Importing a Murcielago from Europe
Importing a Murcielago from Europe
Author
Discussion

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Hello!

I am considering taking the big jump and getting a Murcielago (one of the older model with the 6.2l engine). However they seem very hard to get hold off.
So I was wondering if it would be possible to import one from europe where there seem to be a more vibrant market for used one (lhd indeed).
Any recommendation on who to use for sourcing one / taking care of the administrative tasks, and generally making sure it all goes smoothly and the engine doesn't blow up as soon as I start it...

All ideas / suggestions welcome!

Thank you in advance!


Lambochick

1,462 posts

249 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Not sure where you are looking in the UK to say there are not many around, as we looked at 5 or 6 just a couple of months ago when we were looking to buy a 6.2 Murci.

Can't recommend where you might source one in Europe, but have you considered the implications of exchange rate and import duties when factored in to the cost of buying in Europe?

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
thank you for the answer.
I have not been looking for very long, and at the moment the only ones I have seen available is the ithaca green from Specialist cars of Malton, as well as an Orange one
I was looking for more sober colors.
If you know of some others cars available, I would love to get the info.

Otherwise, regarding the import from Europe, that is why I need a good specialist, as I have no good idea myself of what are the constraints / costs of doing so.

It seems you have a long history with lambos, so any suggestions or advice welcome!

Thx

EVOeng

966 posts

201 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
http://www.used-porsche.co.uk/

Contact Clive on 07788 911 911, and let him know what you are after and I am sure he will be happy to help.
It may take a few weeks but the great thing is, he will do all the leg work and feed the information back to you.

Hope this helps.

lordbluf

381 posts

208 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Lambochick said:
Not sure where you are looking in the UK to say there are not many around, as we looked at 5 or 6 just a couple of months ago when we were looking to buy a 6.2 Murci.

Can't recommend where you might source one in Europe, but have you considered the implications of exchange rate and import duties when factored in to the cost of buying in Europe?
To be fair, there are hardly any Murcis on the market in the UK, i.e when autotrader says '18' in the UK, its turns out to be 10 cars and 8 adverts for finance or those seeking to buy Murcis.
Then look at the sub 100K market, you can count the market on 1 hand. Compare that to say F430s which is a significantly larger pool and its fair to say its a sellers market...

I was looking for 4 months before i found one. I would avoid LHD imho - with sod-all rear visibility, an acceleration more agressive than the Dutch football team, and an bum bigger than vanessa Feltz - the car is a more than enough to deal with without driving LHD on UK roads...

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Thank you all for your answers. I agree lhd is less than ideal, but it seems difficult to find any non lp640 rhd ones in the uk (bar lime green or orange). The other alternative to importing one is getting the green one and having it painted or stickered to a color more of my liking. Any of you has a view on that? Is it a sacrilege?

diablo_pete

3,595 posts

226 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Be a real shame to lose a verde car. Great colour!
As for LHD from Europe, is it still cheaper? With the Euro/Pound the way they are, I thought cars are leaving the UK much more frequently these days.

Lambochick

1,462 posts

249 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
The problem with that particular car Pete is that they are asking too much for it, and aren't prepared to neegotiate on price. It's not even as if it's part of their stock; they're selling it on behalf of a customer, but obviously aren't prepared to lower their commission to secure a sale.

Edited by Lambochick on Thursday 15th July 18:58

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Actually I have seen quite a few cars in Europe for about eur100k, which makes about GBp 85k, so it doesn't look crazy. The green car does seem on the pricey side. Looks like I might have to be patient and see if some better opportunities come around.... Annoying....

SimonSays

449 posts

306 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Verde Ithaca or orange are quite nice, and would be my choice. A lot of people do indeed like these colours.
I would get one of those, then detail it, wrap it in a colour of your choice to protect the paint, and take it of come resale time. Those colours should sell quite quickly...

