Would YOU pay 19k for an L300?

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Saw this on Kijiji here in Toronto. I've had great experience with getting parts from these guys, but I don't see how they're going to get $19,000 for a '91 L300. Even if you are pretty much getting a brand new vehicle. Thoughts?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city ... nFlag=true

[Shaun Van Ramen]

I'm gonna take my L300 to Ontario, sell it for $15,000, come back and buy a Crystal Lite and still have plenty of cash left over for beer!!!!

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I know right?? I'm looking at my van now thinking....

[philmeup1]

I saw that ad too. It really is amazing that it only has 7000kms on the clock. But I think the price is a little high. If I had to bet on what it ends up going for, I'd say much less......

I've dealt with these guys for service once and the are really good. It'd be interesting to know what it actually sells for

[glenn]

I'd guess they are aiming at the collector market - no one would pay that much for a daily driver. Pristine L300s are getting pretty hard to come by and they are much more iconic than the L400s. I could see it parked beside a trabant, a reliant robin, a Citroën 2CV, BMW Isetta etc., in some rich guy's garage.

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Well, maybe they're banking on it still being a rarity here. Someone will see it that's been wanting one in Ontario for awhile and think it's the find of the century. Which I guess in a way it is, but I don't know... Delicas definitely have a premium over here though.

[philmeup1]

When I got my Delica, it had only 71,000kms on it. It was near as good as this one. And since I've customized mine with things like remote entry, killer stereo, Terzo Ladder, curtains....... I'd almost rather keep mine.

And then when I consider the price difference, yep, I'm just gonna keep mine.

[Lapprentis]

If it is somewhat Showroom cosmetically and mechanically, why not !

Lapprentis

[Brave Auto International]

I remember seeing this vehicle on the auction system, if you had brought it direct from Japan and imported it yourself, it would of owed you around CA$9.5k ready to drive away from the port.

At $19k, I think I am at the wrong end of the export/import business……lol.

[DR1665]

I'd guess they are aiming at the collector market - no one would pay that much for a daily driver.

Hi. My name's Brian. I'm not rich. I will be spending US$15-17k on my L300 through Right Drive within the year (hopefully within the next 6-8 months). Could I get one cheaper? Yes. Thing is, I'm willing to pay people on the ground in Japan to find exactly the van I'm after. Value proposition.

And buy low, sell high is nothing new. There was a just a story this week about an older gent who listed his bone stock Evo on Craigslist. Someone showed up same day, started it, paid cash. Guy didn't delete his listing, though. So all these people called about it. Then it showed up on a local dealership lot, marked up by about $10k. Incensing, to be sure, but chance favors the prepared mind.

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From Arizona, wouldn't it have been easier to go through someone in BC? What exactly were you looking for in an L300 to be willing to pay that much? Even in the time I've been living in Ontario, RightDrive has gotten way better to deal with. Daryl (parts) has been great to get me little aftermarket things that others have never gotten back to me on or couldn't be bothered.

[DR1665]

From Arizona, wouldn't it have been easier to go through someone in BC? What exactly were you looking for in an L300 to be willing to pay that much? Even in the time I've been living in Ontario, RightDrive has gotten way better to deal with. Daryl (parts) has been great to get me little aftermarket things that others have never gotten back to me on or couldn't be bothered.

I looked into several registered importers in Arizona, California, and even New York. Only the guy in New York returned any of my calls/emails, and he said I'd be looking at US$15-20k on top of the price of the van to do it legally. Yeah, no. Right Drive came recommended by a friend in Toronto who used to run Sympatico's autos section online and now works for RM Auctions.

Easier is relative, my friend. With Right Drive, I tell them exactly what I want, they go looking for it, and I only buy the exact van I want. It's no longer a question of what is available on the Trader or some hidden-by-illiteracy Craigslist/Kijiji listing. My involvement consists of checking email, saying yes or no, and maybe asking for additional pictures of this or that.

When they find the exact van I want - color, options, condition, etc. - I simply tell them, "That's the one. Do it," and it's on the next boat over. Then they do all the maintenance. Fresh tires (I'm spec'ing skinny BFG ATs), belts, hoses, fluids, pads, rotors, the works. They're going to install an Engels or ARB fridge for me on sliders, maybe even delete the EGR and install my pyro and boost gauges.

When all's said and done, I figure they'll be putting a good US$3,000 worth of parts and equipment into my van before it shows up at my front door on an enclosed trailer, detailed, fully fueled, federally legal, and ready for Arizona emissions testing, with a 2-3 year powertrain warranty (haven't decided how much coverage I want) so I don't have to worry about losing a weekend trying to fix it myself. (Not that I couldn't.)

All that, and I spent an hour or two one day last month with Michael up there, test driving a California-bound Super Exceed and was thoroughly impressed with their professionalism and operations. They're not the giant dealership conglomerate on the highway, but they're not wheeling and dealing out of someone's kitchen, either. (Not that I have any problem with that, I should say.)

I've reached a point in my life where I'd rather play with my vehicles than play WITH my vehicles, if you know what I mean. I'm looking to buy a keep-it-for-20-years Mitsubishi; something I can camp in on the weekends, maybe roll out to a JNCC event in SoCal once in a while, or take the family down to Ushuaia. I'm shopping vans and service - not price. Pushing 20 years in the Mitsubishi scene these days, I'm done dealing with unpleasant surprises. It's time for another "new" Mitsubishi.

[Erich]

It seems a bit pricey to me. However, I have $20,000 in mine as of today, and expect to put a bit more into it. What hasn't been mentioned, is that even if this van was garaged its whole life, no rust and the paint is perfect, it is over twenty years old. Seals will need to be changed, all or most gaskets will be shot, brakes and and that sort of thing will need to be replaced or repaired. Brake lines, belts, valve guide seals will all have to be gone through. Suspension bushings, shocks. If they have done all that, it is worth it. If not, you can add another 5 or 6 grand to make it reliable. If it sat in a heated garage and was regularly warmed up and driven, that can add to price. If it hasn't been driven in ten years, that wouldn't be good.

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Fresh tires (I'm spec'ing skinny BFG ATs), belts, hoses, fluids, pads, rotors, the works. They're going to install an Engels or ARB fridge for me on sliders, maybe even delete the EGR and install my pyro and boost gauges.

Now THAT is awesome. An ARB fridge is high on my list of 'one day I really want one'.

It'll be nice to receive something to your door that already has all the goodies on it. Can't wait to see what you get!

[Big-Bird]

19k? Wow I'm in the wrong biz if thats a going rate.

An A+ JDM delica can fetch 8-10g's max at auction...even with shipping 19k plus whatever it needs in new parts is excessive. I could see that $ if the unit was fully camperized or if the seller threw in the full maint package with that cost.

I was looking at 10k max for any JDM Deli on my Radar and that would include the obligatory maintenance they all seem to need when they get in North America. I found dozens of 3.5-4 A+ and even with shipping they were estimated at 6 grand max. Plus 2-4g's in maint and you're done.

I can't believe that L300 is going for the same price point a Nissan Skyline or Toyota LandCruiser VX can fetch.