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Importing an R grade... value? Resale value?

10K views 25 replies 14 participants last post by  Barrie 
#1 ·
Hey there guys,

I’m new to the evo game and looking for a bit of advice... I’ve got my eye on an import... it’s currently here and it’s mine if I’m open to it! It’s pretty much standard which is a big plus.. mileage is decent... but apparently it’s been graded R... now according to the auction sheet it’s had a wing replaced! That’s about it... everything looks good otherwise...

Are R grades a no no... are they devalued in the same way a cat c/d can be? Does it effect the resale value.. or the general value? Does it effect the current sale value- should it be much lower priced than say a 3.5 or 4?

I have searched on the forum and I’ve found various things but nothing that tells
Me if it’s a def no or what the R grade does to the value of the car in the long run!

Any info would be helpful... thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
I think you will find that in some cases and R grade car can be better than a grade 3.5-4, just depends what work has been done and the level of damage previously repaired. I think it's safer to get the car properly inspected beforehand in Japan just to be sure but if it's a case of just a wing change then for me it could be a very good value for money buy and wouldn't put me off.

I bought an STI RA Impreza grade R and it had had the bonnet replaced but otherwise was in amazing condition and it didn't detract from the car at all.

You have to take each car as it comes but i'd advise an inspection before but if the car is still very good I don't think it will have a significant effect on future value but could be cheaper to pick up to start with. After all the grading system is very much open to interpretation and can be changed in some cases to get the car to sell more favorably in Japan.
 
#3 ·
IMO and R grade ex Jap auction car may be every bit as good as a 3-4 grade - it depends on the person doing the grading.

The only thing is would an R grade affect resale? For me it did as I was buying an Evo 6 R grade. For hold of the auction sheet and the roof had been replaced.

But most people buying a JDM Evo never see (or ask for ) the original auction sheet.

If it was me and the car checked out really well, with confirmed minor damage and was the right price, I’d buy it.

In the example I had above, the price was too steep for an R grade plus I suspected it had been rolled. Hope it works out for you.


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#4 ·
Any vehicle that is imported from Japan that has had any panel or paint repaired will be an R grade. If the auction sheet has it noted and everything else checks out then go for it, as has already been said most R grade cars are as clean as a non R grade car :smthumbup good luck with it :)
 
#11 ·
Any vehicle that is imported from Japan that has had any panel or paint repaired will be an R grade
I have seen lots of auction sheets with replaced panels that are not grade R so that is not true.

Grade R can be very good value for money and as good as a 3 or 3.5 - yes, I agree. It can also be a lot worse. Inspection is a must.

However, resale values will be lower and you may even struggle to re-sell it; I was speaking to a life long friend last week and his son bought an import from a company without auction check. Two years on looking to buy a house he then tried to sell the car on. As is the case quite often you are better off letting these cars go back to a specialist. The deal is all set up but the next specialist then Jap HPI's it, finds out its a grade R and wants nothing to do with it. Lads now stuck with car and doesn't want to sell it private without telling any potential owner its a grade R - which may or may not put them off or stop them from buying. So tread carefully!
 
#5 ·
IF its not a massive damage car then buy on condition rather than grade. I have seen a an Impreza STi that had a wing / bonnet and tailgate replaced and was a grade 4 and the same auction house / sale another Impreza same age grade R that had no panels replaced but quite a few small marks on the bodywork.
Guess it depends on the person grading the cars at the time.
 
#8 ·
Sounds like it's not the end of the world of an import is rated R... I was worried it had the stigma of a cat c or d like we do in the uk.. I guess it Jst depends on the car n sheet!
Surely a cat c/d etc. is given by an insurance company due to something happening and not economical to repair / replace whereas an auction grade is given by whoever happens to be filling out the auction sheet at the time, so I wouldn't really compare the two...
 
#13 · (Edited)
OK so here's a few examples - i was at work earlier so didnt have access to my files. The whole grade R situation is a real minefield. As you can see none of these cars was graded R yet all have had replaced panels, and then you have other cars with replaced panels that have been graded R. What the difference is the person grading the car would be best person to tell you.
 

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#22 · (Edited)
OK Rich No problem!

it's more and more myterious...

SNGF2 is only for GSR (if my memory is good) ??? so don't understand these RED mak !!

no airbag / no AC auto (cant' see on the pics if it have an aerial antenna)

BUT

Red (with Red handles and black on the top of the door...)

And

SNGF2 .... (so normally a GSR (airbag , auto AC) with red on top of the door , black handle...)

strange one!

have you checked on the "GTR registry" what it said ? (the website is crashed now?)

(I talk about the one with grade R and 24 480 kms)

sorry for the Off topic, i'm just a bit curious about RS TME in general...

best regards
Bastien
 
#25 · (Edited)
Grading in japan is all over the place in all fairness - you get worse 4's than 3's or 3.5's sometimes - Better grade R's than 4's AND not only can they go through one auction as an R then re-appear in another auction as a 4. wHAT YOU NEED IS GOOD AGENTS IN JAPAN!!

End of the day we are dealing and talking about 20 year old vehicles here - if anyone thinks a 20 year old car hasnt had something in its life and paint then thats crazy - they have all had something unless its been stored away with 1000 miles on it and that still doent mean its not had anything - you have to be realistic and also sometimes take with a pinch of salt one mans grade who works for an auction !!!

Just because you have a grade 4 it doesnt mean it hasnt had paint and a repair - ive seen grade 4 cars with three or 4 panels replaced .

Grading in japan is a guide - but a vague one at that at times.

We are recieveing 150-200 jap imports a year and been importing 20 years now - i see all grades every day.we buy every day and sell nearly every day. It basically boils down to what a private person would see as bad/good or a problem.

If you need any help and want to call me on 01347 878539 or need translate i can help.Thanks Dcy Europe
 
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