Acura!!

[rafvc10]

I am moving to the UK this fall and would like to ship my 2003 Acura TL 3.2 Type S.
I have checked all the websites but do not see an Acura dealer anywhere.
I will be moving to Swindon in Wiltshire. Do you think Honda could do all the servicing on my car?
Is it worth shipping over (only $900)? Would it need modifying to use in the UK?
I have contacted various insurance agencies and have never got a reply, I only need third party.
Any guidance and advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

[Papa Hotel]

It's a Honda Accord, of course they'll do it.

It'll need UK headlights, you might find fully comp insurance cheaper (they're funny like that here) but it'll be expensive as it's an import and a comparatively rare one at that, so with few statistics on it the insurance companies will err on the side of caution and bum you. Lube up.

As to whether it's worth it, it's a 9 year old Honda, they're two a penny.

Edited by Papa Hotel on Tuesday 4th September 14:50

[Big Fat Fatty]

Papa Hotel said:

It's a Honda Accord, of course they'll do it.

That's what I thought, just some subtle differences in the body.

There are no Acura dealers here because they're a US only brand IIRC, but any Honda dealer should be able to sort the car for use on our roads. Or you could just get a RHD Accord when you get here.

[RizzoTheRat]

Presumably you'll need to register it in the UK rather than keep it on US plates? In which case it will need to pass a UK MoT, which will presumably mean changing the headlights.

This is probably a reasonable place to start.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...

[vixen1700]

Big Fat Fatty said:

Or you could just get a RHD Accord when you get here.

That's your best bet really, hardly worth the cost of transportation and all the stuff you'd need to do to get it legal.

[Face for Radio]

The TL is NOT based on the Accord, that is the Acura TSX.

It would be worth bringing over as they're a fantastic car, but if you put one into a boggo Honda dealer they wouldn't know their thumb from their dick.

There are plenty of specialists though that would go into the job with some common sense and be able to source you parts and service it. Most of the consumables come from other members of the Honda family.

[dmitry]

Acura isn't officially sold in Europe and as such there are no Acura dealers. I guess Honda dealers/workshops won't have problems servicing the TL since it's an Accord underneath, but one point I would seriously think through is body part availability. I guess you'll have a hard time finding anything in UK in case you need something. Not sure if this would affect insurance costs too.

[Papa Hotel]

Face for Radio said:

The TL is NOT based on the Accord, that is the Acura TSX.

It would be worth bringing over as they're a fantastic car, but if you put one into a boggo Honda dealer they wouldn't know their thumb from their dick.

There are plenty of specialists though that would go into the job with some common sense and be able to source you parts and service it. Most of the consumables come from other members of the Honda family.

Huh, Wikipedia would suggest you're right, he's got a different model than the current one which is based on the Accord.

OP, is this your car?


It's got something of the Hyundai Sonata about it...

[EDLT]

So it is a Honda Legend then? Finding a RHD replacement will be tricky.

[The Wookie]

Will it need RHD lights or does the US still use a flat beam? If so will flat beam pass an MOT?

[Papa Hotel]

The Wookie said:

Will it need RHD lights or does the US still use a flat beam? If so will flat beam pass an MOT?

He's in Canadia.

[TTmonkey]

rafvc10 said:

I am moving to the UK this fall and would like to ship my 2003 Acura TL 3.2 Type S.
I have checked all the websites but do not see an Acura dealer anywhere.
I will be moving to Swindon in Wiltshire. Do you think Honda could do all the servicing on my car?
Is it worth shipping over (only $900)? Would it need modifying to use in the UK?
I have contacted various insurance agencies and have never got a reply, I only need third party.
Any guidance and advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

You would need to get an MOT certificate fo use in the UK minimum, so you'd need to change the headlights.

Not sure if there would be any import tax to pay as well.

It would be also quite hard to insure I would think.

WOuld it not just be worth buying Right Hand Drive over here?

(we dont call it 'fall' by the way, its "Autumn" over here, a beautiful word describing the season were it rains even more, and gets dark real early!)

[The Wookie]

Papa Hotel said:

The Wookie said:

Will it need RHD lights or does the US still use a flat beam? If so will flat beam pass an MOT?

