GT4, i want one Options

[easternpiro1]

and what pray tell will happen if u get caught vin swapping? lets say somebody has a hatch, and takes vin codes from the usdm hatch and puts it in the same locatons of a GT4... how can they tell its not just something customized? i never understood those steps...

ive been pulled for driving my coupe with my hatch lisence plate and he went straight for my windshield, but if it was the same model car how couldl they know? im confused...

[lagos]

and what pray tell will happen if u get caught vin swapping? lets say somebody has a hatch, and takes vin codes from the usdm hatch and puts it in the same locatons of a GT4... how can they tell its not just something customized? i never understood those steps...

ive been pulled for driving my coupe with my hatch lisence plate and he went straight for my windshield, but if it was the same model car how couldl they know? im confused...

They wouldnt know, and thats how people get away with it.

[yarik83]

In your case when they run license plates they get a screen with vehicle information, who its registered to and then they approach the window and ask for license and registration.

If it said hatchback and you were driving a coupe or the other way around.. thats pretty much a easy to spot discrepancy so they will definitely have a look at those vin numbers.

On the other hand lets say you had 2 coupes or 2 hatchbacks (like I did before) then you can kinda get away with it. I drove on one insurance policy last 2 years of college while driving 2 celicas and 1 license plate (well 2 cause new jersey requires 2). I just kept all documentation in easy to grab ziploc bag and when other car was headed for the shop I would transfer plates and keep driving to work and to classes. Obviously that is not legal but i was in no mood to pay 2 registrations and 2 insurance policies.

In case of vin swappage it would work something like this:

You have a 1994+ celica registered here in the states (ideally with clear title). You get gt-4 here and rip vins off it and rip them off usdm celica. Swap and park mule usdm vehicle on your property out of sight with no intent of driving it (or keeping it semi-maintained in case you ever need a replacement vehicle). at this point you can pretty much say good bye to selling your vehicle so with that in mind you can start driving that gt-4. But not so fast.

You must have a darn good explanation in case you ever get pulled over and cop questions your right hand drive.

[lagos]

You must have a darn good explanation in case you ever get pulled over and cop questions your right hand drive.

You can say that the car was converted and that you bought it like that.
Its totally legal to drive RHD cars on our roads, as thats what the post office workers do.

[yarik83]

from my understanding postal workers are only allowed to drive special production/model jeep and car has to be registered to usps and used in state(s) where 4x4 vehicle is a must have.

While there is no law against RHD vehicles, NHDOT has made it quite clear that vehicles that are RHD must meet certain criteria.

When it boils down to it I would like to see one of our guys (not some guy who some other guy knows who knows a guy who have imported it) import one of these babies here.

[SwissFerdi]

If it said hatchback and you were driving a coupe or the other way around.. thats pretty much a easy to spot discrepancy so they will definitely have a look at those vin numbers.

Not really, unless you know Celicas. The shape between a coupe and a hatchback aren't that different, not like we're driving something around that looks like a Golf/Rabbit.

I think when people see only two doors and a roofline like ours, they generally think "coupe."

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Feb 28, 2010 - 12:33 PM

[yarik83]

even my mom can tell a difference.

Coupe is your 2 door sedan
Hatchback is your 2 door sedan with a door in the back
Liftback is your usually 4 door sedan with a door in the back.

I am sure that cops are trained in vehicle identification even if it does not have badges. BUT. It also depends on a police officer and why he is pulling someone over. Lets say that your light is out and he lets you know. He will probably not pay attention to whether car is coupe or hatchback. Now if you were say going 25 over the speed limit and talking back to him he will find reasons to give you more tickets.

I could be wrong tho but it would kinda make sense for officers to know what to report to dispatch at high pursuit.

[SwissFerdi]

I'm not saying that there isn't a difference, I AM saying that the difference is minor in OUR case.

[OnAllFours]

Just a heads up for people thinking of VIN swapping, Japanese Domestic Market VIN's are stamped into the firewall on the driver's (right) side. It is unlikely, but if an enforcement official is aware of this and sees a 17 digit VIN plate on the dash and a ST205-XXXXXXX VIN on the firewall, then you could kiss your car and money invested goodbye.

Like it has been said before, it is POSSIBLE, but very risky to register and drive an imported vehicle under 25y/o in the States. If you don't have the disposable income to throw away $15,000 and not worry about it, then you would be best not to bother trying... move to Canada instead, it will be cheaper for you in the long run

[_Jim_]

VIN swapping is VERY illegal. Knowing how to get around the proper red tape and using lope wholes in the system to LEGALLY register the car in the US in not.

And no, the $3000 isn't used to "bribe" people in the DMV. Again, the $3000 covers the tax on the car, duties, requirements that the DOT inspection will need to be met, paper work, etc. The car would be registered in the states with in original 10 digit JDM VIN.

Again, this is not for everyone, and I understand the skepticism...as all we have heard since the site started was that there was no way for this to happen. But it just takes a bit of homework, and knowing the right people to get the car here. In fact, it is harder to get the car here, then it is to register it.

[OnAllFours]

VIN swapping is VERY illegal. Knowing how to get around the proper red tape and using lope wholes in the system to LEGALLY register the car in the US in not.

