@@paulcrocker4553 Nice! I got into AF OTS in ‘99 & was a C-130 navigator. I was active duty until ‘06, stationed at Pope AFB & Little Rock AFB. I then joined the reserves & flew with Maxwell, Little Rock (again), & Pittsburgh. I retired in ‘20! Happy Veterans Day!
Just some constructive criticism I would like to see the vehicle your talking about appear on the rear monitor instead of just constantly keeping one single vehicle image through out the episode...keep up the great info ... just maybe you will read this and make adjustments.
Up here in The Great White North, especially here on the West coast of BC, we get to import any cars once they are entering their 15th year of age. We have a few dealers here in Vancouver that specialise in 15-25 year old imports from all over the world. Several of these dealers have full time buyers travelling the overseas auctions to buy premium, low mileage, exceptionally well maintained automobiles. Our city is getting overrun with Mitsubishi Evo's, Toyota Crown V-12's, GTR's, Lotus Elise's, and a lot of Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens etc...as they get 15 years old. You cannot drive more than a block in traffic without seeing one of these cars, often with collector plates affixed.Apparently there are a few areas of the world with great, collectable and fun cars that can be had for a cost low enough to make importing them worthwhile. As Canada has had this advantage over the USA both Vancouver and Toronto have plenty of these cars available to buy. It is likely easier and less expensive to buy here, than overseas. Check it out...
@@TristenHernandez They imported the samari here, and that is the jimny.. it was a massive flop and death trap.. these are cool little suv's but, the US roads are fast and filled with massive trucks, these little suv's wouldn't sell.. not to mention no one in this country knows how to drive a stick anymore.. it would be a terrible market, as much as they are cool, and they really are cool..
I spent lots of time overseas in the 70's and 80's and got interested in European cars. 1983 drove my beat-up used Monte Carlo to a Volvo Dealer and asked to see a P1800. They said we don't make those anymore. Then drove to an Audi Dealer and asked to see an Audi Quattro. They said we don't make those anymore. Ended up with a BMW 320i. Good car but I wish I still had the Monte Carlo.
The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 became law in the winter of 1988, effectively banning the import of vehicles under 25 years old that didn't comply with American safety and emissions regulations.
forgot if you are a ford fan: you can import the series 1 AU ford falcon from australia. some of the higher spec ones got IRS! was a factory 2k option. came in multiple trim levels forte = poverty pete futura = mid range fairmont (& ghia) = top range SWB fairlane/LTD (& ghia) = top range LWB XR6/XR8 = performance packages TS/TL/TE50 = hand built one offs 5.6 stroker limted numbers build. also the holden commodore VN/VP SS with all australia only 308 ci 5 litre V8. and the poverty pete with the buick ecotec 3800 V6 holden did build a few special edtions like the SV5000 & 3800
@@Moching-ob6ny It's already a 25-year-old car so I would expect I'd have to do some work on it, but a manual three-door would be a cool fun vehicle to run around in.
Had green 99 HR-V 3 door MT5 and AWD until we changed to CR-V in 2011. Very durable car, we drove 200-000 km. 1.6 with MT5 is what you should go for. The AWD system is top notch on this small car, you don't "need" more than the 105 horses, as it is short and tall without ESP. Funny car, the cars with AC are the ones with roof wing. Rust is probably the biggest problem, check the rear wheel housing in front of the channel (behind the plastic).
@@mdog2501 I am here after seeing a Honda HR-V on Cars and Bids. Here in the U.K. they are the type of car that is one repair bill away from being scrapped. On Autotrader there is a 2005 with 49000 miles on the clock for $1260 due to failing a safety inspection due to rust. Fun fact: In 2046 people in the USA will be able to import the latest HR-V (as opposed to buying the ZR-V which masquerades as one in the USA now). It doesn't look as funky as the original though.
I liked the video because lately, all I hear people talking about are the 50,000-70,000 dollar new vehicles that car manufacturers assume we have to buy. If car manufacturers don't give me a choice of engine or options like what technology I don't want in my new vehicle, then I would rather buy used. I prefer the older cars because they didn't have all the modern technology that tries to take control away from the driver. I recently bought a 2016 Canyon and was driving on the highway in the rain, and when I changed lanes, it felt like the brakes locked up or the transmission downshifted. The traction control system activated because it detected wheel spin, and I hated that it did something unpredictable and dangerous. I pulled the fuses for the traction control system because I want to be in control of the vehicle, not a computer.
we in Europe have a lot of interesting fun cars you guys in the states didn't get. Surprised they didn't mention the hot hatches, the GTI's from Peugeot and VW, the VTS's from Citroën and the RS's from Renault
I think the trouble with those is that they were great when new but aged like milk. JDM stuff at least has a hope of being reliable nowadays, but fewer people want to take the risk on an old German car for example, especially if it’s a potentially unreliable car where the whole parts supply is in Europe.
