Importing 993 from the US
Discussion
Hello,
I live in Switzerland, and am thinking about importing a LHD 993 from the US - due to the strength of the CHF it looks as though I can get a C4S there for literally about 50% of the local price - and with lower miles... Has anyone done this, and got any recommendation or know of the pitfalls? Apart from the US regulation bumpers are there any other differences?
Cheers
Suffolk
I live in Switzerland, and am thinking about importing a LHD 993 from the US - due to the strength of the CHF it looks as though I can get a C4S there for literally about 50% of the local price - and with lower miles... Has anyone done this, and got any recommendation or know of the pitfalls? Apart from the US regulation bumpers are there any other differences?
Cheers
Suffolk
Suffolk911 said:
Is changing the suspension height a big job, or more of a case of adjusting the components which are already there.
The main thing to bring the ride height down is to change the springs.Not sure what these cost, probably a few hundred, then reckon on another few hundred labour to do it, plus a geo. You could be getting near £1000 depending who you use. If the car is on original shocks, you may as well change them when it's all in bits, plus any other worn suspension components. Worstways you're looking at £2500.
I have seen more and more US sourced Porsches around here in recent times (as evidenced by their bumperettes).
I don't have much specific info. on the 993* to hand but the rules and likely costs wrt the importation of all vehicles in Canton Vaud (I see that you are in Lausanne) are here if you haven't already stumbled across this..
http://www.vd.ch/fr/themes/mobilite/automobile/imp...
I recently imported a new Discovery and it was quite easily done - although the Service des Autos still got a tape measure out to check that I was't trying to import a bespoke/customised wide-bodied SWB Discovery even though it came with a full EU certificate of Conformity!
For an older car registered outside the EU you may need to engage a firm of specialists to prepare the car for import for you although the fact that it was made in the EU may obviate the need for that. The contact details of the approved firms should be included in the above link ISTR. Bearing in mind the exchange rate, I would imagine that these firms are busy right now!
As mentioned above, the older the car, the more chance that there are differences particularly wrt emissions and it is even possible that cars destined for California were once in a different state of tune than those for other states - but don't quote me on that.
You do see cars with flashing red tail lights for indicators so they must be OK but I am not sure if you have to ditch the US DOT headlamps and replace them with EU certified ones. Both will be set up for LHD use but there are differences - particualrly if there are Xenons fitted with/without a self-levelling/washing system.
US market cars have historically been sold with a higher gound clearance (just think of all those steep streets and pavements in San Francisco - much like parts of Lausanne!) but as mentioned above, that is easiy changed if you want to do it.
One potential complication is getting insurance cover while the immatriculation process is underway as Swiss insurers prefer to insure a car based on it's "Stamm Nr." which is a number allocated by customs when the car is imported. All insurance details are centrally logged so when you go to get your new Swiss plaques, they will check online to see whether or not it has been insured correctly. You may be able to get insurance on the chassis number but check with your insurer first.
Regarding shipping, not many people know this but you can actually have a container delivered to Basel (as they can sail barges all the way up the river Rhine) but picking it up at a European port would probably be the obvious choice!
'* I've just remembered something that I read in my old copy of "Buying and Selling Porsches" by Chris Mellor and there was a period of time, possibly the pre-variocam cars when the Swiss market 993s had a taller 1st gear as a solution to the drive-by noise regulations at the time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buying-Selling-Porsches-Il...
If you were to import a 993 of that age, It would seem crazy if they insisted that you needed to meet that long out of date requirement but you never know...
Would be simpler just to import a brand new Carerra 4 GTS for CHF90k (pre tax) which would appear to be circa half the current local MSRP!
The idea of ordering a new LHD porsche from a USD dealer but paying extra for Factory Collection and just hopping over the border to register it here sounds like the dream solution but I have never heard of anyone being able to pull it off and the car would almost certainly have to be shipped to the US for it to be registered over there prior to it being exported and shipped back to Europe!
Good luck!
I don't have much specific info. on the 993* to hand but the rules and likely costs wrt the importation of all vehicles in Canton Vaud (I see that you are in Lausanne) are here if you haven't already stumbled across this..
http://www.vd.ch/fr/themes/mobilite/automobile/imp...
I recently imported a new Discovery and it was quite easily done - although the Service des Autos still got a tape measure out to check that I was't trying to import a bespoke/customised wide-bodied SWB Discovery even though it came with a full EU certificate of Conformity!
For an older car registered outside the EU you may need to engage a firm of specialists to prepare the car for import for you although the fact that it was made in the EU may obviate the need for that. The contact details of the approved firms should be included in the above link ISTR. Bearing in mind the exchange rate, I would imagine that these firms are busy right now!
As mentioned above, the older the car, the more chance that there are differences particularly wrt emissions and it is even possible that cars destined for California were once in a different state of tune than those for other states - but don't quote me on that.
