What would you bring home... ?
Discussion
In July I'll be shipping home from the UK after about 4 years here. I'd bring the Tamora home if I could, but not willing to play russian roulette with the LTSA over sneaking it through registration somehow. So.... I've been thinking about what else I might bring back.
Some possibilities that I've been thinking about:
Lotus Exige
VX220 turbo
BMW Z3'M'
Porsche 911 (993)
Audi S4
Mini Cooper S (maybe 'works')
or... a Cerbera/Griffith in parts that looks like a kit?
I haven't checked if all these are acceptable to LTSA yet - is the VX220 and Exige sold there?
The other factor is cost here and value there. I know what they'd cost here, but no idea about NZ prices and even if I don't sell it I don't want to go to all the hassle of importing and find I could have bought the same car there for less. There's autonet.co.nz and the herald classifieds but these aren't common cars so its hard to judge - anywhere else I should look?
So if you wuz me... what would you bring home?
Don
Some possibilities that I've been thinking about:
Lotus Exige
VX220 turbo
BMW Z3'M'
Porsche 911 (993)
Audi S4
Mini Cooper S (maybe 'works')
or... a Cerbera/Griffith in parts that looks like a kit?
I haven't checked if all these are acceptable to LTSA yet - is the VX220 and Exige sold there?
The other factor is cost here and value there. I know what they'd cost here, but no idea about NZ prices and even if I don't sell it I don't want to go to all the hassle of importing and find I could have bought the same car there for less. There's autonet.co.nz and the herald classifieds but these aren't common cars so its hard to judge - anywhere else I should look?
So if you wuz me... what would you bring home?
Don
Its a pity you can't bring the Tamora back.
Cars are so cheap here now its hardly worth the hassle,however the vx220 turbo might be worth looking at,ive only ever seen one vx on the road here and that was only a na.
I think the Lotus dealer here was trying to flick a 2001/2002 standard vx for 60k.
Have you thought about a Nobel? the factory say there still building under our 200 LV threshold.
Contact me through my profile if you need any info on a Griff/Cerb kit,ive looked into this.
Cars are so cheap here now its hardly worth the hassle,however the vx220 turbo might be worth looking at,ive only ever seen one vx on the road here and that was only a na.
I think the Lotus dealer here was trying to flick a 2001/2002 standard vx for 60k.
Have you thought about a Nobel? the factory say there still building under our 200 LV threshold.
Contact me through my profile if you need any info on a Griff/Cerb kit,ive looked into this.
I did think about a Noble but it would be above my budget for a decent one, and they're not as driveable every day as I would like...
I wondered if the VX might start appearing in Holden dealerships there sometime - the turbo has sold very strongly here and with the Monaro being shipped here it must be something Vauxhall/Holden have thought about. Maybe the fact they're hand built and so closely tied in to Lotus is too big a hurdle. If you've seen one on the road then it probably came in under the new rules, and it will have passed Euro-NCAP testing so shouldn't be a problem getting one in. hmmm...
I wondered if the VX might start appearing in Holden dealerships there sometime - the turbo has sold very strongly here and with the Monaro being shipped here it must be something Vauxhall/Holden have thought about. Maybe the fact they're hand built and so closely tied in to Lotus is too big a hurdle. If you've seen one on the road then it probably came in under the new rules, and it will have passed Euro-NCAP testing so shouldn't be a problem getting one in. hmmm...
I'd imagine that Holden will never sell a car at their dealers with the performance potential to embarrass most (or all) of the HSV line-up.... kinda would dilute their image in NZ given that the HZV is really a "blue collar supercar" over here and it's probably the car that most people aspire to realistically own at some point.
I'd look at importing a Noble myself
Either that or an Exige... but I'm not sure if they'd comply.... of course a Tuscan S or a Cerbera LW would be awesome but the less said about them and the LTSA the better.
I'd look at importing a Noble myself
Either that or an Exige... but I'm not sure if they'd comply.... of course a Tuscan S or a Cerbera LW would be awesome but the less said about them and the LTSA the better.
The Z3'M' Roadsters sell for around $50-60k here so unless you can get one ridiculously cheap up north then you're best off just gettig one here. I saw an Immola Red one in the paper for about $60k a few weeks back. My uncle has been making noises about selling his too so let know if you're interested!
The Monaro has been incorporated into the VXR brand lineup here, so if the VX220 made it there they'd probably just re-badge it HSV. With the dollar as strong as it is (bugger!) now would be the time for them to do it, if ever.
Interesting on the Z3M prices - you could find one here for around NZ$40k (eg www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=38195&s=136 ) but after GST and hassle to import it's got to be a pretty marginal return for effort. I never quite got over thinking of them as a girls car anyway
I do like the Exige - something like this www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=34805&s=18 if it'd be allowed on the road....
