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Auction Copen or Retail Stock: How Much Should You Budget to Import from Japan?
How much should you budget to import an LA400 Copen from Japan? Using rounded auction and retail examples, we explain how to read the prices—and what still has to happen before the car is finished.
What We Learnt by Replacing Every Drivetrain Mount on Our Honda S2000
Our S2000 showed no obvious symptoms, but its original drivetrain mounts were visibly ageing. Replacing the transmission, engine and differential mounts one stage at a time revealed how important their combined balance is—and how much response can gradually be lost without the driver noticing.
Comparing the Hidden Areas of the Old and New Copen
We compare the hidden areas of the original Daihatsu Copen and New Copen LA400 to see how their construction affects water ingress, rust and corrosion.
That Whirr Behind the Seats – Refurbishing Fuel Pump Assembly for Honda S2000
Should an ageing Honda S2000 fuel pump be replaced before it fails? We refurbish the complete fuel pump assembly on our AP1 using a SARD pump and genuine Honda components.
How Much Exchange-Rate Risk Can You Afford When Importing from Japan?
A change in the GBP/JPY exchange rate can add hundreds or even thousands of pounds to a JDM purchase. This guide helps you calculate the risk, find your tolerance and make a clear auction decision.
When the Prime Suspect Was Me – Diagnosing Idle Hunting on Our Honda S2000
What looked like a simple idle hunting problem became a lesson in diagnosis, restoration, and why replacing parts is never the same as finding the real cause.
Thinking of Buying the New Copen? Read This First
Thinking about buying the "New Copen" in the UK? This guide explains the four LA400 Copen models, how to plan your budget, and the difference between buying from UK stock and importing from Japan.
Why We Kept the Original Honda S2000 Brake Calipers
Bigger brakes aren't always better. Discover why we chose to retain Honda's original brake balance, how the system performed at Snetterton, and what we learned from testing both standard and CSO components.
The Classic JDM World You Cannot Find in English
Looking for a classic JDM car in English only shows part of the picture. Discover how Japanese specialists, owners' clubs and communities can transform your search—and why modern translation tools make joining the conversation easier than ever.
Your S2000 Has Failed Its MOT. What Happens Next?
For many Honda S2000 owners, the story begins with an MOT inspection. Perhaps your garage has discovered oil leaking from one of the dampers. Maybe you've already noticed the symptoms yourself. A knocking noise over uneven roads….
Before We Import a Car, We Build Understanding
Why the Search Is Not Always the First Step
Perhaps you have already spent hours searching for a car in Japan. You've searched Japanese classified websites, auction export services, social media and UK importers. You know the model you want.
Why We Choose Quality Carbon Parts
If you've followed our recent S2000 and Copen projects, you may have noticed one thing. We don't simply bolt parts onto cars. Every modification starts with the same question: "Will this still be the right decision many years from now?"
Replacing the Crank Pulley for Honda S2000 - A Simple Job That Became Part of a Much Bigger Story
A crank pulley replacement sounds like a simple maintenance job. In reality, this one became part of a much bigger story. There are usually three reasons why S2000 owners replace the crank pulley….
Why I Chose the LA400 Copen
When people hear that TR imports UK specialises in the second-generation Daihatsu Copen, they often ask me the same question. "Why the Copen?" It's a fair question. After all, I've owned nine Honda models over the years …
Honda S2000 Restoration and Tuning Index - Our S2000 Isn't Just a Demo Car
Philosophy - Five years ago, I bought what looked like an ordinary 2005 Honda S2000 UKDM. Today, it has become something completely different. Not because we've chased huge horsepower figures. Not because we've built a show car. But because we've spent…
About TR imports UK – Why I Started This Journey
Where It All Began:- People often ask me, "Why is a Japanese person living in the UK restoring and importing Japanese cars?" The answer began long before the TR imports UK existed…
Japanese Day at Brooklands Museum – 20 Cars, Great People and Unexpected Interest in the Copen XPLAY
20 cars from the car club "130R Yokohama GB" were on display - On June 21st, our company-supported car club, "130R Yokohama GB," participated in the "Japanese Day 2026" event hosted by the Brooklands Museum. We are grateful to the organisers …
Club Event Report - JDMJAM 2026
The world is bustling with car events. I feel like gatherings of people, including cyclists and bikers, have increased dramatically, not just cars. Perhaps they've always been popular, but after shrinking due to COVID-19, they're finally returning to their original levels.