Porsche Boxster UK NZ

Author
Discussion

Chicane5

Original Poster:

3 posts

181 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
OK - so I know this must get asked weekly, if not daily and believe me I have done my fair share of research and *then* some....but, is the consensus that importing your car from the UK is just not worth it?

I came to NZ almost 6 months ago, and left my pride standing in a SE London garage, having come out here on short(ish) notice. Initially I was on a fixed 6 month contract, so thought I'd be back off home around now. However.......work here is good and I will soon have another contract at least for another 9 months, maybe more.

So the question - do I ship her out? Looking at the Porsche market here - its feckin' *insane* the difference between value for equivalent models between NZ and UK. For example, I test drove a 2007 Cayman S the other day - NZ new and as standard apart from 19" wheels, sports chrono and sports exhaust. 19K Kms on the clock and they were asking a staggering $100K for it!?! Back home that would land you a really mint 911!

I get there are far fewer here than back home - I used to live in Guildford, Surrey where it seemed every person and their Nan had a Porsche. Talking to the Porsche dealer here, they (obvioulsy) tell you horror stories about the Kiwi market not touching UK imports for rust issues etc, but I just took that as dealer BS, and the fact he could smell a $100K sale.

I dont have Kiwi residency - and my visa/contracts will never be 12 months or over at any one time, so I will get hit for GST - add that onto shipping, insurance, inspection, reggo, compliance and a whole *HEAP* of hassle - is it really worth it?!



Esprit

6,370 posts

290 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
They might be asking 100k for it, but good luck actually getting that in the current market.

Prestige cars like Porsches generally depreciate slower here, but then again cars last longer... if cars turned to oxide as quickly as they did in the UK, I'm sure depreciation would sting similarly.

But yeah, we have a pretty protectionist market here, particularly with high-end stuff. Rumour has it that Ferrari NZ just won't touch anything that they've not sold, rendering grey imports pretty much useless. Only now are independent specialists beginning to pop up.

Fraster

1,267 posts

247 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
...now this is pedantic-and unhelpful, but I live in Orakei (in east-central Akl) and take my kids, via the Waterfront, to school in Parnell. I then return via Shore Road and Ayr Street. On my way, I get to play count the Porsches/Astons/Maseratis. If I am feeling particularly Sam-The-Eagle-ish -and I usually am- I tut-tut at the number of cars in the strangled throng that have only 1 person in -or how many pointless 4wds lack towbars. The punchline (finally) is that yesterday, just between The Strand and the top of St Stephen's Ave I counted 12 Porsches! (alright, so most of them were Cayennes)

Edited by Fraster on Wednesday 14th October 22:47

Fraster

1,267 posts

247 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
...by way of explanation of my (above) reference (for younger viewers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skkM2zPFPy0

Chicane5

Original Poster:

3 posts

181 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Blimey...well maybe Wellingtonians dont 'do' Porsche's then - Since I got here (almost 6 months) I have seen 2 boxsters and 2 911s on the road. Everything else has been on the forecourt of the Porsche dealer...where nobody is buying...

Kylie

4,391 posts

264 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
I just popped down to the local grocer and the bloody carpark full of the dam things


Fraster

1,267 posts

247 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
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Yeah, I hate it when that happens!

GravelBen

15,915 posts

237 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
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I remember reading somewhere that NZ actually has the second highest Porsche ownership rate in the world, beaten only by California. Whether thats true or not may be another question, I don't know where the figures came from.

jamieheasman

823 posts

291 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
That wouldn't surprise me. I know the Ferrari and Lambo dealers can't get enough new cars to meet demand. I work in Newmarket and you can't move for Porkers, Prancing Ponies, charging bulls and the like.

My advice is to sell it in the UK and pick something up locally. There's really not that much difference in prices once GST, shipping, inspection and replacing half the components to satisfy the inspector are taken into consideration.

Actually, why not look at doing it the other way around? As has been said some of the cars here have fared better over the years than they would have in NZ. Sticking to Porkers, have about a nice 928 S4 /GTS? They fetch similar money here compared to the UK but generally have much lower mileage and in better nick. Drive it around and enjoy it, then ship it back home when you're done.

Chicane5

Original Poster:

3 posts

181 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
An interesting point! - cheers. I hadnt really ever considered doing it the other way round...Any Brits on here had any experience doing this? How tight are the UK on getting stuff in? Having become a recent expert on NZ car import laws through all my research, I dont know a great deal about UK side of things...Hey at least we both drive on the same side of the road - thats a start.

Something like this would probably go down well

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Pors...


Omerta

2,013 posts

258 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
Chicane5 said:
Blimey...well maybe Wellingtonians dont 'do' Porsche's then - Since I got here (almost 6 months) I have seen 2 boxsters and 2 911s on the road. Everything else has been on the forecourt of the Porsche dealer...where nobody is buying...
Really? I saw at least two 911s and a convertible 944 turbo yesterday, and would have thought I'm noticing at least 6-10 a week without trying too hard (not as hard as Roger anyway!).

Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

183 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
Chicane5 said:
How tight are the UK on getting stuff in? Having become a recent expert on NZ car import laws through all my research, I dont know a great deal about UK side of things...Hey at least we both drive on the same side of the road - thats a start.

Something like this would probably go down well

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Pors...
Iirc you have to have lived outside the EU for 12months as well as owning the car for 6 months and be returning home with it.
Otherwise you get stuck with 10% duty as well as the 17.5% VAT on value+duty.
I don't know if this has changed as it was some time ago we looked at it for someone in the UK possibly buying a NZ Atom. As it was the car never sold and ended up in a museum.

Jem Thompson

930 posts

189 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
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Saw three Porsches go past during one cycle of lights on Quay St this evening. Common as parking wardens around Auckland. I would suggest looking for something a bit more interesting if want to make a decent profit. Someone gave an excellent reply to a similar question on here last week.

cheddar

4,637 posts

181 months

Wednesday 21st October 2009
quotequote all
so I will get hit for GST - add that onto shipping, insurance, inspection, reggo, compliance and a whole *HEAP* of hassle - is it really worth it?!



[/quote]

You summed it up nicely just ^^^there^^^.

Depending on who you use your shipping, insurance, compliance, port fees and miscellaneous extras could amount to $10K. Then you have 12.5% GST to add to the vehicles value/purchase price.

You must have owned the car for 12 months and not sell it for a further 24 months to avoid the GST.

Add up 12.5% of your landed cost, build in depreciation over the next year, factor in a more 'usual' GBP/NZD exchange rate and then see if your sums look rosy.