Ah, this debate continues on many boards. Eh, I'll throw in my .02 Yen here as well. Just because something is against the law does not mean doing it is wrong. There was a time blacks could not marry whites due to racist anti-misegenation laws. So, to become highly offended at importing non-compliant cars when those laws exist only to benefit the giant corporations is ridiculous. Citing saftey standards for their existence is akin to citing WMDs as the reason for the invasion for Iraq. Both are outright lies used for cover.

But, this is reality and we have to live with it. You want to import a non-complaint car, you better import one that has a US equivelant to have a better chance of going undetected. If not, you run the risk so you get the rewards (of driving) or you get the punishments. Selling non-compliant cars in an attempt to ripoff the unwary is unethical and this is what bothers most (the non-rabid, anyway) import enthusiasts. There is the situation of importing and assembling a "kit car" on your own for your own personal use, and I don't think anyone (other than the most rabid) is too offended by this small act that hurts no one. You must remember that Japan's inspection is way more stringent than anywhere in the US, so the cars are emissions "legal" (they are cleaner than many cars on the road today...that just happen to be American) and crash worthy.

If I were to import a car for personal use, I'd talk to people in the kit-car world and see the hoops they have to jump through. I wouldn't sell my car ever. I drive 'em till they die...except my Skyline which I sold because I had to return to the US. I'd also like to know how the Noble is street legal in the US. They sell a rolling chassis where you install your own engine/transmission.

http://www.noblecars.com/new-noble-site/home.htm

http://www.1gracing.com/

Yes, importing a non-compliant car is against the law, but lets be real about it; it is not like people are doing anything wrong.