Anyone personally imported a car from Aus?
Discussion
Any guides?
Currently selling either or both the 159 sportswagon and the monaro. Would love to replace them both with something like this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-...
I reckon with duty VAT and shipping it would be roughly translate from oz$ to £ at 1:1... Is that optimistic?!
It's the shipping and IVA that I'm clueless about!
Currently selling either or both the 159 sportswagon and the monaro. Would love to replace them both with something like this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-...
I reckon with duty VAT and shipping it would be roughly translate from oz$ to £ at 1:1... Is that optimistic?!
It's the shipping and IVA that I'm clueless about!
I'm not sure where to start with this. Isn't it you that's also in the freight business?
Would you send someone you don't know in the UK close to £10k for a car that you won't see for 4 months? If so, I have some magic beans for sale for just that sum, and they will make you rich enough to buy a new car from Vauxhall.
If you're still with me then maybe £3000 port costs in Oz and shipping, another £1100 in duty (10%), £2420 VAT (you're now at £15k for an 8 year old car that you still haven't seen, with 110,000 miles on the clock and no warranty).
Still with me? Then IVA - our ute cost £3000 from start to finish. The engine won't go through the emissions test without swapping the headers and cats. I'm sure you could do it cheaper, or look into the 10 year rule and wait for VE wagons to hit that magic age. I think Hammo19 used this for his SSZ ute.
In all, at best you'll have a unique vehicle that you'll probably have to spend a lot on to bring the mechanicals up to scratch as Holdens are disposable in Oz.
At worst you'll lose £8k to some shyster in Oz and have nothing to show for it.
The in between is that you'll have a car that is not as described, as the seller can get away with swapping parts from his car with his mates, as when you complain he will say "It must have happened with the shipping company" and you won't be able to persue the matter from the other side of the world.
Would you send someone you don't know in the UK close to £10k for a car that you won't see for 4 months? If so, I have some magic beans for sale for just that sum, and they will make you rich enough to buy a new car from Vauxhall.
If you're still with me then maybe £3000 port costs in Oz and shipping, another £1100 in duty (10%), £2420 VAT (you're now at £15k for an 8 year old car that you still haven't seen, with 110,000 miles on the clock and no warranty).
Still with me? Then IVA - our ute cost £3000 from start to finish. The engine won't go through the emissions test without swapping the headers and cats. I'm sure you could do it cheaper, or look into the 10 year rule and wait for VE wagons to hit that magic age. I think Hammo19 used this for his SSZ ute.
In all, at best you'll have a unique vehicle that you'll probably have to spend a lot on to bring the mechanicals up to scratch as Holdens are disposable in Oz.
At worst you'll lose £8k to some shyster in Oz and have nothing to show for it.
The in between is that you'll have a car that is not as described, as the seller can get away with swapping parts from his car with his mates, as when you complain he will say "It must have happened with the shipping company" and you won't be able to persue the matter from the other side of the world.
Edited by ARAF on Tuesday 26th July 14:03
no, not in the freight business but my work used to have a related angle to it - you're kind of correct.
costs are comparable with what I'd thought, and aren't that far off comparable costs for a UK supplied VXR8 (although I appreciate the HSV/holden difference).
never realised there was a 10 year cut off for SVA so that's interesting too, and would never have realised they would fail emissions - is that true of both SVA and MOT emission tests - are they to the same standard? I gather stock UK headers/cats would be compatible and solve that issue?
Would be interested as to what else was required for SVA on your ute and how you overcame the hurdles as you mention - did you have an agent personally look after the transport or did you take a trip and see it into the container?!
Failing that, are there any reputable UK importers of used Oz vehicles that could mitigate the risk (for a fee!)
costs are comparable with what I'd thought, and aren't that far off comparable costs for a UK supplied VXR8 (although I appreciate the HSV/holden difference).
never realised there was a 10 year cut off for SVA so that's interesting too, and would never have realised they would fail emissions - is that true of both SVA and MOT emission tests - are they to the same standard? I gather stock UK headers/cats would be compatible and solve that issue?
