Is the International Overland Vehicle Market for You?

Excellent deals can be found in the JDM market, just remember all the due diligence to find one at great value.

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Words by Grant Roberts

Photos by Perry Mack

Fumbling through the internet at age 19, I came across the niche industry of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars that are available for purchase internationally. 

For a car enthusiast, this felt like the curtains were pulled back to find a fairy tale land filled with exotic cars that are low mileage, well-engineered, and priced lower than equivalent North American vehicles, all in a mysterious industry of endless cars and trucks. Many are available to see only in photos and any further information requires translation.

The first vehicle I purchased was a 1991 Nissan Skyline (GTS-T). It was 16 years old at the time, which conforms to Canadian regulations that all imported cars must be at least 15 years old from the time when they were built. It had 70,000 km (43,495 mi) on the odometer and was all stock. To this day, it was the best vehicle I've ever owned. It cost me $6,700 CAD through an importer, which included the shipping (from Osaka to Vancouver) as well as the import and customs fees.

When I received the Nissan, it was clear it had been sitting for some time (as most of these cars from Japan do). In fact, often times, these low mileage vehicles haven't been driven for five years before being sold. In the case of my Nissan, after some struggle, it ran well, didn't leak or burn oil, and was in near perfect condition. I was lucky. I actually found it fun to drive on the right-hand drive vehicles, although my passenger didn't always enjoy being in the left-hand seat.

So, if you're considering buying a JDM vehicle, where do you start? If you're new to this market, start with an importer with well-documented experience in importing JDM vehicles. The importer should work with quality cars and provide the necessary vehicle inspections, understand shipping criteria, and know all of the import and customs fees and mandatory paperwork. A reputable importer will also have a comprehensive list of available cars, which is updated daily (and often times the total landed cost is listed with the car). 

If you're feeling brave, you can dig through Japan's long list of daily car auctions. Very basic inspections of the cars are listed (in Japanese) on the auction forms. Some importers will even offer to have a vehicle inspected more thoroughly in advance of an auction, but this is still a limited inspection by a third party. The risk in auctions is obvious but shouldn't be ignored as a savvy risk taker can do very well. 

The second vehicle I imported was a 2003 Subaru WRX Wagon. After having a lot of success with my first experience, I bought the car based on the images with the same importer without any consideration for vehicle inspections. This was naive. To be clear, these cars are almost always sold as is and the importer takes no responsibility for issues with the car unless otherwise stated.

Originally, the Subaru was purchased and landed for a total of $5,500 CAD. It then needed to be inspected to ensure it conformed to the North American Safety Standards. This is when it's a good idea to buy a vehicle when you know it complies with these standards. It's not unusual to install new headlights, signal lights, daytime running lights, tires, or windshields to pass the inspection. However, these costs add up, so it’s always best to do your homework. In this case, to pass the inspection cost me $1,000 CAD, taking my total investment to $6,500 CAD. It was now street legal, but had its problems as it was misfiring and leaked oil, antifreeze, and boost pressure. This car had been sitting for some time as well. 

With several trips to a qualified Subaru mechanic, all the required maintenance to bring the car back to life was at least another $5,000 CAD. This included replacing the timing belt, radiator, oil leaks, brakes, etc. I will say, the car was very solid otherwise and I've driven it for years without further issues. I was, however, staggered by these added expenses.

In the end, I don’t regret buying the Subaru. It’s still an amazing car and I'm glad I own it. The caution I would suggest lies in insisting on thorough inspections prior to purchase. Importers are able to arrange professional inspections in Japan and had I requested one, I would have known about several of the issues in advance.

Some importers bring the vehicles into the country, make them legal, and do the inspections before making them available for sale. One example is Velocity Cars in Vancouver, but a search for JDM cars will bring up a number of options.

I have had some of my best driving experiences in unique, right-hand drive vehicles. For the enthusiast who is short on a budget, these quality built Japanese vehicles are a great option. However, word to the wise, it’s worth paying for a qualified importer to navigate this strange world for you. They will help you to find the quality Japanese vehicle of your dreams.