What did you drive before your '12 Yaris?

[broody]

How is the skyline legal in USA? And what's the car on the before last picture?

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by rubhamusan

The last few rides.

Thats the last few years.I still own the truck and vanagon.

You have fantastic taste in cars. That is all.

Originally Posted by broody

How is the skyline legal in USA? And what's the car on the before last picture?

Some owners transfer the VIN plate from a 300ZX (that they have the title to--as an example) and title the Skyline as such. Most people at the DMV don't give it a glance. Just don't get pulled over, or you are in it (legally) so deep (as this is illegal). If word got out your had a real non-R35 GTR/Skyline (and it would), I can't see anyone being able to keep it on the street. They are illegal cars in the U.S.--and a LOT of people know it.

Same reason I can't import a Kei sports car such as a Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat, or Autozam AZ-1 into the U.S.!

Just heard about a few people trying this a couple of years ago (not saying that is what rub did, but it's a guess). Not even a Skyline is worth all the hassles. But damn, are those R32-R34 coupes all so sexy! Straight-six engines are so hot, too. V6 engines are so pedestrian, by comparison.

But Skylines are dime-a-dozen in Canada ("grey imports" they call them)...as are said Kei sportscars.

BRB, moving to Canada forever.

EDIT: I just noticed you are in Canada, Broody. This is all old hat to you then, isn't it? I am so jealous of your used car availability. Can you send me a Suzuki Cappuccino? I'll even send you the cardboard box first. lol

[ilikerice]

my first car was a crx.

had a 08 tacoma after that.

then the yaris.

no pictures of the tacoma though.. wasnt camera worthy i guess

[rubhamusan]

A couple years ago it was not too hard to get a title for a skyline or cefiro or any other jdm car. Georgia was easy too.Tenn was a cakewalk. Now that the dmv figured things out
It's near impossible. Its actually easier to get a registered machinegun now than it is to title a skyline.

The next to last car in the pic is a infiniti M30. I put a skyline motor in it.RB20det. In japan it's a f31 leopard. I use to drive a vitz when I was in japan alot. 2-3 times a year.
I worked for a importer. So when it came time to buy a new car yaris was it.

[ilikerice]

Originally Posted by rubhamusan

A couple years ago it was not too hard to get a title for a skyline or cefiro or any other jdm car. Georgia was easy too.Tenn was a cakewalk. Now that the dmv figured things out
It's near impossible. Its actually easier to get a registered machinegun now than it is to title a skyline.

The next to last car in the pic is a infiniti M30. I put a skyline motor in it.RB20det. In japan it's a f31 leopard. I use to drive a vitz when I was in japan alot. 2-3 times a year.
I worked for a importer. So when it came time to buy a new car yaris was it.

no kidding about GA being the EASIEST way to get a title for a JDM car. My good buddy and ex roomie bought a RHD CRX SI. got it shipped from canada. cost about 2k extra more dollars but it was his dream car

[broody]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

You have fantastic taste in cars. That is all.



Some owners transfer the VIN plate from a 300ZX (that they have the title to--as an example) and title the Skyline as such. Most people at the DMV don't give it a glance. Just don't get pulled over, or you are in it (legally) so deep (as this is illegal). If word got out your had a real non-R35 GTR/Skyline (and it would), I can't see anyone being able to keep it on the street. They are illegal cars in the U.S.--and a LOT of people know it.

Same reason I can't import a Kei sports car such as a Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat, or Autozam AZ-1 into the U.S.!

Just heard about a few people trying this a couple of years ago (not saying that is what rub did, but it's a guess). Not even a Skyline is worth all the hassles. But damn, are those R32-R34 coupes all so sexy! Straight-six engines are so hot, too. V6 engines are so pedestrian, by comparison.

But Skylines are dime-a-dozen in Canada ("grey imports" they call them)...as are said Kei sportscars.

BRB, moving to Canada forever.

EDIT: I just noticed you are in Canada, Broody. This is all old hat to you then, isn't it? I am so jealous of your used car availability. Can you send me a Suzuki Cappuccino? I'll even send you the cardboard box first. lol

It seems risky to own a rhd in USA...
In Canada, we can import them once they are 15 years old, but in Quebec (where I live) since 3 years now (april 2009) it changed to 25 years because too many young people were buying skylines and such and wrecking them. I bought my '92 MR2 rhd in march 2009 so I'm fine, but it's too bad I cannot import anything, I'd like something more exotic like a Suzuki Alto Works awd.
I found a used beat for sale once (legal to drive here), it's a blast to drive but too narrow for me (6ft3).

However, I bought a jdm bike last year (FZR250 1988), since it's not RHD, there are no problems :). Plates for a sub 400cc are 330$, 650$ for 400+ and 900 or so for a sport bike (it was even 1400 until last year). And my fzr is more powerful and fun (18 000rpm redline) than any american 250 (ninja or cbr), perfect beginner's bike to drive around town.

The problem is that I have too many vehicules, but I cannot discard any. My DD is not good for track use, my MR2 (track car mostly) is not good for DD, and my bike is not good for winter and I won't track it (safety reasons). I'd like to find a vehicule that can make both DD and lapping, maybe a Yaris 2012 SE, but it will feel a bit slow compared to the mr2...

