Importing Aussie muscle cars
Discussion
A mate of mine called me yesterday to say he's wanting to start a family with his girlfriend. However, he's a biker and was all set on getting himself a 370Z as a daily.
His girlfriend's a petrolhead too (drives a Civic Type-R), and like him hates the idea of a boring family car. They both have the coinage to run something a bit thirsty too.
They have no interest in hi-tech German performance barges (I tried to steer him towards an Alpina B5 Touring but he'll have none of it), but it turns out what he really fancies is a brutal Aussie V8 Supercar-derived family hauler.
I understand there's a Holden VE Sportwagon (basically a VXR8 estate), and he's interested to know if there's an estate version of the Ford Australia V8 Falcon.
But more to the point - does anyone know of a UK importer for these things?
His girlfriend's a petrolhead too (drives a Civic Type-R), and like him hates the idea of a boring family car. They both have the coinage to run something a bit thirsty too.
They have no interest in hi-tech German performance barges (I tried to steer him towards an Alpina B5 Touring but he'll have none of it), but it turns out what he really fancies is a brutal Aussie V8 Supercar-derived family hauler.
I understand there's a Holden VE Sportwagon (basically a VXR8 estate), and he's interested to know if there's an estate version of the Ford Australia V8 Falcon.
But more to the point - does anyone know of a UK importer for these things?
Big Rod said:
I think you can buy a VXR8 estate from your friendly local Vx dealer. Happy to be proven wrong though.
As far as I can see you can only get the saloon and Maloo pick-up.Also, he's not wanting to spend silly money on a new one, he was thinking more like £30k-odd on a lightly-used second-hand example.
The 370Z is a two seater though.
If LHD was not an issue, the Mustang/Camaro are good options (likely pan-European and UK RHD for the new Mustang in 2015). I don't see you have to leap straight into a 5 seater estate when you're only thinking of starting a family.
We got rid of our CTR as the seats don't afford very good access to the rear with a child seat as I think the seats hit the roof when tilted.
I think Vauxhall will supply but they are nigh on £50k. I think exchange rates and shipping are the issues.
If LHD was not an issue, the Mustang/Camaro are good options (likely pan-European and UK RHD for the new Mustang in 2015). I don't see you have to leap straight into a 5 seater estate when you're only thinking of starting a family.
We got rid of our CTR as the seats don't afford very good access to the rear with a child seat as I think the seats hit the roof when tilted.
I think Vauxhall will supply but they are nigh on £50k. I think exchange rates and shipping are the issues.
LuS1fer said:
The 370Z is a two seater though.
If LHD was not an issue, the Mustang/Camaro are good options (likely pan-European and UK RHD for the new Mustang in 2015). I don't see you have to leap straight into a 5 seater estate when you're only thinking of starting a family.
We got rid of our CTR as the seats don't afford very good access to the rear with a child seat as I think the seats hit the roof when tilted.
I think Vauxhall will supply but they are nigh on £50k. I think exchange rates and shipping are the issues.
Well, according to him:If LHD was not an issue, the Mustang/Camaro are good options (likely pan-European and UK RHD for the new Mustang in 2015). I don't see you have to leap straight into a 5 seater estate when you're only thinking of starting a family.
We got rid of our CTR as the seats don't afford very good access to the rear with a child seat as I think the seats hit the roof when tilted.
I think Vauxhall will supply but they are nigh on £50k. I think exchange rates and shipping are the issues.
-LHD is an issue, he's never driven LHD, nor has his girlfriend, and he's not about to start.
-They want a big estate because they're the sort of people who keep a car until it dies (then they fix it and keep it going again). As a result they'll still have it when the kids have grown up.
-£40k is the absolute maximum he can justify on it.
LuS1fer said:
Only thing close is to wait a year and buy a lightly used Jeep SRT8 (£60k new) replete with Hemi.
He absolutely detests SUVs though.And re. the estate thing - could you realistically get a folded-up pushchair in a VXR8 saloon's boot? Along with a load of holiday/shopping paraphenalia?
Twincam16 said:
He absolutely detests SUVs though.
And re. the estate thing - could you realistically get a folded-up pushchair in a VXR8 saloon's boot? Along with a load of holiday/shopping paraphenalia?
The VXR8 has 496 litres of space and a ski-hatch but the seats don't fold. Looks useful enough:And re. the estate thing - could you realistically get a folded-up pushchair in a VXR8 saloon's boot? Along with a load of holiday/shopping paraphenalia?
We get a folded up pushchair, a child's bike and 2 scooters in the Mondeo with ease so I can't see how this would not be adequate.
Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 8th May 11:22
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