[abdulsamad]

I’ve been looking into jp used cars lately and wondering if I’m missing something obvious about why so many people in the UK go down the import route.

For context, I’m based in Manchester and currently driving a 2012 Golf, but thinking of switching to something a bit more interesting. I keep seeing clean imports like Toyota Crowns, Nissan Elgrands, and even some kei cars popping up at decent prices. Mileage always seems lower than UK equivalents, which is tempting.

But I’m trying to figure out what the biggest real-world advantage is. Is it mainly:

Better condition overall due to Japan’s road/salt situation?

Higher specs for the money?

Or just access to models we never officially got here?

I’ve also heard mixed things about insurance and parts availability, which makes me hesitate. And then there’s the whole DVLA registration and MOT quirks with imports.

Midway through comparing options, I noticed that jp used cars often come with auction grades and history sheets, which sounds reassuring… but how reliable are those in practice?

Anyone here gone through the process recently? Was it worth it in the end, or would you stick with UK cars next time?