Okay, should I import a C7 Corvette Z06?

Okay, should I import a C7 Corvette Z06?

Author
Discussion

DC GT3

Original Poster:

73 posts

164 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Well as the title says I'm considering importing a 2015/16 C7 Corvette Z06.

I know the exchange rate is awful and it won't have a warranty but I've got a real hankering for one.

So let's talk some figures...

Car: £49,500 ($65,000)
Duty: £3,869
VAT: £8,512
RORO Shipping: £1,200
UK Mods, IVA, MoT & Reg: £1,200.
Total: £64,281.

Unless I've missed something, let's say £65k landed and ready to drive?

That sounds too good to be true. £65k for a fairly new 650bhp weapon?

They seem to be prone to overheating so that's something I'll need to do some research on.

So, other than the above have I missed something, are there any known pitfalls of the Z06 and am I mad?

Any opinions, pointers and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by DC GT3 on Friday 10th November 13:14

kurt535

3,559 posts

117 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
No.

You aren't mad. My wifey and son took flying laps at LV raceway the other week in a 'Vette and the sound the car made bashed all the others into submission. Sideways all the way. Built to to take punishment and, by all accounts, easiest out of all the cars to get parts for when something when bang.

Out of curiosity, one already landed here costs how much?

DC GT3

Original Poster:

73 posts

164 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Well, this 2015 is up for nearly £90,000....

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

The car I've seen for £49,500 is a year newer and has similar spec and mileage.

DC GT3

Original Poster:

73 posts

164 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
And here's another very similar £49.5k one to the £90k UK one...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

liner33

10,690 posts

202 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Its something I have been thinking about also , bit of a performance bargain

I follow streetspeed717 on youtube and it has me lusting after a vette

Saleen836

11,111 posts

209 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
DC GT3 said:
Well as the title says I'm considering importing a 2015/16 C7 Corvette Z06.

I know the exchange rate is awful and it won't have a warranty but I've got a real hankering for one.

So let's talk some figures...

Car: £49,500 ($65,000)
Duty: £3,869
VAT: £8,512
RORO Shipping: £1,200
UK Mods, IVA, MoT & Reg: £1,200.
Total: £64,281.

Unless I've missed something, let's say £65k landed and ready to drive?

That sounds too good to be true. £65k for a fairly new 650bhp weapon?

They seem to be prone to overheating so that's something I'll need to do some research on.

So, other than the above have I missed something, are there any known pitfalls of the Z06 and am I mad?

Any opinions, pointers and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by DC GT3 on Friday 10th November 13:14
Your figures are a bit out, shipping costs get added to purchase cost before duty/tax are added
Car: £49,500 ($65,000) correct
RORO Shipping: £1200 (plus transport costs to port stateside approx £500)
Duty: £3,869 -10% on purchase plus shipping = £5070
VAT: £8,512 - 20% on purchase plus shipping plus import duty =£11,154

UK Mods, IVA, MoT & Reg: £1,200.
Total: £64,281. OTR =£68124

kurt535

3,559 posts

117 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
so still a chunky saving doing it yourself. full respect!

Saleen836

11,111 posts

209 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
kurt535 said:
so still a chunky saving doing it yourself. full respect!
Not really, you can buy one already landed and on the road here for less...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

rottie102

3,996 posts

184 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Saleen836 said:
Not really, you can buy one already landed and on the road here for less...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
That's not a Z06... very different car

DC GT3

Original Poster:

73 posts

164 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Saleen836 said:
Not really, you can buy one already landed and on the road here for less...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yes, you can buy a standard C7 for less. I could probably buy a Focus LX diesel for less too. Find me a Z06 for less....

DC GT3

Original Poster:

73 posts

164 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
However, the overheating issues I've been reading about are putting me right off. Especially as a yank import won't have any valid warranty as I understand it.

Maybe a Camaro Z28 then?

KevinCamaroSS

11,628 posts

280 months

Saturday 11th November 2017
quotequote all
DC GT3 said:
However, the overheating issues I've been reading about are putting me right off. Especially as a yank import won't have any valid warranty as I understand it.

Maybe a Camaro Z28 then?
Overheating may not be so much of an issue here, given our ambient temperatures tend to be lower in summer. However the Z28 does have more cooling than the Z06 as standard, plus an extra 2 small seats. Offset by a fair bit more weight though. Still sounds awesome of course.

twistedsanity

493 posts

238 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
My friend had a new 2005 Z06 , my only comment would be how badly do you want to keep your licence ? he lost his twice before he sold it on, they are indeed a weapon of mass licence destruction and the temptation to demonstrate this fact to the owners of overpriced fiats and VW's can be overwhelming on occasion, can you cope with only ever doing 70mph in a 200mph car ? the only reason I haven't brought one is I need my licence, awesome cars, we did a press day at Silverstone for the gt3 many years ago and as press you get a few hot laps in the race cars that are warmed up nicely by the drivers, my friend went in the new (at the time) scuderia and his only comments were that his corvette in road trim had been around 10mph faster on the straights and braked later into the corners on a trackday a few years earlier!

MrNoisy

530 posts

141 months

Thursday 16th November 2017
quotequote all
Yes, you should import one.

I haven't been on CF very much lately but I suspect the overheating issue is probably cars that are driven very hard on the track? I could be wrong though, and apologies if so.

The noise of a Vette 'on it' is simply intoxicating and I agree with the comments of license losing if not careful.

I was fortunate enough to do many a trackday at Spring mountain motorsports ranch when I had my time 'out there'. I remember coming across a brand spanking Z06 of similar era when they were just released. The driver was taking it relatively sedately through the turns so over a lap we were quite similar but on the few BIG straights they have there he unleashed it and blimey, I went backwards for a bit in my 460 BHP C6.......(even over the roar of my headers/decat LS2 with the go pro mic mounted underneath next to the silencers you can still make out the Z engine roar 100's of feet ahead!!!)

Nowhere near as competent on your average A/B road as a Euro equivalent but traction/grip and handling is far in excess of what the UK masses have been informed over the years. If you can cope with a left hooker they make soooo much sense £ for £.

(PS - no such thing as a 2005 Z06)

steveL98

1,090 posts

180 months

Friday 17th November 2017
quotequote all
Wasn't there a recall issue for a Z06 valve guide problem a while back?

steveL98

1,090 posts

180 months

Friday 17th November 2017
quotequote all
Wasn't there a recall issue for a Z06 valve guide problem a while back?