And no, the $3000 isn't used to "bribe" people in the DMV. Again, the $3000 covers the tax on the car, duties, requirements that the DOT inspection will need to be met, paper work, etc. The car would be registered in the states with in original 10 digit JDM VIN.

Again, this is not for everyone, and I understand the skepticism...as all we have heard since the site started was that there was no way for this to happen. But it just takes a bit of homework, and knowing the right people to get the car here. In fact, it is harder to get the car here, then it is to register it.

I'm curious as to what kind of requirements one can meet for the 25 year rule to be exempt. I'm a member of a Canadian import owners club and we constantly have people asking what it would take to buy a car in Canada and bring it over. A couple of the guys in the club are in the law business and have found there to be a few loopholes to jump through, but all are quite easy to be caught up on and are not worth the risk.

Also, registration is one thing, insurance is another. I know in most states you aren't legally required to have insurance, but it would seem quite unwise to not have it. Even here insurance is a crap shoot.

Care to enlighten me?

[dabazied]

Just a heads up for people thinking of VIN swapping, Japanese Domestic Market VIN's are stamped into the firewall on the driver's (right) side. It is unlikely, but if an enforcement official is aware of this and sees a 17 digit VIN plate on the dash and a ST205-XXXXXXX VIN on the firewall, then you could kiss your car and money invested goodbye.

Like it has been said before, it is POSSIBLE, but very risky to register and drive an imported vehicle under 25y/o in the States. If you don't have the disposable income to throw away $15,000 and not worry about it, then you would be best not to bother trying... move to Canada instead, it will be cheaper for you in the long run

******Highly discouraged, find a legal way or don't do it************
That's why you cut out that part and swap those too, if you are going through the trouble of vin swapping, you go all out.

[yarik83]

My question still stands. Please direct me to a place that allows gt-4 registration for 3000 that fits criteria that you described (without bribing officials).

[OnAllFours]

Just a heads up for people thinking of VIN swapping, Japanese Domestic Market VIN's are stamped into the firewall on the driver's (right) side. It is unlikely, but if an enforcement official is aware of this and sees a 17 digit VIN plate on the dash and a ST205-XXXXXXX VIN on the firewall, then you could kiss your car and money invested goodbye.

Like it has been said before, it is POSSIBLE, but very risky to register and drive an imported vehicle under 25y/o in the States. If you don't have the disposable income to throw away $15,000 and not worry about it, then you would be best not to bother trying... move to Canada instead, it will be cheaper for you in the long run

******Highly discouraged, find a legal way or don't do it************
That's why you cut out that part and swap those too, if you are going through the trouble of vin swapping, you go all out.

Yep, I would never promote VIN swapping, but I don't want to see anyone's car get crushed either.

Supposedly there are these magical documents that along with $3000 will let you register a car in the states, but for some reason nobody wants to share them. If it were as easy as $3000 I'm sure there would be a lot more people on here with GT-Fours.

Also please don't give anyone else the money if you aren't certain of the process yourself, I doubt you'd ever see it again.

[Quidam]

Jesus, reading this thread makes me deeply appreciate the fact that I just walked into a local used car dealership; and [drove] out with a beautiful Red GT4.

Living in New Zealand rocks lol

This post has been edited by Quidam: Mar 1, 2010 - 4:07 AM

[Bigstring]

Is it really that hard to get one over there?

UK, easy.... sorry all.....

http://motors.shop.ebay.co.uk/Cars-/9801/i...d=p3286.c0.m282

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?...p;Submit=Search

[OnAllFours]

Is it really that hard to get one over there?

UK, easy.... sorry all.....

http://motors.shop.ebay.co.uk/Cars-/9801/i...d=p3286.c0.m282

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?...p;Submit=Search

Easy to get? Yeah... if you don't mind paying the shipping. The big issue is getting it registered with the Gov't

[lagos]

The point of this thread is... that if you have money and know who do talk to, its totally possible to get one.
However most people on this site are young and dont have that kind of cash to throw down, hence why these threads pop up every other month. People have a lot of dreams of owning them, but aren't willing or financially ready to do this, so whats the point of posting another thread about it when nothing will come of it?

[yarik83]

I agree with Lagos on demographics but there are some of us that are making the right kind of money and those "resources" are nowhere to be found. I am currently shopping for a 2008 evo gsr but could just as well buy a 4 door corolla or a 4 door takoma and a gt-4... the point that I am trying to make is that because "resources" are nowhere to be found, those of us that do have finances to buy a gt-4 can not commit to such investment because people with access to such resources often do not provide verifiable evidence to support their claims. Out of all people I would expect Jim (aka the king of imported engine clips) to have access to and or at least be able to point people like myself in the right direction if you know what i mean.

[OnAllFours]

I agree with Lagos on demographics but there are some of us that are making the right kind of money and those "resources" are nowhere to be found. I am currently shopping for a 2008 evo gsr but could just as well buy a 4 door corolla or a 4 door takoma and a gt-4... the point that I am trying to make is that because "resources" are nowhere to be found, those of us that do have finances to buy a gt-4 can not commit to such investment because people with access to such resources often do not provide verifiable evidence to support their claims. Out of all people I would expect Jim (aka the king of imported engine clips) to have access to and or at least be able to point people like myself in the right direction if you know what i mean.

Right! I mean if these resources are true, then please enlighten us, because to be honest $13000 isn't a whole lot for a GT-Four.