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Right Hand Drive Prius for U.S. Delivery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by danoday, Apr 12, 2005.

  1. danoday

    danoday Member

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    After driving my wife's 2005 Prius for the last month or so, I'm ready to take the plunge and order one.

    Has anyone tried ordering a Prius with right hand drive, instead of the U.S. standard left hand drive? If someone in the U.S. wanted a right hand drive (for some strange, completely incomprehensible reason I won't bother to explain), is it possible to special order... since most Priuses have to be ordered at this point anyway?

    Are there channels to import vehicles from right hand drive countries (like Australia, Bahamas, etc?), and what are the potential pitfalls to this?

    Dan
     
    #1 danoday, Apr 12, 2005
  2. RBW111

    RBW111 New Member

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    Not sure it would be street legal unless used as a postal carrier
     
    #2 RBW111, Apr 12, 2005
  3. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    You can order from overseas but then you will have to pay the taxes, shipping fees, and conversions to meet US specs. Depending on the location you may pay up to double for the vehicle. I am not sure of the channels. Talk to your Toyota dealer. I am sure they might have some ideas of who to talk to if not locally then possibly in Toyota HQ.
     
    #3 Tadashi, Apr 12, 2005
  4. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    Yes, it will be street legal. I know this because I have imported a couple of cars from the UK.

    You will have to get it converted to US regulations. Based upon the assumption that the car is built to 'world spec' - taking the highest value for USA, Europe, etc so they only have to build one vehicle for crash protection, theft protection, etc. Most European and Japanese cars are built this way, you will need to do the following at minimum:

    Convert headlights and taillights. From what I gather, this is plug and play, but some wiring might need to need to modified. The US spec requires side lighting that Europe does not - amber in front, red in rear.

    You will then need to get the Speedo reprogrammed into MPH. Heck, even if you brought over a car from Canada, they require this. This might entail a reprogramming of the ECU or possible full replacement. I can only imagine how much this could cost as non US spec cars only have KPH, bar UK spec.

    Once you have done all this through a registered importer, they will have to certify that the car meets US crash, theft and emissions.

    Then, chances are Toyota will not honor any form of warranty as it's a grey market car and been converted by a third party.

    Then thrown in all the taxes, fees, and dutiess to be paid...

    Basically, it can be done, but it will probably be cost prohibitive.
     
    #4 addison1062, Apr 12, 2005
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It's possible but will be hell expensive so unless it's something not sold here (like a Peugeot or TVR), then it might not be worth the cost. The other car (Corolla aside) that I was considering was the Scion tC but to bring it over, I had to consult my insurance company, Transport Canada, ICBC, get their approval, buy the car, show the papers at the border, install DRLs in Canada. That's the basic stuff I had to do. Not sure what else would've been needed.

    It might be better to find one that's close to the US Spec (UK perhaps?) to minimise the modifications needed
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Apr 12, 2005
  6. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    By the way a Prius would make a great mail delivery vehicle especially for rural routes.
     
    #6 paprius4030, Apr 12, 2005
  7. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    I think I remember being able to just switch back and forth between MPH and KPH. Is this right?
     
    #7 Tadashi, Apr 13, 2005
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's on our Prius. The European models replace that button with a rheostat.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Apr 13, 2005
  9. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"80661)</div>
    I thought about suggesting to him that he should look for a UK spec, but once you take a look at the currency conversion (OUCH!), plus shipping - well, it'll be cheaper to source a RHD/KPH spec and convert it.

    BTW, The X07 Peugeots have bee engineered to meet Federal crash, theft and emsissions standards. The X08s will be as well. They have made no attempt to hide that they would like to return to NA if they can find partner. Funny thing is that they have a joint partnership with Toyota to build city cars in Europe.

    TVRs - Will never see the light of day here, unless their new boss can sort out the engineering - they were never made to be LHD and won't meet US crash standards, no matter what.
     
    #9 addison1062, Apr 13, 2005
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    really? nice. I like the new 407 (and the 407 silhouette concept).


    haha true. I watched Mon's (12th Apr) episode of 5th Gear and they tested the first two TVRs under Nikolai - Sagaris and Tuscan 2. They were still trim pieces falling out of places. :(
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Apr 13, 2005
  11. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"80914)</div>
    I agree with you about the 407. That's also the car they want to be the first release if they did return. Perhaps we'll see more cooperation between Toyota and Peugeot, which could lead to the 407 here.

    Oops, I think I heard my alarm clock go off...
     
    #11 addison1062, Apr 13, 2005
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    sweeeet! and I suppose the 206 or 306 (or are they in the 7s now?) as little city runabouts?
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Apr 13, 2005
  13. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"80927)</div>
    I used to have a 206, Roland Garros Edition!!! (When I lived in England.) Now that was a neat little thing. 34 mpg, too! X06s are pretty much done. the only X06 left is the 2. The 207 is going to be out soon.
     
    #13 addison1062, Apr 13, 2005
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ahh ok.

    Have you seen the 1007? Neat power sliding doors and interchangeable interior trim pieces.
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Apr 13, 2005
  15. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    The 1007 rules! That thing is the ultimate small car. BTW, think we should take this to the other cars forum?
     
    #15 addison1062, Apr 15, 2005
  16. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

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    That's so you can switch from kilometers to degrees Celsius.
     
    #16 Bob Allen, Apr 15, 2005
  17. Wolfman

    Wolfman New Member

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    While topic drift has taken the thread off topic, it did start out about RHD Prius. I'm going to leave it here.
     
    #17 Wolfman, Apr 15, 2005
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    hmm?
     
    #18 Tideland Prius, Apr 15, 2005
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well if Wolfman thinks it's appropriate, he'll change it or kindly tell us to create another thread.

    I'd rather have this 1007 over the smart fortwo. How many can it seat? 4? Also, Peugeot's reliability isn't exactly top notch isn't it?
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Apr 15, 2005
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