Thread: Add high range / low range

Originally Posted by Eric SDV6SE

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.

So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.

Originally Posted by libertyts

So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.

There are a couple of grounds for the importation under SEVs/RAWS - primarily that it's a model or variant that wasn't sold here, hence all the people-movers that have wheelchair carrying capacity.

As I said, I'd suspect that a D4 that doesn't have low range might actually therefore be importable.

Originally Posted by Eric SDV6SE

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.

Agree with the above, and I'd love to have a Crown Majesta or a Y50 Fuga.

But not sure what you mean by "Having to live there etc. is BS" - personal import is one of the ways you can bring a car back and that's how I brought our car back to Australia.

Originally Posted by libertyts

So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.

No, that's not how it works. For a car to be importable it has to fall within the regs (basically, a model or variant that was never sold here) and someone has to go to the trouble of registering it to their workshop. You can actually get brand new vehicles like the current Mitsubishi Delica diesels.

Have a look at this website to see what's actually available.

J-Spec Imports

Originally Posted by Arapiles

No, that's not how it works. For a car to be importable it has to fall within the regs (basically, a model or variant that was never sold here) and someone has to go to the trouble of registering it to their workshop. You can actually get brand new vehicles like the current Mitsubishi Delica diesels.

Have a look at this website to see what's actually available.

J-Spec Imports

What do you mean that’s not how it works. It is. It’s on the list because it’s considered interesting and hasn’t been sold here previously, OR, it’s 25 years or older.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Well that doesn’t show up on all the imports I’ve seen. Rust is definitely an issue.

I've had a grey import from Japan, a Toyota surf, no rust whatsoever.

If it is a private import under 30 years of age you need to have owned and used the vehicle for 1 year immediately before importation so not BS. However yopu can still bring it in without the ownership but the taxes are so prohibative to not make it worthwhile.

However the grey import companies can bring in models - usually models not sold in Aust with minimal additional taxes - just GST and Import taxes etc. Basically the company is importing the vehicle and you buy here in Aust even though you pick the vehicle OS and commission the grey import company - but only if the model is on the import list.

Now as we no longer have domestic car production, the rules are expected to change to relax the models that can be brought in but as usual the Govt moves slowly and nothing has been done as yet.

If this Disco is on the list of allowed vehicles then get the grey importers to do it for you.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

The Japanese don't use salt on their roads, they use sand, so rust isn't an issue.

Yes, but the Japanese don’t rust treat their vehicles for their domestic market - even on the production line.

Our vehicles come sprayed inside doors etc.