The availability of second-hand cars outa Japan
has been a Godsend for performance enthusiasts. Japanese market Skylines,
Silvias/180SXs, MR2, Supras, Soarers and various other machines have given
budget-conscious buyers a fighting chance against people who’ve spent a wad on a
late-model local performance car.
On a bang for buck basis there’s not much to rival
a second-hand Japanese import.
But there are some problems that import buyers
should be aware of.
In this article we’ll examine some common problems
associated with second-hand Japanese import cars. Anyone planning to buy an
unseen car through a Japanese importer should be reading this v-e-r-y
closely...
Body and Paint
Rust
Rust is a major problem in cars bought from the
heavy snowfall areas of Japan. The heaviest snowfall is typically along the west
coast of Japan particularly in the north (including cities such as Nagazaki,
Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Sapporo).
So how much rust are we talking here?
Well, take a look at the wheel arch of this Nissan
R32 Skyline – there’s a hole big enough to fit your fist through! This rust area
might be repairable with a replacement panel but whenever you see this much rust
it should raise concerns regarding the chassis and undercarriage.
If the chassis or any structural part of the car
is rusted you will not pass a roadworthy inspection – and there’s no cheap fix.
This photo shows the lower sill panel belonging to the same car.
Be aware that, in instances such as this, the rust is so major that it isn’t
economically feasible to repair and register the car. These cars are good for
nothing more than parts – a real blow if you’ve imported the car expecting to
get it on the road.
Faded Paint
Be careful when you hand over money for an import
car that has freshly arrived off the ship.
Invariably, the car arrives in a layer of filth
(including giant sun-hardened bird droppings, as seen in this photo!) and it’s
easy to jump to the conclusion that a thorough scrub will bring it back to
beauty. This is often not the case. When you blast off that filth with a high
pressure hose, you will often find paint that’s in poor condition.
Some cars are merely in need of an extra-deep cut
and polish but others will require expensive paint work. Before making a
transaction, we suggest giving the car a quick hose off and taking close look at
the paint. You’ll find major paint deterioration in cars that have been parked
outside for extended periods in Japan (remember, parking space is expensive in
heavily populated Japanese cities and few people can afford a proper garage).
This photo shows the faded paint on the left rear
quarter panel of a Eunos Cosmo. At minimum, the quarter panel will require a
respray and it’s more than likely the entire car will need a fresh coat as well.
Oh, and we hope you know where to find the original Eunos paint colour...
Scuff Marks and Dents
Any second-hand car is entitled to have scuff
marks and dents but, by the time they arrive in Australia, Japanese import
vehicles tend to have more than their fair share...
Take a look along the bumper bars for scuff marks
and broken exterior trim pieces. This photo shows the scuff mark on the rear
bumper of a Toyota Crown. It mightn’t look like much but it will be difficult to
match the silver pearl paint and you could be up for a whole lot more than you
initially thought.
Again, it’s a good idea to hose off the car to
look for dents. Some dents (like this one in the front quarter panel of a Nissan
180SX) are easy to spot but you can also identify irregular panel gaps – an
indicator that the car has been involved in a collision.
Custom Paint
We’ve seen some truly appalling custom paint jobs
on vehicles imported from Japan.
There is often very little time spent prep-ing and
the paint finish is poor – this photo shows the new blue paint applied around the original number plate... When this newly applied paint starts to peel (and
it will) you’ll be up for a professional strip and spray. And there’s no way
around this – when the top coat of paint is as gnarley as this, you need to start
again from scratch.
Again, this will cost big dollars.
Body Kit Related Damage
A large percentage of the second-hand cars
imported from Japan are fitted with an aftermarket body kit. It makes sense
really – we want the high-performance cars and they are the ones most likely to
have received some aftermarket treatment.
Frequently, the body kit has been damaged in Japan
or during freight. Small splits and tears in the fibreglass can usually be
repaired but a totally mangled front spoiler (such as seen here) is virtually
unrepairable. This extent of damage is quite common on cars fitted with a
ground-hugging body kit and lowered suspension.
In some instances, a car’s body kit will be
stripped prior to sale in Japan. This can caused problems if the spoiler holes
are left unsealed. In the case of a stripped 180SX tailgate spoiler, water can
leak into the rear cargo area causing water damage to the carpet and rust in the
wheel well. Be on the lookout for exposed body kit holes and any associated
problems.
Suspension and Brakes
Airbag Suspension
In the case of high-end Toyotas (such as Soarers,
Celsiors and Crowns) the factory option airbag suspension is the cause for some
concern. The airbag material goes brittle with age and you may encounter a leaking airbag. This can be identified when the corner of
the car sags when it hasn’t been driven for more than a few days.
Sagging airbag suspension is expensive to fix
properly – and you’re unlikely to find second-hand replacement units that are in
any better condition than the current parts...
Brake Corrosion
Brake corrosion is another problem common in cars
imported from the heavy snowfall areas of Japan.
As seen in this pic, cars can arrive from Japan
with heavily rusted brake discs and, if they aren’t machined or replaced within
a few kilometres of driving, you’re guarantied to chew out the existing pads.
Replacing all four discs and pads can be quite a costly exercise, so make allowances in your budget.
Engine and Driveline
It’s fair to say that the majority of cars
imported from Japan have a patchy service history. However, as a generalisation,
you’ll find that the high-end vehicles (such as Celsiors) are better maintained
than cheaper cars.
One of the biggest causes of trouble is a worn
timing belt (where fitted). If the car has done more than 100,000km and hasn’t
had a timing belt replacement it needs one urgently – you don’t want a
collection of bent valves and damaged pistons... Inspect the engine for signs of
timing belt replacement (new gasket sealant and evidence of timing cover
removal) in the first instance and, if you do buy the car, we suggest removing
the timing cover and giving the belt a close-up visual inspection.
Oil and oil filter changes are very important in
high-performance vehicles and, sadly, we see imported cars arrive with very old
filters in use. Check the existing fluids for any abnormalities and be wary of
engines with thick, gluggy oil.
Beyond these basic inspections you need to be on
the lookout for problems that are specific to certain makes and models. For
example, Kei class turbo cars often have worn turbochargers, Silvia/180SX and
Skyline turbos often have an abused clutch and Celsiors can have tired front
suspension knuckles. And be particularly cautious of cars with inoperative
speedometers and odometers – Nissan S13 and Toyota digital dashboards are prone
to failure and it can be impossible to obtain an accurate odometer reading. In
this case, you are safest to judge the distance travelled based on interior trim
wear.
But, whatever the car, it’s advisable to have it
thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic. Spending maybe a couple of hundred
bucks on an inspection might save you thousands in unseen repairs...
Our Advice
Our biggest piece of advice is to avoid purchasing
an unseen second-hand car through Japanese importers. All too often we have seen
cars arrive with parts missing and in a condition far worse than
expected.
A much better approach is to buy an import car
that has already landed in Australia. You might pay a bit more, but at least you
will be able to assess the car as it stands in front of you. Let the importer
take all of the risk.
We’d be reluctant to buy an imported car any other
way...
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