Why can't you have the FTO? emissions?

No, it's our whiny little governme..

Oh, errr....ya. Sort of. More political. Emissions are more strict in Japan than here, actually.

I looked into importing one a while ago. Whee. I would have had to....

1) Buy at least one FTO and have it shipped here from Japan, to a registered importer. ~$6500
2) Have the car crashed (ie. crash test) ~$8000
3) If it passes the crash test, do another one (same EXACT year/model/etc.) just to be sure. ~$14500
4) Assuming all goes well, get another car (same EXACT year/model/etc.) and have the registered importer "engineer" corrections to the horribly naughty and unsafe japanese sports car (such as putting american tire pressure labels on it and whatnot) ~$11500
5) Once this is all done, pay the government for the right to ask if you can please keep your car in the country. ~$800
6) Wait six months to have them say "No, buy a nice GMC and help to bolster Mexico's economy you traitorous pig" and destroy your evil evil import car.

Total price to get the car: ~$41,300

All for a car I can buy in Nagoya for $5500.