Do I bring my 911 or not?

Do I bring my 911 or not?

Author
Discussion

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
I am coming under pressure from my good lady to get my a*se into gear and for us to head out to Oz as her sister is moving out and most of her rellies will be Oz/NZ. I am up for it (I think) but being a complete petrolhead, I spent 38 years wanting a 911 and only 3 years driving one. I have a late '89 Carrera 3.2 which I love. Now to the question, importing a car looks like an expensive business from the bits I have read on this forum, do I sell and buy another 911 or suchlike over there (how much for a sub-90k miles excellent condition FSH 3.2 Carrera in Aus?), or ship it out? Thoughts welcome.

Pommygranite

14,306 posts

221 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
Not sure but look at www.carsales.com.au or wwww.uniquecarsales.com.au.

Marginal maybe but given the uk resell price and fx rate to sell/re-buy cost then go for it.

bikemonster

1,188 posts

246 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
Take a long hard look at your car before you decided to bring it over.

While G50 'boxed 3.2's are indeed sought after, even Porsche's galvanising takes a bit of a kicking if it's had 20+ winters of salted roads.

On the other hand, if it's a good example it will be worth more in AU than in GB.

And apart from the issues of value, wouldn't you rather drive it in what is supposed to be a sunny country? (Written while rain beats down in Sydney after a very soggy last few days.)

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
bikemonster said:
Take a long hard look at your car before you decided to bring it over.

While G50 'boxed 3.2's are indeed sought after, even Porsche's galvanising takes a bit of a kicking if it's had 20+ winters of salted roads.

On the other hand, if it's a good example it will be worth more in AU than in GB.

And apart from the issues of value, wouldn't you rather drive it in what is supposed to be a sunny country? (Written while rain beats down in Sydney after a very soggy last few days.)
It is excellent condition, no rust in the usual places (ie kidneys, headlight surrounds etc), only one tiny bubble on the front wing, nr the bumper. I saw about 20 911's before I bought this one, which was based on condition. I know it has been garaged since new and hasn't seen salty winter roads for at least the last 10 years, possibly only a few in her early years, if at all.

She hasn't seen much of the light of the day as the weather has been grim here, good for boats and fish, but nothing else! I think she deserves a bit of Aussie sun! She is mid year 1989, does that mean she does not meet the pre-1989 category?

bikemonster

1,188 posts

246 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
As I understand it, you can bring in a personal import with you as long as you have owned it for for more than 1 year, regardless of the car's age.

The 1989 cut-off relates to cars you can (or can't) bring in when you are resident here. I think.

bigunit00

890 posts

152 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
1 yr ownership with appropriate documentation to subtantiate is required on post Jan 1 89 cars.

You will also need evidence to confirm that you are leaving the UK for Oz which will require proof of resignation from job / sale of house or end of tenancy agreement / proof of offer of employment in oz / visa etc - see the guidance below

There is quite a lot of documentation required and the process can take quite a while. More info here.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_reg...

I think u can get a quite tidy 3.2 carrerra for $35-45k now - with air cond. I think once you include all the costs to get it there and on the road........wont be much in it financially.

I actually did all this on a 964 as I planned to return to Oz last August.......but am extending my stay in the UK.

Good Luck

randomwalk

534 posts

169 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
Bigunit, I am from Oz too and living in UK. I was surprised by your comment that not that worthwhile to take a car back to OZ (after owning it in UK for more than 1yr), looking at the price difference between Oz and UK it would seem very attractive to take a car back to OZ, especially a really expensive one?

bigunit00

890 posts

152 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
Hi - well it may possibly be but i want to take mine as its my p&j and am not thinking too much about margin etc.

I think once you take into account the shipping, duties, GST etc etc and the likely discount you would need to apply as its not a "oz delivered" car and likely wont have air cond(seems a big deal back home) I think you would find it interesting once the maths are done.

Also - the 3.2 carerras are going for strong money these days here....if its rust free and engine rebuilt etc....

