Has anyone got experience of importing a car from Japan? Or Scandinavia even?

[hairnet]

only been sat since last april - id be asking where its been stored and what the inspection sheet said

[nigel bickle]

Ok. So I've got it.

 

One month on from my initial enquiry I actually have aFlorian, collected today from Harwich.

Ok, so it's not in the best of condition, as is going to need a ton of De-ox to stop deterioration, whilst it's evaluated. But it's essentially, sound, and seems to run/ drive ok.

 

It landed Tuesday, and we collected this morning, without substantive issue. However, a lack of number plates( unexpected) means it needed A framing - compounded because we couldn't get the bonnet open to disconnect the battery. Eventually we cobbled a position on the ignition where it was off, but not locked- hopefully. Taped up securely and very straight lines the whole way back sees it home without incident.

 

Full investigation starts as soon as I'm well enough, but summarily - chuffed!

 

 

 

For those interested in exporting from Finland.

 

 

It cost me €250 to get it 250 miles to the only ro ro port, Turku. Free parking there for 7 days prior, but the transporter ( which only picks up from the bigger villages) acts as a bus route, with designated pickup/ drop off points/ dates. This got my car to the Port 10 days early - so they just kept it in their yard for me for 3 days, no charge - then drove it across. Can't imagine that sort of help here!

 

Mann Lines ro ro sails every 9 days, takes 4. Cost me €780 - ( 600 euros plus20% Vat). Invoiced on arrival at the Docks ( presumably to check size) and paid prior to collection here.

 

I organised all this through ETS Logistica, based on in Tallinn. Daniil Petrovits there is really helpful, speaks very good English and couldn't help more. He quoted from the "off", and the price never changed. No additional loading/ unloading, document fees or ancillary charges. The car was stored in Harwich till collection today, free for 7 days.

Collection was straightforward. They gave me a reference once payment was confirmed cleared, which I had to give with ID. On arrival I parked up, found the car, brought it to the front gate, hitched up, did the ID & docs thing and was away.

 

Frankly, it couldn't have been easier, and 1000euros in total to ship a car here from

Northern Finland feels like a Billy bargain,

 

Suspect I'll be looking to do it again sometime fairly soon.

 

 

 

 

 

So, now to legalise!

[Heidel_Kakao]

Cool glad it turned out well. I think the lack of numberplates may because they have to be handed in to the equivalent of the Finnish DVLA to be able to deregister a car.

[egg]

Looks great!

 

[angle]

A photo of a Renault 21 A-framing an Isuzu Florian, with a number plate from a Ssangyong Musso and a thumb over the lens is basically an Autoshite full house. Well played, sir.

[nigel bickle]

Hah! Rumbled.

 

Didn't expect to A frame it, so hadn't changed the plate. Mine though, so who's counting..

[Timewaster]

Glad to see you are back to obscure old shite shenanigans Mr B.

 

As for looking for something to buy, that's a dangerous game if you ask me.

Remember Trigger was asking opinions on that unsellable porridge coloured LHD 144?

How gutted would he have been to have bought that just because it was there and he could and then spotted the lovely SD1.

 

If you don't buy what you want, you won't want what you bought.

[jonathan_dyane]

You're a hero!

[Heidel_Kakao]

https://www.nettiauto.com/en/datsun/200/9012398

Thought I would bump and use this thread to deal with finding my Japanese classic estate rather than clogging up my Estates of the nation thread.

 

So yeah I am still looking, I have given up on Japan as they either don't have what I want or it's too expensive. This may sound stupid but my biggest hurdle either real or perceived is trying to do a deal on something. The gold car above would suit me fine, I have the money sitting burning a hole in my pocket, and I would jump on a plane tomorrow to Helsinki and drive it back home. 

 

I just can't seem to get in touch with the sellers and arrange to buy something, I am going to try and phone the Gold car seller next week to see how that goes. Mr Bickle seems to be a master at it but it seems hard to buy a car from another country, I don't know if the seller will just not want the hassle. If the situation was reversed and someone from Finland wanted to buy a car from me I might just decide it was more hassle than it's worth.

 

So maybe I am just being a sad sack but I am currently failing to get the deed done

[sierraman]

The only thing I’d say was in Japan the underselling isn’t quite up to European standards, so much is the better then if you get one fresh off the boat, than one that’s seen a few winters here.

[panhard65]

Datty.png

https://www.nettiauto.com/en/datsun/200/9012398

Thought I would bump and use this thread to deal with finding my Japanese classic estate rather than clogging up my Estates of the nation thread.

 

So yeah I am still looking, I have given up on Japan as they either don't have what I want or it's too expensive. This may sound stupid but my biggest hurdle either real or perceived is trying to do a deal on something. The gold car above would suit me fine, I have the money sitting burning a hole in my pocket, and I would jump on a plane tomorrow to Helsinki and drive it back home. 

 

I just can't seem to get in touch with the sellers and arrange to buy something, I am going to try and phone the Gold car seller next week to see how that goes. Mr Bickle seems to be a master at it but it seems hard to buy a car from another country, I don't know if the seller will just not want the hassle. If the situation was reversed and someone from Finland wanted to buy a car from me I might just decide it was more hassle than it's worth.

