P3 Imports

[Demonic Angel]

As I said before on my "Dealers dont have a clue" thread - my saleswoman from Toyota who I bought Kaori from didnt have a clue about the new Yaris at all!

In the end, as I was about to throw my Auto Express away with it featured, I decided to rip the Yaris pages out and sent them to her with a note saying "Check this out - I'll be coming to see you next year for one!"

Well she called me today to thank me - saying she had passed it round the showroom and everyone read it - at least now they are kind-of in the know!

I told her they have been released in Japan already - she asked if I had seen any imports about, which I havent. I said I wasnt sure if there had been any imported..... I dont know about the legalities of importing brand new models..... she said she didnt either....

My question is - from me and her really - can you import a brand new model to the UK from Japan - and do we know of anyone who actually has?

I would just be interested to find out - as I know you can get the previous Vitz imported to the UK, but I have no idea about the current Vitz...

I wouldnt want to import one btw, too much hassle really - I'd much rather wait for the UK spec - I'm just curious really!

[alanbradley]

You probably can, but I think that as it will be under a certain age (3 years?) it will qualify for all sorts of import taxes & duty. It would then have to take and SVA test so by the time it arrived (after amonth on a ship and some time in ports) it will almost be time for the Phase 3 to be launched here!

A

Here's what's involved in importing a car up to 10 years old... VOSA booklet

Edited March 7, 2005 by alanbradley

[RossP]

The Japanese like to change their cars alot, due to the high costs of their 'MOT'. They can often be up to 2500 US Dollars. Not cheap. So many of them change their cars instead of putting theirs through an MOT. Some of them therefore can be run ragged as they know that they will be changing them. That's the only thing you have to be careful with the imports. However, I would imagine that you would be able to start picking up new P3 Vitz from the Japanese auctions within the next 3-4 months. As Alan said, though, if anybody did decide to import one, by the time it actually got to the UK and had all the tests done on it etc as it has not been released in UK yet, it should have already have been released in the UK. You have to remember that Jap spec vehicles can differ quite alot with features and quite alot safety features. OK, think i've just about covered it, and possibly gone off topic a bit...

[Demonic Angel]

No, thats great - thats all I wanted to know!

Cheers guys!

[Ryan1985]

On a side note my dealer ( ) said the new Yaris will be launched early next year, he doubts it'll be released in autumn!

[DJNS]

i asked my dealer last friday, he said october and no chance of any the sporty editions, unless you import them yourself at which they wont touch them with a barge pole.

[DJNS]

http://www.batfa.com/new_car_toyota_vitz.htm