UK Registered car in the US

[Chodosh Corvette]

Hi Chaps,

I have been living in New York for a year now and am thinking that I will extend my stay for another 18months or so.

The one thing that I have really missed is having a fun car to drive on the weekends. In the past, I have had a show spec, custom Mini Mayfair, S2000 and 996 as my last run arounds and hanker for something interesting over in the US.

I had a thought about shipping a 1380 Mini over to the NY - I cant seem to find any decent ones over here. I can get a deal on shipping and I know that I can run the car for one year on its UK registration. Has anyone done this before??

I presume that I can register it as SORN in the UK, so I wont have to tax, MOT or insure it in the UK. Insurance quotes from Hagerty in the US are only about $400 for the year.

Am I missing any glaring pitfalls in this idea?

[ChiChoAndy]

Toll booths will be a pain in the rectum.

[CampDavid]

I would suggest buying a left hooker on the continent and bringing that over instead, selling it when you come back to the UK. Only downside is the $/£/€ won't be great

[Chodosh Corvette]

I thought of that one already - EZ-PASS !! They work in 99% of the tolls, and even the airport parking (although I would have to stretch to get the ticket on the way in)

[ChiChoAndy]

I lived over in the west, near Syracuse. Used to love driving in NY. Loved the Me First attitude! Great fun!

[Chodosh Corvette]

CampDavid said:

I would suggest buying a left hooker on the continent and bringing that over instead

Great idea ! I am sure there must be some poor soul trying to sell a left handy one in England. If they are, I would suspect it may be prime to a good bid !

What inspired me to get a mini was driving a Smart around NYC the other week. I was ducking and diving through traffic, could park easily and aside from the pothole situation, had great fun.

[Motorrad]

I imagine you'd have to maintain the road tax/mot as it would need to be registered in the UK as you obviously wouldn't be able to register it in the US due to the usual federal bullst.

[Chodosh Corvette]

Thats what I thought, but you can legally run the car in the US on UK plates for 12 months (before then having to ship it back home).

I suppose it may have to have an MOT, which wouldnt be a problem, but I can't see why I would have to pay road tax in the UK if the car not in the country.

[hullbilly]

Don't forget the huge differences in fuel quality.

If its a classic mini then don't worry to much, maybe a slight carb adjustment will be needed.

[excel monkey]

Would it not be less hassle to get a US-registered and US-spec car? Something like a new shape Mini or a Smart car?

Surely there must be all kinds of emissions and safety regs to get round, if you are importing a car from overseas.

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/7...

[Chodosh Corvette]

I want something that I can work on and make my own - I love tinkering, thats half the fun...

When you import a car on a temporary basis, the emissions are less of an issue (they also allow them in under terms of it being a 'classic').

Maybe a yank tank like an old mustang would be good, but thats $8-10k, rather than $5-6 it would cost to buy the mini and ship it

[Stedman]

hullbilly said:

Don't forget the huge differences in fuel quality.

If its a classic mini then don't worry to much, maybe a slight carb adjustment will be needed.

It's not though. North America calculate their ratings differently. 90 in the U.S.A is roughly 95 here.

Massive myth, that I too believe for a long time.

[smele]

Chodosh Corvette said:

I want something that I can work on and make my own - I love tinkering, thats half the fun...

When you import a car on a temporary basis, the emissions are less of an issue (they also allow them in under terms of it being a 'classic').

Maybe a yank tank like an old mustang would be good, but thats $8-10k, rather than $5-6 it would cost to buy the mini and ship it

My thoughts, then ship it back to the UK when you leave, sell it on at a profit.

PS best to buy old cars from the West Coast, no salt on the roads.

[ChiChoAndy]

Stedman said:

It's not though. North America calculate their ratings differently. 90 in the U.S.A is roughly 95 here.

Massive myth, that I too believe for a long time.

Yeah, they use a different calculation method. No issues with regards to fuel.

[Chodosh Corvette]

ChiChoAndy said:

Stedman said:

It's not though. North America calculate their ratings differently. 90 in the U.S.A is roughly 95 here.

Massive myth, that I too believe for a long time.

Yeah, they use a different calculation method. No issues with regards to fuel.

And forgetting all about that, you can buy sweet smelling race fuel @ 120+ octane for the less than regular unleaded back home

A little cup full here and there should help out if I get something with a modded head.

[Stedman]

Chodosh Corvette said:

ChiChoAndy said:

Stedman said:

It's not though. North America calculate their ratings differently. 90 in the U.S.A is roughly 95 here.

Massive myth, that I too believe for a long time.

Yeah, they use a different calculation method. No issues with regards to fuel.

And forgetting all about that, you can buy sweet smelling race fuel @ 120+ octane for the less than regular unleaded back home

A little cup full here and there should help out if I get something with a modded head.

How do I get a job with you?

[hullbilly]

Stedman said:

It's not though. North America calculate their ratings differently. 90 in the U.S.A is roughly 95 here.

Massive myth, that I too believe for a long time.

REALLY! I thought there fuel was of a lower octane than ours thus explaining the horrendous fuel economy of cars out there....my parents outback struggles to do 20mpg!

You learn something new everyday, Pistonheads, learning matters

[joewilliams]

hullbilly said:

REALLY! I thought there fuel was of a lower octane than ours thus explaining the horrendous fuel economy of cars out there....my parents outback struggles to do 20mpg!

You learn something new everyday, Pistonheads, learning matters

Are you including the fact that US gallons are smaller than ours in your calculations?

[ChiChoAndy]

hullbilly said:

REALLY! I thought there fuel was of a lower octane than ours thus explaining the horrendous fuel economy of cars out there....my parents outback struggles to do 20mpg!

You learn something new everyday, Pistonheads, learning matters

Ours is RON, and theirs is mon/ron, or whatever it is. Same octane, but different way of rating it.

[Liquid Knight]

Wasn't Swordfish on the tellybox the other day?

TVR in LA.