Miata Mailing List: June 1997, Message #1250
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From: 	Chiomi Sawada <chiomi@deltanet.com>

Subject: Re: Importing Miatas from Japan

Date: 	Wed, 11 Jun 1997 02:02:01 -0500



At 16:25 97/06/10 -0500, you wrote:

> >From: DOEHRMRR@norand.com

> >Subject: IMporting Miatas from Japan

> >Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 15:12:13 -0500

> >

> >

> >     At the risk of stating the obvious...

> >     It is not as cheap to import a Miata as some people believe.  (I   

> once

> >     lived in Japan).  Cars need to be refitted with safety glass   

> windows,

> >     cat. converter, lights(?), and other emissions goodies.  A friend   

> of

> >     mine brought back a Nissan Z gave up on the conversion for cost

> >     reasons.

> >

> >     Just so you still feel good about you purchase :)

> 

> Actually, The Japanese Miata's (Eunos Roadster's) all have a catalytic   

> converter and all the same emission gear as the US engines. Glass?  I   

> dont know, but the big problem for most of you will be that the steering   

> wheel is on the wrong side....]



Left or right steering wheel is not issue to clear EPA and NHTSA(or sort!).

You have to comply EPA and NHTSA certificate.  I gave up my plan to bring in

my european car from Japan long time ago.  You have to either prove that

your car meets US standard by demonstrate ridiculous 40Kmiles (this option is

for new car introduction for manufacturer) or you have to obtain compliance 

modification instructions from manufacturer.  My car manufacturer, european,

did not have instructions and thus I was stuck.  If I had instructions, then

I have to have shop to do work and get certificate that all the original non-

compliance parts were destroyed.  Then I have to take my car to special 

inspection station to have safety check for NHTSA.  It doen not matter if the

car clear the emmission test or not.  You have to follow the procedures!



According to a shop specialized for these modifications, only Ferrari or 

Lamborghini is worth for money to go through.  Brochure from the State described

all requirements and at the end they indicated that you should not even think 

about it!



So I ended up shipping back my european car to Japan.  Other option that I

had was

to destroy it under supervision of custom agency. 

   

Of cause there are exceptions. You can import non-compliance car as a show

car or

for racing event.  I do not remember that you can get permanent status for

these.

Military personel returning from oversea assignment had exempt too.  I am

not sure

it is still valid.



So, car manufaturers are well protected!



___________________________________________    



         Chiomi Sawada - Glendora, CA   



Who designed this damn thing?  Let's fix it.



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