Why no more Gen 3's in NZ?

[RemarkLima]

It was one of the things I was looking forward to if I do emmigrate to NZ (A possibility in he next few years) but it seems that they've stopped allowing imports of Gen 3's... Any reason why?

And anyway to get a nice newish one from Japan still?

Cheers,
Mark

[pete sparrow]

Think its down to emissions. Was looking at moving out there and when i found out they wouldn't allow my car i scrapped the idea..

[AtomicRex]

Its probably best you dont take anything over there faster than a one of those Wizz electric cars.

Their speed limits are harsh...and the enforcement even harsher!

I got stung twice in 2 weeks.....

Shame as the roads over there are stunning....and so twisty

[RemarkLima]

It wouldn't stop me from moving out there, (my gf is from there so we'll definately give it a go at some point!) and I hear what your saying atomic, I got the same, pulled over twice in 2 weeks! D'oh!

But there was plenty of places for fun to be had ;) The rimutaka's are great and one of my mates from there was saying how they used to do timed run from bottom to the top! Scarey stuff when the fence is a bit of string attaed to twigs ;)

[AtomicRex]

Nah the fence isnt that good!!!! ;)

And the drop off the side would just about give you enough time to write a will!

But if it wasnt for my Son being here....Id be there in seconds. Just have to drive on my UK license, and have a big fund for speeding fines lol

[antnicuk]

Think its down to emissions. Was looking at moving out there and when i found out they wouldn't allow my car i scrapped the idea..


i wouldnt let any car stop me moving somewhere like NZ, i assume there are other reasons, if not, you may have your priorities a little confused :spank

[RemarkLima]

Just have to drive on my UK license, and have a big fund for speeding fines lol

Absolutely! I'd do it for as long as possible ;)

But then the points system over there is very different as well I was told, something like you need 100 points to lose you license, but then you can take point or pay more money or something weird... Either way, some of the guys out there were saying you generally wouldn't need to worry too much.

And when I told them how it worked over here they were shocked! 4 times and you're out!?!?!? Never!!!

And yeah, a car wouldn't stop me at all... TBH I'd probably get something "European" and a bit more exotic over here and take it over, as Jap stuff is pretty common while the Euro stuff is a bit more exclusive.

In fact, I could probably face driving a Beemer as the badge has a different meaning over there ;)

[AtomicRex]

I saw very few BM's

One of the B&Bs we sayed in the guy had a new Merc.....and that was rare as rocking horse poo.

Saw 1 Fezza in Auckland. but the Jap cars are everywhere. Get a Holden and/or a LandCruiser plenty of off-roading fun, and speed where you want it.

[mullins]

I'm abit late to find this thread (dont come on here much anymore) but the i'm 90% sure the lack of fresh Japanese imports is that the fd doesn't meet the new frontal impact laws. We don't have emissions testing in NZ last time i checked.

I doubt this affects personal improrts though.

[Carl]

I'm abit late to find this thread (dont come on here much anymore) but the i'm 90% sure the lack of fresh Japanese imports is that the fd doesn't meet the new frontal impact laws. We don't have emissions testing in NZ last time i checked.

I doubt this affects personal improrts though.

Any imports including personal imports of the FD are not allowed in NZ now.
Those that made it through before legislation on safety regultations stepped in are ok.
Regards
Carl

[RemarkLima]

I bet it's to do with pop up headlights... Not good for hitting peds apparently :/

[mullins]

I bet it's to do with pop up headlights... Not good for hitting peds apparently :/

We still allow bullbars on 4x4's etc so i'm not sure if that's it.

[RemarkLima]

I know what you mean but apparantly that's why there's no more cars with pop up lights any more.

Just not very ped friendly so gotten rid of...

[Rotaryguru]

Just to clarify some things, NZ has introduced tougher emmissions laws, but the problem was that only the later FD's were able to be imported under the tougher frontal impact laws.

