Quote:
Originally Posted by Delraye
Hi,
I am new to this group, and would like to hear from anyone who has experience of importing an SVX Alcyone for themselves from Japan, using one of the Japanese used car importing agents; any recommendations?
I am hoping to get a `96 or `97 model with the lowest mileage and in the best possible condition.
Thanks.
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Heh heh.
What you plan to do is possible, very possible, but there are pitfalls. You need to also put a monetary ceiling on your ambitions, decide what's the most you want to pay, because a '96 or '97 model with the lowest possible mileage and the best possible condition will set you back really serious money. Or it will if you are
really serious about "lowest mileage" and "best possible condition"
On the other hand you could actually buy an S4 [the last Japanese model is an S4] for very reasonable money in good condition with mileage in the 80 to 100 K kilometres range.
Most people buy a CD or DVD or book from Amazon as their first Internet purchase, or maybe a concert ticket. My first internet purchase was an Alcyone from Japan.
It needed a lot of things fixed when I got to collect it from the docks, the biggest being the gearbox, but when I sorted it all out it never gave a moment's trouble after that. If you plan to buy a really expensive one I would recommend you get an independent agent to check out the car for you in Japan before purchase. Japanese people in general tend to be scrupulously honest, but car dealers seem to be bad eggs everywhere, and it is buyer beware.
One outfit called K-Staff seems to have all the good SVXes left in Japan. If you check their website you will see that they have SVXes that look like they have just left the showroom. They even have one with delivery miles!! However, they value and price these low mileage cars very highly. That is why I say to you, how serious is your wallet about buying a really low kilometres car?
If you have the cash to buy a car from these guys you will need an agent. They don't speak Engrish and are not at all happy about selling to a customer abroad. Your agent would need to negotiate, buy and ship for you.
Just FYI, I also concur that the S4 is the correct model to buy. Lovely interior, all the gremlins fixed, nearly all the toys. But. If you could buy the equivalent English car with low miles, you would have a better car at a quarter the money. The Japanese car will have showroom mileage and be utterly immaculate, however, whereas the equivalent English car will have been
used. By somebody who enjoys driving.
Japanese cars always have those awful plastic headlights. English cars have proper glass headlights and everything that opens and shuts.
Best of luck with your purchase Robin. I'm looking forward already to seeing what you get.
Joe