@@ThinginatorThe thing is that european brands in europe arent that unreliable as in the US. The Volkswagen Golf Mk4 for example. We got 16 different engines for it and if you want the most reliable just get the 1.9 tdi wich easily can run 250.000 miles without any problems. The US only got like 4 engine options for it. Only petrol and none of them are reliable. Same deal with other brands like Bmw, Audi or Mercedes.
@@Thinginator 90's French stuff is pretty much on par with anything else European of that price point, and Peugeot maybe above it. Of course you have issues with all European cars, but normally on French stuff, at least stuff from PSA would have a pretty solid drive line and not too bad on rust. Gotta remember that the French didn't make a lot of high end cars, and in the US "European" is mostly connected to more high end brands. Of course parts availability is gonna be questionable, but you're gonna roll the dice with that if you're gonna import a car in general.
@@Hipas_Account Actually French cars are some of the few European cars I would consider importing, since I've always been a fan of how bonkers and weird they are. I gotta get me a hydropneumatic Citroen one of these days... I don't imagine they'll be very reliable, but they are fascinating when they do work. The other thing would be a Fiat Multipla because I find their sheer ugliness strangely charming, or any Tatra because rear mounted air cooled V8s are cool.
Thank you, Brendon and Kase. Great discussion, automotive import rule, has to be 25 years old? Look to TC-V for Toyota Crowns and Century's or Nissan President
Honda HRV 1st generation, is very much like gen 1 and 2 CRV , with the right tires on they are almost unstoppable. The manual transmissions are the ones to go for. In this era , boringly reliable....
pajero evolution???? skyline??? aristo??? 1st gen civic type R?? its funny how life goes. in 2010 i was seeing skyline gtr selling for like $12,000. now they are like $40,000
@tflclassics I’m pretty confident there’s no way you can get Evo 6.5 TME for $15k. Maybe a roller with a salvage title. These have really shot up in the past few years.
Why is it up to the government to tell me when I can import a car? It's beyond belief the amount of regulations and we just put up with it and put up with it
As someone from the other side of the pond, I've always been intrigued by this 25 years thing. Correct me if I'm wrong but does that mean that if a car was not sold on the US market you have to wait for 25 BLOODY DAMN years before you can import them in the US ? And if I'm right on the previous point, then my question is WHY ????
The reason they say the law's there is to ensure all vehicles on the road fully comply with American safety regulation. The real reason is that they wanted to reduce competition with American cars.
Don't get that HRV with the CVT transmission! I've driven one of those a few times and it is just a testament of how bad a CVT can be. Truly one of the worst transmissions ever put in a car!
First gen HRV looks goon on the outside but it's a pretty crappy car. It feels really old inside (because it is), 1,6l engine is extremely anemic, it also has the worst AWD system on the planet - you need a calendar to measure the delay before power is transferred to the rear.
It's written into the US import regulations... No idea why it isn't something like 15 years, maybe that's the point they deemed a car is determined to be "classic" or "collectible", but it's the law.
@@volvo09 It's weird for a European were we can import a vehicle of any age from where ever if you want to. But I suspect it's to protect US manufactorers from competition.
I doubt that the HR-V will take off quickly in the US, considering you can get a 1999 CR-V without having to import one,which I think is better in every way apart from fuel economy.
Why would you import any of these? I'm not importing a 2 door lifted wagon that is uglier than a Pontiac Aztec or a Chrysler pt cruiser. These have the same level of excitement as any year Chevy Malibu ie rental car status.
I’m having trouble digesting the fact that 1999 was 25 years ago!
Indeed. I can still remember 99/00 new years eve and of course the y2k bug.
I loved y2k (well the year leading up) which gave me massive amounts of cash doing y2k updates
Same. And that’s the year I was born😂
I graduated in 98, enlisted in the Air Force in 99. 2019 was my 20 years.
@@paulcrocker4553 Nice! I got into AF OTS in ‘99 & was a C-130 navigator. I was active duty until ‘06, stationed at Pope AFB & Little Rock AFB. I then joined the reserves & flew with Maxwell, Little Rock (again), & Pittsburgh. I retired in ‘20! Happy Veterans Day!
