Do it! So much cooler than any other car suggested so far.

Don't worry about it being an import, all that stuff about hard to get parts may have been true 10 years ago but not now. I had an imported 300zx for about 9 years and never had any trouble getting anything for it. Don't bother with Nissan Aus, if they do have any parts for it they will cost 3 or 4 times as much as you can source yourself.

My god they are cheap over there!!!

Check out this search result:

www.tc-v.com/used_car/japan car/nissan/elgrand/?eid=1&fid=2003&jid=2011&hp=4&so=1

+$1800 shipping

That leaves plenty of surplus cash for compliance, reg and onroads. I am getting exited, I may have found the perfect van!!!

There are a few Elgrands around Sydney and they look great.

Compared to Delicas there are not as many Elgrands and the Elgrand website seems less busy than the Delica one. Of course that could be a good thing as there are less posts about the Elgrands not working.

They seem to be fairly new, 2003, 2004, 2005 which is always good.

In regards to importing from Japan. I've read about people doing this and you can do it. Maybe your brother in law can help out if he imports directly. If you go down that route you would want to find out as much as you can and have enough cash available for unforeseen expenses. Also be aware that Japanese dealers are not always that truthful.

Mark _australia said...

Umm it is not Japan price + $1800 shipping and the bit left over helps with extras..

Customs duties and mandatory steam cleaning inside and out (AQIS requirement to kills bugs) adds a lot.
Plus stuff that is unique to each car to make it comply with VSR's may be fitting new mirrors, tail/headlight modifications and all kinds of weird stuff that really adds up

I'd not import one myself.

This is what they quoted me when asked:

$1200 for shipping
$1000 for all custom and quarantine fees
5% Import Duty
10% GST on top of everything.
$2500 for compliance
Their fee $500

So it all came to around $15,000 +RWC, 4% stamp duty and reg (aprox $1400)