Exporting my ST202?, UK to US Options

[Vince-Noir]

Really noobish question here, but i'd like to know. Can you have a 3S-GE engine in your celica in the US??? I think IIRC that the 3S-GTE from Euro and Jap ST205 GT4's are not allowed for some reason. I'd like to know as im relocating to MA for a couple of years myself and thinking of exporting my car.

Reason being that 2nd hand cars in the UK are worth sod all at the moment and i'd be lucky to get $4000 for it (you can get a quality ST205 for $7000 in the UK right now), yet as i understand i'd be hard pressed indeed to pick up anything as tip-top in MA for the same price due to relatively higher used prices. So... if it works out cheaper to export my Celica GT to Boston than buy one for of the same standard for the total costs involved then i would consider it. My girlfriend says shes seen several RHD cars around (shes local south MA) so thats not an issue - just whether i am allowed the 3S-GE engine in it or not. I can't see it being based on emissions as its only a 2.0litre 4 banger?

Another reason is i love my car and don't want to sell it for peanuts after i've kept it in such good condition, not to mention modifying it

I've done a search for this but its come up blank, cheers guys.

[delusionz]

Somewhere in this forum I read that you cannot register a vehicle in the US with a cut firewall (LHD conversion)

[njccmd2002]

you can bring the vehicle in 2 containers. put the engine in one, and the car in another. Get an lhd car and swap the parts or mods that fit into the st202, and then idk. toss the old car. Some have mentioned changing vins, but that would not be agreeable with uncle sam...

[delusionz]

Sounds like alot of hassle to salvage 20hp, Might aswell just get a LHD US GT and show them yanks how you poms add b-b-boooost.

[808celica]

from word of mouth i heard some army dude brought a gt4 silver one down here to the islands. i havent seen it myself, supposively he passed all that stuff and sold it to some kid on the west shore for $3k sooo im guessing military has an easier chance of getting a car here????

This post has been edited by 808celica: Jul 16, 2008 - 7:30 AM

[Vince-Noir]

Sounds like alot of hassle to salvage 20hp, Might aswell just get a LHD US GT and show them yanks how you poms add b-b-boooost.

Thanks guys, indeed it does sound like too much hassle... i was hoping it would be as simple as importing a car from the States, Japan, Australia or wherever. What a pain in the arse -not sure if i'm selling it though as i could keep it in storage as i have that facility, or worst comes to worst either my younger brother can have it (after signing a contract swearing not to scratch it! ) or i may have to sell it as my first year in MA will be in schooling and probably not earning Visa depending. Could have been difficult getting it to run on lower grade petrol too, its running on 99ron currently.

Looks like i'm borrowing the Elantra then

[Vince-Noir]

from word of mouth i heard some army dude brought a gt4 silver one down here to the islands. i havent seen it myself, supposively he passed all that stuff and sold it to some kid on the west shore for $3k sooo im guessing military has an easier chance of getting a car here????

Interesting - unfortunately i don't have strong enough contacts in the services to call on anymore Still sounds like it could be somewhat illegal in the US, i don't know if its so well enforced out on Hawaii though.

This post has been edited by Vince-Noir: Jul 16, 2008 - 7:42 AM

[stevest202]

hehe mods for sale is dibs only joking vince i think your on a boner here mate would cost more better demodding and selling ship mods over and buy a left hooker by sound of it

[goferris]

my understanding of the laws is this

rhd is NOT illegal- my friend has a rhd integra type R that she uses as a daily driver but she did have to import it in 2 containers then reassemble in the states.

you may have to do some modification to the vehicle to get it to pass emissions and such (or know someone who'll do it for an extra 100$ on the side )

the one gt4 that i know of in the states switched vins with an ST i believe and that's how it was registered.

either way it won't be an easy task. your best bet would be to demod your car, sell it, then buy another in the states or just sell it altogether