So you want to buy a Skyline in the US....

A forum for owners and fans of the legendary Nissan Skyline and Nissan GTR.
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AZhitman
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Bah, you ain't a ****... Just passionate about Nissans - Which means you'll fit RIGHT in here!!!


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l31nismo
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Cool thank you! Does anyone know anything about the company Top Secret? I've heard they can import Skylines but they will charge you one of your testicles plus your first born child. Basically I'm asking if they are worth a crap.

DanCouga
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I have heard nothing of Top Secret importing vehicles. Unless you are talking about a different Top Secret

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Rex
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l31nismo wrote:Are you just rambling magazine facts. The Altima and Maxima Sub-frames are identical. You can swap suspension components between the 2. I know this because I work on these cars all day long. Unless you've dropped the front cradle on any of these cars your opinions are not valid to me. Maybe to someone else but I know the fact, and that fact is despite the chassis codes these cars are similar but in fact NOT the same which is the point I was trying to make in the first place so instead of trying to critique my writing why don't you analyze the entire point of my senseless rambling. The G35 is not a Skyline.......
They are different chassis codes, regardless of interchangability of parts. Your logic for swapping suspension parts if flawed, because you can swap parts between a Q45 (G50) and a 300Z (Z32) and there's no way you're goign to convince anyone those are the same cars .

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l31nismo
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Rex wrote:
They are different chassis codes, regardless of interchangability of parts. Your logic for swapping suspension parts if flawed, because you can swap parts between a Q45 (G50) and a 300Z (Z32) and there's no way you're goign to convince anyone those are the same cars .


Uh dude, we finished with that already. Sorry.

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sean8564
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OH snap Mr JDM has to Jump in with my 2 cents Ok look the JDM skyline is exactly identical to the G35 in fact we got the best version of it here in the states you know the base models run a VQ25DD and the best models the GT350 have a VQ35DE and I agree with Neal the KPCG10 out dose any BNR34 chassis car and the resale is approx for a true one 7 Million Yen while a BNR34 I sold the last on for 4.165 Million and you can pick up a ER34 coupe 5 spd which is a RB20E for 300,000 Yen and that was a grade 4
Modified by sean8564 at 1:02 PM 3/13/2006

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l31nismo
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sean8564 wrote:OH snap Mr JDM has to Jump in with my 2 cents Ok look the JDM skyline is exacitlly identical to the G35 in fact we got the best version of it here in the states you know the base models run a VQ25DE and the best models the GT350 have a VQ35DE and I agree with neal the KPCG10 out dose any BNR34 chassis car and the resail is apporx for a true one 7 Million Yen while a BNR34 I sold the last on for 4.165 Million and you can pick up a ER34 coupe 5 spd which is a RB20E for 300,000 Yen and that was a grade 4
Don't you mean a QR25DE? The VQ code is limited to the V6. The QR25DE is the motor that comes in the Spec-V Sentra and S model Altima's as well as Base model Frontier's and X-Terra's. I'm not arguing with the Base Skyline having a 4 cyl because I honestly don't know but the only motor available in the G35 is the VQ35DE which is a V6. As far as I'm aware Infiniti no longer offers 4 cyl motors. V6 And V8's only.

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sean8564
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It is a VQ25DD A 2.5 V6 Google the motor up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_VQ_engine

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elwesso
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Greg, we try not to remember the Q45 as the CIMA, but mainly the Q45 as the president.....

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AZhitman
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^ My bad...

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sean8564
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Nissan President=tha Sex

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l31nismo
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sean8564 wrote:It is a VQ25DD A 2.5 V6 Google the motor up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_VQ_engine
Man that is badass. I never even heard of that. Thanks for educating me. Man That's kind of cool. I guess that's the Smallest V6 Nissan Makes in a Skyline? I always thought the VQ prefix never had anything smaller than a 3.0L. I was wrong. Thanks again.

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sean8564
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Dude do not worry about it I am just a fountian of JDM knowlage since i buy and sell cars there.

DanCouga
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Toot your own horn much?

GTR
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So AZ i dont mean to be ignorant or oblivious, but just making sure. You CANNOT legally import a skyline as a show/track car? Like at this point and time

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Eikon
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You CAN import them as a show/track car.

You have to have a Registered Importer do it for you... ie. Sean who posted above.

As a show/track car, you don't get a legit vin#. You are restricted to the number of miles per year it can be driven. It can't be driven on the street (legally). It's hard to insure. It will be hard to sell since few people are in the market for a car they can't drive...

