Srce

I posted the same question in the 3rd gen section a while back.



Here's what I think. If Mazda stoped importing the FD into the states because of emmision problems in 95, then all pre 95 JDM cars should pass emmisions fine here. If that's true, then we have one problem off our hands. 95's already have both airbags so that takes care of another similarity problem. Basically, I was told in that post by JT that there are NO differeces in the 95-past FD's both A-Spec and J-Spec. If that's true, it would be easy for someone to prove to customs, the EPA, and the DMV that the ony diff. between JDM cars and ours is the steering wheel placement.

mjw

Right, check out what the link above to the NHTSA really says in the TITLE:



VEHICLES CERTIFIED BY THEIR ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER AS COMPLYING

WITH ALL APPLICABLE CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS



I researched this a bit about 4 years ago and it is not as easy as it seems to import a used JDM car. It makes zero difference whether or not the same model was sold here previously or concurrently, Japanese and American standards are quite different when it comes to crash and emissions testing. A japanese market RX-7 will most likely not pass a CA emissions test for example. The only way you can get one into the states is to register it for off-road/race use only, it can never be street legal.

Srce

Bullshit

jackdhammer

I have to agree. According to Motorex, if the car you are trying to import has been sold or is sold in the US you can get a certificate from the manufacturer saying that the car is nearly Identical to the US version. Then all you need to do is Modify the vehicle to the same standards as the US market vehicle. The reason the Skylines and Sylvias are so expensive is there was never a US model so therefore no US crash testing and no known US spec safety mods(bumper changes, door reinforcements). Emissions is a different story. Things like emissions and guages and glass are relatively easy and cheap. Crash tests are not.



This is why I asked the Japan members if the structure was different. As long as it isn't you should be able to either strip a US Seven or make the necissary safety changes yourself.



Not to sound all knowing and **** but being in the military, I know a few guys with J-Spec integras that brought them back from Japan. I live down the street (literally) from a R-34. It's not impossible just a little costly.



The way I look at it is like this, you are basically buying a used J-spec seven for 30-40K. First: Name me a better SPORTS car for 30-40k.

Second: Add in the cool factor of a right hand drive RX-7.



Sounds like a ******* bargain to me.