Anyone ever import a vehicle/car into the US from Europe or Australia?

I was looking for a new(er) car and I've found that there are many models available in Europe that aren't available in the states that are significantly different from those available in the US. The main difference is the engines that are available in these cars, many of them have a few diesel versions (usually single or bi-turbo versions) where the same model in the states is only available in gas or a small diesel (ex a 4 cylinder vs a 6 or 8 cylinder w/ turbo from Europe/Aus). The prices are also a good bit lower in Europe/Aus for those models and there are a lot of them available on the market.

The only other option from importing the entire car would be to buy just the engine and possibly the transmission, which would be somewhat less expensive as far as shipping but when labor is factored in for the engine swap, I doubt there would be any savings in the long run - and there might be issues with the ECU, wiring harness and other parts when doing a swap such as this and it might be a total nightmare.

So I'm wondering if anyone has ever imported a car to the US, knows what it might cost and what the regulations are for doing something such as this, if there are restrictions as far as emissions/inspection (if it passes the regulations set by state law, is it then OK or what?)

www.cbp.gov...

Its a PITA.

Unless its changed recently, you have to buy two cars. The first one you have to basically tear down and make it meet the safety and emissions requirements, rebuild it, and show them the final product. If they approve it, THEN you can bring the main car over and do it all again. This doesn't include all the forms and fees etc.

May not be the case for much older vehicles however.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

You need to check whether or not it meets US safety and emission requirements if buying from Europe.

Aussie cars are right hand drive, hence a conversion to left hand drive will set you back.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

All that hassle (and tons of money to transport and import the car) to have some bell and whistle?

originally posted by: hombero
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

All that hassle (and tons of money to transport and import the car) to have some bell and whistle?

Well, for one thing, they weren't made in the US.

But why not bypass the middle man and get them straight from Asia?

LOL

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

yes; the Holden Commodore built in Aus is rebadged and sold in the US as a ,.... bugger it, I just forgot what its called now.

The odd thing about it was that the Holden Commodore is/was built in Aus and cost just about twice as much as the car that as/is built in Aus and shipped to the US.

Heard that on radio from a motoring writer.

Dont ask me how that works out, gotta be one of them "free trade agreements" the Aus govt signed up to without telling the aus people.

a reply to: Azureblue

Chevy Lumina?

Same running gear as a Corvette ... 6.2 litre LS3 wearing pyjamas ( a real sleeper ! )

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Keep your stinkin hands off our XB coupes!

a reply to: Chadwickus

Wouldn't mind a Landau !

a reply to: Timely

Oh stop it.

What about a Cobra?

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

The US car market is organized crime to the highest levels of government! Know this; the deck is stacked HEAVILY against you being able to do what you are considering!

The US federal government has conspired against the American consumer to make it all but impossible to import FAR better vehicles than are sold here from foreign countries. They have two weapons they use to accomplish this, and one of them is almost bulletproof..."Safety". Safety is something you simply cannot win an argument over. But the thing is, US cars aren't safer...but you'll never get them to admit it. Why? Because it's a closed market.

Just look at a vehicle like the Land Rover Defender. Land Rover stopped importing it because the safety restrictions in the US are just too stringent to make it competitive. Just simple things like the 5mph crash bumpers adds huge costs to vehicles for no significant improvement in safety for the occupants. It's all a ruse. Then there's all the emissions crap. You see very few diesels in the US due to all the stupid emissions regulations which accomplish exactly zero, other than starving horsepower, wasting fuel and making everything more expensive. It's the biggest racket in the World!

It's protectionist, and it's wrong! American cars SUCK compared to European vehicles (in most cases). And here's the icing on the cake (and the proof)...even US Auto makers make better vehicles for markets OUTSIDE the US!! Classic examples are Ford and Jeep. Ford and Jeep both sell a range of diesel engines in Europe, South America and even in Asia, but none of them are available in the US.

When I was living in SE Asia I had one of the most bad-awesome 4x4's known to man! That thing would climb a tree!! But it's not available in the US. It got WAY better fuel economy, was more comfortable, had way more power with a much smaller engine. It was made by Mitsubishi and was/is called a Pajero. Heck, it won the Paris-Dakar Rally not once, but 12 times!!! Mitsubishi made a similar vehicle for the US called the Montero, but it was completely different and sucked royally! Dodge had a flavor of it with the Raider too, but it also sucked. Why? Because of all the BS regulations here!

All of these regulations make the manufacturers have to add significant weight and horsepower along with 1,000's of additional moving parts which break to meet regulations. Consequently they have to cut other features you get outside the US. So what you get here is a crappier, heavier, less fuel efficient, sluggish land yacht which is neither safer, nor more environmentally friendly...AND, you get the privilege of paying MORE for it! Great deal, huh?

Ever wonder why you see all these cool concept vehicles in the news..."Ford is coming out with a new diesel Ranger!"...the headline reads. but then you read the article and see at the end where it says..."But this vehicle won't be available in US markets."? Well, now you know.

I got pissed off just writing this post! This is a real hot-button for me, because it really summarizes what's wrong with our government from top to bottom and side to side! Just a classic example of the government NOT helping the people, but rather conspiring against them!

GRRRRRR!

/rant

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Keep your stinkin hands off our XB coupes!

So uh, are they pretty common down there still?

a reply to: Wardaddy454

Rarer than unicorn faeces...

a reply to: Chadwickus

Yeah ! How many Interceptors are in the world at large ?

Because of the International fame it won !

Let alone the US release of " The Road Warrior ".

HQ two door Munroe's could be next ...

" Remember the Night Rider ! "

originally posted by: Timely
a reply to: Azureblue

Chevy Lumina?

Same running gear as a Corvette ... 6.2 litre LS3 wearing pyjamas ( a real sleeper ! )

Yes that right. thanks for that. Funny how they seem to be making parts of cars interchangeable with other cars. problably happens with trucks to.

Good web site material - WhichPart.com which part of x vehicle fits into a, b, c and d, cars. Are the specs of cr parts hard to get?

a reply to: Azureblue

Common as all get out !

Check out some of our for sales ...

www.carsales.com.au...

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: Wardaddy454

Rarer than unicorn faeces...

I was born in the wrong era.