Should I bring my JDM Accord Euro CM2 Wagon over to Oz with me?

[OZHBlue]

Hi guys,
I'm currently in NZ and planning a move over in a couple of years. I have a JDM 03 CM2 Accord Euro Wagon (24T Sports Package) and can't seem to find any in Oz. How many are in Oz? If I was to head over from NZ with my car, a Japanese import, would there be compliance issues or other problems to watch out for? Needless to say, if Oz has no other Euro Wagons I'm not overly keen on bringing over the only one (pain in the arse to get parts if that's the case), and fairly sure there must be some serious issues with importing Japanese cars if the markets not flooded with them like here. Then again, it's rare/unusual and I might go through the hassles if you guys think it's worth it.
We also have a NZDM Honda Jazz and it's wayyy different to yours... but that's probably best discussed in the Jazz forum :)
Thanks in advance for the advice!

[OZHBlue]

Bump with pics.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs264.snc1/9124_143768006508_562486508_2524748_1131854_n.jpg
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2002/3 5spd Triptronic - 24T "Sports Package" - JDM Import
K24A2 "Red Top" Engine
- Displacement: 2,354 cc (143.6 cu in)
- Power: 200 PS (150 kW; 200 hp) @ 6800 rpm
- Torque: 232 N·m (171 lb·ft) @ 4500 rpm
- Bore: 87 mm
- Stroke: 99 mm
- Redline: Sequential Sportshift 7300 rpm
Factory Sports Package Body Kit
Factory Sports Package Spoiler
Factory Sports Package 17" Mags
Factory Sports Package Partial Leather
Factory Sports Package Mesh Grille
Factory Sports Package Red Cockpit and Upper Dashboard Display
Factory Optional Sunroof
Factory Optional "VSA" Traction Control
Factory Premium Sound System - 7" Touch screen with JDM TV & AirCon Controls, components in front and rear, and subwoofer
LED lights inside and out (only factory replacements, no additional)

Planned upgrades - Staying JDM. Panel filter upgrade and black JDM Oil dipstick.

[OZHBlue]

So according to what I've found, as it's my vehicle and I've owned it for over a year I can bring it with - like any make or model car. Lucky I suppose as it's not on the list of allowed cars to be imported from Japan. The duty/GST is a bit silly considering it's a personal car, but that's life.

[HunterZero]

Euro wagon was never sold in Australia, only the sedan in standard and luxury trim. I've never even seen an Accord wagon in Australia so if you did bring it in, it would be unique!

Bringing cars into Australia can be a bureaucratic pain. I believe you are allowed one car as a personal import, provided you have documentation to prove you have owned the car for more than 12 months, and have lived in NZ for the alst 12 months. Modifications to the car and repairs will make it harder for the car to pass compliance. There will also be compliance costs, registration, import duty, GST...

Another member here was trying to bring a JDM CL7 Euro R into Australia, and it was going to prove to be quite expensive. Maybe other members can comment here on the pitfalls of importing a car into Oz?

IMHO likely not worth it.

- James

[OZHBlue]

Been in NZ for 7 years, owned it since September last year. 5% duty and 10% GST plus transport steam clean and inspection, and since we're possibly bringing over a NZDM GE Jazz at the same time it's two cars for the same BS. The wagon is completely stock JDM so should fly through, but the Jazz might be another story...

Was that member coming over from NZ or elsewhere? I know purchasing and importing a car can be hard with a specified list of allowed cars, but as a personal vehicle you can bring over just about anything. The Accord Euro Wagon isn't too different from the CL9 (90% shared parts and chassis, body panels, etc) but I'm worried about compliance if there aren't any there.

BUT I came across this thread here on OZH http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?98231-Accord-wagon&highlight=cm2 which says a guy was trying to import his from HK. Gonna hit him up and see if it made it. There's a guy on the link that says he saw one in downtown Sydney so might be at least two in Oz? If so, good news for me (compliance, parts, etc) but as he hasn't said anything more about it I wonder...

[djpro1]

pics please! never seen one in Australia before!

[OZHBlue]

pics please! never seen one in Australia before!
Post 2 (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?135364-Should-I-bring-my-Accord-Euro-Wagon-over-to-Oz-with-me&p=2786964#post2786964) should have 9 pics, can't you see them?

