Is it possible or feasible to import a new Opel Astra to the United
States, so that I could legally register it to drive on public roads? 
I live in Pennsylvania if it makes any difference.

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Clarification of Question by haaker-ga on 28 Feb 2006 17:30 PST

If this is possible, I would like to know what steps would need to be
done to accomplish it, and approximately how much it would cost.

my information is from about 20 years ago. I can't imagine it has gotten easier.

If you imported a car that did not meet US safety and emission
standards, the car was held at the port until you posted a bond-- back
in the 80's it was $20K-- and then you got a certain number of days
(used to be 60) to get the vehicle to meet standards. As the car
couldn't get licensed to be operated, you had to tow or trailer it.

An exception was "kit" cars or unassembled vehicles. A number of cars
got in because they were partly disassembled-- the Citroen 2CV was an
easy one to do this to-- and then just got put back tgether.

What you could (maybe still can) do easily is buy a US spec car in
Europe from the factory, drive it around there for a few weeks on
vacation, and have it shipped stateside. A bunch of the manufacturers
used to do this regularly and paid for the shipping. The program was
wildly popular among military folks. With a strong dollar, this made
sense. Now, maybe not so much.

Try contacting Opel-Vauxhall and ask them if and how you can purchase
and import to the US a CKD (component knock down) Astra. Vauxhall Opel
HQ, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3YT.

Next, visit the DOT website for import info, then find a registered
importer and tell them what you want to do. Look up details of the car
you'll import.
Start here--> http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ELIG010906.html

Be prepared to spend scads of money.