North America Imports, Its Slowly Slipping Away, Spread the word, Discuss & Educate

[WanganRunner]

The only DOT-legal imported Nissans in the US, AFAIK, are a few Motorex-converted R33's with federal papers, and those aren't getting seized.

Are they cracking down in Canada also?


I never hear about people's imported CTR's and ITR's getting seized/crushed. I guess they just get stolen before that can happen, lol.

[tricky_ab]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

The only DOT-legal imported Nissans in the US, AFAIK, are a few Motorex-converted R33's with federal papers, and those aren't getting seized.

Ah good to know...

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

Are they cracking down in Canada also?

Nah not yet. There's the "RHD are not safe for our roads" movement, but that's about it. I'm more worried about shops importing everything under the sun just for the cash, and getting the rules changed for the rest of us who want to do it legally.

[upsdude]

Originally Posted by tricky_ab

"RHD are not safe for our roads" movement, but that's about it.

seriously there's a group of ppl that devote their time so something like that? how freakin' stupid. if RHD cars are so dangerous then they should start with the post office since their delivery cars ARE RIGHT HAND DRIVE

[gearhead55]

Originally Posted by KA24DESOneThree

You think it's capitalism?

Don't make me laugh. Capitalism lowers prices, creates no barriers to entry except those imposed by intelligence and innovation, and raises the quality of life for every person who enters the market.

You must wake up every morning and read Ayn Rand then jack off to Glenn Beck every night, huh?

Capitalism (like any other economic system) is an idea that, if it is realized in its entirety, will fail. No economic system in the world is purely capitalistic, and pure capitalism is just as pie-in-the-sky unrealistic as pure communism. There is a continuum and every real-world system falls somewhere in the middle.

In reality capitalism does not raise the quality of life of everyone, it INHERENTLY widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Why do you think its called CAPITALism? Because those with the capital drive it and in the end benefit more than those that do not control the capital. A LOT more. This has played it self out time and time again throughout history. Pick a economic system that is based on unregulated free markets at any point in human history, read about it, and then get back to me about how that system collapsed.

And it almost inherently does create barriers for people to enter markets, but i'll address that when responding to your next point...

Originally Posted by KA24DESOneThree

How is any form of government intervention in a market considered capitalism, or the failure thereof? You've been spoon-fed ignorance and stupidity and somehow managed to like the taste.

There is collusion between the government and large businesses to drive other businesses out of the market, creating cartels and advancing a form of fascism known to Americans as "health and safety regulations." These regulations decrease options available to you and me and result in loss of purchasing power.

Now, government intervention in and of itself might not be a tenant of capitalism, but it is absolutely necessary for it to function properly in the real world. You say that government and large business work hand in hand to drive other business out of the market, you are partly correct. But guess what, monopolies are a naturally occurring phenomenon in capitalistic systems, they are almost inevitable in most industries. Government’s role is supposed to be the regulation and dismantling of monopolies in order to promote competition in the market. Without the trust-breakers within the US government at the turn of the century do you honestly believe that the only thing stopping new competitors from taking market share away from Standard Oil was “intelligence and innovation”?? That is ridiculous.

The fact that you call health regulations fascist really sheds light on how ignorant you are. Go read Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and then get back to me about how “fascist” health regulation is. I doubt you even know the definition of fascism or the history behind that ideology.

Originally Posted by KA24DESOneThree

Capitalism would've welcomed any and all grey market cars as simply supply meeting a demand, and Mercedes-Benz (along with BMW and the rest of the manufacturers) would have had to adapt to the change in market condition. Instead, they went crying to big daddy Yankee and had him put a stop to a little freedom in the name of MBZ's tax and campaign contribution money.

You are kind of correct here, but you are missing and important point; it is important for government to regulate to SOME degree. Go watch a crash test of a Chinese made vehicle and tell me you are alright with those things driving around on US roads. The fact that this country allows for a minimum level of safety is a benefit to us. Overregulation is a different story though, and I believe the government currently over-regulates in this area, not so much with crash test standards (because it affects the safety of the driver and whoever the driver hits) but more so with environmental standards.

The point that people like you always miss is that the world is an extremely complicated place. Simple concepts like unregulated free markets might sound great (especially when some rich motherfucker is trying to convince you of its unquestionable superiority to other systems), but you have to read about how different economic systems have worked in the past to form a realistic conclusion about the role that government should play. People act like the United States is some ground breaking new form of government with a ground breaking new form of economic system, but its is far from it. Too much or too little government will always be a difficult balance to strike, but NEITHER extreme is desirable in anyway. Unless you are a dictator of the head of a large corporation that is…

[Z28ricer]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

I never hear about people's imported CTR's and ITR's getting seized/crushed.

Because those cars CAN be legally imported, the same vehicle was offered here, just like with supras, youre required to install US parts, for crash safety standards, effectively making the vehicle the same car as was offered here, the skyline was never offered here, and thus CANNOT be made legal.

[WanganRunner]

Originally Posted by Z28ricer

Because those cars CAN be legally imported, the same vehicle was offered here, just like with supras, youre required to install US parts, for crash safety standards, effectively making the vehicle the same car as was offered here, the skyline was never offered here, and thus CANNOT be made legal.

Sooooo...you're telling me that I CAN have an ST205 GT-Four?

What the fuck am I doing owning a Nissan then?

[bardabe]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

Sooooo...you're telling me that I CAN have an ST205 GT-Four?

What the fuck am I doing owning a Nissan then?

lol looks like you failed at google. if the car has a US counterpart and you can swap over all the US DOT EPA equipment over its rather simple to pass. that's how i registered my Silvia back in the day. did the oem 240sx front end, back bumper beam, doors, mirrors, glass, and USDM Speedo and did a KA Swap with full equipment. after i got my tags. put the SR back in it and went to town. keep in mind this is when people used to throw KA's away or sell them for like 200$ complete running.