Just some constructive criticism I would like to see the vehicle your talking about appear on the rear monitor instead of just constantly keeping one single vehicle image through out the episode...keep up the great info ... just maybe you will read this and make adjustments.
You can start importing LS1-engined Commodores from Australia now too.
Barra-Turbo Falcons are still 3 year away but.
Barra Six is an Austrlian answer to 2JZ.
The two cars I had in mind are on opposite ends in terms of size. SEAT Leon and Dodge Ramcharger. Both can be found right across the border in Mexico.
a few more:
Suzuki JImny, export version, LHD, 1.3 engine (optional convertible version available)
Mitsubishi Pajero PININ (much bigger than the Mini) 2-door, export version, LHD, 1.8 engine
Daihatsu Cuore, L7 gen, export version, LHD, 1.0 engine
2nd gen Suzuki wagon R+, export version, widebody, LHD, 1.3 engine
Toyota Yaris VERSO, export version, LHD, 1.5 engine
Fiat Multipla
Alfa Roemo 156
Lancia Ypsilon 2nd gen, Lancia Lybra wagon
Mercedes A class
Rover 75
You can import the A class in 2023, Doug Demuro actually did that not too long ago.
The Toyota Century also has a pull down seat midsection to slide your feet through.
5: Evo 6
4: Audi S3
3: Hyundai Equis 1st gen
2: Honda HRV
1: Nissan Silvia s15
Nice video guys! Waiting another 3 or 4 years to import a Peugeot 307cc or Renault Megane cc. I love that french cars
The Japanese Yen is about 150 to the Dollar right now- that should really help keep JDM imports affordable
That EVO is really cool, probably even more because of that vivid red color. Looking forward to getting more details about. Thanks for the video.
Up here in The Great White North, especially here on the West coast of BC, we get to import any cars once they are entering their 15th year of age. We have a few dealers here in Vancouver that specialise in 15-25 year old imports from all over the world. Several of these dealers have full time buyers travelling the overseas auctions to buy premium, low mileage, exceptionally well maintained automobiles. Our city is getting overrun with Mitsubishi Evo's, Toyota Crown V-12's, GTR's, Lotus Elise's, and a lot of Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens etc...as they get 15 years old. You cannot drive more than a block in traffic without seeing one of these cars, often with collector plates affixed.Apparently there are a few areas of the world with great, collectable and fun cars that can be had for a cost low enough to make importing them worthwhile. As Canada has had this advantage over the USA both Vancouver and Toronto have plenty of these cars available to buy. It is likely easier and less expensive to buy here, than overseas. Check it out...
Hey! You guys forgot to mention the Suzuki Jimny would be an awesome fun 4x4 to own in US too! 😉😉😉
Suzuki existed here in 1999..
@@rustbeltrobclassic2512yea and?
@@TristenHernandez They imported the samari here, and that is the jimny.. it was a massive flop and death trap.. these are cool little suv's but, the US roads are fast and filled with massive trucks, these little suv's wouldn't sell.. not to mention no one in this country knows how to drive a stick anymore.. it would be a terrible market, as much as they are cool, and they really are cool..
I spent lots of time overseas in the 70's and 80's and got interested in European cars. 1983 drove my beat-up used Monte Carlo to a Volvo Dealer and asked to see a P1800. They said we don't make those anymore. Then drove to an Audi Dealer and asked to see an Audi Quattro. They said we don't make those anymore. Ended up with a BMW 320i. Good car but I wish I still had the Monte Carlo.
Try Nissan Patrol pickup trucks
Then you'd be cookin'.
Fight the Power. No more subscriptions for car features. You buy it you get it.
5:51 They actually had this exact feature on Toyota Century’s. Still really cool!
The ‘99 Audi A2 and A3 are interesting to me!
Me too.
The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 became law in the winter of 1988, effectively banning the import of vehicles under 25 years old that didn't comply with American safety and emissions regulations.
I think it would be great if you could do a how to video about how these cars are found and imported. Thanks for an interesting video.
Was not expecting to see a first gen HRV on TFL! I've got a soft spot for that car
Thanks for the video! A lot of room to expand on this topic like best 4x4’s to import, best sports cars, affordable, reliable, lhd etc…
That HRV looks fun. I'd like a 2-door version.
its like the honda CR-V its a soft roader: think beaches and not real hard core 4WD stuff
forgot if you are a ford fan: you can import the series 1 AU ford falcon from australia. some of the higher spec ones got IRS! was a factory 2k option. came in multiple trim levels
forte = poverty pete
futura = mid range
fairmont (& ghia) = top range SWB
fairlane/LTD (& ghia) = top range LWB
XR6/XR8 = performance packages
TS/TL/TE50 = hand built one offs 5.6 stroker limted numbers build.
also the holden commodore VN/VP SS with all australia only 308 ci 5 litre V8.
and the poverty pete with the buick ecotec 3800 V6
holden did build a few special edtions like the SV5000 & 3800
I'd love to spot a Holden ute in the US
@@volvo09 you can travis bell imported the shell, and its titled a a chevy SS
cletus macfarland bought a shell over
The two-door Honda HRV is a cool vehicle. That's the one I would be interested in.
