[Euro] Best Mods

[YouRow]

I'm sure The laws changed since last year aswell. That extra time and paperwork is what I do for a living

Previously you had to pay if the total of duty and/or gst calculated was over $50. So if it was duty free, but worth $800, you had to pay $80 in GST.

Now though, it doesn't matter what is owing (tobacco and alcohol products excepted) so long as the total value of the goods is less than $1000.

However, say you bought a set of your preferred brand sway bars, suspension, and springs. Then you sent them all at the one time but in 3 different boxes to to try and make the value of each box under $1000. Customs can (and quite often do) pick up on this and could deem them to be all one consignment and make you pay up.

If you buy and ship them seperately then you are sweet. Just compare the additional shipping charge for doing three seperate orders (together might cost $30 total, apart might cost 3x $20 for example)to the amount of duty & gst you will avoid!

[YouRow]

Argh its complicated. Then what about those who got the greddy exhaust from the states? It was about $1250 i think and he paid no tax. I guess if the package is stated as gift or replacement under warranty it might avoid tax. I just want spoon calipers and not a whole list of legal statements. :P

Customs valuation has nothing to do with what description you give the goods ie gift or warranty. If you claim warranty replacement you have to provide evidence to substantiate this (an email confirming from the supplier for example). You also have to destroy or re-rexport the original goods and keep proof of this.

The people who brought in goods valued at $1250 got lucky

[ALN]

thanks for the link

195kg!? holy crap... 1st gear is gonna be fun can't wait

From memory the flywheel in the AUSDM dc5 is about 6-7kg and i have a feeling the euro's is heavier... but i'm not too sure if it'll be a 5kg saving, maybe a maximum of 4? But still i think the difference should be noticeable. Actually, when i get this done i'll see if i can weigh the stock flywheel and find out.

I also found out that the Comptech lightweight flywheel is of the exact same weight as the jdm dc5r's and as this flywheel was specifically engineered for the TSX i think 4.7kg should be a perfectly safe weight to use on the k24. I'm not sure if it's possible to have too light of a flywheel but with the euro's really high piston speeds i wouldnt be game to try anything under say 4kg?

Yeah, Comptech Flywheel around the same with the JDM DC5 Flywheel. The euro stock flywheel around 9-10 kg so it's pretty heavy spec .
Anyway it's worth mods to consider.

[YouRow]

Back on topic, don't forget before everyone rushes off to buy lightweight flywheels that while the revs rise faster, they also fall faster...Which sounds fine in principle, but for daily driving is not necessarily fantastic unless your daily driving is akin to F1

[Omotesando]

Yeh YouRow is right the gift rule never works. They don't give you any more leeway...

As for warranty claim - well, you have to show proof to them that its been sent out and re-imported.

Anyway, since the old $250 parcel value limit plus $50.00 taxable amount before you pay anything rule (depending on duties which means no duty items could be upto $500.10 before being taxed) has been abolished, then changed to $1000 rule, we are a lot more better off anyway. The Duties is much lower too as well.

If you bring it back as a plane passenger, they had a $400 rule as well as the hidden $50.00 taxable rule and then 20% depreciation rule, which theoretically meant you could have brought back in around mid $9XX of stuff before being taxed at all, depending on duties applicable. It was complicated but straight forward, and no GST was payable on shipping.

Now the limit is I think $900 (?) or around there but there is no more $50 tax rule since the $900's 10% GST is already well over the $50 limit. The 20% depreciation rule I think still applies.

So in reality, bringing things that are around $9XX back via plane never really changed in the way that it would be $9XX before you're taxed either way.

What's changed? Its that if you brought in $1200 of stuff prior to rule change, then you'll be charged duties plus tax on $1200-$400 = $800 taxable value.

Whereas that limit is now $1200-$900 = $300 taxable value. So again, under the new ruling we're better off as long as the item is over $9XX. Below that, it never actually changed.

[Chris_F]

Yeah, Comptech Flywheel around the same with the JDM DC5 Flywheel. The euro stock flywheel around 9-10 kg so it's pretty heavy spec .
Anyway it's worth mods to consider.

hehe, i bet you noticed a big difference with the comptech flywheel, just like i did with the jdm dc5r one... it's definitely my best 'power' mod to date, the coilovers being the best handling mod

[TypeG]

agree

Back on topic, don't forget before everyone rushes off to buy lightweight flywheels that while the revs rise faster, they also fall faster...Which sounds fine in principle, but for daily driving is not necessarily fantastic unless your daily driving is akin to F1

[curik]

quick rev up and down? not good at all for cramped city traffic in melbourne.

[aaronng]

Lightweight rims usually have a better performance gain over a lightweight flywheel but without the drawbacks of your RPM dropping too quick. I'd say, a lightweight flywheel is a worthy mod AFTER you get lightweight rims and are looking for more performance.

[Chris_F]

Back on topic, don't forget before everyone rushes off to buy lightweight flywheels that while the revs rise faster, they also fall faster...Which sounds fine in principle, but for daily driving is not necessarily fantastic unless your daily driving is akin to F1

well i have one on my car and it really isn't that bad. Also less of an issue if you're staying with the stock clutch. You just have to adjust how you drive of course but given time youll still able to drive very smooth, very easily. Stick with something around 4.5kg and i think it's fine for daily driving. Something that weighs <4kg will very likely be a different matter all together.

aaronng, I changed my flywheel with my 'heavy' rims and noticed a big difference. Changing to my lightweight rims (saving 1.5kg per corner) the difference really wasn't that noticeable and definitely nothing in comparsion fo the 4kg or so i saved on the flywheel. So id say there is every reason to change the flywheel even without aftermarket lightweight rims (not with heavy 19's or 20's of course) as the stock 16's and 17's wouldn't really damper the affects.

seriously, this is a very underrated mod, but if you can't be bothered adjusting your driving technique or what mods that people can see or hear i guess its not for you... but damn it feels nice revving out with a lightweight flywheel.

2c

[Omotesando]

I think the biggest benefit of Lightened Flywheel is the instant throttle response - so much noticeable difference... At higher RPM its also a bit smoother/faster to the redline!

With lightened flywheel however, RPM does drop more instantaneously so you have to keep revving it higher especially during lower speeds to drive more smoothly and without stalling hmmm. At higher freeway speeds, it also doesn't keep the speed its traveling at so its a bit less smoother... but for me its perfect throttle control wise as its more 'instinctive' ?

Overall though the gains out-benefit the losses. Honda, N/A - its all about Revving anyway!

As for Lighter Wheels vs Lighter Flywheel its really hard to say. I think both are really beneficial and enough to be felt. But during braking (which makes up a lot of time on a circuit track) definitely the Wheels being part of the unsprung weight will help better in terms of braking control and distance.

But lightened flywheel is cheaper and as such, its really hard to say which mod is better.

I'd probably choose lightened flywheel, intake and exhaust and some good suspension first, but if I had more money I think I'll go better tyres before buying better wheels... afterall the stock wheels aren't overly bad I suppose? Its a relatively measurement vs price... ummm

[curik]

Wow I didnt know that wheels make a huge difference. No wonder taking off is so much worse than using the stock wheels. The profounds must be 19kg or so.