Importing from a German OPC
Importing from a German OPC
Author
Discussion

deaglecat

Original Poster:

162 posts

260 months

Saturday 18th June 2005
quotequote all
Looking for a S/H 911. LHD OK. Has anyone got any practical experience about what is involved in just buying one from an OPC in (say) Germany and importing to UK.

Are the warranties pan-european on 2nd Hand cars.

sundeep

540 posts

265 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
manufacturers warranty is pan - european..

although try www.lhdporsche.com instead and you will be surprised, a friend of mine did and is more than happy !

colinc2

36 posts

256 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
what a way of saving quite a bit of money - and lhd not a real problem over here. And makes those blasts to germany easier!!
Wished i had thought of it before giving Joel all my savings...!!!

silver993tt

9,064 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
A few years ago I bought a Boxster S (new) from an OPC in Germany. Couldn't have been easier and MUCH more professional than in the UK.

They included insurance for 4 weeks, special temporary plates and even a nice bottle of German sparkling wine with a special Porsche label (nice touch).

They also let me park my 993 turbo in their parking area for as long as I want, when I want, each summer.

rubystone

11,254 posts

286 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
I imported my 964 RS some 7 years ago - bought direct from OPC in Dusseldorf - no major hiccups, but SVA didn't exist then...even ran it around on some made up German plates for several months before I bothered to UK register it!

silver993tt

9,064 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
rubystone said:
I imported my 964 RS some 7 years ago - bought direct from OPC in Dusseldorf - no major hiccups, but SVA didn't exist then...even ran it around on some made up German plates for several months before I bothered to UK register it!


Hey! That's where I bought mine from! I now work in the same building

shoestring7

6,187 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
I've bought 2 cars from the OPC in Hamburg (www.raffay.de). The cars were both in A1 condition and as described in the ad, IME the Germans look after their Porsches better than us Brits.

Raffay were extremely easy to deal with, arranged hotels for me, and generally spoke better English than they do in Reading. ISTR the plane trip to Hamburg was about £70-.

They also managed the export plate process, which simply involved me waiting a couple of hours and paying around £150. It did include 30 days insurance, but 3rd party only.

This was 1998 when the £/€ rate meant savings were better but I would have no problem doing it again. BTW, when I had to get the a/c compressor replaced under warranty back in the UK, the OPC here grimaced but did it.

SS7

GT3 Rob

1,447 posts

261 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
What is the tax implication of importing..?
I understand it to be over 6 mths old and 1000 miles, then no UK duty.?
Also claiming back the German VAT element on certain used cars, think it applies to German company registered cars.?
Trying to weigh up cost of say importing a 18mth old TT, cost differential to UK OPC.

shoestring7

6,187 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
I paid no tax other than road tax and first registration. Simply got the forms from the DVLA and registered it in the UK.

If you look on the DVLA site there is info about imports.

SS7

sundeep

540 posts

265 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
GT3 Rob said:

I understand it to be over 6 mths old and 1000 miles, then no UK duty.? .


at least 6 months old or done at least 6000 miles...

boxbob612

23 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st June 2005
quotequote all
As Sundeep says, try lhdporsche.com and ask for Dave.

A year ago I bought a 03 Boxster'S' from them, superb specification and excellent condition, saving somewhere in the region of £10k on a uk priced car.

I approached some dealers direct, and although all were extremely helpful and offered good prices, Dave was able to beat them for similarly specced cars.

Indeed he even approached one of the dealers I'd been speaking to and managed to get the price down a further £1.5k.

In the end I bought a car sourced directly from the factory (an engineer's car I believe) and it was perfect. (apparently they go over the car before it's sold on to make sure it's like new again.

Good luck