Toyota Hiace and SVO

[redearth12]

The diesel Toyota Hiace would seem to be a excellent candidate for a SVO car. Many models have four wheel drive, tons of space and are generally very reliable. Why are they not available in the U.S.? The rest of the world loves them.
Unlike the imported, right hand drive land cruisers, which are everywhere in the U.S. and all over eBay, you can’t find a Hiace anywhere here! What is the deal?

I live in Montana. I am looking into the scenario of importing a Hiace (90’s model) from Japan (which seems to be a viable option) and bringing it back to convert it over to SVO?

Does anyone have thoughts on major problems that I might encounter? For example; title work, registration, emissions, Frybrid compatibility.

[Pir8Darryl]

I'v heard stories on the internet of people who have done just what your proposing.

Apparently, it's possible to import, liscense, register, insure, and drive an importer. There are quite a few hoops the govt. makes you jump thru.

One down side to the scenario is that you can not transfer an importer,,, at least as I understand it.

That means that you will own it untill you junk it, or untill you die.

Not gospel... Just what I'v heard

[redearth12]

Interesting. If this is true, I wonder how so many imported diesel land cruisers are sold and resold in the U.S.?
-Nathan

[Pir8Darryl]

If I understand it correctly, you can register, license, and then drive a vehicle that is not emissions certified in the U.S. if you already own it.

But it is illegal to purchase an un-certified vehicle within the states for use upon a public highway.

[JeffNLisa]

I too would be more than willing to import one, if it was left-hand drive. Even if I had to agree to own it until I died.

If anyone who knows all there is to know about this sees this thread, PLEASE post or email me!

Jeff

[cgoodwin]

I spent two years trying to Import my 1988 Land Rover Defender 110, I had been from the Arctic to Cape town in that rig. NO dice.

Any vehicle 25 years old or older can be imported for a fee of 2% of the sale price of the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle shipping may be very simple, when I was importing my series land rovers all I had to do was have them steam cleaned at the port of departure.

Newer vehicles can be imported if they are on a lift of exempt vehicles, I do not think any diesels qualify.

Another list exists of vehicles which can be "Federalized" or brought into DOT compliance. Good news!.... Not so quick, this is the government! In order to federalize a vehicle, you will need to have a registered importer do it... There are 3. For my Land Rover they wanted $14,000 just to file the paper and that was if I put an air bag and seat belt buzzer in it...

Lastly. If a vehicle was sold in the US, lets say a VW syncro Vanagon, and you find one in Canada for a good price, maybe even already converted to diesel, you can import it into the US if you do so while the vehicle is in Canada, and if you obtain a letter from VW North America which states that the vehicle in question is "Significantly Similar" to those sold in the US (ie: would pass the same crash test and fitted with the same safety equip).

There are all kinds of ways around all this but they get dodgy or difficult.

Georgia will issue a title for anything with wheels, once you have that title you may be able to get your state to honor it and give you a title in your state... Until you get in an accident, then the insurance company will try to say it is an illegal vehicle (I got a title for my defender this way but never did bring it). From here on I will not drone on about Land Rovers as many of the methods are specific only to these vehicles.

OK, you can buy a Toyota model which as offered as a diesel and is eligible for import, get it in, then drop in the diesel engine. If you are in the military and own the vehicle while based in another country you can bring it back in most cases, but only one vehicle. If you work in another country and live there and bought a vehicle, you may bring it back as long as it is expensive enough to justify it to them. If you have a overseas license and bring a car into the country you can drive it here for 6 months, after this you are required to get a US license and import the vehicle. (I had a Mexican License and US plates on my 1981 Suzuki Katana 1100 the whole time I lived in the UK).

I guess that is about it. There is a lot of info on the net about it but none of it is completely accurate because the customs people in the port you bring it into are the people you really need to deal with and half the time they don't know, or don't care unless you have 10 new vehicles. I have brought in 5 under the 25 year exemption and the customs guys I use always has a new story for me about the criminal exploits of his looser son, insists I have a cup of coffee with him and asks about my family. He fills out one form and keeps it on a clip board under his arm until he is no longer lonely, then les me sign, pay and go.

[Skeeter]

Got a Toyota Hiace van, WVO, 4x4, sun & moon roof, etc. They are imported to Canada by Outback Imports. There is a website with all their vehicles. Search for outbackimports.ca.

To bring them into Canada they have to be 15 years old to get in. All of the Outback vehicles are low milage and excellent shape. Mine was the first Hiace in town and now there are 6. My 1990 had 73,000 km, not a scratch, not even the driver seat carpet was scrunched down. However, the rear window defrost had to be fixed and electric window curtains did not all work. In other words, great shape.

Installed a Frybrid system last fall. That was a headache due to limited space with the engine between the front seats. Veg tank is at back door, and still lots of space.

Check the Outback Imports web site for explaination of why they can't get them into the states.

[macattack_ga]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76210

link to a list of links about importing (mostly about diesel toyota land cruisers).

Cheers

[RNCarl]

Sorry to go on about it...

For those of you who may not know, I am on assignment for my company in Ireland.

Here, there are many, many cars that have similar models sold in the U.S. that come from the factory with diesels.

I am driving a Hyundai Tuscon with a 1.6L diesel. This past week end I took a jaunt around the country. over 1000km and used 80L of diesel. That's 12.5km/liter. or.... 31 miles per gallon.

Importing is difficult at best. What I don't understand is that the car I am driving has ABS, traction control, air bags, seat belts, low speed impact bumpers... and the thing keeping it out of the U.S. is the high efficiency diesel..........

I'm begining to think the EPA is in bed with the oil companies. Yeah... really.

C.


.

[DieselBurps]

Originally Posted by RNCarl

I'm begining to think the EPA is in bed with the oil companies. Yeah... really.

Finally! Someone else is thinking the same thing!!