Originally Posted by [url

www.torque-imports.co.uk[/url]]Why are cars from Japan such good value?

Japanese cars can be around 30-50% cheaper to buy new in Japan, than in the UK.

When a vehicle is first registered in Japan, it comes with a 3 year Shaken. This is the equivalent to the British MOT. When it expires, the vehicle must be re-tested. This is the most stringent test of this type in the world. The cost for this retest is around £1250. Further re-tests are required every two years and usually cost more. Sometimes as much as £2000. There are Japanese dealer incentives offering excellent deals to encourage consumers to always trade up for a new car.
As a result, Japanese consumers buy new cars on a regular basis. (8 million new units per annum in Japan. 2 million in the UK). Used car values depreciate rapidly in Japan. Also, due to the high expense of driving long distances in Japan, cars only tend to cover very low mileages per annum.
All of the above points amalgamate to make quality Japanese cars very attractive for export.

There are many myths that exist about Japanese imports, designed to intimidate the average car owner and keep their custom for more expensive, lesser UK spec cars. Most of those myths are false. Don't believe the hype.

Myth: A Japanese import is identical to a UK vehicle.
Fact: The number plate sizes are different and the specification is always better than for UK vehicles. The cars are made in the same factory whether for UK or Japanese markets, so parts are the same. The only difference is in the way cars reach our roads. (Should you import an exclusive car not officially sold in the UK through Torque Imports and find you need parts not available, we can arrange to have these shipped direct from Japan usually within 1 week).

Myth: It isn't possible to insure Japanese imports.
Fact: Just by looking at the rapidly increasing number of Japanese imports on UK roads there is plenty of evidence to show the contrary. Many UK insurers will only be too happy to insure imports. We recommend Osbourne & Sons, but there are other specialists who regularly advertise in UK publications such as Japanese Performance Magazine.

Myth: It is difficult to get Japanese cars through our MOT system or SVA.
Fact: To get a Jap Import over 3 years old through an MOT only a fog-light is required.
For all cars we import, as part of the OTR cost - We fit a UK Specification fog-light with quality switch and loom. In addition we also fit a quality radio waveband expander, MPH speedometer and Euro Spec Fuel filler-neck restrictor. Where the car is a high performance model, it is also de-restricted.
We deal with all SVA requirements & testing for cars we supply, and have a 100% success rate.

As for rust on Japanese Imports - It's largely non existent. 10 year old cars usually have original exhausts fitted, which aren't even rusty! In Japan, no salt is used on the majority of roads during winter.
So when you are offered a car described as "UK car", lookout for higher mileage, rust beginning to appear, and low specification.

Myth: There are a lot of stolen imports from Japan.
Fact: There are various safeguards in place since Jan 2000 to ensure cars cannot be stolen from Japan and imported to UK:

(1) All cars sourced through "member only" auctions in Japan must be supplied with genuine Japanese documentation - If such documentation is not with the auction at the time of intended sale - the intended sale is cancelled.

(2) Cars cannot be exported from Japan without proper de-registration with the registration authorities - customs will simply not allow it.

(3) When cars are to be exported, Japanese Customs insist on having the original deregistration, as part of customs clearance procedure. Each dereg. Document is inspected and an official stamp of approval placed on the back of each dereg. document before a car is allowed to depart from Japan.

(4) All UK DVLA registrations for Imports go through INTERPOL (International Police). This means all identities are re-checked & verified with the Japanese Authorities, before UK registration is granted.

(5) The fact that imports from Japan are never fitted with Alarms or other security devices serves to illustrate that in Japan, car theft is virtually non existent.

The above safeguards ensure no stolen cars can be imported to the UK from Japan. These systems has been in place since Jan 2000 for all imports to UK. Prior to Jan 2000, a small minority of between 1,000-1,500 NEW high value cars (Landcruisers, GTR R34's, etc) were exported from Japan to Dubai & Cyprus where their identities were changed & cars received false documentation before being shipped to UK and other countries for registration. The vast majority of these cars which were registered in England have now been recovered by the Police in the UK.

The recent scaremongering by Quentin Wilson's Watchdog report on the biggest car fraud in the world was funded by Official Importers and Manufacturers. It was designed to damage the Grey import market's credibility.

It didn't have the desired effect, because it was grossly exaggerated and therefore not credible. Judging by reports and unhindered growth in the import business, most UK TV viewers didn't believe the hype and Quentin Wilson's reputation only suffered further - Some of you may be aware Mr. Wilson has been successfully prosecuted twice in the UK for illegally clocking mileages on cars, though it's surprising he's still got a career in doing what he does.

Importers in the UK buying directly from Japan are aware there is absolutely no danger in buying imports through auctions / Japanese export companies - as far as the theft issue is concerned, because they have experienced importing cars themselves & are therefore aware of these safeguards.

Although it would have required a large amount of capital to successfully prosecute the media, in response - BIMTA has recently introduced a scheme where for £70 they will provide a certificate certifying an imported car is bona fide & Lloyds of London in turn guarantees this declaration to the full value of the car. This is for any imported car - supplied through a BIMTA registered supplier. For a dealer to become a BIMTA registered member, it costs £1,000 a year. For further information on the BIMTA certificate of authenticity, please visit: http://www.bimta.com/certificate.htm

Q: Why would BIMTA and Lloyds provide such a guarantee, indiscriminately where the vehicle is concerned - if they couldn't be sure grey imports from Japan are completely safe?

A: See above.

Stolen imports are a thing of the past in the UK due to the safeguards in place since 2000.