Interestingly....i saw the Ferarri 550 at classic throttle shop which is up for $185k AUD.....now there would be some margin in that i reckon.....as they are £45-50k here.....

My mate took 2 pre 89 cars back over 2 years ago.....werent the cleanest examples around but lets just say it took him 2 yrs to sell them on, and the margin in the end was negligible....though he made some money on the exchange rate depreciation (GBP depreciating against AUD).

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
randomwalk said:
Bigunit, I am from Oz too and living in UK. I was surprised by your comment that not that worthwhile to take a car back to OZ (after owning it in UK for more than 1yr), looking at the price difference between Oz and UK it would seem very attractive to take a car back to OZ, especially a really expensive one?
This is really the crux of the issue, I work all the hours god sends so time (and money!) is at a premium,so I don't want to go through a time consuming and distracting process unless it is financially sensible to do so. Having spent a lot of time searching for the right car (ie no rust), I don't want to go back to square one and end up spending more to buy a car in worse condition.

Pommygranite

14,306 posts

221 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a number of intangibles related to how you feel as opposed to $ and cents which means your sums are secondary in some respects. Do it for the car, not the money.

As an aside don't worry on the import resale factor as a good 911 of that age overcomes who originally supplied it. Air con would be a factor I would think though.

Personally I'd sell it, buy a mint top dollar pre 89 Ferrari 328 GTS with aircon and bring that - now that would be worth it!

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
Pommygranite said:
Sounds like a number of intangibles related to how you feel as opposed to $ and cents which means your sums are secondary in some respects. Do it for the car, not the money.

As an aside don't worry on the import resale factor as a good 911 of that age overcomes who originally supplied it. Air con would be a factor I would think though.

Personally I'd sell it, buy a mint top dollar pre 89 Ferrari 328 GTS with aircon and bring that - now that would be worth it!
She's a minter, but doesn't have aircon, I guess that is a chunk of money to sort? Not a bad idea about the 328 GTS, always fancied one of those, just not ready to part with my air cooled, rear engined toy! Maybe I need to get it out of my system and take her to the Nurburgring before we leave Europe.

Are Ferrari's of that era worth much more in Oz?

Pommygranite

14,306 posts

221 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
SGOxon said:
Pommygranite said:
Sounds like a number of intangibles related to how you feel as opposed to $ and cents which means your sums are secondary in some respects. Do it for the car, not the money.

As an aside don't worry on the import resale factor as a good 911 of that age overcomes who originally supplied it. Air con would be a factor I would think though.

Personally I'd sell it, buy a mint top dollar pre 89 Ferrari 328 GTS with aircon and bring that - now that would be worth it!
She's a minter, but doesn't have aircon, I guess that is a chunk of money to sort? Not a bad idea about the 328 GTS, always fancied one of those, just not ready to part with my air cooled, rear engined toy! Maybe I need to get it out of my system and take her to the Nurburgring before we leave Europe.

Are Ferrari's of that era worth much more in Oz?
I refer you back to www.carsales.com.au

Not sure on sorting Aircon but given the weather here, lack of ability to speed on the roads then a cruiser like the 328 would be great.

Hasbeen

2,073 posts

226 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
For what it's worth, I have just had air con fitted to my TR8. I found I was not using the car during summer without it.

Sourcing the bits of an original air con unit cost about $500. Fitting, new compressor, hoses, & an uprated alternator etc all up cost $3000.00.

Having had it through most of past summer, it is some of the best money I have ever spent. I enjoyed the summer so much, I have now just collected the thing after a bare metal paint job.

That's 11 years & 60,000Km between paint jobs, so cheap motoring.

I think you should bring the car, but think Queensland. No snow skying, but plenty of water skying. Hell with recent weather, you can sometimes water sky down the main street. And don't forget, we've got all that coral to enjoy. Pity we don't have anything but coal mines other than that.

