Forum:
Does anyone have any experience of imported Daihatsus? I nearly bought a Sportrak "Rocky" a few years back, but was put off because of horror tales about imports. I bought a conventional Sporty ELXi instead. Trouble is, I now need to be able to tow 2.5 tonnes. I see there is s SWB Fourtrak for sale, imported from Japan. Its tempting, but I'm just not convinced that its a good thing. I would appreciate any opinions, no-matter what bias they have. Thanks in advance.
I've several friends and neig
I've several friends and neighbours who have very bad experiences of older imports.
Make sure the vehicle isn't more then 4-5 years old that way it won't have been standing around for years in the Japanesse scrap yard.
Bascially, as far as I know, it's expensive to keep a car on the road in Japan hence they tend to be "scrapped" at 3-4 year old.
You then get the UK buyers touring these scrapyards and buying the best for shipping over here.
Most have been standing for years in these scrapyards and then all the importer does is hook up a huge battery or tow to start them and get drivable onto the transport ship.
This is the problem. They are normally low mileage and with such high service intervals today a lot have never had an oil change - ever ! They get brutally started by what ever means possible and then hammered by worker on and off a ship before reaching a UK garage who then prepares them ready for sale.
In every case I've come across the vheicle looked imaculate inside and out with very low milage but all had serious engine problems a few weeks after the 3 months guarantee ran out.
My opinion is every time the cause has been the lubrication system ie tar type oil from years of storage and then unsympatetically started and reved to hell and back when oilways almost dry.
There are some good secondhand buys from Japan as long as you are careful.
(b) Don't believe a word the saleman says - they are after a profit and will tell you that is was only used by a nunnery once a week if they can get your money.
(c) If the guarantee is only for a short period, say 3 months, then I assume they will offer an extended one for additonal cost. Look at the small print to see exacly what is covered. If possible get an independant inspection done by AA / RAC. Expensive but late model secondhand Jap imports can have suspect history (write off, stolen etc) and you don't want to be stung.
(d) Don't be persuaded by speedo mileage. They can be "clocked" in Japan to make them more tempting to UK importers - as well as the same beng done again by selling garage ! Go by overall impression on condition and again independant inspection recommended.
I'm cynical - but have seen on 4 Jap imports, from 4 different dealers over a period of time massive bills for the repairs needed to correct problems. In every case the purchase cost plus repair bill was more then buying a UK market vehicle in good condition making the import a very poor buy.
It's a little like jewellery plated with gold - it looks the part for a while but when the plating wears off then you realise you'd have been better paying the extra to buy solid gold in first place
Paul Humphries
I know of some people over on
I know of some people over on the MGRover forums who have back-imported MGF's & RV8's - apparently, the reason so many vehicles wind up over here is because of the notorious 'Shaken' test - the Japanese MOT - which has a phenominally high failure rate for everything that passes thru. The car is, literally, pulled to bits, and many owners don't even bother to put it thru.
We are the biggest market in the world for greys, or so it's said, and they are banned in France and other countries to help protect their own motor industries.
Dave with a Sporty
Dave with a Sporty
The + \ -
Never to old to play in the mud :-)
I don't know with the UK but we have a few imports here downunder. The same goes for buying anthing, do your research first. Depending on age of vehicle, I go with the other comment if more than a few years old be careful, I had a mate buy a cheap import Deisol 4 cyl for a SWB cruiser, he was a mechanic and got caught out.
Some of the motors come out of fork lift trucks, so have low mileage but have never really been worked at speed. His was useless on the open highway, slow as a wet week. He ended up taking it out and seling and reverting back to petrol and LPG (duel fuel ) I have bought a engine that was an import, the problem is meeting the design regs for here.
There also are many minor differences in the specs and bolt on bits. Not a major prob unless something breaks. Since they have puled out of Aus, parts are going to be an issue. I am seriously considering the practicalities of importing a couple of vehicles, so I have body panels and such as spares.
I only bought my 93 Rocky Turbo Diesol recently, have just done a major service. All filters, all oils engine and drive train. Previous owner before yard overtightened the diff plug, so I had to replace the diff plate with a new one $106 Plate $20 Gasket $6 Plug $ 2 Washer + GST AUD.
Not cheap but won't have to be done again in my life time, because Diahatsu pulled out of Aus this year all parts ( new) are X Sydney. Albeit local Toyota dealer was more than helpful in searching and locating parts, second hand are rare as most Rocky owners seldom part with their beloved Rockies.
I love mine ( and so does the Missus )have driven a few but this is first I have actually owned, drives like a dream after the service. Have just come back from a weekend down the line for my stepsons Archery comp so the Rocky had a good run.
With the price of fuel here at the moment, $ 1.36 - 49 P\L, is a genuine concern. Now I have done a few trips and ran injector cleaner in each tank fill is returning excellent economy, will return 30MPG or better on trips and not much less in the city.
The imperative with all diesols, having worked on cars for over 30yrs is regular maintenance especially oils and filters if you want to get the best out of them. Last job to do this week is brake fluid change, to clean the lines of any contanminants. And as someone has already said 'Beware' of salesmans with forked tongues
I'm an old petrol head from way back since my first car as soon as I was old enough to get my licence, I helped my late uncle when I was a nipper living in Stoke - on - Trent ( Border Staffordshire\ Cheshire )working on his cars ( 8-9 ) yrs old perhaps, before late parents came out to this sunburnt country.
I plan to trip around AUS as long as I can see where I am going, and climb in the Rocky and change the gears we have a lot to see here in one lifetime.
Paul AKA RockyDownunder Melbourne AUS
Never to old to play in the mud :-)
(Grey) Imports
Paul, thanks for the comprehesive comments. You probably said exactly what I was thinking and have helped me make what I think is the right decision; IE not to buy.
Cheers
martyn