Personal importation?
Discussion
Further to my questions thread, I have been looking around at the used Corvette market. I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are over purchasing a car from the USA and importing it?
I have never done this and appreciate there are alot of things to consider, namely:
1. get the car independently inspected if you buy unseen
2. whether prices advertised include or exclude state taxes
3. getting the car out of the USA, any necessary paperwork and sorting out shipping and insurance
4. customs - importing the car and paying import duties plus VAT?
5. registration of the car in the UK plus any conversion work that needs doing to meet UK vehicle laws
Not sure if that covers everything or not. Just wondering though if there are benefits to importing your own to get more choice of spec, especially with the weak dollar. Or is this pie in the sky stuff that would cost more than it is actually worth. Just asking as I have seen a 2000 yellow C5 convertible, 6 speed incl HUD, going for circa £20,000 in UK money with just 2,000 miles on it?
I have never done this and appreciate there are alot of things to consider, namely:
1. get the car independently inspected if you buy unseen
2. whether prices advertised include or exclude state taxes
3. getting the car out of the USA, any necessary paperwork and sorting out shipping and insurance
4. customs - importing the car and paying import duties plus VAT?
5. registration of the car in the UK plus any conversion work that needs doing to meet UK vehicle laws
Not sure if that covers everything or not. Just wondering though if there are benefits to importing your own to get more choice of spec, especially with the weak dollar. Or is this pie in the sky stuff that would cost more than it is actually worth. Just asking as I have seen a 2000 yellow C5 convertible, 6 speed incl HUD, going for circa £20,000 in UK money with just 2,000 miles on it?
Try these threads, they should answer some of your questions
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=139249&f=100&h=0&hw=sva[/url]
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=139249&f=100&h=0&hw=sva[/url]
www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/2
There are many hidden costs with this. I used an agent which can be very helpful but also frustrating. Naturally, it costs money to do this but you have some peace of mind knowing he won't send you a crock. Overall, I found it often isn't so much cheaper to import after adding on bank fees, your Bank's exchange rate, ancillary customs fees, shipping and marine insurance. For example, there were several Z06's for sale recently, including mine, where the prices dropped significantly due to the volume on the market.
Overall, I would say you can get a year newer Vette for the same money from the US plus you avoid the stuck-on foglights of the Euro model although the exchange rate plays a big part in this and you have to do the SVA work yourself to make it pay.
There are many hidden costs with this. I used an agent which can be very helpful but also frustrating. Naturally, it costs money to do this but you have some peace of mind knowing he won't send you a crock. Overall, I found it often isn't so much cheaper to import after adding on bank fees, your Bank's exchange rate, ancillary customs fees, shipping and marine insurance. For example, there were several Z06's for sale recently, including mine, where the prices dropped significantly due to the volume on the market.
Overall, I would say you can get a year newer Vette for the same money from the US plus you avoid the stuck-on foglights of the Euro model although the exchange rate plays a big part in this and you have to do the SVA work yourself to make it pay.
First up, there doesn't seem to be any significant price difference in the second hand market between Euro and US C5s at least once they are out of warranty. Since the US cars are said to cost less originally this suggests,
1. US cars benefit from higher Euro list prices in the UK used market, or
2. Euro cars suffer from the lower original imported cost of US ones, or
3. They meet somewhere in the middle.
If I was buying a used C5 my favourite would be a 2 year old Euro car that's suffered the worst of the early depreciation and still has 12 months warranty left. If I was looking a bit cheaper (3 years old or more) I'd just buy the best car I could find with as few owners as possible. Cars before 2000 should now be at attractive prices unless they are very special.
Personally I wouldn't buy a car without HUD. You need it because on a 300 mph Euro speedo the needle swing between 30 mph and 70 mph is all but invisible! HUD prints the speed right there on the screen in front of you.
A good way to spot US imports is they don't have front (or rear) tow hooks and will have a 200mph speedo as opposed to 300 mph. Euro rear fog lamps should be a guide too although they would be easier fo a dodgy seller to fit.
1. US cars benefit from higher Euro list prices in the UK used market, or
2. Euro cars suffer from the lower original imported cost of US ones, or
3. They meet somewhere in the middle.
If I was buying a used C5 my favourite would be a 2 year old Euro car that's suffered the worst of the early depreciation and still has 12 months warranty left. If I was looking a bit cheaper (3 years old or more) I'd just buy the best car I could find with as few owners as possible. Cars before 2000 should now be at attractive prices unless they are very special.
Personally I wouldn't buy a car without HUD. You need it because on a 300 mph Euro speedo the needle swing between 30 mph and 70 mph is all but invisible! HUD prints the speed right there on the screen in front of you.
A good way to spot US imports is they don't have front (or rear) tow hooks and will have a 200mph speedo as opposed to 300 mph. Euro rear fog lamps should be a guide too although they would be easier fo a dodgy seller to fit.
I'm sure our construction regulations prohibit wheels/tyres from sticking out the sides of vehicles. This is why Rockets, Caterhams ets have to have motor-cycle type mudguards. The cars you see in USA (mainly Hondas) with wheels sticking 6" out the side due to massive spacers would lead to rapid trouble with BiB in Europe. I've never heard of a stock US vehicle having any difficulties at SVA despite the differences.
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