ST202 VS ST205 Options

[AoDoW]

hey guys,

ive got 2 options and having a little trouble making up my mind,

ive currently got a st202, lots of work to be done, but i was thinking of importing an st205 from japan.

either way im looking at a lot of money but in terms of performance, and reliability which is the better choice.

if i kieep the st202 ill be putting a 3sgte in to it and almost a full rebuild.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated

[Johnnyny]

in terms of performance ST205 in reliability they are both toyotas wat more do you want!

[SwissFerdi]

If you're going to be swapping a 3S into your ST202 anyway, you might as well get the ST205.

[m4dm4n]

+1 to ST205.

I looked into getting my own ST205 imported a while back and every place I spoke to told me it isn't possible, it can't legally be done because they were already available through Toyota back in '94.

Here's the import application form (PDF). If you have to tick "No" to part 5 through to part 12, you cannot import the ST205.

I've never been able to find any such information online about this, so i suspect either the import dealer's were lazy or importing the ST205 was (for some reason) just a major pain and not worth it for them.

I did find this however, and took great notice of this:

"If you ship your vehicle before receiving an approval and your vehicle arrives before the application is processed, you may incur storage costs from the shipping company/freight forwarder. You may also be open to prosecution, as it is an offence to import a vehicle without an import approval. Importation takes place when a vehicle is landed within the port of intended discharge and not once the vehicle clears customs control. If the import application is not approved, you will have to either export the vehicle or have it destroyed at your own expense"

So if you do go down the path of importing your own 6th Gen GT Four, I'd suggest being as prepared as possible Also if you DO decide to go down that path, I'd love to know how you go!

This post has been edited by m4dm4n: Aug 11, 2010 - 8:50 PM

[6gc_ct]

IVe been wondering for awhile how you would import one too....
and what makes them illeagal?

[m4dm4n]

Importing to the U.S. would be different to importing to Australia. We can import most vehicles manufactured before 1989 for road use. Anything after that we can't import unless it is for race use only, unless you manage to get compliance plate fitted and a letter of compliance issued for the car.

[cheela]

ST205!!

[AoDoW]

yeah thats the main reason im thinking of sticking to the st202, the importing part seems to be a big hassle, and the few 205 left in aust. ppl want close to $20k, but if i put the 3sgte in to my 202 the main difference is gonna be the lack of AWD. thanks for the input guys

This post has been edited by AoDoW: Aug 11, 2010 - 10:08 PM

[6gc_ct]

ssuch a shame. real nice celica we could have lol.

[AoDoW]

i know but im still aiming to build a sweet machine

[RockyMountainCel...]

Canada allows almost anything that is at least 15 years old so at current I could import anything 1995 or older and soon as 2011 hits 1996 and 2012 1997 ect ect, there will be some awesome cars available to be imported to Canada over the next few years. This does not apply in Ontario, they have their own "custom" rules.

This post has been edited by RockyMountainCelica: Aug 12, 2010 - 12:52 AM

[Rusty]

move to NZ, buy a GT4, live here for more than, I think its 6months? then move back to aussie, if you really want to

thats the way a member here did it.

I didn't think Australia got the ST202?

This post has been edited by Rusty: Aug 12, 2010 - 1:16 AM

[Tony-B]

OR you could get a GT-Four the same color as your current 202 and switcharoo the plates.

Illegal I know. But hella cheap.

T

[AoDoW]

move to NZ, buy a GT4, live here for more than, I think its 6months? then move back to aussie, if you really want to

thats the way a member here did it.

I didn't think Australia got the ST202?

your right my bad its a 204r soz

[Rusty]

all good.

They're very tough over in aussie right, regarding importing cars and it'll under go strict checking & registration? The above person I was talking about was lucky getting his GT4 into the country

This post has been edited by Rusty: Aug 12, 2010 - 11:47 PM

[Quidam]

all good.

They're very tough over in aussie right, regarding importing cars and it'll under go strict checking & registration? The above person I was talking about was lucky getting his GT4 into the country

Out of curiosity, how much easier is it in NZ compared to OZ? I notice there aren't a lot of GT4's for sale these days, it's pretty slim pickings. Mind you, my MX5 (factory turbo) is even rarer. I've not seen one of those for sale in nearly a year (mazda only brought 15 into the country) though oddly enough I think they are somewhat more common in Oz (they are called the MX5 SE over there) than the GT4.

edit:

Here we go, heaps of really nice MX5 SE's in Australia. I'm actually quite jealous MX5 SE's

And in contrast, here's the selection of GT4's, all two of them, lol GT4's

This post has been edited by Quidam: Aug 13, 2010 - 6:21 AM

[Rusty]

It is easy over here since we got the imports, however australia got there own models ZR etc and a limited amount of GT4's

[m4dm4n]

Canada allows almost anything that is at least 15 years old so at current I could import anything 1995 or older and soon as 2011 hits 1996 and 2012 1997 ect ect, there will be some awesome cars available to be imported to Canada over the next few years. This does not apply in Ontario, they have their own "custom" rules.

Dammit... my missus and I were looking to move over there in the next few years, I was kinda counting on the 15 year thing. Dammit, Ontario!

move to NZ, buy a GT4, live here for more than, I think its 6months? then move back to aussie, if you really want to

thats the way a member here did it.

I didn't think Australia got the ST202?

It's 12 months, and you need to provide all kinds of ridiculous proof of ownership (apparently), even then they can decide to not approve your import application and as far as I know the authorities don't need to give you a good reason. Also we didn't get the ST202 however there are quite a number floating around, mostly in the northeast. They usually sell for more than they are worth ($14-18k)because of their scarcity, however nowhere near as overpriced as the ST205's that become available from time to time ($22-30K).