Buying from Abroad

[TicTax]

Hi everyone,

Thanks to a handy windfall, I'm about to become an S1 owner. I've been looking around for the car I want (which is a bog standard S1) and have seen a couple located in Amsterdam which can be shipped to the UK. Has anyone bought theirs from abroad and if so, was it hassle free or should I just look in the UK?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies!

R.

[subaqua]

Strange question. Straight elises from the continent tend to be MORE expensive than UK cars - basically because the market on the continent has less supply than the UK market. Hence you frequently find buyers from Europe coming to the UK for S1s - mine went to Germany three years ago now and many go to France, Benelux.

Funny you should mention Amsterdam. There is one sports/luxury car dealer out there that seems to have a bit of a shady rep. So if I were you I'd keep looking in the UK. Check out SELOC.org if you haven't already... very active mainly elise based but porsche obsessed forum.

[Thorburn]

I think exporting and then reimporting a car can be a way of hiding it's history - say if it's an insurance write-off.

[TicTax]

Thanks - UK it is :-)

[Ireland]

There are good bargains to be got here in Ireland at the moment.

Check sites like donedeal.ie / cbg.ie / carzone.ie and you'd be surprised what might turn up.

Obviously the buyer will need to check the cars over thoroughly but they aren't any riskier than a UK car, just cheaper.


And no, I'm not selling mine and trying to drum up interest.

Mine is staying.