>> Edited by Ffirg 005 on Monday 14th March 21:12
Interesting on the Z3M prices - you could find one here for around NZ$40k (eg www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=38195&s=136 ) but after GST and hassle to import it's got to be a pretty marginal return for effort. I never quite got over thinking of them as a girls car anyway
I do like the Exige - something like this www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=34805&s=18 if it'd be allowed on the road....
>> Edited by Ffirg 005 on Monday 14th March 21:12
I'd put a vote in for a XTR2 or for something completely different a XTR4 
On the current production quantities they get past the LTSA
Of course they're also about as practical as a nuclear powered toaster . . . but then I like my toast cooked in 1/10,000th of a second and glowing in the dark.
On the current production quantities they get past the LTSA
Of course they're also about as practical as a nuclear powered toaster . . . but then I like my toast cooked in 1/10,000th of a second and glowing in the dark.
Roger A said:
I'd bring back a diesel Volvo xc90 as they are not available here used and it would be a pretty lucrative resell-or do you have to hang on to it?
Interesting idea, worth looking into but I think they're damn near unavailable here still. Last I heard there was still huge waiting lists and UK buyers paying a premium for this year's must-have Surrey school-run wagon.
Don,
I am comptemplating the same thing myself.
What I have done is look at www.nzherald.co.nz for what cars are selling for in NZ. Just remember you have to add on shipping costs and GST, and I believe the GST is on the total of your cost and shipping. However if you get a half container you can put all your stuff in the container with the car thus saving on sending that home seperately.
FYI If I was to do it I would probably send home a 911 (993 or 996 if you can stretch to it) as the differential between UK prices and NZ prices seems to be the greatest.
Cheers,
Brendon
I am comptemplating the same thing myself.
What I have done is look at www.nzherald.co.nz for what cars are selling for in NZ. Just remember you have to add on shipping costs and GST, and I believe the GST is on the total of your cost and shipping. However if you get a half container you can put all your stuff in the container with the car thus saving on sending that home seperately.
FYI If I was to do it I would probably send home a 911 (993 or 996 if you can stretch to it) as the differential between UK prices and NZ prices seems to be the greatest.
Cheers,
Brendon
I actually went through this a year ago when I nearly went home but ended up staying in the UK another year. Found a '99 Audi A6 4.2 with sports suspension, leather, etc. and only 13k miles on the clock which cost £13k, could have sold in NZ for $50k+. I sold it again when I ended up staying but if I saw another one I'd be tempted.
Audis are a good bet - look at the retail prices UK vs NZ and there is a bigger difference for them than any other euro marque including, I think, Volvo. I'm seriously considering an Allroad which you can buy brand new without VAT if its for export. If you do your research and have the time in the UK to buy well then it is still worth doing I think.
Will check out the porker prices - cheers for that.
Audis are a good bet - look at the retail prices UK vs NZ and there is a bigger difference for them than any other euro marque including, I think, Volvo. I'm seriously considering an Allroad which you can buy brand new without VAT if its for export. If you do your research and have the time in the UK to buy well then it is still worth doing I think.
Will check out the porker prices - cheers for that.
If you can purchase any car ex-VAT for export you're on to a winner as that's 5% difference straight away. You'd probably make even more if it came from mainland Europe (RHD though).
A Noble could be a goer if you could get a cheap one (less than 30k GBP) but I think the only way you can do this and make a worthwhile profit is to get a dirt-cheap car in the first place. What about a damaged-repaired car - do you have to declare that when it comes into NZ?
Kiwi XTR2 - did you manage to get your car on the road?
A Noble could be a goer if you could get a cheap one (less than 30k GBP) but I think the only way you can do this and make a worthwhile profit is to get a dirt-cheap car in the first place. What about a damaged-repaired car - do you have to declare that when it comes into NZ?
Kiwi XTR2 - did you manage to get your car on the road?
Yep, I'm on the road
Of course being a lucky b
d I then immediately developed an engine fault. After buying a dashboard off a totalled Hayabusa the fault was tracked down to a cam-shaft sensor.
Car now running again and unbelievable in a straight line, but struggling a little with the suspension as it's wound up as high as possible to get out of the driveway.
. . . . more work required
Of course being a lucky b
d I then immediately developed an engine fault. After buying a dashboard off a totalled Hayabusa the fault was tracked down to a cam-shaft sensor. Car now running again and unbelievable in a straight line, but struggling a little with the suspension as it's wound up as high as possible to get out of the driveway.
. . . . more work required
I was considering a standard 993 before getting the Tamora. Love the shape and superb build quality, but was not impressed by the performance or the golfesque interior. The RS is a different matter but was, and still is, above budget - I don't think you can find one for anything under 40k.... are you offering yours then?
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