Going to Japan....
 

Well, just as the title says...I'm going to Japan!! :happydance:

As some you you already know, I'm a Marine and I just put in for orders to Japan. I'm only writing this thread because I'm trying to see what some of you guys would do when it came to getting a car over there. We all know that it's the THE import car central for most of us here. What car would you buy and build if you had the chance? Keep in mind that I got about 3 years to build this thing up, so I can pretty much do whatever I want.

Here's the main cars I've been thinking about... + a little info about the importation back here.

#1 = The infamous/famous Skyline GTR - Really want a R34 but can only get it registered as a show/race car for the US. The only one legal for importation to the US is the R33 up to mid 1998 w/ a few grand in bringing it to specs. So do I suck it up and get the R33 or just buy and own an R34 for the time and suck it up as an experience?

#2 = The amazing Silvia S14 (or S15) - Awesome car, but mainly for looks. We all know that it can take thousands to bring it up to par w/ any track/race car. That's the downside!! Otherwise it's an awesome car for aesthetics. Plus it's relatively easy to import.

#3 = 300 Fairlady Z 2X2. The only benefit to this is that they already make the 300 here so changing it over would be simple and easy to import. Also having a RHD 300 here is unique enough.

#4 = 370 Fairlady Z. (same pro/con as 300)

Any input would be appreciated guys. Thanks for the read and I hope you can help me make a solid decision.

- Rick :driving:

One of each:ughdance:

Get one of the real original gtr's and you can if you take a spacial class and get a license for it operate it normally in the us. YOU LUCKY ..........

If only I could afford to, I would! Actually from what some of the Marines there are selling them for, I could buy atleast 2 (not the 370 though) Then I couldn't afford to mod them out though, lol.


I have looked into this extensively for over the last 2 years or more and ohhhh if it were that easy, lol. I won't go too into it right now, but let's just say that Motorex got a little greedy and grimy and screwed everyone's dreams oflegally owning and registering an R34 or R32. The only one's that they legally crash tested and converted and documented was the R33. So anyone that owned an R34 prior to 1998 has had them grand fathered in. Otherwise you can only import an R33 from 1995 - mid 1998 and it has to have a multitude of conversions done. The only myth that people run into that is false is that you don't have to make them LHD, you can leave them RHD as long as you convert everything else.

Semper fi! I got out in '98. I was stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, was with MWSS 171. I'd like to visit Japan again someday.

Get the latest FD Rx7 if you can. The JDM one is worth it. Besides, you can get a 370 stateside anytime you want.

If it was up to me between the R33 GTR and a S15. I would go the S15.
R34 GTR is a different story. The 33 is dime a dozen in Australia and it's pretty hard to go past a tastefully tuned S15.

R33 = land bardge
S15 = lite, rwd, well balanced

The thing is, there are skylines every 3rd car when driving on the Gold Coast where as im sure they are quite the rare site in the US.

Semper Fi to you to brother. Actually now that you mention that, I have thought about the RX7 Spirit A and the RS. I forgot to mention them though. Hard to find from what I here seeing as how there were only 1000 RS made and only about 1500 Spirits made.


I can agree with this to an extent but my problem remains that I don't know hardly squat about the S15 motors. Maybe I should do a little research though. It might be worth it. Hell, if nothing else I'm learning more knowledge about another car anyway, lol.

S15 is a pretty car. I'd go that route. I would prefer an RX-7. The FD is a pretty curvaceous car, and you can do a lot with it, with or without the rotary.


There was actually an R34 in my area, and it was often street raced. I don't know if it's even a registered car, but regardless of it's registered value, most cops don't even know to question its legality in the states. Skylines in general are very rare in the US.

Ive been there quite a few times over the years. You didnt say, but I assume youre going to "mainland" Japan and not Okinawa? The money is good over there, so why dont you just sample each one and pull the trigger on the one that strikes you most? Theyre all a dime a dozen out there, as strange as it seems now to think that way. I saw some crazy nice Supras when I was there too. Ive actually been drooling over FD's a lot lately.

I am actually trying to get to Okinawa because it's a little out of the way of all the main tourist areas but I can always go to Iwakuni and just have a ship bring my car to Oki if that's where I find it.

I've been thinking a lot about the MKIV over there too, but if I can't find one with a motor that's already been rebuilt over there, then there's no point in buying it because I know they probably trashed it, lol. It's just that I know more about the RB motors or even the Wankels then I know the 2JZ-GTE.

I really need some more input on this guys. I have yet to make a decision and it's gonna be coming up, probably sooner than I think. Gimme some input here.

Seriously consider an FD. You can go places with that platform.

I loved FDs and they are great looking cars, lots of options, fairly light weight.

They were the true "sports cars." All aluminum body (albeit with steel crossbraces and chassis), lightweight, a shorter wheelbase, good weight distribution, and barely any creature comforts. And they have a massive space under the hood/bonnet that you can do a hell of a lot of things with.

If anything, clean pieces tend to be collector's items now.

FD or an R33 in that order. There's a Bit more support here for the FD when you do come back

Hey man, I am on my way BACK from Japan... actually in Hawaii now for a week before the rest of our jets get here... then pushing on.

If you want to know anything about the Kuni or whatever, let me know.

