I say the oh god part since I know I will most likely catch some **** for this.

I want a RHD JDM IX. I've looked and looked and talked to some exporters I've dealt with over the years and can source a JDM IX, but I haven't been able to find any info from RI's (registered importers) or anyone that has done it. I've heard of people doing RHD conversions, but I'm not interested in such a thing if I can just bring in a 06 IX from japan.

So money not being an issue, does anyone know the path of importing current model cars from japan that are also being made in the USDM market? I'm currently waiting on a response from a Mitsu rep that one RI pointed me towards, but it's been a few days and I feel like he may just blow me off. I was thinking I should be good with a stock EVO IX, DOT glazed windows, cats and going through an emissions test. I haven't found anything showing that I need to add any safety features for the IX such as any additional support beams, but then again it seems that no one, or not many have done this.

Any info would be awesome.


And I already have a EVO IX, so saying that I should just get one in the states will not answer the question.

 

a jdm legal ix is different from a usdm legal ix

this is why we have usdm ix's

one difference easily notable is the jdm ix rear (jdm cars do not have a rear crash beam)

they also have different emissions regulations (anti-lag)

you will not be able to do it legally...period

 

the best thing you can do is swap the front clip and dash

 

So is the only real issue emissions? If emissions are the only true issue, it's not impossible, just expensive. This isn't a matter of having an evo, but having a truly rare evo. If a Evo XII can make it in, I don't see why an Evo IX can't

 

I just stated above their crash test restrictions are different as well

they don't have a rear crash beam...I don't believe they have a front crash beam either (not positive)

any vii in the states is not 100% street legal...maybe under a track exemption or a show car exemption but the reality is the amount of things that would need to be changed is silly

 

^----- This

I was looking into this as well before I got my X. Every path I went down was a dead end. If you're more persistent, maybe you can find a way. But to my knowledge it isn't possible. Good luck.

 

yea no front crash beam either

 

US emissions has the strictest rules/regulations in the world. basically trying to legalize a European/Japanese car is near impossibe. we have so many systems that are integrated with OBDII and ECU you would have to swap literally everything. importing a car is one thing. legalizing it is a different animal

 

Look into the "show or display" exception on import regulations, that may be the loophole you need, however you'll be very restricted on the number of miles you are allowed to drive the car annually.

 

well in 2031 there should be absolutely no problem importing your uber rare IX. but you don't have to worry about that cause in 2012 the world is gonna end anyway.

 

you could just buy one now, put it in storage and wait 25 years until its legal here

 

I wanted to do this too. IF and IF you can bring the car over (without having to chop it in half) you can ONLY use it for track or show purposes. So putting it on the streets is a no go....

 

import to canada and drive it over then get a salvage title off a nine and should be good to go if your state doesnt require Salvage Vehicle Examination should be set.

 

Nop. you can't import it here to canada. jdm need to be a least 15 years older and here in quebec we can no longer liscence them so it is a no go.....

 

makes no sense to drive a RHD car on a LHD country. Unless you drive a postal car