advice on importing
Discussion
Having just got married, I am already being told by Mrs SilverChimp that she would like a new car. Insists on being brand new which as we know, I will lose money on as soon as we drive it off the forecourt.
Have any PH'ers got experience of importing. We are looking to buy a Honda CRV - nice spacious 'family' car. As I have driven a company car for the last few years,I am a bit out of date with buying new. There seems to be a huge number of internet sites/ agents. Where do we start and what sort of savings are possible? What about using a new car supermarket?
Thanks
Have any PH'ers got experience of importing. We are looking to buy a Honda CRV - nice spacious 'family' car. As I have driven a company car for the last few years,I am a bit out of date with buying new. There seems to be a huge number of internet sites/ agents. Where do we start and what sort of savings are possible? What about using a new car supermarket?
Thanks
Yes, did it with a new Subaru imp turbo, from Holland, it's almost easier than buying one from the UK, especially on the wallet. I saved £7500.
Mail me and I'll try and give you some pointers, if you read all of the DVLA stuff and then read the C&E stuff they contradict each other, anyway, apart from what they say, (official paperwork wise) I made 1 phone call to the DVLA sent 1 letter to C&E and filled out one reg doc and one C&E form. Easy.
Mail me and I'll try and give you some pointers, if you read all of the DVLA stuff and then read the C&E stuff they contradict each other, anyway, apart from what they say, (official paperwork wise) I made 1 phone call to the DVLA sent 1 letter to C&E and filled out one reg doc and one C&E form. Easy.
Have to agree.
At the time of ordering my Alfa, I stood to save over £10k on UK list price.
As it turned out, UK list dropped in between placing the order and collecting the car. Even so, including all expenses to fly over, drive & ferry the car back, I still saved £6k.
As has been posted elsewhere, 2 forms, 1 cheque to HMCE & 1 cheque to DVLA & job was done!
If still confused after reading DVLA & HMCE information, get hold of a copy of "Car Import Guide" magazine - very helpful. If its not still going, see if the library has a copy from a year or 2 ago.
At the time of ordering my Alfa, I stood to save over £10k on UK list price.
As it turned out, UK list dropped in between placing the order and collecting the car. Even so, including all expenses to fly over, drive & ferry the car back, I still saved £6k.
As has been posted elsewhere, 2 forms, 1 cheque to HMCE & 1 cheque to DVLA & job was done!
If still confused after reading DVLA & HMCE information, get hold of a copy of "Car Import Guide" magazine - very helpful. If its not still going, see if the library has a copy from a year or 2 ago.
Plotloss, I would do a personal import even if you can't get it any cheaper, it's just as easy and you are in control (and regular contact with the supplying dealer) of the transaction, ie, you ordered the car and can check that you will get what you want, I have heard otherwise with some of some importers, wrong colour etc, one less step to go wrong.
do it yourself,it realy is much safer to deal with a main dealer, contact a few Honda dealers direct on the continentyou will usualy find thier E-mail addresses somewhere on the company web site. you will soon find one eager to help , I sugest Holland as there is no language problem , and they are naturaly helpfull and curtious people , but Belgium and Denmark are also pos. You may well find a similar deal at a Supermarket but just watch the spec. Insurance for driving on the continent is the big hassle . but one or two companies will do it What Car covered me , though it was a little bit dubious as to the validity of the cover , alternatively hire a trailer etc etc etc
Bought my Focus ST170 for £15.2k from a Euro import dealer. With Comfort and Custom packs it would have cost £18.7k list from the local Ford dealer. Worth it? Apart from the £200 it cost me to buy an extra year's warranty to bring the Europoean warrant up to UK spec (2->3 years), yes, I'd say so.
ok so your not going to save any money, but have you thought about buying a new mini!?!
you wont save any money, but when you drive it out the showroom you wont loose any money either, in fact your more likely to GAIN money on your new purchase.
if you want an example, i was in the mini garage in bedford and they had a 2001 '51' plate mini one, it had alloy wheels (£250ish) and to my knowledge no other options, possibly air con (£600ish) and it was for sale for £10700, which is ok but they cost £10300 new but this one was over 1 year old and had done over 16,000 miles...
so this particular owner had spent £11,150 for a car, run it for 1 1/2 years doing quite a few miles and are selling it on for a loss of £450!
now thats what i call an investment!!!
you wont save any money, but when you drive it out the showroom you wont loose any money either, in fact your more likely to GAIN money on your new purchase.
if you want an example, i was in the mini garage in bedford and they had a 2001 '51' plate mini one, it had alloy wheels (£250ish) and to my knowledge no other options, possibly air con (£600ish) and it was for sale for £10700, which is ok but they cost £10300 new but this one was over 1 year old and had done over 16,000 miles...
so this particular owner had spent £11,150 for a car, run it for 1 1/2 years doing quite a few miles and are selling it on for a loss of £450!
now thats what i call an investment!!!
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