Brian

I appreciate it man. I'll be getting up with you when you get back. Then that will give us time to talk. Thanks

Rick


Thanks again for everyone's input. I'll definitely be considering an FD. I did own an 8 before, so besides it being turbo, there can't be much more that I would need to learn.

No brainer, skyline or 370z.

Well, like some other guys have said, I can always get a 370z when I get back. They are right in a way. Sure it won't be a RHD but other than that, it's the same car. I think I am going to go with a Skyline R34 and just chalk it up as an experience rather than going through the hassle of bringing it back.

Well when I was in, Iwakuni being my last duty station, I remember you had like a 8,000 lb. limit for free freight to ship back to stateside. A car weighs 4,000 lbs. or less. There you go for free. But I'm sure there are stipulations to this. I remember reading in Super Street a few years back that some U.S. service people stationed in Japan bring back their JDM hipo cars pretty cheap, like several hundred bucks or something.

But hey bro, if you get stationed at Iwakuni...oh my gosh, the best F*CKING chicken nuggets in the world are at "California Chicken" right outside the main gate. SO DELICIOUS. And the BLT sandwiches in Japan are awesome! I hope cali chicken is still there. It's been a little over 10 years since I last been there. But yeah, don't forget to drink some shots of habu-sake.

Don't go to Oki, it's all the PT-freaks, religious freaks and Marines do a lot of stupid sh*t there because they lose their minds. But other than that, Okinawa is beautiful. Been there 4 times on deployment, it's tropical.

"L,L,L,R,Leeefft...everywhere we goooo, people wanna know...who we are...so we tell...ain't no flyboy...who o who o"

Really??? Iwakuni huh?! Haven't really thought about Iwa but my package is in for Oki right now. I should probably check that out a little more before everything gets finalyzed

You know that Oki is like 70 miles north and south, 2 miles east and west....it's a tiny island. It's gorgeous and tropical, humid and warm throughout the year. I went there 4 times on deployment, the longest I stayed was for a month. But I often heard from Marines who were stationed there, that a lot of stupid sh*t goes down because a lot of boots are homesick, it's the 1st time they've visited a foreign country, they lose their minds, etc.

I liked mainland Japan in Iwakuni because you can go to big cities like Hiroshima, Tokyo, etc. But you got to hook up w/ a Japanese girl i.e. get a Japanese g/f in order to make things work out smoother. It's not the same as when you're stateside w/ a bunch of Marine dudes wearing their high-end-tights and "USMC" shirts all over town.

I guess the Corps has changed a lot since I been out. But I had a friend who got out in '05, went to Iraq and he sufferred from PTSD, felt bad for him.

But if you go to Oki, you can always take leave and a mac-flight to mainland Japan.

I've been in for 6 years and I'm a grunt. I was in Iraq in 05' and have been dealing with PTSD **** ever since. That's why I'm LAT moving over to logistics/embarkation. I know how it is to deal with dumbass boots like that. Honestly, that's why I'm considering Iwakuni now that you have mentioned it. .....Looks like a trip back over to the career planner is in order this afternoon.

Damn, you're an 02 huh? My hat goes off to you. I was a 1345, heavy equip operator. My friend who I mentioned above told me a lot of MOS's have been discarded because civilians do them now, for example, cooks, admin and logistics. I didn't want to plant a negative seed in your head about Oki. You gotta realize that it's typically boots who act stupid. If you're one of those guys who's gotta go out on the weekends, in town away from base, then maybe mainland Japan is the way to go. If you can get PCS to Mt. Fuji, which I remember was hard to get (because only like 20 Marines are there), that'd be better than Iwakuni. You can go to Roppongi, Tokyo, and all that good stuff. And yeah, JDM cars are plenty, even in Oki. You'll actually get sick of seeing them because they're so ubiquitous.

But man, this stirs up some nostalgia. I kind of miss the Corps at times.

Well, I'm an 03 but yeah.... 02 is all intel and crap.

Forgot, 0311.

Every Marine is basic rifleman...

lol, it's cool. Yeah, every Marine a rifleman but it still doesn't mean that hey can all shoot haha. So I'm still trying to figure out if I want to go to Kuni or Oki. I guess the biggest decision right now has to do with the housing. I got a wife and 2 little girls so I need some room. How is the housing in comparison with each other?

I was a pizza box in boot camp and the 1st year in fleet, and with some good coaches I hit expert twice until I got out. I always sucked at pistol-qual. I hate those damn Berretta 92FS's they used. It's either I sucked at them or the pistols were abused cause Marines treated them like sh*t.

I don't know what the housing is like for married folks in Oki, but in Iwakuni, I remember you either lived on base, or they gave you housing allowance for out of town. It's not any different from stateside. But physical space in Japan is very scarce, you'll know what I'm talking about when you get there. Since you're married and have a family, Oki wouldn't be bad if you like scuba diving and checking out all the scenic tropical places in Oki. But if you rather be in a concrete jungle, then Iwakuni is better.


But housing outside of the base i.e. civillian housing is too small. The housing is physically very small in Japan, no kidding. You want to try to get housing on base if possible. But if you're only going to be there for a year or two, it's no big deal, even w/ 2 daughters. You'll get used to it. I know they give you COLA, but the cost of living in Japan is noticeably more expensive than stateside e.g. gasoline, housing and food.

Used cars are dirt cheap though, especially JDM high performance cars.