You do see cars with flashing red tail lights for indicators so they must be OK but I am not sure if you have to ditch the US DOT headlamps and replace them with EU certified ones. Both will be set up for LHD use but there are differences - particualrly if there are Xenons fitted with/without a self-levelling/washing system.
US market cars have historically been sold with a higher gound clearance (just think of all those steep streets and pavements in San Francisco - much like parts of Lausanne!) but as mentioned above, that is easiy changed if you want to do it.
One potential complication is getting insurance cover while the immatriculation process is underway as Swiss insurers prefer to insure a car based on it's "Stamm Nr." which is a number allocated by customs when the car is imported. All insurance details are centrally logged so when you go to get your new Swiss plaques, they will check online to see whether or not it has been insured correctly. You may be able to get insurance on the chassis number but check with your insurer first.
Regarding shipping, not many people know this but you can actually have a container delivered to Basel (as they can sail barges all the way up the river Rhine) but picking it up at a European port would probably be the obvious choice!
'* I've just remembered something that I read in my old copy of "Buying and Selling Porsches" by Chris Mellor and there was a period of time, possibly the pre-variocam cars when the Swiss market 993s had a taller 1st gear as a solution to the drive-by noise regulations at the time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buying-Selling-Porsches-Il...
If you were to import a 993 of that age, It would seem crazy if they insisted that you needed to meet that long out of date requirement but you never know...
Would be simpler just to import a brand new Carerra 4 GTS for CHF90k (pre tax) which would appear to be circa half the current local MSRP!
The idea of ordering a new LHD porsche from a USD dealer but paying extra for Factory Collection and just hopping over the border to register it here sounds like the dream solution but I have never heard of anyone being able to pull it off and the car would almost certainly have to be shipped to the US for it to be registered over there prior to it being exported and shipped back to Europe!
Good luck!
There were definitely gearing differences on earlier cars too (a friend was in CH for 13 years and had 3 old Porsches during that time) but also there can be other odd differences to think about - like glass thickness, as I believe the CH reg's are more strict than the EU, although I don't know about the US. I suppose you'd need to find out what the facts are regarding build spec's and the likelihood of whether or not the offical testing people would know (or be able to tell) the differences.
I know when his 1985 3.2 Cabriolet went for its annual test he took it to the Geneva Porsche specialist he used and they removed the modified bits & pieces (exhaust etc) so that it would pass. Actually, thinking about it, he had had the gearing changed when the gearbox was rebuilt (lower 3rd gear was better for many of the French circuits where he did track days) and I don't think this was ever an issue.
I know when his 1985 3.2 Cabriolet went for its annual test he took it to the Geneva Porsche specialist he used and they removed the modified bits & pieces (exhaust etc) so that it would pass. Actually, thinking about it, he had had the gearing changed when the gearbox was rebuilt (lower 3rd gear was better for many of the French circuits where he did track days) and I don't think this was ever an issue.
For me, the single most disturbing element on cars coming from the US are the hideous rear bumperettes and front black plastic bits (on the indicator clusters) as well.
I am not 100% sure but I believe this may involve replacing the whole rear bumper to fit 'regular' UK plates.
I considered buying an imported 993 c2s a few years back and this would have been my key focus: take out the horrid bumper bits. It would have cost a fair amount of money.
I am not 100% sure but I believe this may involve replacing the whole rear bumper to fit 'regular' UK plates.
I considered buying an imported 993 c2s a few years back and this would have been my key focus: take out the horrid bumper bits. It would have cost a fair amount of money.
Suffolk911 said:
Thanks for the replies. Is changing the suspension height a big job, or more of a case of adjusting the components which are already there. Also has anyone got any direct experience of importing a 993 from the US - any dealers which can be recommended?
Thanks for the advice!
Suffolk
I take it that when you find the car you like you are going to see it ?. Don't rely on the honesty and integrity of the dealer. I made that mistake though not with a Porsche a few years back.Thanks for the advice!
Suffolk
I don't find them too offensive but I found a couple of threads on removing front the bumperettes.. such as this one..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-964-993-tec...
A US 993 (on stilts) yesterday. Half way between ROW spec and 953 spec!
The 953
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-964-993-tec...
A US 993 (on stilts) yesterday. Half way between ROW spec and 953 spec!
The 953
Hi everyone, thanks for the great replies and really helpful Swiss specific information. Sounds like there is more to think about than is immediately obvious, as well as that which is immediately obvious such as the bumpers - completely agree that these have to be replaced. All in all, what looks a clear cut bargain to begin with starts to look as though it may not be worth the hassle (import taxes, light / suspension conversion, bumpers etc etc.) unless the car is really outstanding - particularly is lower resale price is factored in. Also nice tip on not trusting the dealer - as it happens a friend of mine just imported a nearly new Audi unseen from a NY Audi dealer and saved about 50% on list without a problem, but that's not really comparable with buying a 15 year old 911.
Suffolk
Suffolk
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