He's in Canadia.

Ahhhh... I assumed they use flat beam like the yanks

[rafvc10]

Thanks for all the info. To Papa Hotel, yes that is my car. I don't think it's a Honda Accord.
My car has Xenon headlights, 3.2 vtec engine (310 HP). Body kit and rear spoiler from Acura.
Automatic with sportshift. Sunroof. Leather interior. Bose CD with in dash changer.
Colour is pearl white. As you can guess she is my baby. I would hate to scrap her.
If I buy the Honda Accord in the UK has it the same specs?

[joebongo]

EDLT said:

So it is a Honda Legend then? Finding a RHD replacement will be tricky.

RL is the Legend.

TL is different and according to Wiki, OPs car is the 2nd generation which was derived from the Accord platform.

[Papa Hotel]

rafvc10 said:

Thanks for all the info. To Papa Hotel, yes that is my car. I don't think it's a Honda Accord.
My car has Xenon headlights, 3.2 vtec engine (310 HP). Body kit and rear spoiler from Acura.
Automatic with sportshift. Sunroof. Leather interior. Bose CD with in dash changer.
Colour is pearl white. As you can guess she is my baby. I would hate to scrap her.
If I buy the Honda Accord in the UK has it the same specs?

Woah, woah, woah, sweet child of mine, no-one said scrap it. I just wouldn't bother bringing it here. We have far more interesting cars than that here in Yurp, try some of ours.

[dmitry]

rafvc10 said:

Thanks for all the info. To Papa Hotel, yes that is my car. I don't think it's a Honda Accord.
My car has Xenon headlights, 3.2 vtec engine (310 HP). Body kit and rear spoiler from Acura.
Automatic with sportshift. Sunroof. Leather interior. Bose CD with in dash changer.
Colour is pearl white. As you can guess she is my baby. I would hate to scrap her.
If I buy the Honda Accord in the UK has it the same specs?

Accord's biggest engine is 2.4 190ish bhp, so it'd be a downgrade for you. But as Papa Hotel points out there are many interesting cars in Europe that you don't have over the pond, why not try something different?

[Riknos]

rafvc10 said:

Thanks for all the info. To Papa Hotel, yes that is my car. I don't think it's a Honda Accord.
My car has Xenon headlights, 3.2 vtec engine (310 HP). Body kit and rear spoiler from Acura.
Automatic with sportshift. Sunroof. Leather interior. Bose CD with in dash changer.
Colour is pearl white. As you can guess she is my baby. I would hate to scrap her.
If I buy the Honda Accord in the UK has it the same specs?

I take it that's not British BHP?

[aka_kerrly]

A few points.

American imports don't seem to attract the same treatment as Jap imports regarding insurance as my US Corrado is no different to a UK, I just had to fit a Cat 2 immobiliser.

You need to switch the headlights, get the side markers rewired as side repeaters or retro fit side repeaters, have a MOT, TAX and register with the DVLA for number plates.

Beyond that I can understand why you would want to bring your car as it something that we do not get in the UK and has a good spec to it!

Also using a LHD car in the UK isn't really an issue if you don't frequent drive through take aways or car parks where you need to take a ticket to lift the barrier.

[CYMR0]

Riknos said:

rafvc10 said:

Thanks for all the info. To Papa Hotel, yes that is my car. I don't think it's a Honda Accord.
My car has Xenon headlights, 3.2 vtec engine (310 HP). Body kit and rear spoiler from Acura.
Automatic with sportshift. Sunroof. Leather interior. Bose CD with in dash changer.
Colour is pearl white. As you can guess she is my baby. I would hate to scrap her.
If I buy the Honda Accord in the UK has it the same specs?

I take it that's not British BHP?

Wiki suggests 225 hp from the regular 3.2, 260 from the Type S.

It's probably worth about $6k in the US (edit: and I assume the same in Canada).

This car is the same as an 04 model year TSX and is £2,695. So on a really bad day you're looking at $2,500 less for a car that's very nearly as capable (6" shorter, but a newer design) and much, much easier to look after in terms of parts availabilty, getting insurance, and blending in with the locals!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

So yes, you could certainly use and register your car here, but you'd be paying through the nose to do so.