I suspect that all of us, at one time or another, has dreamed about importing a car. Sadly, the cruel hand of the government always seems to be in the way, telling us the cars we want to import are too new or too unsafe or the wrong color or made by children or some other nonsense like that, and then our car-importation dreams are gone.
This is why I wrote my manifesto. This is why one day I’ll show them all. All of them.
Uh, anyway, I asked the Autopian Communards what car they’d import if there were zero consequences of any kind, and here’s what they said:
Torch
Consequences be damned, and I suppose that means not just legal but personal safety, I think I’d have to go for the Tata Nano.
I’ve always respected the rugged cleverness of Indian cars, and the Nano, even if it was something of a failure, takes everything amazing about Indian automotive ingenuity and just cranks it to the 11 and a half. It is as much an engineering triumph as a Bugatti Veyron. It’s a supercar, wherein super is defined by being cheap.
And it sure as hell was: when new, a Nano sold for about $1,500 US in 2008. Think about that! This was a brand-new car! Eventually, the price went up to $3,500 (with some improvements to the Nano as well), but that’s still astounding for a new car.
Sure, nobody wants to be seen in the Cheapest Car in the World. But I think I might.
Mercedes Streeter
I would import a Smart Roadster. These cars are illegal until 2027 at the earliest and by that time who knows how many good ones will be left. The Roadster was Smart’s idea to make a quirky and modern interpretation of the classic British roadster. It wasn’t fast, but it handled surprisingly well and oozed character, like a little dog that thinks it’s a big dog. Sadly, engine problems, water leaks, blown turbos, and rust are ensuring the 34,000 examples dwindle fast.
Rivers
TVR Sagaris! I’m currently looking at a Cerbera to buy which is a dream car but the Sagaris isn’t legal yet and it’s far more ridiculous so it’s getting the nod here. Of course, the real-life implications of maintaining either in Arkansas have me reconsidering.
The Bishop
Forget M5 Touring models or some bizarre performance spec Audi. I want a two-door two-row minivan that can turn into a near-convertible with a pillarless roofline and giant sunroof. It’s hard to imagine making anything with that specification look normal, but I still want the designers to go off the rails to make it appear even more bizarre.
Such a car exists, and you’d say I’m full of shit until I tell you it’s French. Then you can understand how something as strange as a Renault Avantime was looked at by auto executives who apparently said, “yeah, go ahead and bulid it..let’s go eat.”
The Avantime’s age is approaching 25 years, so soon the dream will be more attainable, even if it will be more like a nightmare when the thing needs parts.
Thomas Hundal
I’d import a Noble M600. Stupefyingly fast thanks to a boosted Yamaha-Volvo V8, very little in the way of driver assistance, and it’s just damn cool.
Matt Hardigree
My old answer would have been the Ford Escort Cosworth RS, but that car is now legal to import and relatively accessible so it’s a little less fun. I’ve never seen a Škoda Felicia Fun, either here or in Europe, so I think that’s gotta be it. Also, it would allow me to say Škoda a bunch to random people.
Griffin Riley
I am neither a rich man nor a family man. What I am, however, is a man who loves a good shooting brake and who has been won over by Korean styling. It’s the Genesis G70 shooting brake for me. The thang is perty and that’s enough for me.
David Tracy
Someone please important a Yangwang U8 and let me off-road the everliving snot out of it. I love how bonkers it is; it does things that it absolutely does not need to (see video below), and offers comfort features that seem like they’re from the year 3000. It turns out, not much has changed but indeed they live in the water.
Your turn: what car would you import if there were no consequences?
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VW Fridolin.
No consequences means it’ll never require an expensive repair. Renault Clio V6 Phase II.
Alpine A110 (current model) is not far behind.
3 words…
Peugeot Traveller Diesel.
The NIO ET5 touring looks rather nice. I also have a guilty pleasure for the Renault Arkana. However, I’m hoping I can eventually import my deceased father’s 2004 Citroen C4 Picasso someday.
Daihatsu Wake, in Minion Yellow.
I think that’s the color name.
As an alternate I’ll echo all the Holden Ute votes.
Focus ST wagon.
Honda S660
A Toyota Century (sedan, obviously). I’m a sucker for that kind of purity of focus and execution, and nobody does obsessive detail like the Japanese.
For me, based in Germany, it’s the Toyota Sera. The only thing stopping me, is that it needs to get a conversion of the headlight unites to left hand drive, which is, pain in the…you know.
Renault Alpine A110. Small lightweight mid-engine manual affordable fun. And denied from us Americans by cruel French dinguses and Stellantis fun-snuffers.
Well, I’ve already got a wide selection of choices for quick, quiet, reliable, fuel sipping cars right here at my local Nissan dealer, thanks to the marvelous Jatco CVT. Who could want anything more?