Need a trustworthy contact in Japan

Anyone in Japan who can assist in getting a car inspected and shipped to the US ? There is a 996 car for sale in Japan that sure got my attention. Please email me directly at [email removed]. Thanks!

Exactly where in Japan? Tokyo, Osaka? Kyushu??? I may be able to help in Tokyo. Bunkyo-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Minato-ku area.

Just came back from a 3.5 yr stint in Tokyo, and researched this issue: First of all, if you mean check mechanically when you say "inspect", there are Porsche dealerships in the major cities in Japan. This is the simplest path. Next, if the 996 is a US DOT certified vehicle (for example sold to someone in the military who imported it into Japan), then life is a lot easier. Just figure out how to get it on a ship and get it over. You'll probably have to grease some palms (including US Customs). If it is not a US DOT certified vehicle, then be prepared to work for it. Start by reviewing this web page - <a href="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/" target="_blank">http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/</a> Effectively, you have to have Porsche certify that the Japan model meets US DOT requirements, or, you have to pay one of these registered importers to make a case that it is similar enough. Worst case, they have to do testing. One final note: the logic that "it's sold in the US so it must be OK" doesn't necessarily apply. Due to liability issues in the US, manufacturers typically will not certify automobiles sold in foreign markets as US DOT compliant. This has created a service industry of companies called registered importers. Good luck. Jack

Any more details about the car and location in Japan?

Hey Big John, I was hoping to get a response on the same question. I lived in Bunkyo-ku and Chiyoda-ku in Tokyo for 12 years and know the ins and out of getting cars back and forth (In fact, my '89 928S4 was a US import) I did not ship it back to the US but found a few good places in Tokyo where a decent PPI can be done. Getting from Tokyo to the US is not nearly as difficult as it seems although I agree that Carrera Jack has documented the process quite well I have many friends and business associates that shipped cars back to the US and it reads worst than it really is. YMMV

CarreraFour, I don't know half as much as you and carrerajack about importing/exporting them. I bought a new C2 earlier this year here in Hiroshima so I know some Porsche people. There are some great deals to be had on used ones. They are generally very low mileage and well serviced. How was it driving the 928 in Tokyo?

[quote]Originally posted by Bigjohn: <strong>CarreraFour, How was it driving the 928 in Tokyo?</strong><hr></blockquote> It wasn't!!! The only real mileage it ever saw was from Tokyo to Osaka then back when my wifes cousin borrowed it to go visit Obaasan. I barely drove into work in Minato-ku (Akasaka) since parking was not easy nor cheap and, barely any place else. I sold the car with less than 31,000 miles on it and it was 10 years old. Fortunately, the 89S4 was the last year that you could own a 928 without having to put those funky Toyota Supra looking fenders on it. So it was a beautiful car, just barely driven.

Too bad you couldn't drive that sweet car more than you did in Japan. Once you get out of the cities (granted Tokyo takes more time to get out of...) the roads are mountainous, full of twisties and in this area many of them have very few cars on them. The cops seem to hang out in the heavy traffic areas. In 11,000 kms of spirited driving for the most part can count on one hand the number of police I have seen....I also tend to only drive on those country roads where they don't hang out. Taking a 1600km road trip this weekend to go to the alps to see, among others, The Charlie Daniels Band and Roseanne Cash. Not much of a country music fan, but seeing 20,000 Japanese either dressed up as Cowboys/girls or Indians is well worth the fun　drive through the alps to get there...Yippeee!