UK and German Market Prices

[evansash]

I am wanting to buy a LHD 997 convertible to keep in Portugal. Not many cars for sale in Portugal so thought I would buy in Germany but shocked at how much more expensive they are compared to the UK market. Anyone have any thoughts on reasons?I could buy a UK car as RHD not a big concern but the post Brexit import cost and hassle is not good.

[zbc]

Secondhand cars are generally much more expensive on the continent than in the UK. One reason is that there is much bigger market for secondhand LHD vehicles, traditionally across Eastern Europe but increasingly to Turkey and further afield. In the UK the only realistic market for most cars is the UK

[isaldiri]

zbc said:

Secondhand cars are generally much more expensive on the continent than in the UK. One reason is that there is much bigger market for secondhand LHD vehicles, traditionally across Eastern Europe but increasingly to Turkey and further afield. In the UK the only realistic market for most cars is the UK

the exchange rate in part has something to do with it. UK prices have never really adjusted for the (large) fall in gbp vs eur post 2016 for example. in 2015 just like pre 2008, it was looking like a reasonable option to be importing a lhd EU car if one so chose. obviously the brexit thing has made that moving of cars over a bit of a PITA though nowadays...

[MDL111]

isaldiri said:

zbc said:

Secondhand cars are generally much more expensive on the continent than in the UK. One reason is that there is much bigger market for secondhand LHD vehicles, traditionally across Eastern Europe but increasingly to Turkey and further afield. In the UK the only realistic market for most cars is the UK

the exchange rate in part has something to do with it. UK prices have never really adjusted for the (large) fall in gbp vs eur post 2016 for example. in 2015 just like pre 2008, it was looking like a reasonable option to be importing a lhd EU car if one so chose. obviously the brexit thing has made that moving of cars over a bit of a PITA though nowadays...

That is the main reason I think - Porsche in particular never fully adjusted list prices for the GBP value drop. I think Ferrari did to a more material degree.

[MDL111]

Anecdote: Post brexit vote, but pre import duty etc I tried to order a LHD Turbo S in London and they told me “you just want to save money, so not doing it” … ah well

[Jeremy-75qq8]

They used to be a lot cheaper many moons ago !

[Venosta]

Exchange rate is certainly part of it. I bought a couple of LHD Ferraris in Europe, in 2015, when the exchange rate was 1.42 euros vs 1.17 it is now. A 200k euro car then was £140k now it would be £170k. Interesting to read that also the expanded global demand for cars has affected Europe prices as well. In 2015 the markets in places like Turkey and Eastern Europe were less developed and wealthy. So, a double whammy.

Sadly nowhere where RHD cars are in demand (UK, Malaysia mainly) has had anything like the increase in demand. But the flipside is we can get into nice cars for a lot less than our counterparts elsewhere...

[PaulJC84]

The import cost to Portugal is crazy too. The EU have tried to get them to change it but they haven’t played ball.