New FTO owner(ish)!

[kevinod]

Got confirmation from Gandhara motors in Japan this morning that they've bought a silver 2L FTO manual for me, so I'm almost an FTO owner at last... woohoo!! This car is very 'me'...

Auction grade was 4, sent me a couple of pictures of it, very very cool looking motor.


Only thing is shipping seems to happen only once a month, next is ~25th March, and takes 37-40 days to ship so could be start of May before it arrives.

Oh yeah, it has AC PS PW AW - wots AW?? automatic windows, as in you push the button extra and it goes down all the way or does it stand for something else?

Kev.

[soc]

Got confirmation from Gandhara motors in Japan this morning that they've bought a silver 2L FTO manual for me, so I'm almost an FTO owner at last... woohoo!! This car is very 'me'...

Auction grade was 4, sent me a couple of pictures of it, very very cool looking motor.


Only thing is shipping seems to happen only once a month, next is ~25th March, and takes 37-40 days to ship so could be start of May before it arrives.

Oh yeah, it has AC PS PW AW - wots AW?? automatic windows, as in you push the button extra and it goes down all the way or does it stand for something else?

Kev.

congrats - pity about the shipping time but at least it gives you plenty of time to do a write up on importing cause I'd be very interested to learn all about it, contacts, pitfalls, good & bad experiences, etc..... cause I think I'll probably try to import an EVO this summer.

[Dave]

nice one, let us know how you get on with customs and the VRT side of things, i've decided that i'm going to save up and switch my insurance over to a motor trade policy, and hopefully buy or import a supra 3L twin turbo , and keep my FTO for "commuting" .......... i'll have some serious saving to do, but well worth it!

[Speedyboy]

Do you mind me asking how much it cost, VRT isnt too bad on them I got a quote of 836 for a 95 GPX tiptronic. On every VRT quote I got it was cheaper for a auto than a manual although the auto's are more expensive to buy


R

[CJ]

Nice on Kevin, hope it all works out for you. One thing, the rear tyre\wheel combo looks odd from this angle:



Is it a GR or a GPX by the way?

Ciaran

[Kace]

Definitely something odd about the wheels. They are definitely not stock or Mitsubishi. First thing you need to change on the car methinks !!

[kevinod]

Do you mind me asking how much it cost, VRT isnt too bad on them I got a quote of 836 for a 95 GPX tiptronic. On every VRT quote I got it was cheaper for a auto than a manual although the auto's are more expensive to buy


R

1700 VRT, well 1698 I think was the exact figure.

I've heard a few other people coming back with the quote of 836-ish for VRT but sounds dodgy, 30% of Open Market Selling Price, which would be say 6000 euros brings it to not too far off 2k. If 836 is right let me know how to get that figure, but I tried Cork VRO and Santry VRO I think it was and got the same amount of 1698.

(SB - see PM for price)

Gandhara motors at www.gmjcars.com, seem to be pretty good for getting back to you quickly, their phone number is answered, professional looking website, and keeping me up to date.

They didn't get any guarantees they couldn't definately keep, like saying they'd have the car in 5 days, they said about 10 days but actually got one 2 days after receiving the deposit. Pretty happy so far but guess I haven't actually physically received anything from them ye so I'll hold back on final judgement.

[kevinod]

Nice on Kevin, hope it all works out for you. One thing, the rear tyre\wheel combo looks odd from this angle:



Is it a GR or a GPX by the way?

Ciaran

Will have to check out the wheel thing, didn't take much notice before you said it.

GR or GPX, to be honest I don't know, I've sent them an email asking.

Kev.

[CJ]

GR or GPX, to be honest I don't know, I've sent them an email asking

Kev, this is one of the first things you should heve checked! The GPX has all of the extras while the original GR spec was much more modest. If I was importing I woulndn't even consider a GR to be honest (NOI to the GR owners out there), my take is that if you go to all of the hassle, get yourself a decent GPX or GPvR.

Ciaran

[kevinod]

CJ,
You're probably right... checking it out though there's little enough significant difference from what I can see (apart from 170 vs 200 I guess bhp) as per the following site:

http://www.myfto.co.uk/prefacelift.htm

I've found it difficult to work out the differences between the FTO models, whatever one site says I see pictures/specs that say differently somewhere else. Like for example the GR doesn't have a spoiler, but 98+% of the FTOs I've seen have spoilers, GS, GR, GPvR or GPX. From that site here's what the difference between GR and GPX is:

GPX has everything GR has, plus:
- 16x6.5JJ Alminum Wheels
- Fog Lamps
- Side Air Dams
- Rear Spoiler
- Dual Muffler Cutter (is this a dual exhaust out the back?)
- High Back Sports Seats
- Rear Window Glass Antenna
- MOMO 3 Sporks Steering Wheel (instead of Urethan 3 Sporks Steering Wheel)
- Leather Shift Knob
- Room Mirror (with Map Lamp) (not sure what this is?)

From the pics the car has alloys, foglamps, rear spoiler, and a dual exhaust. With maybe the exception of the high back sports seats I'm not bothered with the rest, assuming I don't have them.

Is there anything else I might be missing out on?

[daniel]

not sure bout that list, ive been in a few GPX's (checked chassi numbers, and they are GPX's) which didnt have MOMO 3 Sporks Steering Wheel or a Leather Shift Knob

[kevinod]

not sure bout that list, ive been in a few GPX's (checked chassi numbers, and they are GPX's) which didnt have MOMO 3 Sporks Steering Wheel or a Leather Shift Knob

It sounds kinda suss to me too, the spoiler and fog lamps bit especially.

Anyone know is there a good list of differences anywhere?

Prob confusing half the board now with working out what the differences are exactly, but I guess it's morbid curiousity to see if I've screwed up badly!

Kev.

[CJ]

A standard GR doesn't include a spolier, sideskirts and climate control and it sits 15" steel rims as standard. About 70% of all GRs seem to have all of the extras mentioned above however (apart from sideskirts it seems) and nearly all have alloys. GRs also have smaller front brake disks (same as on the GS). There is no definitive list available, theres a link on the Buying Guide to a section on Steve Hemmings website, this is probably one of the best reference points for options on a per model basis.

checking it out though there's little enough significant difference from what I can see (apart from 170 vs 200 I guess bhp)

Trust me, theres a difference, the last rolling road figures say it all.
There is no sweeter sound than the Mivec engaging @ 5.5k rpm and continuing all the up to 8k, you won't get to experience this on a GR though!
In saying that, an FTO is an FTO and we love 'em all

The main point to note is that if you're going to the trouble of importing a 2L, make sure to specify a GPX over a GR.

Ciaran

[CJ]

not sure bout that list, ive been in a few GPX's (checked chassi numbers, and they are GPX's) which didnt have MOMO 3 Sporks Steering Wheel or a Leather Shift Knob

AFAIK, leather steering wheels and gearknobs are specific to facelift models only, most sites fail to mention this however.

Ciaran

[kevinod]

Trust me, theres a difference, the last rolling road figures say it all.
There is no sweeter sound than the Mivec engaging @ 5.5k rpm and continuing all the up to 8k, you won't get to experience this on a GR though!

...

The main point to note is that if you're going to the trouble of importing a 2L, make sure to specify a GPX over a GR.

Ciaran

Ah well, will just have to get a spin of someone's GPX sometime then! Any volunteers?

GPX rather than a GR, good point to put into the importing guide!

Kev.