Edit for clarity since this is a sticky... http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/....html

If given specific approval, it can be driven up to 2500 miles per year. Should be to and from shows or simply to keep engine in running order.
Modified by Eikon at 3:35 PM 3/20/2006

GTR
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Wait so it cant be driven on the streets at all? I was under the impression that you can drive it on the streets but only for a certain amount of mileage. So the amount of mileage u get can only be used in shows or on the track? Wow that sucks, i was thinking like get an R33 or R32 as a weekend car or something...

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AZhitman
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No. It can NOT be legally registered to drive on the streets, at any time. Period.

If it's brough in as a track car, it can't have (or be issued) a VIN, and therefore can't be registered legally.

Really, if it was THAT easy (think about it guys) I'd have a few of 'em. Right?


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Eikon
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Here's a quote from the nhtsa link I posted above...

"ON-ROAD USE

A vehicle eligible for Show or Display may receive NHTSA approval to be driven on the highway. The odometer must not register more than 2,500 miles in a 12-month period. NHTSA approval of limited on-road use is to allow the vehicle to be driven to and from nearby displays of similar automobiles. Another reason permission is granted is to maintain the vehicle’s engine, braking, lighting, and other dynamic systems in good working order. The vehicle is still required to meet EPA requirements. If the original engine in the vehicle will be replaced with a non-original engine to meet EPA requirements, it must be identified in your application since it may impact on the technological or historical significance of the vehicle."

To and from a car show, and with express permission to maintain engine, braking, etc...

You get pulled over by the cops in your "show" skyline... you can kiss it goodbye! Impound and crush...

GTR
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I see. So did you guys ever wonder why its so ****ing hard to bring the skyline over here i mean whats the big deal its not like its the worlds greatest, fastest, and/or certainly not the most luxurious car. Oh well maybe one day things will change.

DanCouga
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We know why it is difficult. It is because crash testing and meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards is required and noone here is really ready to shell out the bank to go through the testing(or pick up where it was left off at). It isn't just the skyline, it is any car that was not made for the US market. Just wait until 2014(unless that rule changes between now and then).
Modified by DanCouga at 9:29 PM 3/20/2006

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AZhitman
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Exactly.

And "The vehicle is still required to meet EPA requirements." Hard to meet in a car with NO emissions equipment.

Again, if it was doable, I'd have 2, they'd be a tax-writeoff for me.

GTR
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No no i understand why i was just saying itd make more sense to go through all this mumbo jumbo for lets say a Lamborghini Murcielago. But oh well maybe someday things will change who knows? Just out of curiousity do these same rules apply for importing a jdm vehicle that is already available in the US. Like a supra for example ( not saying i plan on importing one just for the sake of knowledge.) Or could you just import it, register it wth ease, and then have your fun?

DanCouga
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As long as there are no differences to the structure, safety restraints, etc. a JDM vehicle, when imported through a registered importer, should be easily registered. Although, if the vehicle is not on the eligible vehicle list, you will have to contact a registered importer and go through a petition process.

Read this page for more information

GTR
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I see, well thanks for the help.

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l31nismo
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Is it true that there are Skylines all over Canada? If it is I would think it would be a little easier to get them here. I've heard that if you Yank the Engine, Trans and harness from the car. Ship those parts separatley then ship the car. They don't list it as shipping a car but shipping Parts. Is this true? Plus my wife is in the Air Force and we are trying to get stationed in Japan. If we get it, is it easier for me to get a Skyline back. I've heard the Government will let you but you have to sign some sort of contract saying you won't sell the car or some ****. Is this also true? If not is there still an easier way for me since I'm in a military family to get that Beautifull sexxxy beast in my Garage?

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elwesso
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Getting it in country is still not theproblem, getting into the country LEGALLY is the problem.

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l31nismo wrote:Is it true that there are Skylines all over Canada? If it is I would think it would be a little easier to get them here. I've heard that if you Yank the Engine, Trans and harness from the car. Ship those parts separatley then ship the car. They don't list it as shipping a car but shipping Parts. Is this true? Plus my wife is in the Air Force and we are trying to get stationed in Japan. If we get it, is it easier for me to get a Skyline back. I've heard the Government will let you but you have to sign some sort of contract saying you won't sell the car or some ****. Is this also true? If not is there still an easier way for me since I'm in a military family to get that Beautifull sexxxy beast in my Garage?
Being in the Military doesn't make it any eaiser to get it back stateside. I had a friend when I was stationed down Yokosuka way that was trying to get an R32 GTS4 turbo back to the states. He tried for three years and gave up. Aparently, the Skyline is still sitting on base, he is still the registered owner, but it's been impounded

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The problem is bringing them INTO the states and getting them legalized but if theres already one in the states thats been legalized and registered couldnt you buy it without a problem.

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elwesso
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Yeah, but you have to do EXTENSIVE research to know if theyre truely legal. Itd be easy for someone to fake it to get good money out of the car.


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