Jap Import

M

mrmuss

Guest
Hey Lads,

How are you keeping?

I've been living in Japan for a few a while and now I want to bring home an STi later this year. I have asked people about potential issues I need to be aware of but no one seems to be much help. So I thought I'd ask some experts!

The car is going to be a 2.0 litre vehicle - they have 2.5l at home for fuel emissions or something. Would that be a problem for the NCT in the future?

Also, do the Japanese STis have more power than the vehicles back home? I read somewhere that they are maybe 300bhp while the ones at home were 265ish.

As I said, I didn't have much luck getting reliable information so I hope you can help.

Regards,
Mo
 
Hi no issues watsoever with NCT......

You may getaway with VRT if you can prove you own it longer then 6 months
But you may still have to pay customs charges and VAT....

Yeah I know a guy who was bringing a car back after living in the UK and as far as I can remember he dident have to pay the VRT as long as he dident sell it within 2 years.
 
Hello Mrmuss,

When importing a car from Japan to Ireland you must ensure that it is over six months old and have over 5000kms on it. Otherwise you will need a European Certificate of conformity with it, which you will not get on a 2.0lt Jap Spec Sti.

The reason the Irish cars went out to 2.5lts is to meet euro four emissions, which was not attainable with the 2.0lt units. There are none of these issues in Japan, that's why they continue to sell the 2.0lts in Japan.
The Jap spec 2.0lt cars are advertised as 280ps on their spec sheet under some "gentlemans agreement", by the Japaneese manufactures, but many cars actually delivery more, with 320ps being the norm on twin-scroll turbo sti's.

If you're looking for a good car USS auctions in Japan have a number of auction houses over there and seem to be trust worthy.

You will see that the auction prices really make it a good option to import compared to our Irish prices  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

As Dave said, Once you bring in the car, you may be or not be liable for VRT depending on how long you own the car, (visit www.revenue.ie , under section Buying or selling assets Cars for more info on this). You will have to pay duty and vat.

It is recommended that all Jap cars be remapped to run on Irish 95 Octane fuel as apposed to the 101 Octance Jap fuel. This can cost as much as €1,100.00 to get done by a specialist.  :angry:

Thanks,

Michael
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for your answers. They were the most helpful ones I got!

I just checked the revenue website and it said that if the car is being imported from outside the EU and I've lived here for a while, I don't have to pay VAT or duty. Woohoo :thumbsup:

Darn, Ireland doesn't have anything close to 101 octane? What would happen if I ran it on 95 octane?

If I got the car remapped, how would it affect the power/torque? Would there be a noticeable negative affect?

How difficult is it to remap a car? The only reason I ask is because I did engineering in College and a friend of mine had a project with engine management, etc. so would he be able to do it, or would we need a rolling-road and all that shabang?

Regards,
Mo
 
Hey mrmuss
Welcome aboard :thumbsup:

You will have to get a jap import re-mapped
the best fuel you can buy in Ireland is 95RON.
Here's a post on why
http://www.isdc.ie/discussion/index.php?topic=595.0
Oh ya ....Don't let your friend near it.
It will simply go bang !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for power loss or gain, if you get some of the Irish lads they will
mapp the car for 95RON but yes you could notice a drop in power.

If you were to go to one of the Club mapping days orgainzed by
Street Performance...AKA (Renno). It will be Andy Forrest mapping
your car. Regarded as one of the top in the UK.........

So at the least you should end up with similar bhp/ torque figures.


Niall.
 
Thanks guys.

A further question if I may.

What is the viewpoint of insurance companies for mapping. Is it considered a modification? :angry:

Regards,
Mo

P.S. I ordered my brand new WRX STi today.
 
Hello Mrmuss,

Insurance companies would never know if your car has been remapped and would have no way of checking. As you are making your car safe to drive i.e. so it will not suffer pre-dent etc, its a mod that nobody should argue with.

As Niall said an Andy Forrest Map is the way to go, I'm getting my car mapped by him on the third of Feb, I'll let you know how I get on.

Please also note that if you are ordering a brand new car, you will have to own it for six months otherwise you will need a cert of conformity (COC) when importing which you will not get for a 2.0lt Jap spec car

Thanks

Michael
 
As said above..............

And insurance companies here are pretty relaxed i suppose you'd call it.............  As in i've never heard someones claim not processed cos or a mod to the car............  As in you could go as far as a Full up-rated turbo change, map etc etc and they wouldn't ................ :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
I’ve always had Jap imports but this is my first Subaru and my first car with a turbo, so I went mad a got a twin turbo. My last car had a 2 L V6. I put over 50,000 miles on all the cars and never had an issue but I would certainly believe that turbo charged engine may be in danger. And yes I would believe that there’s a huge drop in power and they run far less economically. My B4 TT tiptronic which according to the book has about 260 bhp is probably only delivering 220 bhp if that. I’m lucky to get 20 mpg, more like 18.

How someone can drive a Subaru at 3000 revs for six months is beyond me, I’d find it difficult to do drive 6 miles at 3000 rpms.

I’ve had my B4 for over 6 months and haven’t spared it at all, I don’t believe in sparing my car for the next guy who buys it, drive the ring off it, but I don’t want to melt the engine down either. To get the value out of the remapping what else should you do to the car?
 
Hey Paddy,
Correct me if im wrong but most jap imports don't run on 101RON ?????
Rather SUL same as Irish / UK scoobs so no probs with using 95RON.

To get most out of a re-mapp
........................ straight through exhaust, bigger turbo,
upratted fuel pump, up-ratted fuel regulator, you might consider FMIC, and
some form of induction or better air filter.
The expensive parts are the FMIC & Turbo

Niall.
 
I'm not sure if I'm picking you up correctly Niall but all performace jap Imports would be mapped for 101RON :dunno:
Are you talking about standard cars like a 1.4 Civic :ponder:

Alan.
 
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