[CU2 Euro 09]

Post 2 (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?135364-Should-I-bring-my-Accord-Euro-Wagon-over-to-Oz-with-me&p=2786964#post2786964) should have 9 pics, can't you see them?

No pics can be seen, by me anyways

[d_evilz]

lol wow, never knew there was a wagon for it
would be unique as HunterZero mentioned.

[djpro1]

Post 2 (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?135364-Should-I-bring-my-Accord-Euro-Wagon-over-to-Oz-with-me&p=2786964#post2786964) should have 9 pics, can't you see them?

can see them now :)

wow nice! didnt know these existed!

to be honest, if you really really love the car and cant let go, go for the import! However, I'd just get to Australia and purchase a facelift 06 + euro lux instead :D

[OZHBlue]

I have a family and a very large and strong dog, so need a wagon to get out together. Prefer this MUCH over an Odd-see, and special bonus points for being rare/unusual there so think this will definitely be coming on the boat over. Not sure about the Jazz though...

[HunterZero]

Interesting car. Looks like the Euro Sport trim we have here, except as a wagon, with a sunroof and satnav. Interesting if engine is rated at 150kW/232Nm. Here the K24A in the Euro is rated 140kW/223Nm. Maybe different emissions controls?

Wonder if the satnav will get confused over here, and pine for the fjords of NZ?

- HZ

[OZHBlue]

Yeah the sunroof and VSA are fairly unusual, I know personally as I found this one and then watched Japanese auctions for several months for a black or gunmetal one, then gave up and got this one - with no regrets, of course. I love the sleek look of silver and it doesn't show dirt as easily as darker colours.

Glad you guys like it, hope it survives the few years until the move in good nick!

As for the SatNav, it's JDM so already confused. Thinks it's driving all over the place in Japan on the Japanese Maps. SatNav wasn't available on NZDM Euro Gen 1 (and now phased out of Gen 2) so I'll have a much better chance of getting an Oz SatNav and getting everything working properly than I ever would in NZ. That's definitely one non-JDM sacrifice I'll happily make. Was planning on replacing it with a chinese OEM replacement, but luckily the Yanks on DriveAccord already did it and found heaps of problems with it (loss of AC control, etc etc.).

The kW difference is very interesting! I know the NZDM and JDM CL9 are 150 so surprised yours only have 140. MUST be emissions as I doubt they'd de-tune the engine - hope I don't have to comply for something like that!

[hitoriko]

i say sell it and buy something here i always liked the legnuim wagon twin turbo :P - something to think about..

[OZHBlue]

Sorry I prefer Hondas and have owned Accords for over 10 years, and Accord wagons for the last 4. If you've owned an Accord Euro you'll understand...

[yfin]

Needless to say, if Oz has no other Euro Wagons I'm not overly keen on bringing over the only one (pain in the arse to get parts if that's the case), and fairly sure there must be some serious issues with importing Japanese cars if the markets not flooded with them like here.

We never got the wagon. In terms of parts - really the only risk is that you will have to wait longer if the car is damaged at the rear end as the parts would need to be imported. Not a big deal really. The only other thing is Insurance - the wagon will not be listed with the major insurance companies in Australia and this could mean you need to pay a higher premium as they could classify it as a grey import.

ps - i imagine you changed the original rims? I don't think those rims were available from Honda in 2003.

[antony]

Very nice looking,bring it over.

Most countries which have the Euro as their Accord have the wagon,eg Europe,Africa,JApan,and the North American markets of USA,Canada,and Mexico are getting the new Acura TSX wagon for the 2011 model year.

Honda Australia will NOT launch it here,as beleive it might steal a few sales away from the Odyssey and CRV...

[Simonnn]

ps - i imagine you changed the original rims? I don't think those rims were available from Honda in 2003.

Not sure if he changed the original rims or not, but the rims he has on the car are the same rims the guys over in the US get on the TSX.. so I guess its possible it came from factory?

[Neesmo31]

Man thats hell tough!!!!!! I say yes - bring that bad boy over!

[tron07]

what is the chasis code for this?

edit* notice it already, CM2 thanks

[OZHBlue]

Thanks for the support guys. yfin, good point about the insurance didn't even think about that. In Oz do you insure the car or an agreed value? In the States it was the car itself, which would make it a major hassle if it was lost as it's impossible to import unless with a person (like my situation).

antony - thanks mate, love it too. shame that AH won't sell it, it's a market on it's own and wouldn't touch the others.

neesmo - cheers mate! I'll try!

as for the chassis code it's CM2 and the mags are stock and only came on this model/package outside of the USA.