Would be interested as to what else was required for SVA on your ute and how you overcame the hurdles as you mention - did you have an agent personally look after the transport or did you take a trip and see it into the container?!
Failing that, are there any reputable UK importers of used Oz vehicles that could mitigate the risk (for a fee!)
rix said:
Would be interested as to what else was required for SVA on your ute and how you overcame the hurdles as you mention - did you have an agent personally look after the transport or did you take a trip and see it into the container?!
Failing that, are there any reputable UK importers of used Oz vehicles that could mitigate the risk (for a fee!)
Our Ute was dealt with by http://www.specialised-shipping.co.uk/ on behalf of the previous owner. They charged IRO £3k for full conversion and IVA. The guy we bought from still had to source the vehicle and pay for it - close to a year before it arrived with him though.Failing that, are there any reputable UK importers of used Oz vehicles that could mitigate the risk (for a fee!)
I was doing the sums on importing a VY Clubsport R8, and unfortunately despite this being outside the 10 year old limit, I couldn't make the numbers stack up. It would have worked out at approx £11k once the taxman has taken his slice of the pie & all the other import costs were accounted for. That sort of money would land you a decent spec Monaro with the desirable mods already done, and also gets round any hassle insuring it and zero panel availability should it have a prang, due to no VY/VZ saloons ever imported officially. The only crumb of comfort you'd have in importing one yourself IMO would be the fact that it shouldn't be rusty, especially if it comes from somewhere like Perth. Oh, and being a little bit more unique!
I've decided to try and locate a decent Monaro or VT2 GTS now, which is a bit cheaper than the above!
To the OP - I believe the VE estate was released in 2008, so in another 2 years you'll be able to exploit the 10 year old rule. At least then (as far as I'm aware) you should only need to worry about converting the speedo (Lockwood sell kits for most Holden / HSV now, or you could get a VXR8 cluster reprogrammed if you're feeling flush) and fitting a rear fog.
I've decided to try and locate a decent Monaro or VT2 GTS now, which is a bit cheaper than the above!
To the OP - I believe the VE estate was released in 2008, so in another 2 years you'll be able to exploit the 10 year old rule. At least then (as far as I'm aware) you should only need to worry about converting the speedo (Lockwood sell kits for most Holden / HSV now, or you could get a VXR8 cluster reprogrammed if you're feeling flush) and fitting a rear fog.
I'm with Araf regarding his comments about handing over the cash to a seller you don't know and a car you haven't seen.
As an ex-VXR8 (x2) owner who now lives in Australia, believe me the whole performance Holden/HSV scene is nothing like the respectful owners in the UK, and yes, I am actually being kind and serious! Over here they tend to get thrashed to an inch of their lives, used for continual burnouts and therefore have dubious histories. Of course there are exceptions.
I bought a VE SSV when I first moved here but it quickly started to produce niggling little faults that made me suspicious of its past, especially with the way I saw others being driven here!
That's not to say I wouldn't have another new VF SSV or VF HSV, but they'd have to be new for me to put any trust in them.
So, would I buy a car unseen from 9,000 odd miles away and trust the seller? No, definitely not, not knowing what I do.
Stef
As an ex-VXR8 (x2) owner who now lives in Australia, believe me the whole performance Holden/HSV scene is nothing like the respectful owners in the UK, and yes, I am actually being kind and serious! Over here they tend to get thrashed to an inch of their lives, used for continual burnouts and therefore have dubious histories. Of course there are exceptions.
I bought a VE SSV when I first moved here but it quickly started to produce niggling little faults that made me suspicious of its past, especially with the way I saw others being driven here!
That's not to say I wouldn't have another new VF SSV or VF HSV, but they'd have to be new for me to put any trust in them.
So, would I buy a car unseen from 9,000 odd miles away and trust the seller? No, definitely not, not knowing what I do.
Stef
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