Importing a 993

[timbutjack]

Hi

I've been looking at the 993 market in America, they are absolutely spoilt for choice compared to over here.. alot of very nice c2s's floating around, many with 60-70k miles

Further more, the spec's are far more desirable out there imo, alot of nice colour combinations and very highly spec'd cars. generally look to be in better condition too, nearly all garaged and very little corrosion etc.

What are your opinions on importing one to the UK? Obviously i'm aware it will be LHD, this is a compromise I am willing to make to get a better all round car.

Price wise, they are cheaper but the import costs will offset this. Will the resale value be much much lower than a RHD car?

Thanks

[DiscoColin]

timbutjack said:

Price wise, they are cheaper but the import costs will offset this. Will the resale value be much much lower than a RHD car?

Nope. If you are selling an LHD model then you export to the continent where prices are currently very strong. Mobile.de will give you a feel of what they are going for.

[timbutjack]

Thanks for that, ill take a look.

Its a bit of a commitment, but could pay off with the right car.

The particular car i'm looking at is a 97 C2S with 59,000 miles, advertised as concours condition (garaged all its life) zero corrosion etc

Anyway, list price is £29500 in English money, budget for a modest £10k import/duty fees and it still comes in about 5k lower than a similar car here..

It seems like a good opportunity to take advantage of the exchange rate.

[stevewak]

There are some great colours in the US and, as you say, in hi-spec cars - much more so than over here. Only comment I would have is that many seem to be constantly fiddled with and - I believe - emissions tests cause a lot of issues. Many engine rebuilds you would not see over here, for example. LHD no problem and market in EU is strong.

[Orangecurry]

I believe they have an emissions engine-design issue - blimey this is stretching the braincells - OBD II check-engine light, due to the american cars having SAI ports, which clog-up; this issue can get confused with a more serious valve guide wear problem?

What's an SAI port?

Secondary air injection, obviously.

[internet]
The secondary air injection (SAI) system uses an electric pump to inject ambient air into the exhaust stream after a cold engine start. This strategy effectively reduces the warm up time of the catalytic converter, resulting in a reduction of HC and CO emissions. The DME engine control module (ECM) controls and monitors the secondary air injection system.
NOTE–
• 993 cars sold in the US were fitted with secondary air injection (SAI).
• On 1996 and later cars (DME M 5.2), the SAI system is monitored by OBD II software. On DME M 5.2 cars, insuficient SAI air flow faults can turn on the Check Engine light.
• 1995 cars are OBD I compliant which does not monitor the SAI system
[/internet]

Edited by Orangecurry on Monday 14th April 22:45

[timbutjack]

so we're saying 1996 onwards cars are a safer bet, chances are the problem would be flagged up with the engine warning light and hopefully fixed, rather than the early cars just waiting to fail without the driver knowing....?

[Orangecurry]

....not really - DYOR as they say, but essentially the system gets clogged up, and low mileage usage makes it worse. American cars have a much higher rebuild %age than european cars, but is that the engines or is that the owners?

Personally I'd pay the extra and wait for a RHD C2 to appear, but you'll have to be patient

[Expatboy]

This guy seems to have some for sale ?

http://dubai.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/porsche...

[thegoose]

timbutjack said:

Anyway, list price is £29500 in English money, budget for a modest £10k import/duty fees and it still comes in about 5k lower than a similar car here..

It seems like a good opportunity to take advantage of the exchange rate.

I'd check your maths on that.

£29500 + shipping cost, let's say £2000 = £31,500

10% import duty applies to all of that = £3150

20% VAT applies to all of that (£31,500 + £3,150) so £34,650 x 20% = £6,930

That lot comes to £41,580 - i.e. easily £12k minimum not the modest £10k you suggest

That's no longer £5k lower and you'd have a USA spec car that's less desirable everywhere else in the world - it's LHD but has a mph speedo, it has different bumpers or over-riders etc as well as the emissions stuff. That's before you consider the risk of buying unseen from a different continent, or the cost of going to view (potentially a wasted trip if you reject the car). It's a nice idea and worth looking into, but I can't see how it's even close to stacking up on the car you're suggesting sorry.