The transmission on those won't last
@@Moching-ob6ny It's already a 25-year-old car so I would expect I'd have to do some work on it, but a manual three-door would be a cool fun vehicle to run around in.
Had green 99 HR-V 3 door MT5 and AWD until we changed to CR-V in 2011. Very durable car, we drove 200-000 km. 1.6 with MT5 is what you should go for. The AWD system is top notch on this small car, you don't "need" more than the 105 horses, as it is short and tall without ESP. Funny car, the cars with AC are the ones with roof wing. Rust is probably the biggest problem, check the rear wheel housing in front of the channel (behind the plastic).
Watch out for rust!
@@mdog2501 I am here after seeing a Honda HR-V on Cars and Bids. Here in the U.K. they are the type of car that is one repair bill away from being scrapped. On Autotrader there is a 2005 with 49000 miles on the clock for $1260 due to failing a safety inspection due to rust.
Fun fact: In 2046 people in the USA will be able to import the latest HR-V (as opposed to buying the ZR-V which masquerades as one in the USA now). It doesn't look as funky as the original though.
I liked the video because lately, all I hear people talking about are the 50,000-70,000 dollar new vehicles that car manufacturers assume we have to buy. If car manufacturers don't give me a choice of engine or options like what technology I don't want in my new vehicle, then I would rather buy used. I prefer the older cars because they didn't have all the modern technology that tries to take control away from the driver. I recently bought a 2016 Canyon and was driving on the highway in the rain, and when I changed lanes, it felt like the brakes locked up or the transmission downshifted. The traction control system activated because it detected wheel spin, and I hated that it did something unpredictable and dangerous. I pulled the fuses for the traction control system because I want to be in control of the vehicle, not a computer.
I see my first r34 up for sale about 3 weeks ago. It's that time. And the Evo v was my favorite.
I'm currently in Japan sourcing an Evo found a couple but they need some work I have one more to check out will see what happens
Love your duo
The Daihatsu Naked reminds me of that new Polaris side by side lol
we in Europe have a lot of interesting fun cars you guys in the states didn't get. Surprised they didn't mention the hot hatches, the GTI's from Peugeot and VW, the VTS's from Citroën and the RS's from Renault
Precisely, always sleeping on the French and their funky stuff.
I think the trouble with those is that they were great when new but aged like milk. JDM stuff at least has a hope of being reliable nowadays, but fewer people want to take the risk on an old German car for example, especially if it’s a potentially unreliable car where the whole parts supply is in Europe.
@@ThinginatorThe thing is that european brands in europe arent that unreliable as in the US. The Volkswagen Golf Mk4 for example. We got 16 different engines for it and if you want the most reliable just get the 1.9 tdi wich easily can run 250.000 miles without any problems. The US only got like 4 engine options for it. Only petrol and none of them are reliable. Same deal with other brands like Bmw, Audi or Mercedes.
@@Thinginator 90's French stuff is pretty much on par with anything else European of that price point, and Peugeot maybe above it. Of course you have issues with all European cars, but normally on French stuff, at least stuff from PSA would have a pretty solid drive line and not too bad on rust. Gotta remember that the French didn't make a lot of high end cars, and in the US "European" is mostly connected to more high end brands. Of course parts availability is gonna be questionable, but you're gonna roll the dice with that if you're gonna import a car in general.
@@Hipas_Account Actually French cars are some of the few European cars I would consider importing, since I've always been a fan of how bonkers and weird they are. I gotta get me a hydropneumatic Citroen one of these days... I don't imagine they'll be very reliable, but they are fascinating when they do work.
The other thing would be a Fiat Multipla because I find their sheer ugliness strangely charming, or any Tatra because rear mounted air cooled V8s are cool.
Crazy to think I was in Japan back in the day 1989-1991 and drove a skyline everyday. It didn’t have 300hp sorry 286hp but it was fast.
