Import from Japan to uk directly

My wife currently has a SZ5 auto (from new 2019 )trouble free motoring. We would like to replace it with a new one.The only way to get an automatic is to import  directly from Japan.
I have done research online but I am  apprehensive of online reviews.I would love to hear from someone who has experience importing to the UK .which company they would  recommend.

Why replace it? Unless you've done 150,000 miles yours is still almost new. Treat the underside with some clear rust protection wax and you're good for another fifteen years.
Our 2020 is on 18,000 miles. l've looked after it, although it's driven all year round and not garaged. The underside has been wax treated.

lt still smells new inside and there's no visible wear on the seats. The plastic interior trim and door cards  etc still look new, and under the bonnet is pristine as well, courtesy of a clean now and then and spraying any metal parts with WD-40 (obviously not the parts that get hot....)

Keep it. Save the money and go on a Caribbean cruise instead.

Interested to know why you want an import over your UK spec SZ5 or is this in addition? Spec wise they are pretty much the same so the only real difference is a couple of colour options unless I’m missing something. The biggest problem with imports is higher/difficult to insure, no warranties and difficulty reselling in the future so your current Auto SZ5 is the most desirable car and will stay that way for a long time.

jlines wrote:

The biggest problem with imports is difficult to insure

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times on here recently. Is this actually a thing? I've not tried getting any quotes, but grey imports certainly weren't difficult to insure in the past. My brother had a Nissan Pulsar grey import when he was 17 and just past his test. Another mate had grey import Impreza's and I've been around many an American car club where most of the cars are also grey imports. I've not heard of insurance being difficult to get. Although I appreciate times may have changed and my info isn't exactly up to date.

I agree that automatic is the future, I have 2, but I wouldn't be wanting to replace one just because it is 5 years old and I certainly would have deep reservations about importing one. I would prefer to put the costs involved in swapping to giving the one I owned a bit of a refresh like a professional detailing and a comprehensive service.

I know a local guy with a JDM Jimmy, I will ask him

Sent from my ThinkPhone by motorola using Tapatalk

It’s only what I’ve heard aswell so don’t know if it’s true although I have seen some posts from people with imported jimnys saying they’ve had difficulty insuring them and it’s very expensive. It’s usually the first question insurance companies ask so I can imagine that’s where they bump up the price or even decline to insure an import. Plenty of American imports around here so it can be done. I think though compared to a UK spec car it doesn’t make financial sense unless it’s something really special hence or you don’t care of the cost long term hence my question as to why the op wants to get out of their highly desirable SZ5 auto.

lf l could import a Five Door version that might be worth the effort.

The insurance thing is because the cheap insurers just bash the make, model & trim spec. into "the com-puh-tah" and if it isn't there, they can't quote.

So you have to go to a specialist insurer and pay more.

I hear that the 5 doors are put together about as well as my Sunderland built Renault Nissan, I wouldn't have one unless the VIN number starts with a J....

New Zealand is full of jap import cars. Suzuki's,  Toyota's, Mazda's, all sorts. They come down here by the boatload. As we have no automotive manufacturing in NZ I guess there's no pressure on the regulatory boffins  to favour local industry. ( Then again, can the UK even claim that now? ) 
Jap imports are the ubiquitous vehicle for the masses down here, cheap to operate and insurance is never a problem. Having said that, there are a few dodgy importers that try to cover up imported wrecks etc. 
Now I'm thinking about it, the vast majority of Jimnys here are NZ new. Suzuki has a strong dealer network down here, and they're dirt cheap brand new so it doesn't seem to make sense going through the paperwork for little profit. Pretty much the only jap import ones I've come across personally are the little 660cc turbo models made specifically for Japan. 
I guess my point is that if we don't go out of our way to import them to NZ where it's easy as falling off a log , it obviously isn't worth the effort
Also, you're never quite too sure of it's history in japan, i guess if its a new model thats less of a concern. You'd have to be saving a considerable amount of money to make it worth it
 

Hughes wrote: New Zealand is full of jap import cars. Suzuki's,  Toyota's, Mazda's, all sorts. They come down here by the boatload.
 

It's not the fact that they are Japanese that's the issue, it's that they are grey imports. We have loads of Suzuki's, Toyota's etc. and as you say, very little motor industry to protect.

A grey import is one that has not come in as part of a manufacturers import.

Typically this is done in order to get a specification or vehicle that is not available in the UK. So since 2020 we cannot get 4 seat Jimnys or automatics as Suzuki withdrew them.

Therefore as they are still made you can grey import one from Japan. However for some reason insurance companies hike up insurance prices because "repairs would be expensive on a car not available in this country" which is ludicrous as we already have the exact specification here prior to 2020. Also Suzuki themselves will not typically honour warranty claims on cars they did not import. Also the vehicle tax from the government can be higher as it is considered to be "unassessed" so goes into a high bracket.

It can be done but the costs can be high

Sent from my ThinkPhone by motorola using Tapatalk

Isn't there a Single Vehicle Approval hoop to jump through, too?  Looking at the prices of fresh imports, you mught as well buy from a trader and avoid the hassle.