Importers

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:14 pm

It seems although the import process can be a big stumbling block for some prospective Delica owners, so in the interest of trying to make things easier for people trying to get one of these vehicles how about a quick post letting us all know what importer you used to get your Delica in to Canada, if you would recommend them, and why.

Breadman · Post by **Breadman** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:36 am

what do you mean by importers? doing it yourself is fairly easy although you involve a dealer in japan and a customs broker and then the inspection process. if you mean an importer in canada that does all that for you then there are many here in bc and some in alberta that do a great job and sell you a delica ready for the road. you can go one step further and surf the auction sites in japan yourself but you need a contact in japan for that. there are dealers in japan that, for a fee, will handle any vehicle you buy on the auction sites. hope that helps.
paul

delicanuck · Post by **delicanuck** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:17 pm

I bought my Delica from Abbotsford Japan Auto. ( http://www.abbotsfordjapanauto.com ) I started out on Craigslist and then got to Japanoid.com on 2nd Avenue in Vancouver. I put my name in there with David Jubb but it seems like he has quite a waiting list. I also spoke to Karim and drove his 1990 S Exceed. It had a lot of nice features but there were some hidden issues that he wasn't aware of. I like Karim. I just didn't like the car. I finally made the trek out to Abbotsford. I found a Deli in the best shape of any I had looked at. It came with a 1 year warranty. Shinji Oue really seemed to know more about these cars than anyone else I've talked to, including owners. They can get parts. They do service. Shinji was a Mitsubishi factory guy and besides, he can read the original manuals. If I go looking for another car, I'll start there next time. Hey wait! I started out at delica.ca after pressing my nose against Marks windows in a parking lot. Mark's was already sold. Is the new owner reading this?

SnowSlide · Post by **SnowSlide** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:38 pm

I just bought a 1991 L300 GLX, manual tranny, plain hi roof from Hidehiko at Samurai Garage. So far it's been a great experience, though I have to wait until next month to get the Delica on a boat, and then it's another month or so to get it here. The wait is going to be tough

Hidehiko at Samurai Garage has been excellent to deal with, and everything I've read from other people that have dealt with him have confirmed this. Once you learn when Japanese business hours are in Pacific time, he's very prompt about returning emails (he just got back to me in about 20 minutes with another response about the whole headlamp/inspection issue)

I found my Delica here:
http://www.globalcar.com/showroom/samur ... allery.htm
though not all of the cars available seem to be listed in the gallery, so you might have to use the search feature.

Breadman · Post by **Breadman** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:57 pm

i am so glad this forum started. i can see this developing into a crucial place to get help and a wonderful source for parts and ideas.
thanks mark
paul
ps 5 delicas on gabriola as of tomorrow!

Post by **mark** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:58 am

Thanks Breadman for the kind words! Actually credit for this forum idea should go to delicanuck -- he was the one who identified the need and pursuaded me to put an (othewise inactive) domain name to good use...

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:23 am

I posted under a different topic down below but I see that this topic is heading in the right direction for me - still have some silly questions. Would someone mind clarifying the process for me for dealing with someone like Samurai Garage vs. Luxury Imports (or Abbotsford Japan Auto for that matter). I just don't have it straight in my mind how the process works where I can't actually be there in person for when a van arrives and goes through customs etc., and the inspection process i.e. does it get a BC inspection first or can I have it shipped to Newfoundland for inspection here. Also, what kind costs for the van am I looking at if dealing through someone like Samurai Garage and what other fees would I pay on top of that? Again, any help much appreciated.
Cheers,
Ryan

Breadman · Post by **Breadman** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:26 am

hi, here is the down and dirty according to me. samurai garage in japan is like a used car dealer. he sells you a van and arranges shipping. he makes a healthy profit as these vans sell for 500 to 1000 cdn. in japan. then you arrange a customs broker and transport, usually yourself on this side of the pacific. it is up to you to then get it through inspection. this is all quite easy especially the second time. the dealers here in canada do all that for you and then tack on between 3 and 10 thousand dollars in profit to do all that for you. i assume they also check out the vehicle as well. battery, fluids etc.
hope that helps
paul

kremb · Post by **kremb** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:14 am

I bought my 91 from vicustomcarimports.com near Parksvill on Vancouver Island. Other than waiting a couple months for the car to come in the transaction was painless as was getting the vehicle insured at a broker in Parksville.

Randy is the fellow I dealt with and was a straight shooter from start to finish.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:30 am

unfortunately my experience has not been the same...

I attempted to contact VI imports, and they never replied to my emails...
I also attempted to contact Exceed imports, and they never replied to my emails...
I have emailed Abbotsford Japan Auto... with no reply so far...
I have emailed Samaurai Garage, with as of yet no response...
I attempted to contact Import Concern, and they are very slow at replying to emails and were very discouraging about the possibility of making a Delica legal to pass inspection (they really didn't appear to want to do business)

**** EDIT: removing my recomendation for Luxury imports due to their recent change in attitude slandering the entire import process, flinging baseless accusations at other importers and exporters, and admission of illegal importing **** I just don't think I can afford them (we were talking almost DOUBLE the price of other importers... and I simply can't afford a $16,000 deli, especially when others are going for $8,000-10,000 and honestly, the $8,000 ones look to be nicer vehicles than the $16,000 one luxury imports pointed out)

I'm convinced I want a Delica, I'm just not sure how to GET one!

fj45jeff · Post by **fj45jeff** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:37 pm

Marko at http://www.outbackimports.ca is, from what I've heard, excellent to deal with. However, he doesnt appear to have ever brought in any Delica's, but I'm sure he would according to his 'special orders' section.

Post by **BCDelica** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:54 pm

Hello Green1, the one thing I have found is that Fukatsu Hidehiko of Samurai Garage replied to all my emails very quickly, sometimes within moments during Japan's business hours (12 to 8pm Pacific time). Email requests responses from his Global trader website took over a week.

samurai_garage50@ybb.ne.jp

tree guy · Post by **tree guy** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:39 pm

Green1,

you should check out theses guys:

http://www.terra2imports.ca/

http://www.jdmconnection.ca/index.html

Both responed to me right away.

And you could also phone the local guys.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:52 pm

This is the first time I had heard of JDM connection, thanks for the pointer!

Terra2 is actually one of the first importers I found, the problem I had with Terra 2 was that they don't seem to want to even talk to you until you hand over cash, call me old fashioned, but I like to establish a working relationship before handing over my hard earned money...

Some updates though, I still have heard nothing from Samaurai garage (or any of the others previously listed), however I did hear back from Abbotsford Japan Auto, twice... but nothing more since...

the good news however is that I have been in conversations with JDM Wholesale, and so far have been very impressed, they have responded to my emails quickly, they seem to have good knowledge of these vehicles, and we are currently working towards finding me that "perfect" Delica (I just hope I'm not being too picky!)

fj45jeff · Post by **fj45jeff** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:42 pm

IH8MUD (mostly landcruiser stuff) is a board that has discussed importing for quite some time. Tons of info on it. Heres a link for a master list of Canadian importers:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php? ... mport+list

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