And with regard to living in NZ, if you think Britain is a 'nanny state', wait till you live in NZ..... we invented the term 'Politcial correctness'.

Now the country is an overpoliced, nanny state, with an economy going down the toilet......fast.
:mad:

[drutin]

howzit :)

its nothing to do with emission laws, although they are tougher in nz and you have to have a cat if the car came with one factory,
the cars being imported can not be over 7 years old, it is to do with the frontal impact laws :(

but....... if you wait till it is classed as vintage car then you can import it :)
but nz vintage is 30 -35 years old not like uk classic which is 15 years old
dont quote me on years as its an approx

when i was last in nz 4 years ago you couldnt import series 4 rx7's :( to put on the road that is,
you can import anything if its not to be used on the road, hmm track/drag/drift car :)

later
glen

[dthebuk]

I know what you mean but apparantly that's why there's no more cars with pop up lights any more.

Just not very ped friendly so gotten rid of...

well its not very friendly for fuel consumption either, and if there stopping high emission cars, then they may aswell stop the pop ups

[shaunwil]

You will just have to go oldskool :Giggle

Shaun

[RemarkLima]

Interesting comments guys, all very good to hear!

May have to take an old 911 over just to keep my European heritage ;) I'd say British but done the Lotus thing and don't know if I could handle it again LOL!

Or as Shaun says, a nice 1st Gen would be cool. I do like them a lot, very cool looking... Reminds me of my old Mk1 MR2.

[mattyp747]

im suprised dont they let any import into NZ? alot better then australia i heard..

[DC-TYPER]

looks like a few of us want to move to nz!!

im planning the move now. should be within 2 years me thinks

[RemarkLima]

It's a lovely place must be said, but I could see quite a culture shock when moving there!

Saying that, if I do go (all depend on the gf really) then it will be for a change of lifestyle and hopefully involving a lot less work ;)

[JiM B]

Hi Guys,

I moved to NZ about 1 year ago, before I did I looked into importing my 1995 FD3S, however at the time I was not possible as all imported cars need to conform to the frontal impact laws, which the 1996 FD3S's conform to. So unfortunately I had to sell.

Since living in NZ they have started to enforce emission regulations before 3rd Jan 08 imported cars only needed to pass a visual smoke test, even this allowed for initial smoke as long as it died away after a couple of mins. After 3rd Jan 08 all imported car are required to conform to either a Jap or euro emission regulations depending where they are from. For an FD these are required to conform to Jap 1998 emission regulations, so it's still possible to import 1998 FD's at present.

From 1st Jan 09 imported cars from Japan will need to conform to Jap 00/02 emission regulations, so I’m not sure if the 2000, 2001 & 2002 run of FD's would conform to this?

I'm hoping to import an FD this year while I can....!

Cheers,
James

[RemarkLima]

Hi James,

That's good to hear :D There may be some hope yet!

But I didn't see any FD's in NZ or Oz this time and only one FC near Surfers in Oz... So either they're all away for the winter now or still not that common ;)

[Dr-Rotor]

Sux that you cant bring your FD's here. Not to worry though...there are thousands here already. Just look at how many there are on this auction site.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/browse/searchresults.aspx?searchType=all&searchString=rx7&searchregion=100&type=Search&sort_order=price_desc

[skybusr34]

didnt realise rotarys were that popular over there

[Dr-Rotor]

They are very popular here. We have 2 events a year. The 4 & rotor Nats, and the Rotary Summer drags. We also have a rotary only racing serise. Its called Pro7.

[RemarkLima]

Of the 4 times I've been I've still only seen a handful of FD's on the road... But I do know they're about ;) And still holding their price pretty well it seems.

But speaking of TradeMe, I'm back over for 3 weeks in Feb, and we're heading for a bit of a road trip from Tauranga to Wellington via Taranaki (where my gf grew-up! Proper country gal!)... But was looking at maybe getting a MX-5 and then trademe'ing it when we leave... Do you think it's worth it?

BTW, where about's in NZ are you?