Calif seizes Nissan GTR's

Excaliber · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 12:26 PM

The car's were imported under a "auto parts" shipping order. Bodies and engines separate, then reassembled and sold.

Now the interesting part: They were then registered under Californias SB100 because they couldn't pass smog.

California sent out letters 60 days in advance warning the car's would be confiscated, they weren't lieing!

Here's the link:
http://jalopnik.com/5371967/feds-sei...-gt+rs-in-cali

rustyBob · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 01:31 PM

your tax dollars hard at work.........

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 01:40 PM

What disturbes me about this is "grey market" cars using up the limited amount of SB100 numbers. I suppose those numbers will be returned to the DMV, but who knows.

Dangerous Doug · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 02:23 PM

Hhmm, let's see:

The car does not pass US safety and emissions and thus is not available for import. Yet, somebody chooses to purchase the car in two pieces, have it reassembled, then register it via the SB100 process, in order to skirt the law?

I know this sounds an awful lot like what SPF does, but it's a pretty blatant attempt to circumvent the law on a new vehicle.

Also, the Feds gave the owners 60 days to get the car out of the country. That was pretty lienient. 60 days later, they didn't comply. Fed seize the cars.

And the Feds are the bad guys here?!?

I don't think so. The buyers knew what they were doing. That'd be like using "Titles Unlimited" to register your Cobra in CA instead of using SB100. Not something that exhibits exceptional IQ...and there'd be a price to pay.

The article didn't say whether they were using this as a method for avoiding paying taxes on their purchases. Hhmm...

DD

Dangerous Doug · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 02:29 PM

A buddy of mine tells me that these guys likely paid about $100k for these cars?

Is that right? Must be an amazing car...

DD

CobraEd · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 02:58 PM

If you launch off the line for maximum accelleration as Nissan advertised with "launch Control" on, and you break it, . . . your warrenty is void. Friken ricers !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOAXJTTc__w

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Excaliber · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 03:04 PM

Well they truly are an incredible and amazing machine. Ultra high tech, top of the line ricer, WAY fast in all regards. Handling, accelleration, right up there with the best of "world class".

Like CobraEd said, maintenance costs, warranty issues put you FIRMLY in top of the line Ferrari category! Yup, a couple of road tests by magazines using the launch control has resulted in severe and extremely high cost broken parts. Owners as well, NOT covered under warranty.

Seem's to me Lamborghini has a similiar problem. It is well known that if you launch hard more than a few times, at the very least, you just bought yourself a multi thousand dollar clutch.

I hope the State busts ALL these gray market dudes using the SB100 method to register the cars, it just aint right!

CobraEd · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 03:10 PM

and $20K dollar transmission that grenades. These cars are only 480 HP and as such, a lot of cars are faster. But with the all wheel drive their 60 ft times at sub second, so they are great out of the hole. Except the whole transmission blows up. It is like being a terrorist who blows himself up. It only works well once!!! AHAHAHA.

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ZOERA-SC7XX · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 03:23 PM

If this was done forty years ago, our economy wouldn't be in the shambles that it's in now and our corporations wouldn't be outsourcing our jobs. Before long, they'll be hawking Chinese cars here.

Excaliber · #10 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 03:26 PM

I don't know about a "lot of cars" that are faster. There are some, but your pretty deep into "exotic" land finding a decent comparison.

Reminds me of comparing a Cobra to todays modern cars. You know your traveling in the right circles when people say things like, "Well the new Vette, Ferrari, Lambo, etc. is faster, better, than an original Cobra." OK then, were talking about a car from the SIXTIES being compared to a modern car built some FORTY years later. No matter how you cut it, that's an impressive compliment considering the age's of the cars being compared!

CobraEd · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 03:51 PM

Off the line they are impressive due to the AWD, thus the big time comparisons with the world class cars. Once rolling along at street cruising speed, there are a lot of faster cars by todays standards.

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Excaliber · #12 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 04:27 PM

You mean, there is life AFTER 0-60 mph?

...not for ricers!

*13* · #13 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 06:40 PM

i could care less about the GTR but the feds need to get a life! If someone wants to spend that much time & money to get a car into the country, let them. Can't be any less safe than a Cobra Replica built by an untrained mechanic with stupid amounts of HP. There are tons of those out on the streets.

Power Surge · #14 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 06:48 PM

You guys do realize you are confusing two completely different cars, right?

Excaliber · #15 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:01 PM

Not that I'm aware of Sal? GTR, formerly Skyline, top speed close to 200 mph, 4 wheel drive, bad to the bone. At least, that's the one I'm talking about!

IF Gray Market cars are allowed under the SB100 ruling, you can kiss any form of kit car good-bye! Manufactuerer's will be lining up to register new car's. They could end up shutting down SB100 entirely.

elmariachi · #16 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Not that I'm aware of Sal? GTR, formerly Skyline, top speed close to 200 mph, 4 wheel drive, bad to the bone. At least, that's the one I'm talking about!

The cars they are seizing are the older R32 and R34 cars, not the newest Nissan GT-R being debuted here legitimately.

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:10 PM

OH, I see what you mean! We have some Skylines here in Hawaii and I'm pretty sure their illegal, but they sport current plates.

A mid 90's R is cheap compared to the new ones. You can pick up a used one for about 40 to 50K, only 10 years old too!

elmariachi · #18 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:11 PM

Here is a new one in the paddock at Texas World Speedway this past weekend. It may have just been the driver, but it did not "appear" to be much of a contender with other cars running against it. Had some purty gold brake calipers though.

Excaliber · #19 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:18 PM

Probably was the driver, heck even the older versions were killer fast with great handling. The new ones just kick it up a notch.

Power Surge · #20 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Not that I'm aware of Sal? GTR, formerly Skyline, top speed close to 200 mph, 4 wheel drive, bad to the bone. At least, that's the one I'm talking about!

IF Gray Market cars are allowed under the SB100 ruling, you can kiss any form of kit car good-bye! Manufactuerer's will be lining up to register new car's. They could end up shutting down SB100 entirely.

The car in the article is the imported Asian Skyline, which has pretty much always been non US legal, but people bring them over anyway.

The "GT-R" that people here are talking about with the launch control and $20k transmission and warranty issues, is the current Nissan GT-R, which is perfectly US legal. You can buy one at any Nissan dealer.