Familia Sport20

[TylerStoltz]

Ok, so has anyone ever imported one to US from Japan. How difficult is it? How much should I expect to pay for shipping it to the US.

I love the idea of the 4WD and the uniqueness of the JDM Sport20. So what to do? (uhm)

 

[bikingpro5]

cars still to new to be legally imported.

 

[TylerStoltz]

Not if I can get it to comply to US standards. What I'm wondering is if anyone has done this and what it will take.

 

[31N007]

AFAIK, you'd need to import multiple SP20s in order for the NHASTA (safety place whose name I forget) to perform tests to see if it's safe enough. If you can somehow prove to them that it performs on par with the Protege5 as far as crash tests go, I think you'd then come to the task of proving the engine is up to spec as of the year the car was produced along the lines of emissions standards. I read that one guy on the forum managed to import one in Canada... But he managed to get it there by chopping it into three pieces- they wouldn't let him drive it on the street or something like that.

Hopefully someone can chime in and correct me as I'm probably wrong in some point of my advice. I looked at what it would take to import a 1992 Escort Cosworth. On top of fees to import it, buying the car, and talking to the gov't, it's probably not worth it IMO.

 

[zoom zoom sp20]

Brian MP5T is the one ^^

 

[DOMO]

You could probably if there is a loophole somewhere in American standards for importing cars...? I know from my own personal research where I love in ontario Canada you can't import a car less its 15 years or older ( if we're talking from Japan that is)... BUT I read that if you lived overseas for more than a year and wish to bring back the car you've owned there, you can bring it into Canada. The same case as if you have a family member who lives over there they can send you a car as a GIFT legally but you cannot pay anything all costs are to be payed by the person sending you the car.

There are probably some of the same loopholes for you guys in the states but IMO if its a sp2.0 it's not worth importing it into the us costs outweigh the value of the car... But if it was something like an rx7, gtr, a car along those lines go for it just read up ull find smn

 

[bikingpro5]

Brian MP5T is the one ^^

Brian bought pieces of that car, he did not import the car himself.

 

[zoom zoom sp20]

Brian bought pieces of that car, he did not import the car himself.

Very true JT

 

[31N007]

Brian bought pieces of that car, he did not import the car himself.

Very true JT

I was going to say, I thought Brian picked some parts off the car and it was a mate of his who imported it. Either way, I think it's safe to say that we should direct questions in his general direction?

Tyler, any particular reason why you want to import the car? AWD, rarity (I think it would be the only SP20 in 'Merica/Canadia), or just because. Either way, if you look into it, I'd love to hear what you dig up. I doubt that in the next few years I'll have the funds to pick an import up and I don't think, sadly, in the future my tastes in cars will be the same as they are today.

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

The car that was imported could not be alowed to come into the country in "Operational Condition"

The Tires were Drilled and the frame was cut directly in the middle.

Further to that. The SP20 Frame and the Protege 5 frame share NO COMMON PARTS. You can not simply bolt on the 4WD System to the ADM P5.

This Idea WILL NOT HAPPEN.

 

[tweety2300]

99% sure its gotta be an antique for us. Or it can't be driven in the street

 

[31N007]

I think in America it's 25 years and older it's considered a classic.

The "driven in the street" bit seems a tad hard to enforce given the fact that I've kind of avoided that issue with my P5 (not insured as of yet). In the event of an accident or a pulling over, I should imagine somebody's going to be a tad cross...

 

[DOMO]

Brianmp5t what did your friend end up doing with the whole drivetrain since you said he took the guts?

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

Brianmp5t what did your friend end up doing with the whole drivetrain since you said he took the guts?

I think he "Binned" them after he saw how much of a pain in the ass it was going to be.

 

[tweety2300]

Is the actual frame/ unibody different? I could see all of the rear suspension, but they couldn't have changed that much and been worthwhile

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

The unibody is completely bespoke to the sport 20

you might as well try to put the 4x4 from a GMC Jimmy in the P5

 

[TylerStoltz]

So, Brian, after importing the car from Japan in 3 pieces, did you just weld them back together? It seems like that would mess with the structural integrity.

 

[31N007]

The car you see in his sig is a Protege5 that just happens to be the same color. As stated earlier, Brian's mate binned the chassis due to the parts and whatnot not matching up. I dont know all of the parts Brian took from the Sport20 but, and correct me if I'm wrong Brian, he's got the rear bumper- its a good deal lighter than the regular P5 bumper. Its way more shallow and whatnot.

 

[TylerStoltz]

you might as well try to put the 4x4 from a GMC Jimmy in the P5

Challenge accepted! Naah, jk.

 

[31N007]

I had to chuckle about the Jimmy bit seeing as my mom had one a while back. You'd have a better chance of being struck by lightning than fitting the 4x4 system out of a Jimmy under the P5 me thinks. Lol.