How much to "Europeanise" a Carrera GT?

[dealmaker]

Guys,

Been looking at some CGT's in the US of A.

What are the key specification differences?

And does anyone know how much it will cost to convert a US CGT to UK spec?

Is an SVA required or does it come in under different type approval regs? e.g European Whole Vehicle Type Approval?

Thanks!

[clubsport]

Just a thought, maybe worth posting on the Porsche forum?

There are at least 2 regulars who have bought in and converted cars to European spec in the last few months.

[Freewheeler]

dealmaker said:

Guys,

Been looking at some CGT's in the US of A.

What are the key specification differences?

And does anyone know how much it will cost to convert a US CGT to UK spec?

Is an SVA required or does it come in under different type approval regs? e.g European Whole Vehicle Type Approval?

Thanks!

Maybe worth speaking with Stefan1, he's done just that!!

[dazren]

clubsport said:

Just a thought, maybe worth posting on the Porsche forum?

Thread moved.

[dealmaker]

clubsport said:

Just a thought, maybe worth posting on the Porsche forum?

There are at least 2 regulars who have bought in and converted cars to European spec in the last few months.

Yeah will do - but most of the CGT owners seem to post on here rather than on the Porsche forum? Seems to be more relevant experience over here than over there anyway.

[jonny5]

With the Build Certificate - no import duty mate , i'm waiting for a black car to turn up and i'm in

[dealmaker]

jonny5 said:

With the Build Certificate - no import duty mate , i'm waiting for a black car to turn up and i'm in

Jon,

What does that mean?? If you get a used one you can bring it in with only 17.5% VAT and you DON'T need to pay the 10% Import duty?? (because it originated in Europe?)

What prices have you seen?? I've been looking at Yellow and Red ones for circa $380k?

[993rsr]

Providing the car is brought back to the EU within three years of it leaving the EU there is only VAT to pay, no duty.

Price to convert the car to a speficiation that will allow to pass SVA is circa £3-£4k

[anonymous-user]

dont think build certificate matters as much as the bill of lading - its when it left the eu that the clock starts ticking rather than when it was built ***AFAIK*** which isnt a lot

[993rsr]

fbrs said:

dont think build certificate matters as much as the bill of lading - its when it left the eu that the clock starts ticking rather than when it was built ***AFAIK*** which isnt a lot

The 'Master Vehicle and Customer Database' printout was accepted by HMCE as proof of leaving the EU when mine came back. It shows the date of order, date of invoice and shippping details.

[jonny5]

dealmaker said:

jonny5 said:

With the Build Certificate - no import duty mate , i'm waiting for a black car to turn up and i'm in

Jon,

What does that mean?? If you get a used one you can bring it in with only 17.5% VAT and you DON'T need to pay the 10% Import duty?? (because it originated in Europe?)

What prices have you seen?? I've been looking at Yellow and Red ones for circa $380k?

Hey Darren. You have mail.

[stefan1]

Mine was indeed an ex-US car, but was shipped back to Germany for conversion by Porsche, AG, and then sold to me as an official UK car by Porsche Guildford (UK no.50).

The full conversion to UK specification includes items such as:

- changing the frequency of the alarm / immobiliser
- changing the frequency of the tyre pressure monitoring system
- delete one fog light and replace with reversing light
- change driver rear view mirror (aspherical not flat)
- different headlamps
- different front PU (no side indicator on edges)
- change rear tail lights (orange indicators)
- different on board diagnostic system (EOBD not OBD II)
- different stickers

Not all of these items are required to achieve SVA approval in the UK (eg, new front PU), so the official conversion cost of around £15-20k can be reduced. As Porsche paid for the conversion for my car, not me, I cannot actually confirm what the cost is, but others who have imported US cars have already advised.

Good luck - it really is the most fabulous car.

Kind regards

Steve

[traxx]

jonny5 said:

With the Build Certificate - no import duty mate , i'm waiting for a black car to turn up and i'm in

There are two black ones for $380,000 on here
Other than at Romans I've not seen a red one for sale - yet there are 3 listed here

http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSea...


I would go for this one - although clearly price needs to come down a bit
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSea...

Edited by traxx on Tuesday 26th June 14:33

[993rsr]

Think I mentioned before, factor in the shipping. East Coast USA £5k, West Coast much more. Could be £8-£10k. Both based on 1 car per container. Also work on a lot of aggrevation with the pain in the axxe jobsworths at the SVA and the VRO. I had three trips to the SVA, also had to provide a letter from the headlamp manufacturer to satisfy them and three trips to the VRO including taking the car to them (where there was an argument as they couldn't see the engine number!!) if I'd had any hair to start with I'd have lost it dealing with these muppets.

The other thing is the price differential is nowhere near what it was. The days of getting one back and SVA'd and registered starting with a £1 have gone. At $380's USD you may as well wait and buy one in the UK.

Edited by 993rsr on Tuesday 26th June 14:44

[anonymous-user]

how timely; GBPUSD back over 2 today aswell

[jonny5]

I'm holding out for the right deal, they have been selling for sub $350k and in some cases lower still

[993rsr]

jonny5 said:

I'm holding out for the right deal, they have been selling for sub $350k and in some cases lower still

You've seen black ones sub $350k? Should have snapped one up!

[15HN]

I spoke to Porsche GB about this. They estimated minimal SVA cost at around £10k. Given the cost of acquiring one from across the pond you may as well get them to do the conversion works to be hassle free. One of my clients is a logistics provider. I asked them about transporting a car and they estimated around £5-6k by air. Basically the insurance by air is a lot cheaper as there is less risk. It also takes around 48hrs so you dont have to wait.

[GT]

I ended up buying mine in the UK, partially as I couldnt really face the hassle of importing, and partially as I found a good deal on one here, as said above, with prices in US going better it doesn't always make as much sense as perhaps it once did.

[993rsr]

15HN said:

I spoke to Porsche GB about this. They estimated minimal SVA cost at around £10k. Given the cost of acquiring one from across the pond you may as well get them to do the conversion works to be hassle free. One of my clients is a logistics provider. I asked them about transporting a car and they estimated around £5-6k by air. Basically the insurance by air is a lot cheaper as there is less risk. It also takes around 48hrs so you dont have to wait.

If you had the lights modified rather than replaced the cost is circa. £2.0k for everything (from memory £600 for the rears). Why waste another £8k?