Does any one have any idea how I can Import a Right Hand Drive JDM 2008 bB?
I'm really interested in getting one.

Can anyone help me out?

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It is very difficult (nee impossible) to import one.I think this info is still acurate: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2...2174908AA8eM19
Before getting too involved I would go to Japan and drive the car there. Rentals are inexpensive. Most Toyota dealers also rent cars. I lived there 6 years and owned 4 cars over that period of time. Not all cool cars in Japan would make good daily drivers in the USA. The average speed driven in Japan is probably about 30 mph. Seriously. Most highway speed limits are posted at at 70 kph (47 mph). Next time I am there I will rent one to check out the differences. Good luck!

 

Spend lots of money.

 

yep..besides having deep pockets, you also have to make sure it meets US emission standards.

 

I'm sure its possible considering the fact
that our cars are Imported them selves
directly from Japan, as far as I'm concerned
all Scion cars except the tC are manufactured
in Japan to US standards. Biggest issue would
be emissions. I would find out by going to the
DMV or something that deals a lot with cars and
find out what exactly is necessary to have one
of those cars over here.

Getting it here i'm sure wont be the problem, its
being able to drive it.

Just so you know there's a company in California
that will convert your car to RHD.

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It's funny just yesterday I was looking into getting a Copen since Scion seems to show no interesting in bring a roadster to the US marrket.

Anywho I got directed to www.batfa.com this site has info on some JDM models. If your interested and have the funds. Definitely check your local DMV and State laws for whatever else you may need.

Good Luck.

 

another concern would be safety standards. along with emission standards, most foreign countries don't have the same safety standards that the US has... being mainly bracing in the car for side impacts. i know when i lived over seas, getting a car that was bought there back to the states was very hard, and almost impossible if it wasn't built to american specs... just another thing to think about...

 

there are so many things to go through. it's not just what you guys have mentioned. here's the lowdown:

http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature...s_Wanted.shtml

basically you'd have to be willing to wait and do a lot of paperwork and do a lot of part swapping and spend lots of money.

 

Have a lot $$.. just to have a car you cant use in the streets in the us.. mostly if you live in cali..

 

What?
it isn't that hard since the bB and the xB are similar and the xB2 and the Rumion are similar. Paperwork is the key to getting one. I have paperwork to bring over a bB Open Deck if i could ever find one for sale. it only took me about 8 months to get approval. I had to be able to provide pics and specs. There are some changes I would have to make, but it is possible.

Ask all the questions and make sure you have every angle covered.

 

Are you a registered importer?

As someone who has imported a car i'd love to know how you recieved a EPA
certification and DOT compliance sticker without a vin # and the car in hand.

it took me 9 months to import a '93 defender and it's on the NHTSA "good" list.

 

The 2008 bB and 06 xB are pretty different. other then obviously they dont look alike
the xB has different engine then the bB, the bB's engine is mass small and not geared for driving at high speeds aka 65 mph. Plus you have to deal with the fact that its right hand drive so no more drive thrus for you. LOL. If you are wanting to import it for a show car, you can do it, but if you want this to be a daily driver i would not advise it.

 

On average newer cars are gonna cost around 50-80k to import and convert to meet safty standards and emmisions tests. so weight that out and Im thinkin NO...

 

it may be cheaper and easier to just import yourself into Japan

 

There are LOTS of open decks in JPN for sale / the Open Decks or bB is just fine for US roads if you get the 1.5 engine (suspension is very soft on an Open Deck for highway use (floaty over 75kph)
the 06 newer bB is unrealated to and North American Toyota, it is built by Diahatsu and is the same as the Diahatsu Materia sold in the rest of the world or the JDM Diahatsu COO

http://clubbbsg.16.forumer.com/index.php

A forum for the new bB / Materia / Coo

On a source I checked there are 33+ Open Decks avail priced between $5,700 to $12,500 US dollars.

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Its the bracing that will cost you plenty--not to mention the lights and the windows that are not to US standard. If you bring in as an off the road show car you can get by--but to drive on the road is another matter.

 

From what I heard, you claim it a "kit car". Basically, you have to break it down (literally) into smaller pieces and then import it into the US. It is then considered a legal kit car without emissions and saftey standards applying.

Thats how a few guys I know got Skylines into the states.

 

There is a somewhat local importer in TN that brought over a few cars to sell. He brought over mostly Evos and a few Integras (RSX).