Brettus

iTrader: (2)

take all your mods off it and ship the mods to US then get a 2nd hand 8 there for next to nothing and away you go .....

04RX8man

yeah u can have it here....I know a guy in PA (from my old hometown) he has a RHD Supra and does not get pulled over by cops too much.....I would def not sell it definately attracts alot of attention(if thats what ur lookin for) what part of the Burgh are u movin to?

Fugu

We drive the RX8 (and mod it like crazy) for the attention don't we

Have not decide which part yet.. maybe Craftton.. any suggestions?

Btw those who advised against shipping my 8 because of cost - no worries there, my company will likely take care of the shipping costs.

StuttgartRX8

I'm in the same boat as you I want to send my 8 back too when I move back. I've started the research so far and it doesn't look to hard to get the 8 legal in the states. I'll be bringing it back to Pittsburgh also.

Fugu

I hope its works out for you! When are you moving back?

Mimic

I'm trying to bring my JAP car back to the states with me too I dont know exactly what conversions need to be made to make it state legal, I also dont know if I have to make the conversions here in japan or in the states once it gets ship. I'm in the military so shipping costs will not be a problem at all. Its extremely hard to sell a "american" own vehicle back to the Japanese and americans here dont like to spend more than 6k on a car and I spent 12 on my 8. Any more information ANYone comes across will be much appreciated <3 CHU!

I8U

iTrader: (1)

Dude, it's probably gonna almost 10k just to convert to the safety specs required here in the states. Get with you TMO office and find out from them what may be required to ship the car.

superglue

Sounds like more trouble than it's worth. Why not just sell it in Japan and buy another one when you get here? Right now 8's are going for cheap.

White_Shadows

Cheaper loophole just time consuming is get it shipped to Canada make it legal there then drive it to the USA and re register BAM.
Or! The ultimate cheap is to dissasemble it and crate it in pieces to the USA. Then put it together in Texas (Why texas I have no idea) But yeah we had a bunch of JDM ITR's and Skylines floating around in Michigan from doing that LOL.

ken-x8

Nah...EZ Pass!!

Did Bill Gates ever successfully get his Porsche on the road in the US?

Ken

White_Shadows

I doubt it. That was an issue with it was too fast. He has more than one sitting at the yard. I bet he just didn't care enough to get it legal.

giff2316

If the vehicle is less than 25 years old and was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and/or was not so certified by its original manufacturer, it cannot be lawfully imported into the U.S. on a permanent basis unless NHTSA determines it eligible for importation. The agency makes those determinations on its own initiative or the basis of a petition from a registered importer. These are business entities that are specifically approved by NHTSA to import nonconforming vehicles and to perform the necessary modifications on those vehicles so that they conform to all applicable FMVSS. The petitions must specify that the vehicle is substantially similar to a vehicle that was certified by its original manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS and is capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards, or, if there is no substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle, that the vehicle has safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, the FMVSS based on destructive test information or other evidence the agency deems adequate. Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis.
An additional requirement for the lawful importation of a nonconforming vehicle is that it be imported by a registered importer (RI) or by an individual who has contracted with an RI to bring the vehicle into conformity with all applicable FMVSS. A bond in an amount equivalent to 150 percent of the declared value of the vehicle must be given at the time of importation to ensure that the necessary modifications are completed within 120 days of entry. A list of RI's can be found on our web site at Vehicle Importation and Certification Requirements. You might want to contact one or more of the listed RIs to obtain their opinion on the feasibility of conforming the vehicle that you seek to import to the FMVSS, and the costs involved in petitioning the agency to determine that vehicle to be eligible for importation, as well as the costs for conforming the vehicle to the FMVSS.

jamesf

iTrader: (1)

a few years ago a local around me sued a company for a way they had wronged him. He ended up with a considerable settlement. He imported a nissan skyline to my town and it is an RHD and now drives it as his DD.

Its very cool and I love seeing it around. I think it'd be very cool if you did this. But yes, I believe it would be VERY expensive.

xexok

Since somebody already bumped this... I don't know everything about importing but I helped a friend research importing from Canada. The pieces part, yes it can be done. It would take many many trips because you cannot just have a whole disassembled car, they know what you will be doing.

Making it legal in Canada does not make it legal in the US. Even importing a RHD to Canada is a bitch unless its 15+ years old(similar maybe same as US law, except US is 25 years for DOT exemption). You still have to comply with the same exact importing laws and prove it is DOT and epa certified. Sometimes that is as easy as changing the glass and headlights and small things like that. Most other times it is not that simple. You can petition the manufacturer for a letter stating it is "substantially similar" to the USDM version but most of them will not take that risk for you. I know Honda refused to do that for my friend.

You technically can just buy a rhd in Canada and get it temp registered there and drive it to the US. At that point you would have a few options, both of them not really that legal but one way more illegal than the other. If you have a friend or family member who owns a dealership you can get a dealer plate and then you do not have to register the car. For insurance you can just get the one the covers YOU in whatever car you drive, I forget the name of it. The other option which is super illegal and should never ever ever ever ever be done, seriously stop thinking about this, is a vin swap to a USDM vin from a wrecked rx8. Then you say you rebuilt and converted it to a RHD yourself with a JDM front clip and hope they do not check for every vin on the car. The last option is obviously incredibly stupid to attempt unless you like driving around a few felonies.