 

So maybe I am just being a sad sack but I am currently failing to get the deed done

I would start off with an email using a translator (google is pretty good) If they reply to that it is a start. When I buy from France I start off asking if still available and if they are prepared to sell it for export. Also say that you will either travel there in person and pay them cash or that you will send the payment before arranging collection. You have to remember that they all know about the scams and will be suspicious until you can convince them you are serious. If the car is a bargain or easy for them to sell they are more likely to ignore you as they will have a lot of local interest which is easier for them. I have had a couple of really good sellers in France who have still sold to me as I got in there first even though they had other people interested, but this isn't the norm. I am sure if you really really want it then you will find a way

[Heidel_Kakao]

I would start off with an email using a translator (google is pretty good) If they reply to that it is a start. When I buy from France I start off asking if still available and if they are prepared to sell it for export. Also say that you will either travel there in person and pay them cash or that you will send the payment before arranging collection. You have to remember that they all know about the scams and will be suspicious until you can convince them you are serious. If the car is a bargain or easy for them to sell they are more likely to ignore you as they will have a lot of local interest which is easier for them. I have had a couple of really good sellers in France who have still sold to me as I got in there first even though they had other people interested, but this isn't the norm. I am sure if you really really want it then you will find a way

Thanks for the tips I was thinking trying to phone initially might be the best bet as they will hopefully realise that I am not a scammer and various people have said the majority of Finn's speak English so there should not be a langauge barrier.

 

Assuming I got to the point of negotiating and agreeing to buy something would paying a deposit by bank transfer to show that I am serious and then flying out and paying the balance in cash be an ok idea do you think?I understand there is an element of risk and trust needed in any transaction but like you say if I want it badly enough I should be able to overcome the hurdles.

[John F]

panhard65, on 03 Nov 2017 - 3:57 PM, said:

I would start off with an email using a translator (google is pretty good)

 

A mate of mine that imports high-quality tools wanted his company website translating into German but he was too tight-fisted to pay to have it done properly... so he fired it through Google Translate and asked me to check the outcome.

 

"Available in metric and Imperial sizes" came out as "Available in metric sizes, and sizes belonging to the Emperor"

[Asimo]

If you click on the Union flag on the top of the Nettiauto advert page most of the page comes up in English, inluding a "best time to telephone" . ( In an info box near the bottom of the page)

[hairnet]

Datty.png

https://www.nettiauto.com/en/datsun/200/9012398

Thought I would bump and use this thread to deal with finding my Japanese classic estate rather than clogging up my Estates of the nation thread.

 

So yeah I am still looking, I have given up on Japan as they either don't have what I want or it's too expensive. This may sound stupid but my biggest hurdle either real or perceived is trying to do a deal on something. The gold car above would suit me fine, I have the money sitting burning a hole in my pocket, and I would jump on a plane tomorrow to Helsinki and drive it back home. 

 

I just can't seem to get in touch with the sellers and arrange to buy something, I am going to try and phone the Gold car seller next week to see how that goes. Mr Bickle seems to be a master at it but it seems hard to buy a car from another country, I don't know if the seller will just not want the hassle. If the situation was reversed and someone from Finland wanted to buy a car from me I might just decide it was more hassle than it's worth.

 

So maybe I am just being a sad sack but I am currently failing to get the deed done

siert wieringa on facebewk or siert on retro rides

 

problem solved

 

google translate in finnish although they will speak good english

[Heidel_Kakao]

If you click on the Union flag on the top of the Nettiauto advert page most of the page comes up in English, inluding a "best time to telephone" . ( In an info box near the bottom of the page)

I was relying on the Google translate but I hadn't noticed that button The seller appears to have put their direct number in the advert disguised with o's (o5o-5275o7o) so I will try calling them in the next few days and see what happens.

siert wieringa on facebewk or siert on retro rides

 

problem solved

 

google translate in finnish although they will speak good english

I did contact Siert a few months ago via RR and he gave me some helpful tips but said he is too busy with his actual life to help more directly which is fair enough.

[nigel bickle]

Good luck.

Finns seem to be really nice, helpful people.

Might I suggest an earlier email telling him you intend to call, specifying a ( local) time? He won't then be so surprised by an English caller.

 

The Florian is all legal, taxed and Mot'd ( for the only time). Sadly ill health means I've not been able to drive it, but I'm returning to the UK tomorrow, & my son is intending to take me across to the Ardingly A/ jumble & Brighton Run this Sunday in it- so it may get papped.

 

If I can help, pm me. I'll get back as quick as I can.

[Heidel_Kakao]

Might I suggest an earlier email telling him you intend to call, specifying a ( local) time? He won't then be so surprised by an English caller.

Good idea, I have done just that and said I will try phoning him Sunday evening so fingers crossed. Glad to hear it worked out well with the Florian but sad to hear you can't currently drive it yourself.

Thanks for the offer of possible help, hopefully I can muddle through on my own and once I have done my first international purchase it will seem easy as pie if I ever do it again. All the good Japanese stuff seems to be in this part of the world at the moment and the left hand drive aspect doesn't bother me considering I will be road tripping all over Europe each year.