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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Toyota 70-Series. No question.
A small, efficient, gas hatchback or a small gas efficient pickup truck. I have a small carport.
Most of the things that pop to mind fall on the far side of the 25 year rule, so given the money, I suppose I already could. That said, I could go along with Matt, and bring in a Skoda Felicia Fun. Ok… how about one of the later models from Marcos, like a Mantis GT or TSO. Ooooh, or a ’96 Renault Sport Spider, the version with just the wind deflector.
They are scarce as hen’s teeth, but I would be proud to own a
Citroen CX2500 turbo w/5spd transmission at whatever the price demanded by the maket (currently around $25000 usd.)
the Smart coupe is the only smart car I would consider owning. Should be getting close to that 25 year thing too.
But….Suzuki Jimny is basically the daily driver side by side roxor should be.
I want a late model VW Saviero, I need a small pickup. I can get one of these brandy new out of Mexico, and they’re only about $15K
I want a Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat, Holden Ute and a Toyota Hilux
Land Cruiser 70 Series or Nissan Patrol Y61 Super Safari Pickup/SUV. Those two would be DEFINITELY possible in 25 years time..and some models already can be imported which are older than that….
Preferably, I would get a MY24 Safari or an LC70 truck w/an automatic in 2050.
Maybe, a Middle East spec Regular Cab AT4/Trail Boss would be a good second option. Or the Colorado Based TrailBlazer w/V6 or its S10 pickup version.
I like the Genesis G70 but I already don’t like them or anybody with a similar vehicle calling it a coupe when it has 4 doors. I’m aware of the nomenclature wars over this, but calling the wagon version a shooting brake is one step over the line that I will not accept.
Anyway I’d import a Land Cruiser 70 Series.
+1 all day long on the 70-series LC. For me, specifically one of these, which is a double-impossible get: https://www.offgridweb.com/transportation/toyota-gibraltar-the-secret-factory-that-builds-trucks-for-the-un/
Oh great heavens…
I want a Holden Ute. Preferably the V6 with a manual.
I know some of these are floating around the states. There was a company that imported enough parts from Australia that they could take a donor US market car from the same GM platform (Pontiac G8?) and convert it to the ute body
https://www.smythkitcars.com/
No consequences?
I’d bring in a box truck full of cocaine.
959 for sure
If blessed with a maintenance budget, a Panhard 24BT, an Alfa Romeo Junior Z and an Alfa 2000 GTV.
I would love an Ariel Atom or any Morgan
A Toyota Century SUV. Those things are so over the top, I would derive great joy.
2015-2020 Chevrolet Tornado. 5-speed, regular cab, what more does anyone need in a small truck?
Realistically? Honda S660, mk4 Skoda Octavia VRS TDi 6MT Estate, 1st gen Twingo and a Current gen Twingo. ( Give or take 60k USD)
If I had way too much money, G81 M3, S205 C63 Wagon, Alfa Romeo Giulia QV with a 6MT, Alfa Romeo Brera QV, Alfa Romeo MiTo QV, Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV, Alfa Romeo 159 V6, Third Gen Megane RS and pretty much anything I find cool on and for sale whenever I’m in Europe.
If we’re going by the thing I want more than anything else, R34 Skyline GT-R. But I’d also do horrible things if I could drive around in a modern Suzuki Jimny or Alpine A110.
There are many cars I’d import, including some of the ones mentioned. I’d really like something fairly pedestrian – a Citroën C4 Cactus.
If I had stupid, FU money, I’d go for a Citroen DS23. More realistically, perhaps a Honda Beat.
How about a current BMW M3 longroof. (That would be back to the the stupid money).
All excellent choices. And I’m sure just about any year of the GTR would be high on the list. I would be torn between the Alpine A110 and . . . the current Fiat Panda. Love the Panda. Drove one in Italy this past spring for 5 hours total (to the Lambo museum and back) and loved every second.
Bugatti La Voiture Noire
Oh, you mean that I could afford?
Brand new Sukuzi Jimny.
Why Jeep doesn’t offer a small, barebones Wrangler, and sticks to $60k+ monstrosities is beyond me.
Trimflation mostly. Why sell a $30k Wrangler when by adding $5k worth of equipment you can sell it for $60k?
This point always drives home for me how small the “enthusiast” segment of the market really is in this country.
Outside of autopia, relatively nobody wants a vehicle that’s primarily enjoyed for what it was built, is easily fixed when it breaks, and generates actual brand loyalty.
the big question is how hard would it be to narrow a couple 44’s and plop solid axles under the renegade. why they made the compass and renegade the same underneath seems like it was a missed opportunity to see if bolting what people say they want to an existing platform will in the end result in more sales rather than robbing one versus the other.
Weirdly, I have like 3 Skoda Felicia Funs saved on my FB market. I ended up buying a Mitsu RVR Space Gear X3 with a 4G63T and a stick though.
No consequences, and I’ll keep it newer than 25 years because I’d just import something eligible anyway.
I’ll second the TVR Sagaris and Alpine A110.
To add something new, uhhhh. M.A.T. New Stratos.
Apparently S2 Lotus Elise are half of what they are in the US, so either one of those if cost is considered, or an S3 because we only got ~120 of them total in the US. Also bonus points to Suzuki Jimny, and final generation Holden Ute with as much V8 as is possible.
A+ choices. I imported an S1 Elise 2 years ago, partly because of US pricing, and also to get the lightest, “purest” Elise. I have a Samurai, and having that form factor and usability in something slightly less tractor like on the inside is a plus. I also have a bunch of Holden Utes saved waiting for 25 years, couple Falcon XR6/XR8 utes as well.
Easy, BMW M140i F20 generation. RWD, 3.0 I6, 6MT 5 door hatchback? Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie.
I’m more of a 3 door shooting brake guy but I understand.
Citroen C4 Cactus