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Thank you Simon. And thx to the rest of you. Very helpful comments so far
Wrapping the car in a different color might be a good solution. But how good is the finish usually? Does one see some leftover green parts when opening the doors / looking in more details? I guess a mat dark drey should look mega on this car.... Also is the paint underneath kept in good condition when removing the stickers. And how are insurance companies/ the dvla dealing with this temporary color change?
Questions questions questions....

lordbluf

381 posts

208 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Damien022 said:
Thank you Simon. And thx to the rest of you. Very helpful comments so far
Wrapping the car in a different color might be a good solution. But how good is the finish usually? Does one see some leftover green parts when opening the doors / looking in more details? I guess a mat dark drey should look mega on this car.... Also is the paint underneath kept in good condition when removing the stickers. And how are insurance companies/ the dvla dealing with this temporary color change?
Questions questions questions....
Wrap....:Just wrapped mine, got it back today. Will do some pics over the weekend and post them up. It was Silver and Ive had it wrapped in Gloss White. I looked at various companies and went with valetmagic in ascot - the quality is outstanding, indeed when i first went to their premises they were re-wrapping a bodge up from another company (wont mention the name here..) So glad i saw what a bad wrap looks like otherwise i would not know what im comparing it to....

The wrap costs c.2K depending on the colour & if you want the internal door shuts done (which i did).... Relatively speaking, White is a bit of a wild colour, so when i come to sell, it can appeal to two markets, those that want a more subtle colour can remove the wrap, and those that dont can keep it...

One of the key advantages of wraps is that it protects the paint work - so it you scuff the bumper it wont cost an arm and leg to do a partil re-wrap (i.e bumper only).

Just informing DVLA and insurance company tomorrow of the colour change - no hassles at all.



Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Thank you Lordbuf. This is comforting to know. I am looking fed to seeing the pictures of your car post wrapping. Seems that would be the best solution for me. Get a rhd one and in the colour I want! Now just need to find a good car....

matc

4,738 posts

238 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Lambochick said:
The problem with that particular car Pete is that they are asking too much for it, and aren't prepared to neegotiate on price. It's not even as if it's part of their stock; they're selling it on behalf of a customer, but obviously aren't prepared to lower their commission to secure a sale.

Edited by Lambochick on Thursday 15th July 18:58
The owner is on here, may be worth contacting him direct?

Damien022

Original Poster:

9 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
matc said:
Lambochick said:
The problem with that particular car Pete is that they are asking too much for it, and aren't prepared to neegotiate on price. It's not even as if it's part of their stock; they're selling it on behalf of a customer, but obviously aren't prepared to lower their commission to secure a sale.

Edited by Lambochick on Thursday 15th July 18:58
The owner is on here, may be worth contacting him direct?
Good idea. Who is he?

R.P.M

1,980 posts

252 months

ChrisFitz

751 posts

210 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Lambochick said:
Not sure where you are looking in the UK to say there are not many around, as we looked at 5 or 6 just a couple of months ago when we were looking to buy a 6.2 Murci.

Can't recommend where you might source one in Europe, but have you considered the implications of exchange rate and import duties when factored in to the cost of buying in Europe?
What import duties are those?
I think you'll find it's secondhand and over the specified age and mileage so there is no VAT/import duty to pay if it's from an EU country.
Importing a car/bike from an EU country is a piece of piss (excuse mon francais).
Especially if it has EU Type approval which I would imagine the Murcie has.
Whether it's value for money is another question.
PM if you want to know about importing vehicles and I can tell you what I had to do for new and 2nd hand ones...

SirMark

570 posts

220 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
I may have something of interest, as I may be upgrading shortly and I'm currently pondering getting rid of my Murci for a 640

PM me



SimonSays

449 posts

306 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Damien022 said:
Thank you Simon. And thx to the rest of you. Very helpful comments so far
Wrapping the car in a different color might be a good solution. But how good is the finish usually? Does one see some leftover green parts when opening the doors / looking in more details? I guess a mat dark drey should look mega on this car.... Also is the paint underneath kept in good condition when removing the stickers. And how are insurance companies/ the dvla dealing with this temporary color change?
Questions questions questions....
The quality of the finish largely depends on the quality of the paintwork underneath. Hence my recommendation to have the car detailed just before, to remove any defects. Just tell them not to wax it.

The wrap actually protects the paint, just like a clear bra would. You can remove the wrap yourself, but I would just ask the company who put it on to do it.

David Yu (of EVO magazine fame) had his GTR wrapped, including insides of the doors etc.

A colour similar to the Reventon finish in matte would look amazing indeed.

diablo_pete

3,595 posts

226 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
SirMark said:
I may have something of interest, as I may be upgrading shortly and I'm currently pondering getting rid of my Murci for a 640

PM me
Nice car, I know it well.