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by broody

It seems risky to own a rhd in USA...
In Canada, we can import them once they are 15 years old, but in Quebec (where I live) since 3 years now (april 2009) it changed to 25 years because too many young people were buying skylines and such and wrecking them. I bought my '92 MR2 rhd in march 2009 so I'm fine, but it's too bad I cannot import anything, I'd like something more exotic like a Suzuki Alto Works awd.
I found a used beat for sale once (legal to drive here), it's a blast to drive but too narrow for me (6ft3).

However, I bought a jdm bike last year (FZR250 1988), since it's not RHD, there are no problems :). Plates for a sub 400cc are 330$, 650$ for 400+ and 900 or so for a sport bike (it was even 1400 until last year). And my fzr is more powerful and fun (18 000rpm redline) than any american 250 (ninja or cbr), perfect beginner's bike to drive around town.

The problem is that I have too many vehicules, but I cannot discard any. My DD is not good for track use, my MR2 (track car mostly) is not good for DD, and my bike is not good for winter and I won't track it (safety reasons). I'd like to find a vehicule that can make both DD and lapping, maybe a Yaris 2012 SE, but it will feel a bit slow compared to the mr2...

While stationed in Japan in 2002, I bought a '95 black MR2 Turbo t-top, 5-speed. For $2500 cash...no scratches, no issues whatsoever.

EASILY the greatest car I have ever driven, ridden in, or owned. Just a magnificent car in every respect. I would kill to have another.

[broody]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

While stationed in Japan in 2002, I bought a '95 black MR2 Turbo t-top, 5-speed. For $2500 cash...no scratches, no issues whatsoever.

EASILY the greatest car I have ever driven, ridden in, or owned. Just a magnificent car in every respect. I would kill to have another.

Get a clean usdm body for 3k or so and a genIII engine clip for about the same. 6k for such a nice car is honest.

[rubhamusan]

Anything 25 years or older is able to be done now but that"s it.There is a lot of cool 70-80's Toyota's to be had tho.

[broody]

Originally Posted by rubhamusan

Anything 25 years or older is able to be done now but that"s it.There is a lot of cool 70-80's Toyota's to be had tho.

There are many classic to be had, but they cost a fortune in Japan too. The big advantage of 15-20 years old jdm cars is that they are almost given, we pay more for the import cost than for the cas itself.

An affordable car that I would like to own is the Honda City Turbo II, it's more than 25 years old now.

[Strider199]

I lost my 1999.5 VW TDi Golf to a deer last Nov and the cost of a new 2012 VW was $31,000 so I headed to the Toyota dealer to get my 2012 Black 3 door Yaris. I have driven VW diesels since 1982 including, 1982 Rabbit, 1985 Golf, 1988 Jetta, 1986 Golf, and the 1999.5 Golf. My first gas car is the Yaris.

[AndreS123]

picked up a blazing blue '12 yaris L about 3 weeks ago.

The car just previous to the Yaris-
1998 Chevy prizm, the corolla's re-headed step-sister. still running at 273k, but needing some work...

other previous rides- 1991 Geo Prizm, 1994 Ford Bronco, 1991 Toyota 2wd pickup, 1987 toyota pickup, 1984 Jeep CJ7(swapped from 2.5l 4cyl. to 4.2l I-6), 1988 Dodge Daytona.

Other current rides-
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 extended cab shorty, 5.2L, 5-spd... my utility & tow rig
1988 Mazda RX7, LS1 V8 swap, after much sorting it does consistent 11.70-11.90 @ 114-116mph 1/4's... on a stock motor with basic bolt-ons.
1994 Honda XR250L (for sale)
2003 GasGas HP300


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rdOWiBuR44

[Ladbrox]

VW polo 1,4 3 doors 6n1 -96 with coilovers and a 2inch from the catalyst and back in stainless steel :p

Question, why was the skyline illegal in the US?

White Yaris '12 :)

[Vail]

first car: nissan micra S 998 16valve

then my love: Mini Cooper with lots of mods:




now happy to spent half in gas, driving white 1.3l, 99HP 6 Speed Yaris MY2012

[skuzzlebutt5]

i just bought those wheels! nice! are those 17s?

[Vail]

Yessa.. ultraleggera 7x17 7,2kgs fitting 205/45 R17 :Q____
They was amazing and the car change completely from my original 17 11,5kg o_O

On Yaris I'm thinking on sparco assetto gara

[skuzzlebutt5]

Are you going to run on 17x7 again? I bought 16x7 with 37mm offset for the '12 SE. Thinking about going 205/45/16 with them and dropping down 1~1.3".

[shibasmith]

My '12 replaced an '02 Echo, which I really liked except for the flop-on-its-side-and-die handling it exhibited around most corners.

An extended family member needed a car quickly, so I sold him the Echo, which gave me an excuse to get a new Yaris which I had been very interested in as soon as I saw the new model. After 4 months with the new car, I have no regrets at all. :)

My weekend and ski trip car is an '09 Subaru Outback Sport, which is an enjoyable car in need of stiffer suspension (I may eventually get around to putting a rear sway on it to begin the quest to improve its handling) and which unfortunately guzzles gas, relatively speaking. Which is what relegates it to weekend and fun car.

If I could get a Yaris with the Subaru's power but the Yaris's fuel economy and handling (and definitely the Yaris's shifter and brakes), that might just be the perfect car for me! :-P