Japnuts, co. wicklow

[Neil]

http://www.japnuts.com/


this place looks very promising...

has anyone ever had any dealings with them before?
recommend? dont recommend? etc?

[kevinod]

Never dealt with them, but going on the FTO prices on http://www.japnuts.com/mitsubishi_fto.htm they're a bit pricey! 8K+ for a 95??

Kev.

[Neil]

hhmmm I hadnt actually seen the FTO page on there...

I'll give them a shout anyway, see what the story is

[Myfeckin FTO]

Never dealt with them, but going on the FTO prices on http://www.japnuts.com/mitsubishi_fto.htm they're a bit pricey! 8K+ for a 95??

Kev.

8K is about right for a 95 GPX manual that has just been imported thru a dealer. It won't have been bashed about on Irish roads and will have lower mileage as well.

I've spoken to this guy before about importing and he seems to know his stuff but there are a lot of these type of traders around - that will just import to order- its as easy to do it yourself.

[kevinod]

Never dealt with them, but going on the FTO prices on http://www.japnuts.com/mitsubishi_fto.htm they're a bit pricey! 8K+ for a 95??

Kev.

8K is about right for a 95 GPX manual that has just been imported thru a dealer. It won't have been bashed about on Irish roads and will have lower mileage as well.

I've spoken to this guy before about importing and he seems to know his stuff but there are a lot of these type of traders around - that will just import to order- its as easy to do it yourself.

I dunno, I'd be looking for a facelift with not much added onto the 8K myself, but yup, I agree that its as easy to do yourself, should get one all taxes, import, vat, etc. for around the 6K mark.

What is it about the 8K figure, I've seen lots of importers advertising them for that.

Kev.

[Mustang]

I've had no dealings with them myself but have been keeping an eye on their site for a while now. Those prices referred to above are guide prices only. Up until recently they had a Japanaese stock list, for the 'sports' cars, the same as the one they currently have for the 4x4's. They list the car prices including all charges except VRT, and the prices do vary a bit, sometimes inconsistently e.g older car higer miles and higher price .
They seem to charge a fixed fee of around €750 per vehicle...not too bad to take all the hassle out of personal importation.
€8k for a '95 fto does seem a bit steep but like MfFTO said you'd be getting a relatively fresh car, compared to an 'Irish' equivalent. The down side being you'd have to also budget for an alarm/immob, stereo, t/belt, etc which really does drive up the cost.
The problem with importing an older car, lets face it '95's are getting old now, is that derigistration and shipping costs are essentially fixed and become a much higher higher percentage of the vehicles overall cost.
If you are going to import I reckon you would be best to buy the newest one you can and keep it for as long as possible.
A while back Japnuts had a '01 FTO GPvR for sale for ~€15k excluding VRT. Not too bad and quite rare given that the stopped making them in 2000, and even that year there was only 160 of them made.
If have not seen a '01 FTO for sale before or since!

Mustang

[Myfeckin FTO]

A while back Japnuts had a '01 FTO GPvR for sale for ~€15k excluding VRT. Not too bad and quite rare given that the stopped making them in 2000, and even that year there was only 160 of them made.
If have not seen a '01 FTO for sale before or since!

Mustang

"Drool" - 01 FTO GPvR - this has got to be my next car - & I could switch over a load of my current mods so that it won't cost an arm and a leg to get it to where I want it.

But I can't find one on the jap auction sites - one of these days!

[Keith]

This guy is a close friend of one of my old work mates. Never had any dealings with him directly though, thought it was a little on the pricy side myself so I got my fto from the buy & sell.

[CJ]

But I can't find one on the jap auction sites - one of these days!

Considering the UK lads can't import facelifts for the foreseeable future, it shouldn't take too long until a decent '00 becomes available. Keep on looking!

CJ

[Neil]

Finally got around to getting onto them today and just received and very detailed and helpful email back laying out and breaking down all the costs involved in importing a manual grade 4 '96 GPX with under 80,000km on the clock.

After everything from handling, de-registration and inspection fees in Japan to bank transfer charges to port handling and VRT charges when it gets here he quoted me an approx 7.5grand. And theyre agency fee is a flat €655, so about 8000 euro on the road more or less...

Seems about right I suppose.

[Mustang]

Looks like you're certainly putting in the groundwork Neil! Have you been out test driving FTO's?

[Neil]

No I havent actually sat in one since my cousin sold his 8 months ago!

But yea I am doing the groundwork alright, just kinda got the thing in my head now yknow how it is!

[Mustang]

I notice they have finally gotten around to updating their sports car stock list. The prices listed for their stock FTO's are a bit over the odds (Almost makes Sean Byrne auto's look cheap!)
'96 GS tip €8322
'97 GX tip €11051
'97 GX tip €12100
All prices excluding VRT Ching. Ching!
Although that said the quote which Neil got above did not seem unreasonable.

[Speedyboy]

There pricey enough alright, Id want to see the grade 4 auction sheets aswell paying that much of a premium

[kevinod]

'96 GS tip €8322
'97 GX tip €11051
'97 GX tip €12100
All prices excluding VRT Ching. Ching!

*EXCLUDING* VRT?? Flippin 'eck what planet are they living on!

Have to wonder what they're basing their prices on, thats crazy altogether.

Kev.

[CJ]

Have to wonder what they're basing their prices on, thats crazy altogether.

Totally agree, how they expect to sell cars at those prices I'll never know.

CJ

[Neil]

[Neil]

I cant understand why the facelifts fetch soo much more, am I the only person that actually PREFERS the look of pre-facelift? theres something about the corners on the post-facelifts front bumper that look very 'plasticy' to me... obviously thats a minor concern but unless I was buying a tip, as the 5speed revised gearbox seemingly being far better, but for manuals is there really that much (ie: almost double € in some cases) of a difference for the money??

think my ideal car is probably the rarest ftos of them all, post 96 pre-facelift

[steelroe]

pricy is an understatement. Dylan is selling 2 nice one's at the moment and is currently open to offers.

I think some of these guys are out to make a killing and that is where a good site like this one is invaluabnle to prospective owners. I don't care how clean and what grade of import they are I would not even consider buying. Keep an ey on the B+S and others and you will find the one you want for a hell of a lot less than these guys are looking for.

This is my opinion and i am not saying all importers are ruthless.

[kevinod]

I cant understand why the facelifts fetch soo much more, am I the only person that actually PREFERS the look of pre-facelift? theres something about the corners on the post-facelifts front bumper that look very 'plasticy' to me...

Ya, although I think my ideal might be a mix of the 2, the 2 round lights on the facelift bumper but without the facelift's bumper's bottom wing.

Kev.

[Myfeckin FTO]

I cant understand why the facelifts fetch soo much more, am I the only person that actually PREFERS the look of pre-facelift? theres something about the corners on the post-facelifts front bumper that look very 'plasticy' to me...

Ya, although I think my ideal might be a mix of the 2, the 2 round lights on the facelift bumper but without the facelift's bumper's bottom wing.

Kev.

Good idea Kev - Steelroe has used two VW polo lights for his facelift conversion - I wonder would a bodyshop be able to come up with a mould that would fit new style lights (like the Polo lights) into the old style foglamp/indicator space?