Incidentally, is Perth still there? We are hearing horror stories of damage there in recent storms. Probably no worse than our minor cyclones, & they often get blown up a few hundred percent in the media. How have you Perth lot got on? Hope it's not as bad as our media have suggested.

bigunit00

890 posts

152 months

Wednesday 13th June 2012
quotequote all
I investigated wuth PRT technology in Sydney about aircond for pork and they can fit a unit which i think then runs off a switch on the dash. Cant recall the cost...maybe $5k fitted. Some options here too that can fit it before heading over if thats the best option. My 964 doesnt have it but then again......if i get an early morning or late evening fix during summer I think i will do that and save myself a few grand.

If you got a good machine that is rust free and you know all about the oily bits then i reckon just go for it.

bikemonster

1,188 posts

246 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
If you're looking at aftermarket air conditioning for 911's, talk to Scott at Autohaus Hamilton in Dee Why. He's put together a kit that is lighter and better than the factory supplied a/c, taking advantage of the fact that things have moved on since Porsche first spec'd a/c.

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Thanks guys, loads of useful feedback, just need to make some decisions now. In the meantime, why won't this rain just 'do one' so I can get out and enjoy a decent blat in my 911? driving

SGOxon

Original Poster:

101 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Thanks guys, loads of useful feedback, just need to make some decisions now. In the meantime, why won't this rain just 'do one' so I can get out and enjoy a decent blat in my 911? driving

james280779

1,931 posts

234 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
bigunit00 said:
Hi - well it may possibly be but i want to take mine as its my p&j and am not thinking too much about margin etc.

I think once you take into account the shipping, duties, GST etc etc and the likely discount you would need to apply as its not a "oz delivered" car and likely wont have air cond(seems a big deal back home) I think you would find it interesting once the maths are done.

Also - the 3.2 carerras are going for strong money these days here....if its rust free and engine rebuilt etc....

Interestingly....i saw the Ferarri 550 at classic throttle shop which is up for $185k AUD.....now there would be some margin in that i reckon.....as they are £45-50k here.....

My mate took 2 pre 89 cars back over 2 years ago.....werent the cleanest examples around but lets just say it took him 2 yrs to sell them on, and the margin in the end was negligible....though he made some money on the exchange rate depreciation (GBP depreciating against AUD).
b*ll*cks - more than interesting!!

I made $18k on my last one and I expect to make $22k on the current one (both 911's)

My current one - mint/concours 3.2 carrera cab cost me including purchase, shipping, taxes etc approx $18-19k. It was valued by shannons at $40k. It will also be sporting the plate 'carrera' which should add a little more.

I also hope to make $15k on the Lotus esprit.

Even a dog would make $35k here unless a lefty- then you have all the registration issues so they go for about $25k (for a rubbish one)

james280779

1,931 posts

234 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Pommygranite said:
Sounds like a number of intangibles related to how you feel as opposed to $ and cents which means your sums are secondary in some respects. Do it for the car, not the money.

As an aside don't worry on the import resale factor as a good 911 of that age overcomes who originally supplied it. Air con would be a factor I would think though.

Personally I'd sell it, buy a mint top dollar pre 89 Ferrari 328 GTS with aircon and bring that - now that would be worth it!
I looked into this, unfortunately Ferraris have had a price surge over the last 6 months. A decent GTS will set you back about 40 grand ($62k). Add another $15k for shipping and taxes and your looking about $77k for an import. An Oz sourced one is only $80-85k so you would lose money on that one.
Same for an E-Type unfortunately as that was on my list also.

Its a shame as I looked at a GTS 18 months ago for 25k, thought I would wait til they came down some more- fool!

james280779

1,931 posts

234 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
james280779 said:
I looked into this, unfortunately Ferraris have had a price surge over the last 6 months. A decent GTS will set you back about 40 grand ($62k). Add another $15k for shipping and taxes and your looking about $77k for an import. An Oz sourced one is only $80-85k so you would lose money on that one.
Same for an E-Type unfortunately as that was on my list also.

Its a shame as I looked at a GTS 18 months ago for 25k, thought I would wait til they came down some more- fool!
interestingly - VW campervans are cheap as chips here....... bloody expensive back in the UK.. wink