from the agents?

2. Is there any way of getting a warranty when purchasing a vehicle from an auction? I'm looking for a hybrid, do you see a big risk of getting it without a warranty? Is there any possibility of getting a warranty here (e.g. from S*erli*g')?

3. Some of my colleagues have directly purchased vehicles from a company in Japan called 'S*T' and got them cleared at SL using a clearing agent. Does anyone have experience with this? Is there any risk involved in this kind of purchase (other than changes in tax and currency rate)?

Thanks!

[priyanka]

1. yes, that s true

2. some importers are offering a kind of warranty, you need do your services from the place they appoint to get the warranty. but i m yet to see someone who got a claim from the so called warranty.

3. best way to get that info is from your own friends, since they have better experience...

Edited April 22, 2015 by priyanka

[Crosswind]

Hi All,

I'm planning to buy a new car and have thought of bringing down one from Japan because of the low cost associated with it. Since I don't have any experience at all in this, I would like know some information from those who are in this business or have already imported vehicles.

1. Is it true that even if the car is of '0' mileage it is marked as a reconditioned vehicle unless you buy it directly from the agents?

2. Is there any way of getting a warranty when purchasing a vehicle from an auction? I'm looking for a hybrid, do you see a big risk of getting it without a warranty? Is there any possibility of getting a warranty here (e.g. from S*erli*g')?

3. Some of my colleagues have directly purchased vehicles from a company in Japan called 'S*T' and got them cleared at SL using a clearing agent. Does anyone have experience with this? Is there any risk involved in this kind of purchase (other than changes in tax and currency rate)?

Thanks!

1. The word "Reconditioned" is a misnomer. Its from the days where the vehicles used in Japan were given a paint of coat, got their tyres and fluids changed and the A/C system serviced before they were shipped out of the country. Any vehicle which was used outside Sri Lanka and brought down goes as "Reconditioned". Brand New vehicles are vehicles that are shipped straight out of the factory and without being driven by anyone other than the manufacturer or their authorized personnel.

2. The sterling warranty is not even worth the paper its printed on. Please search for sterling in this forum. You will find some interesting stories. Particularly from one guy who was talking in favour of Sterling warranty initially, until he got royally f*cked by them.

3. Like Priyanka said, your colleagues are the best people to answer that. There are hundreds of tinpot little companies that are in the same business.

[kush]

I got down a car in December 2014 (FIT GP-5)

You really don’t get the best price from the auction as you will need to bid through an agent in SL, best prices will be for the vehicle re sellers and regulars.

On top of the auction price there will be substantial handling charge, approximately JPY 200-400k depending on the vehicle.

They normally do not insure, so advice you to get insurance arranged locally to avoid any risk if the unfortunate happens.

Depending on the vehicle you might have to remit part of your cost through unofficial channels and the cost (exchange rate) will be high.

All in all the cost saving might not be worth the effort considering the fact that you are exposed to exchange and duty fluctuations. Classic example would be the guys who got buggered from last budget.

My saving from the vehicle was Rs. 200k (Rs. 3.8 Mn. Vs Rs. 4.0 Mn)

[iRage]

1. Yes.....manufacturer's dealers in Japan sell only with in Japan and when they sell a car it HAS to be registered. So your 0 mileage are gets registered even for a day before it gets de-registered for export (actually two days because it takes 1 day for the registration to take effect before you can actually de-register it). When it gets de-registered. Sinceit got registered from that point onward the car is classified as "USED".

As for the term "RECONDITIONED" like what Crosswinds said...it is form the 1980s and at that time the reconditioned cars got that blue circular swastika sticker put on it after getting certified as a proper reconditioning. I would not want a "reconditioned" car as only lord knows what crap would be hidden. Even at that time people messed with it and sent down junk can imagine it being even worst now.

2.

From what I have heard the local warranties are crap. Some people I know in Japan who export cars out of Japan offer to claim and send over parts to foreign clients provided the client takes care of the shipping, clearance etc...so who knows maybe you might come across some dealer in Japan. Unfortunately none of these guys are willing to deal with Sri Lanka because of really bad past experiences with payments, etc...

3. I hope this is not completely against forum regs....If the company's name you are referring to has the letter B censored (SBT Japan) be warned they are crap. What you can get from them can go ether way. They are not what they claim to be. For starters their sales office is out of Japan (last time I checked it was in Phillipines). They, like 99% of other exporters dealers, etc.. purchase cars through the online auction portals and in locations where they have brokers/"buying agents' the car might be seen prior to auction. So the cars being purchased are not all pre-inspected and carefully selected like they claim (once a Filipina lady told me that the car was done so when I knew it would have been completely impossible as the car didn't even come from the auction she claimed the car was at..I was bidding for it but they won it) So the person (usually some Filipino lady) who you will be selling you the car will know no more nor see no more than you would from online pics ! I know of several horror stories of people not getting what was promised (heck just do a google search for SBT and you might see quite a few of those stories).

[slash_lk]

Thanks guys for all your helpful comments!

@iRage: Yes it was the same company that I was referring to. A guy (sounded like a Pakistani) called me over the phone in the minute I sent a request for the car over their site. Apparently you need to put a deposit of 100,000 YEN to start anything. I too saw some mixed reviews on them over the net and as you said it has worked in both ways for different people. Yet there hasn't been any problems for the people I talked to who have bought vehicles from them. I guess they got lucky

[iRage]

Thanks guys for all your helpful comments!

@iRage: Yes it was the same company that I was referring to. A guy (sounded like a Pakistani) called me over the phone in the minute I sent a request for the car over their site. Apparently you need to put a deposit of 100,000 YEN to start anything. I too saw some mixed reviews on them over the net and as you said it has worked in both ways for different people. Yet there hasn't been any problems for the people I talked to who have bought vehicles from them. I guess they got lucky

Wait till they start spamming you with weekly offers specially for whatever country you are in They have a few Indians in their Yokohama office...I think they are the ones who take care of the auction purchases. If you are going for their ex-stock then you get transferred to the Phillipines. If you are directly purchasing a unit from the auction then as long as you ask them to provide all the auction details you should be okay...but do not fall for their false statement that they pre-inspect all the vehicles they recommend at auction. They don't. So make sure they give you access to the full list of cars that are up for auction. They would also offer you various inspections, reconditioning services, etc....be wise about what you say yes to. At the end of the day they are as enjoyable as having a leech on your rear end.

The initial deposit is the usual practice. Also, make sure you check around....do a final calculation to see if using a company with a local office would be that much more expensive. At the end of the day paying a bit more and using one with a local office might be less of a headache provided they are reputable.

Edited April 24, 2015 by iRage

[luckey007]

I also considered those options before go to the agents. But after considering the risks and hazel I decided to buy from the agents. Few lakhs may be saved, but hazel headache and if anything went in wrong direction..... So I finally decided to let it to agents and keep the head free.

Yaah, you may think differently. But I just put my opinion.

[slash_lk]

Yes, agents would be the best option for sure. But the problem comes when they don't import the vehicle you wish for, and you then have to go for something else for a much higher price. Anyway it's a matter of personal preference and how much risk you are willing to take.

Edited April 25, 2015 by slash_lk

[luckey007]

Yes, agents would be the best option for sure. But the problem comes when they don't import the vehicle you wish for, and you then have to go for something else for a much higher price. Anyway it's a matter of personal preference and how much risk you are willing to take.

Agree with you. I just put what I did.