Benefits or risks of importing a Pontiac GTO

[gto]

Hi Guys,
I have been reading the forum for months, this is my first posting. I am an ex-pat Aussie living in Kent and would like opinions on the potential benefits or risks of importing a LHD used Pontiac GTO. I have seen a couple of 04's for less than 24K USD which is pretty good compared to the lousy AUD and fantastic compared to the GBP. We do lots of trips to the EU so LHD is ok. Any thoughts?

[roger440]

Heres the deal. Its LHD so only needs simple SVA.

Here are the costs to consider

Car, lets say $25k (exchange rate 1.90)= £13157

+ shipping @ £1K

+ import duty on car and shipping £1415

+ VAT on total (£15572) of all of the above £2725

total so far £18297

+ SVA prep and test approx £500

+ Registration fee, cant remember maybe £50?

+ some customs and shippers handlind charges that can magic themselves from nowhere!

This gives a guestimate total in the order of: £19000.

This of course assumes no additional costs at the american end and you have contacts that can get the car to the docks.

Yes it will be cheaper, but personally, id pay the extra 3-4 k for a uk spec one and avoid the hassle, and it is hassle! Bear in mind that you would also have no warranty, which a uk spec car would have. How much this is worth depends on your mechanical abilities.

And of course the GTO has the worlds most ugly front end but thats a personal thing!

Hope this helps

[gto]

Hi Roger440,
Many thanks, that makes good sense.
Insurance would probably be more and it can be harder to see when overtaking. I'll stick to the local offering.

[willisit]

Hmm.. I've been posting on the GTO forums - trying to get the "gen" on these cars and whether it's worth the saving.

I'm not convinced just yet as it is really not as pretty!

However, they do get the LS2 in the base model.. why don't we? (yeah I know.. VXR.. but twice the cost?)

[LuS1fer]

As far as I know, the GTO is set up a lot more softly for American roads. Even the Euro Z28's and Vettes automatically got upgraded suspension for European tastes. The end result is you may not get the more sporting set-up of the European car. Remember the Yanks expect cheap cars and the American motor industry supply them by using cheaper components.

[VXR SIX]

It is also poorly specced compared to a VXR 6.0.

17" wheels as opposed to 19", etc.

>> Edited by VXR SIX on Sunday 1st May 21:45

[LuS1fer]

Good point. The Euro-Z28's were far better specced, even using the Firebird's leather seats as opposed to cloth and getting loads of options in the US as standard. It's pretty much the same with the Corvette which has a minimum spec in Europe that far exceeds it's US counterpart.

Everyone keeps going on about how cheap the Mustang is but it is only cheap in base spec and by the time you add on all the necesssary options to "bring it up to spec", it's a bit more normally priced.

[VXR SIX]

True and as I say in this month's TD magazine, it is tacky in many ways.