Aberdeenshire Imports

[stoop44rio]

Hi, looking at possibility of importing a JDM and have came across this importer. Has anyone dealt with him previously or heard anything?

[mazdajason]

I know someone that’s bought a vehicle through Chris, I’ve sent him the link to here incase he wants to post.
Was there something specific you wanted to know?

[Chuck328]

I’d like to know more to thanks.
Have family up that way and currently looking for a clean Evo 9.

[stoop44rio]

Ideally I’d like to know he’s a genuine straight up fella who’ll get me what I want. I’ve read a few tales about other importers who have delivered cars not quite up to the mark. Maybe just slight imperfections but they weren’t flagged up at all until new owner noticed. Some people buy the cars but then say they wouldn’t just importer ‘X’ again.
So really I’m just double checking the guy before I do business with him. Saying that I’ve only seen good reports so far but just doing my homework.

[mazdajason]

I can't help you with that as i've never met Chris. Like i said, i have sent this link to my mate that Chris did import a car for though if he wishes to comment.

[Chuck328]

Can’t say fairer than that.

I take it your pal had good experience. All went as smoothly as could be expected ?

[rene7]

I've been looking at JDM cars for awhile, from what I've seen you're better off waiting until car is in UK, then go look at it, some of the cars I've seen haven't been touched since the dealer imported them, not even had the oil changed some had bald tyres, some had snow tyres fitted - Duh!!
Very few have 2 keys or keyfobs - IMO buyer beware. I've also seen some very Rusty 'just imported' JDM Subaru Legacy's - rear subframe was dangererously rusted IMO. So don't believe the dealers BS on 'rust free import' from Japan
>
Having said that my wife bought a great 37K mile Blademaster G from a small dealer - who had fully serviced it, 4 new tyres, new battery, replaced stereo etc. Before advertising it - So you can be lucky - you just have to check everything yourself, getting a dealer to import a car IMO is a huge risk - remember buyer beware!!
Good luck - good 'uns do exist, they're just not all good
Hope this helps

[trails]

Buying from auction means there will be an auction sheet, these are typically pretty accurate and certainly not dealer BS.

[rene7]

The auction sheet is in Japanese !! Can you read Japanese? - probably not, the sheet doesn't do any rust checks, only shiny bodywork and dents, and interior etc. I was shocked when I saw the state of some JDM Legacy's Rear Subframes, even those with plenty of Jap paperwork and the Auction sheet which graded them as a 4!! - Buyer Beware, they're not all Rust Free, I've owned a 2005 UK spec Legacy for almost 11years, some Jap imports I saw were as rusty as my UK car!!
>
Having said that the wife's 3.5 graded 2007 Blademaster looks new Underneath !
>
You need to see the car BEFORE buying it

[Chuck328]

Surely there are professionals who could view a car for you and send over a detailed report for the obvious fee?

[trails]

rene7 said:

The auction sheet is in Japanese !! Can you read Japanese? - probably not, the sheet doesn't do any rust checks, only shiny bodywork and dents, and interior etc. I was shocked when I saw the state of some JDM Legacy's Rear Subframes, even those with plenty of Jap paperwork and the Auction sheet which graded them as a 4!! - Buyer Beware, they're not all Rust Free, I've owned a 2005 UK spec Legacy for almost 11years, some Jap imports I saw were as rusty as my UK car!!
>
Having said that the wife's 3.5 graded 2007 Blademaster looks new Underneath !
>
You need to see the car BEFORE buying it

No, but Google translate works pretty well, I’ve just used it to understand a service history record after being told about it on here.

Auction sheet should refer to rust/corrosion, but not all auction houses are are that diligent.. The only rusty imports I’ve seen is when viewing online and they where all from places adjacent to large bodies of salt water…shocking eh

[samoht]

If anyone does want to buy a car from the Japanese auctions, I have previously used JapaneseUsedCars.com . They check the cars for rust etc as well as sharing the auction sheet with you, then you set a limit and they'll bid up to it (or slightly over, heh).

Anyway the one car I bought through them was in genuinely vgc all over, much better than a similar UK-delivered car. Sample of one, but still.

Otherwise yes if buying in this country check it over carefully just as with any other used purchase. The average quality of secondhand cars coming from Japan is decidedly better than here for the same age, but that does not mean there aren't lemons.

[rene7]

samoht
absolutely right
>
For all the rest of you there's at least 2 'Fresh import' JDM Legacy's for sale on ebay at the mo which are so rusty they'll be scrap within 1-2 years
I know I've wasted my time viewing 'em - buyer's beware !!

Edited by rene7 on Friday 19th August 07:22

[TommoAE86]

Getting the right person to import a car would be my advice, I've gone through the same agent twice for both of mine and the auctions sheets have been overly critical that I couldn't find some of the reported marks when detailing them - both cars have been better value and better condition than anything I could've got in the UK.

[mersontheperson]

rene7 said:

The auction sheet is in Japanese !! Can you read Japanese? - probably not, the sheet doesn't do any rust checks, only shiny bodywork and dents, and interior etc. I was shocked when I saw the state of some JDM Legacy's Rear Subframes, even those with plenty of Jap paperwork and the Auction sheet which graded them as a 4!! - Buyer Beware, they're not all Rust Free, I've owned a 2005 UK spec Legacy for almost 11years, some Jap imports I saw were as rusty as my UK car!!
>
Having said that the wife's 3.5 graded 2007 Blademaster looks new Underneath !
>
You need to see the car BEFORE buying it

Sorry but this is just not true. Firstly rust and corrosion are two different things, completely separate Japanese words and if it’s spottable, they will be mentioned.
Secondly, the vast majority of used cars are bought and sold through auctions there, if they are not as described, the auction. House is liable and will have to pay up.

I have bought 8 cars through auction, some I have had inspected by an auction agent, sone I have been to the auction itself and decided, some I have bought blind.

Why not use an agent who has someone on the ground who inspects the vehicle for you? That’s what I do with SmileJV.

Have a look at car and classic at the Nissan Leopard and reconsider if buying blind from an auction is really that bad!

[Highlander80]

I used Chris this year and would definitely use again in future, we gave a rough budget, told him the cars we were looking for. Chris was very helpful and certainly knows the jdm market, his cars are always of a high standard and his own collection are top of the jdm tree.

Once we had settled on a car, Chris bid at auction and informed us we had won it, we paid the full amount a couple of days later.

We were kept informed throughout the process, even tracked the ship. Car was registered and had mot ready to collect.

Also know another customer with an rx7 who recommended Chris.

Our evo 8 rs was immaculate upon collection, grade 4.5 with 27k miles.

Tempted by a fd2 or evo 6 and will definitely use Chris if i go ahead.

Edited by Highlander80 on Sunday 4th September 16:03

[Highlander80]

[Highlander80]

[trails]

Blimey that is sooooo clean…I suspect your grin was visible from space when you picked it up

[tinyboytim]

I can recommend IBC Japan as an agent to use. They have agents on the ground that give you a full heads up on any potential issues. Access to most of the auctions, inspection sheet etc. I have imported quite a few through them and had no issues at all.