A PETROLHEAD who specialises in “modern classics” has urged drivers looking to pick up a stylish set of wheels to “keep an open mind” on cars from Japan.
James Russell of The Motor Grid – a dealership that specialises in the most desirable modern classics on the market – has revealed a little-known option for enthusiasts looking to buy their first performance motor.
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In an exclusive chat with Sun Motors, James advised potential buyers to “keep an open mind about cars coming in from Japan.”
He said: “Cars from Japan are obviously all UK spec cars, they all go over exactly the same as over here – while nine out of ten have actually got better options on them than we have over here.
“The system is so strict out there that obviously the cars can’t stay on the roads for as long as they can over here because of their equivalent of the MOT system.
“So you can get incredible cars from Japan that have no salt, rust or issues underneath.
“There are so many specialists bringing them over, there are so many options to actually go and buy a good car from Japan.”
James believes buyers are more likely to bag a pristine condition modern classic motor from Japan than in the UK, adding: “For instance, if you’re going to go look at an E60 generation BMW, you’d find a 550i Touring in Japan that looks like it just rolled off the production line.
“Whereas finding one of those here in the UK… good luck!”
Indeed, in recent years, Japan has built up a reputation for high quality cars and unique models that can’t be found anywhere else.
In many cases, importing a car from Japan can be cheaper than UK equivalents, even after factoring in shipping costs.
However, according to Wise, modifications or even testing may be required beforehand, which can obviously add to the cost on top of taxes and customs duties.
There’s also a chance car insurance premiums may be higher with an imported vehicle.
Elsewhere, James recently picked out two modern classics for us that drivers can pick up for less than £10,000 – including an awesome Audi that he describes as “a bit special”.
The motoring expert also reveals why he picked the iconic Lotus Elise S2 as his quintessential modern classic sports car.
Elsewhere, a rare sports car that appeared in a Jason Statham film is set to sell for an unbelievable price.
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