Scott,
My money pit GMC Terrain is nearly dead. So many repairs. Looking for low mileage Japanese brand like the Lexus you just recommended. My parents have a 350 and it's never had issues. While researching, I came across a low milage 2006 crown saloon for around 10k. Looks spotless. Grandpa car. Thoughts. Not a big fan of righthand drive. Can USA get service?
Appreciate the show.
Upon further research, illegal to import if not 25+ years older?
That is correct, and you would find obtaining parts and service for a Japanese market vehicle to be a big challenge in the U.S. if you found one old enough to import legally.
Pass on it. Not a good idea to import Japanese market vehicle into the US - finding parts will be very difficult.
Scotty, Sorry on the Scott. Typing on small screen and bad eyes.
Upon further research, illegal to import if not 25+ years older?
Personally I'd never want to drive a car left or right hand drive to the opposite of what it's supposed to be in the country I'm driving in. People say they get used to it, but it must effect you even a little bit in terms of muscle memory and all that.
If you're determined to get a car from Japan though, do a bit of research. You'll find there are plenty of cars that have the same engine in them. Off the top of my head the Crown had the 4.0L & 4.3L (1 & 3UZ), 4.6 1UR and the 3.5L 2GR which are all popular and reliabel Toyota engines. Some would say in that order.
And that's assuming the engine parts are the same to a engine in the USA. But it's the rest of the car that's the problem.
So as has been advised, parts are an issue. I imported a Toyota Celsior and thought it only had a few differences from the UK LS400, but I'm finding there are more than a few. The brake discs have the same part numbers, but the pads don't for example. And the thermostat is completely different. Although the UK guys could have just been incompetent.
Then (outside of the engine) you've got parts that are designed for RHD like the heater control valve that faces the right in the USA, and it'll be facing the right if you buy it in the USA - so you'll have to get it in Japan for a RHD where it faces the left (horizontally). As it does on my car. I may have got that wrong but you get the idea.
And then you've got mechanics that just throw a hissy fit and burst into tears like little girls as soon as you mention imports. :silly:
