It’s hard to believe, but Y2K was 25 years ago. It honestly doesn’t feel like that long ago, says the old man typing these words without using AI. Nevertheless, that means cars built in the year 2000 are now eligible for import under the US’s 25 year rule (thanks, Mercedes). We are almost nearing the end of the era of desirable cars, but there are still gems to be found.
What car from 2000 would you import from Japan?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you save a car from a natural disaster?“.
How to best protect a car depends on the nature of the emergency. Wildfires seem to affect a smaller part of the country than, say, floods and ice, so Joe Musashi‘s strategy of keeping it garaged has worked thus far. Public parking garages can be another refuge, as Ian G. and StreetSpirit can attest to. If you can, putting a car on blocks may save it as Franxou suggested. In a similar vein, Taylor C. reported one of the most thorough winterization protocols we’ve ever heard about. And if all else fails, Long Beach Mike‘s bubble wrap solution may have to do.
Jim Daniels gave some excellent advice specific to fires, and making a bunch of friends with parking spots in different locations seems like the best solution. Of if you have just one car, like エーイダン or Fred Langille, you simply drive it away. It seems the best solution is to just have one car. This week’s winner was nlpnt, who we imagined frantically stuffing the car with smaller model cars. I too have a collection, and leaving it behind was gutwrenching.
I only have the one car so I’m evacuating in it.
My extensive collection of scale models gets a higher priority for space in it than it would if I wasn’t single, but not that high since I may need to sleep in it and I’m in a part of the country where a snow/ice emergency’s more likely than fire.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
i’ll take a Mitsubishi FTO please.
quirky, and friendly styling , more space than a Miata, a decent power to weight ratio and by being front wheel drive it flies under the radar of hype just well enough so that people will have a hard time guessing what it is.
Merc E55 Wagon
Y61 Patrol Diesel 5spd
70 & 80 Series Land Cruiser diesel 5spd
R32 & R33 GT-R
BMW Alpina wagons
Lancia Delta Evo
Hmmm… Now we’re into an interesting time. An NSX Type-R or an S2000 are right there, but there’s also the last year of the Z30 Toyota Soarer, or an early Y34 Gloria. But for real weirdness, there’s the Honda Torneo Euro R. 220hp in a compact sedan that looks like a lower trim Civic, but is more like a loaded Accord in equipment. Now that’s a stealth super sedan.
it always bugged me that the Prelude never got the “Type R” treatment, yet in Japan, there’s a 4 door can using it’s engine that got the badge!
Just dreaming here but:
Nissan Stagea 260RS would be an awesome wagon to bring on.
Holden Commodore Ute SS – think these were 5.7L V8 and would have awesome utility.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition -you’ll just win Cars & Coffee with this
My fave would be the Sylvia S15. This is a good year for 25y importation.
I’ not sure really. What might be amusing is to look at both a President and a Century … Nissan or Toyota … to find one in both the best shape and mileage. Having one of these would certainly set the local luxury car snobs on edge … especially as both are now classics. I could get a President and put a Trump wrap ALL OVER IT! Hmm … think I’ll start saving!
Toss up between a final year P11 Primera 2.0 Te-V and a CL1 Accord Euro-R to live out my touring car fantasies. I think I’d probably go with the Primera to get the excellent SR20VE and avoid the Type-R Honda tax
Easy. Toyota Century with the 5 liter V12. Each cylinder’s working for only 23 HP spread out between 12 cylinders.
Hi Ben,
We’d love to use some images and source images rights from one of your old posts on behalf of Nissan – if you could please reach out.
article in question:
https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/motorsport-nissan-to-restore-1971-safari-rally-winning-datsun-240z/
Since there are still 3 years left and even getting 1 of 59 is even more difficult, why not a Toyota Comfort as a project to make a GT-Z supercharger clone? Complete the import of 1 container with the Camry engine and all the elements to complete the project. I think getting an ex-taxi in good condition will be as difficult as it is exotic. nothing better than the forbidden fruit that no one can obtain.
https://youtu.be/jwQAoXhxxNU?si=c18SbXswMeZrw8ep
yeah… something like this
Still the same…Aristo V400.
Mitsubishi Proudia C. So rare it’s all-but-guaranteed to be the only one at any given show or meet, and sure to shock people who think Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Lincoln were the only ones building V8 front-drive luxury sedans at the turn of the century.
Of course, first choice would have to be a Nissan Skyline GTR V Spec N1 but, let’s get realistic (because that unicorn is, well, a unicorn.) So how about something a bit more realistic? Nissan Stagea 25T RS Four Prime. Perhaps a bIt Volvoesque looking but hey, ski car! I mean, c’mon, a little tune work in its RB25DET and some turn-hard suspension goodies…. Awrighty then.
well… You can use in florida too
Fellow old man here. I can’t say that I can think of that is 2k specific that really has me drooling. Especially that I can actually afford.
I’ll go with a Diahatsu Naked. They look kinda cool and utilitarian. I would absolutely roll with it as a DD to replace my Scion xA.
Of course, there’s possibility of a misunderstanding when letting the wife know I plan to import a Japanese Naked.
Here we go again with the wishlists!
Let’s flip through “A Quiet Greatness,” definitely a lot of yummy cars, but first, I will list the “realistic” vehicles.
I still like my station wagons, and still looking for a nice diesel manual moonroof-equipped variant. Nothing out there unless we go European, so in the end I compromise. A Toyota Mark II Qualis 3.0G (essentially a Toyota Camry V6 wagon) has been on my search feed lately. It is pretty sleek, nice interior with lots of space and straightforward ergonomics, and the indestructible powertrain. I like how the rear lights create a nice bulbous look. Then, I’ve also been looking at the Toyota Crown Estate Athlete, those look very handsome, if not screaming “middle aged man.” BUT, a nice 1JZ-GTE is definitely a surprise.
I’m still on the lookout for a nice JDM van, and ultimately came to closure that the mid-engine Hiace RWD stick shift just was not happening. Further, it was geared to low for American interstates; that sustained 75mph highway cruising would really tax the engine. I therefore came across the Grand Hiace, which is definitely more upmarket, offers dual sliding doors, more space, taller transmission gearing, and a longer wheelbase for a smoother ride. Plus, it comes in diesel and is intercooled as well. I’ll have mine in Limited “Excellence Edition.”
Now, the “money ain’t no thang” list;
An FD RX-7 Type-A Spirit R in Innocent Blue Mica, oh my goodness, the BBS, the Recaro RZ, the Nardi the blue, the front facia and the curvaceous body, not to mentioned improved turbos and taller 5th gear for longevity. I am very cautious with rotary engines and prefer to have a car I can confidently work on, but the FD just looks so timeless, a shame it was only avail for three years in the States.
A Skyline GT-R V-spec II in white would be very nice. Always been a fan of Skylines GT-Rs since I came across them back in school. I’ll probably never responsibly obtain one, but it’s good to aspire. The way the Skyline GT-R sits almost makes it look like a bully, compared to the FD’s majestic lines.
Yum.
If you have “A Quiet Greatness” it sounds like “money ain’t no thang”. Haha.
Hopefully I can pick that up one day.
I’m not from the US so the 25 year import rule doesn’t apply here, but I’d gladly get myself an RX-7 or an NB Roadster (think the Mazdaspeed Roadster was a 2000 car), maybe even a Demio. It’s less about getting a car model that I can’t buy here and more about getting an unmolested example.
I wonder if some guy who is from the States will ever think of bringing a Toyota Cavalier just for the lulz.