I'm Jason, in the Air Force, stationed in Japan. Haven't lived in the US in about 7 years now, and my wife and I are headed back to the US around May/June, not sure where we are gonna be yet. It will be my wife's first time to the US (she's Japanese), so should be interesting for her.

I currently drive a 2008 Civic Type R that I will unfortunately have to sell. I bought the car brand new and bone stock and modded it for touge/gymkhana runs. It's been a great car and I'll miss it, but to bring it back 100% legally is impossible. There is the gray market of course, but it's not really legal, and a pain in the ass. I'll pass on that headache.

I'm looking for something cheap(ish) and reliable for a daily driver that will last me a long time. Getting out of the car game for a while so I can concentrate on school. Looking at the 2001 or so Acura 3.2TL.

Any JDM goodies I should pick up for a 3.2TL while I'm still in Japan?

Here's a couple pics of my current car:

 

Car or truck? If you are getting out of the car game I would say look at a used tacoma for reliability and practicality.

And if you can get the Type R over here I bet you could make a pretty penny selling it here to some JDM junkie.

 

Car, looking at the 3.2TL, we're only gonna have one car for now, so it needs to be something my wife can drive. She's Japanese, used to driving really small cars, even a 3.2TL is gonna be big for her. I wouldn't mind having a truck, but I don't think she'll go for that.

 

Nice car. I'm a big fan of the FD2 Civic Type R! It's really unfortunate that you have to sell it though.

Anyways, if you are looking for a 2nd gen TL (1999-2003), you should check out the 2nd gen TL forum here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/

If you want some JDM goodies, you should consider doing the JDM conversion (JDM emblems, steering wheel, engine cover, etc), and also get the JDM rear spoiler.

 

Make sure the transmission recall has been taken care of if you are planning on buying a 99-03 TL..

 

The 3G TL (2004-2008) is a little shorter than the 2G TL (98-2003), without the auto transmission issues of the 2Gs.

If your wife can drive a stick shift, the first-gen Acura TSX (a nicer car known as the Honda Accord everywhere except the US) with a manual transmission is a very nice, responsive compact entry sport-lux sedan (but not as responsive with the auto transmission).

 

I would suggest a used Lexus IS300 or Acura TSX since their smaller and pretty easy cars to mod (both were sold in Japan as the Toyota Altezza and Honda Accord).

 

Awesome Civic. Asking for recommendations on JDM parts doesn't sound like you are truly getting out of the car game. If you are truly getting out and look for a relatively cheap, but stylish sedan the TL will foot the bill. You may also want to look at a first gen TSX. What's wrong with getting another (non-Type R) Civic?

edit: "superbike81"? Do you ride?

 

I used to ride, stopped riding shortly after I got married. Not because of my wife, that was a coincidence in timing.

I don't want a Civic because I want something slightly more upscale, I'd like to have leather and maybe heated seats and that kind of stuff.


Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

 

If you're looking for something comparable to a Civic without getting a Civic and going a little upscale without the significantly larger size you and your wife are used to, I would definitely suggest looking into the TSX instead of the TL...



Good Luck!

 

I'd suggest a 7th Gen Accord 6mt. I'm biased though.

 

hey superbike, is it true that volks are cheap when you buy them in japan?

 

A little bit. When I bought my RE30's, I called 4 or 5 shops in the US to see how much it would be. Even with the crappy dollar to yen exchange rate, I paid about $600 less here than I would have in the US. They still weren't "cheap" but they were cheaper. Also everyone in the US said I would be waiting at least a few months, I had them in 3 weeks.

 

Another vote for the TSX

 

I had a 2G TL here in Japan, and the 4 speed auto did the herky-jerky thing on me occasionally, so I sold her.

The TSX (Euro Accord here) is solid, and won't be overwhelming for the wife to drive (my Japanese wife's first experience driving in the US was with my old 86' Pontiac Grand Prix).

Or you could take a look at a Subaru Legacy. Safe, reliable, AWD. And they can be had with leather, nav, etc...

 

If you are still interested in the TL and want to know about JDM parts, contact another member on here jjashaa (if you can't PM yet, search the 2nd Gen TL forum and you'll find him). He knows what's up.

But I would suggest you bring over the JDM trunk spoiler. IMO it's tied with the Mugen spoiler for the best spoiler for the TL.

 

Please make get the civic over here somehow! I'm sure it can be done!

 

get some rare ass jdm rims. thats all i got

 

If the motor is the same as a USDM, then it is possible. Or you could look into importing it as a kit car. Go look on the US DOT website and take a look at the rules. hell, have the wife ask Honda if they will grant a certificate stating it is the same as a USDM. That will allow it in.

But research it first through the NHTSA (use this link)....

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

 

Just bring over your Civic and sell it here. You should be able to get a good amount for it.

 

stay away from that year tl. big tranny issues. i got tired of replacing my trannys and just dropped a 6 speed in.

get a tsx. orrr....

bring your type-R parts and leave the shell over there.

 

 

 

I wish that Civic was offered in the states, it would be in my garage right now.

It's amazing how dumb Honda can be, they should offer both the Type-R model and Si, and have the Type-R by special order.

 

Another vote for TSX. It's smaller and easy to drive and maneuver.

Also, you can get Civics here with leather and heated seats. My parents have one. But the TSX is definitely more upscale and drives nicer.

 

That car would fetch top dollar.

But it's a headache to import a car.

+1 for a pre-owned TSX.

 

is it a bigger headache to import it or to register it once it's here?

 

Shipping is easy.... $1000 - $4000 (depending on the size of the crate). The issue is it being allowed into the country. If it is not done correctly, through a NHSTA registered import agent, you're screwed.

And of course, the vehicle has to be able to be imported. The link I provided above has a lot of material in there.

 

Get the 1st gen TSX, it's more upscale than the TL you're looking at, better mileage, looks better, and is probably about the same size inside. AT or MT, they're both great.

 

Another vote here for the 1G TSX as well. That car handles great for a sedan and is way more stylish on the inside than the 2g TL. Plus you can still mod it a bit with really going overboard, since it's not easy to boost and CT supercharger is mad coin.