Thank you, Brendon and Kase. Great discussion, automotive import rule, has to be 25 years old? Look to TC-V for Toyota Crowns and Century's or Nissan President
A car I would so love to import, but they're not old enough yet: the VW Lupo GTI,!
TVR TUSCAN LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mitsubishi Montero Shogun/Pajero
TVR CERVERA
As for SUV’s/trucks, what about the 1999 HiLux?
Try getting an evo TM edition. That won’t be cheap
I would love to pick up an S15 Silvia.
Skoda Octavia RS 1 Gen, Peugeot 206 GT or CC, and Audi A2 😅
Honda HRV 1st generation, is very much like gen 1 and 2 CRV , with the right tires on they are almost unstoppable. The manual transmissions are the ones to go for. In this era , boringly reliable....
I'd go a Chevy badged Holden Commodore from Brazil with left hand drive.
What year is the equus
S15 Spec R are now around £27,000 in the uk 😮
pajero evolution???? skyline??? aristo??? 1st gen civic type R?? its funny how life goes. in 2010 i was seeing skyline gtr selling for like $12,000. now they are like $40,000
I would take a Suzuki Jimny
I want that first-Gen HR-V!
I'm importing the E38 BMW L7
The 1999 Mexico Dodge Ramcharger is conspicuously absent from this list. It's not a 2 door Durango.
I'd like that HR-V in performance version.
I rather have the old Ford rally cars in Germany. How come we don't get them?
TFL should import a jdm car from Canada to show how easy and cheap it can be.
@tflclassics I’m pretty confident there’s no way you can get Evo 6.5 TME for $15k. Maybe a roller with a salvage title. These have really shot up in the past few years.
Maybe if you're a chump, you'll pay 15k for an Evo LOL. That's insane.
Why is it up to the government to tell me when I can import a car? It's beyond belief the amount of regulations and we just put up with it and put up with it
Poor you, just discovering you can't always do what you want when you want it.
So 2025? Let's goooo!
I can't wait for @TFL to make a video about my car in 2033 ;)
Good luck finding parts or someone that will work on them.
As someone from the other side of the pond, I've always been intrigued by this 25 years thing.
Correct me if I'm wrong but does that mean that if a car was not sold on the US market you have to wait for 25 BLOODY DAMN years before you can import them in the US ?
And if I'm right on the previous point, then my question is WHY ????
The reason they say the law's there is to ensure all vehicles on the road fully comply with American safety regulation.
The real reason is that they wanted to reduce competition with American cars.
Sheer protectionism & one of the reasons you can't buy cheap cars in the US.
Equus was sold as dignity and proudia by Mitsubish Motors in japan
Man it's 6am go back to bed and it's Saturday
Suzuki Jimny
Around the world when Japanese cars reach 25 years old they start increasing in value as the US buyers start to import.
Don't get that HRV with the CVT transmission!
I've driven one of those a few times and it is just a testament of how bad a CVT can be. Truly one of the worst transmissions ever put in a car!
Yes, you could import a Honda HRV in the US in 2024 but why would you? The only thing special about it is that you did not get it.
As a european can you explain me why those cars couldn`t be imported?
First gen HRV looks goon on the outside but it's a pretty crappy car. It feels really old inside (because it is), 1,6l engine is extremely anemic, it also has the worst AWD system on the planet - you need a calendar to measure the delay before power is transferred to the rear.
Just because the gtrs are selling for 100k doesn't mean thats what theyre worth. Its literally an old maxima chassis with new maxima horsepower
5-10k is the absolute most one of them are worth
S15s are already a ripoff but now that USA can get them it's just going to make their prices even more absurd
Why do you have to wait 25 yrs ?
Land of the free
It's written into the US import regulations... No idea why it isn't something like 15 years, maybe that's the point they deemed a car is determined to be "classic" or "collectible", but it's the law.
Daddy gubmint
@@volvo09 It's weird for a European were we can import a vehicle of any age from where ever if you want to. But I suspect it's to protect US manufactorers from competition.
I doubt that the HR-V will take off quickly in the US, considering you can get a 1999 CR-V without having to import one,which I think is better in every way apart from fuel economy.
It's not CR-V alternative.
Who’s gonna know how to fix them?
Mitsubishi PAJERO
Why would you import any of these? I'm not importing a 2 door lifted wagon that is uglier than a Pontiac Aztec or a Chrysler pt cruiser. These have the same level of excitement as any year Chevy Malibu ie rental car status.
Thats of course in the eye of the beholder but what wont be easy is try to get parts for a lot of those in the US.
6:49 nobody wants a Hyundai equis that car is UGLY and cheap. Good luck with that piece of crap.