It's just killing me that I can't put in the H&R springs on it or the Jazz before coming over as mods require extra compliance BS.

[danau]

i love it !
which part of oz are you coming to?
..i want that factory touchscreen system... does anyone know if honda australia has it?

[OZHBlue]

Probably not Perth, mate! Even though I have a friend there we're not overly keen on being that far from everything else. Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are the top three and in that order.

I thought there was a factory satnav on the Euro Gen 1 in Oz, there isn't??

[antony]

Come to Melbourne...............................

[OZHBlue]

Had a friend visiting Melbourne who got a massive scare when someone almost ran her over while on a crosswalk in the city a few years ago... look like things haven't changed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/3885572/Slow-crossing-pedestrian-mown-down

[Neesmo31]

Come to yeppoon then, sun, surf - what more could you ask for lol.

[HunterZero]

Haha, yes last time I drove in Melb it was a nightmare around the city. Melbourne drivers are especially rude about not letting people in or cutting you off when you want to merge or change lanes.

Sydney drivers just speed everywhere and tailgate you, and run red lights, even the trucks.

- HZ

[OZHBlue]

Sounds like I should be in Sydney after my years in LA, but I better stick to some place like Melbourne or Brissy after getting soft on the crappy roads of NZ all these years :)

[Snowcone]

Thanks for the support guys. yfin, good point about the insurance didn't even think about that. In Oz do you insure the car or an agreed value? In the States it was the car itself, which would make it a major hassle if it was lost as it's impossible to import unless with a person (like my situation).

antony - thanks mate, love it too. shame that AH won't sell it, it's a market on it's own and wouldn't touch the others.

neesmo - cheers mate! I'll try!

as for the chassis code it's CM2 and the mags are stock and only came on this model/package outside of the USA.

It's just killing me that I can't put in the H&R springs on it or the Jazz before coming over as mods require extra compliance BS.

You will find you will have to insure it with a specialist company like Shannons, which insure grey imports and hot rods etc. You can get agreed value but the premiums will kill you. I had a Soarer for 10 years before getting the Honda and the premium was around $1200. I did get it reduced by telling them that it was not my daily driver and kms were restricted to under 8,000 per year. This cut the premium down to around $750

[raffyboy]

bring it over

[OZHBlue]

Had a busy weekend putting new springs on the CM2. Here's the new ride height and some of the latest mods -
Azect SoftLow CM2 Springs 25-40mm drop
2700K Xenon 100W H11 Foglights
LED parking lights
LED plate lights
LED interior lights
Accord Euro Badge

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordpark.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordfrontquarterhigh.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordfrontlights.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordfrontquarter.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordrearquarterlow.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordrear.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordtank.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accorddriverview.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordridefront.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/BlueandKim/Cars/accordriderear.jpg

[Neesmo31]

Hell tough man! You forgot to add that you put a new security system in the boot! Love the car though.

[OZHBlue]

LOL cheers neesmo, had to include the beast in there to remind people that all that extra arse is there for a reason :)

[Neesmo31]

Love the front/dash setup, looks nice.

[OZHBlue]

Quick update on the ride. Removed window visors, got 19s, some mugen gear under the hood and currently getting a test pipe fitted (removing catalytic coverter) as it's allowed in NZ. Here's a recent pic.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5216580646_32c69b05b1_b.jpg
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5216269799_633a533bac_b.jpg

[Drew]

Its such a pain to import cars, I wouldn't bother win the Jazz esp. if its heavily modified.

I brought this over three years ago when I moved from Auckland to Melbourne

http://www.accordwagonclub.com/profile_images/full/6272_1138598578.jpg
http://www.accordwagonclub.com/profile_images/full/6272_1138517209.jpg

[OZHBlue]

Sup drew, we chatted a couple months back about the CH9, I still miss mine a little but hard to do with a CM2 :) Definitely not bringing the Jazz but that's a totally different topic/thread. It's worth more here and only has about 5 or 6 things that Oz Jazz's don't have (climate control, etc).