Travelling abroad for work: Will you keep your 718 GT4

[LamedonM]

What will people do if taking up a permanent job abroad, like Australia, and able to come to the UK 4 to 6 times for maximum of 2 weeks at a time (including transit time of about 3-4 days). Would they keep their GT4 in the UK, to be used whenever they come home to the UK or sell it. The option of shipping the GT4 has been ruled out

Also, it is true that a newer model ICE cayman GT4/GT4RS is being planned to be produced?

[Panthro]

Seems pointless to me if it's a permanent move. Just sell it and bank the money. You will have to pay for storage, insurance and maintenance still.
I did the same thing when I moved abroad for several years, sold all the cars and bought again when I moved back because I didn't need the hassle or worry of owning a car I was hardly going to drive.

[MDL111]

I think something like a GT4 I would agree with the above and sell. Something that is really rare and not easily replaced, I would keep for a while and then re-evaluate after a year or two if it is worth keeping.

[PaulJC84]

Yeah sounds to me it would be more sensible to sell. You can always buy another if you come back to the UK.

You will then be tied into servicing, MOT, storage costs etc.

Use the money to buy something in Australia.

[keo]

I am currently working abroad. I travel home every 12 weeks.

I sold my cars as I couldn’t see the point in keeping them. Always looking as to what I can buy next though. But unfortunately I think I will wait until I have finished this contract.

[WH16]

I kept my Exige when I was away for 4 months at a time, but sold it when I changed to a more permanent overseas job.

I guess for me the considerations would be; do I have somewhere secure to keep it? Do I have someone trustworthy to run it occasionally, and have it pre-serviced for my return etc.? Would it make an appreciable difference to me financially if I either sold or kept it?

Also, I've 'commuted' UK to NZ before (8 times in one year!), so you may find you don't come home as often as you planned. 3 days travel each time is a PITA.

[LamedonM]

Thank you All. I have a garage, where the car can be kept dry. Will this change your advice?

Edited by LamedonM on Tuesday 27th January 12:43

[scrounger73]

Sadly I'd say not. Can you get hold of a GT4 in Aus? If so, sell the car you have here and buy one over there, you'll probably use it more.

[JPC63]

I've been working overseas for 14 years and average around 72 days in the UK each year. I've kept all my cars and bikes.

[sardis]

It’s difficult to come up with the right answer as there are so many variables to consider. I worked abroad for four years and sold my car at the outset for most of the cost reasons above, plus I considered it to be a depreciating asset. Sadly this was completely wrong and had I kept the car it would have more than covered all the standing costs and some, but that’s life.
Like other responders I ended upcoming home less than I thought and when I was home there was loads of stuff to catch up on which left much less time for driving in any case.
In your specific circumstances I would consider selling your car, unless it is a real unicorn spec, and think about using the deferred standing costs (tax, insurance, servicing ,storage, loss of interest on the capital released, and depreciation) to hire something interesting for a few days each time you are back, and perhaps try out future potential purchases. Could be a bit of fun and something additional to look forward to. Just my two cents worth. Good luck with the future and your decision.

[CanAm]

LamedonM said:

Also, it is true that a newer model ICE cayman GT4/GT4RS is being planned to be produced?

Hopefully, yes.

HighwayStar said:

Porsche are in the midst of cutting back their EV plans
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-po...

[vindaloo79]

LamedonM said:

What will people do if taking up a permanent job abroad, like Australia, and able to come to the UK 4 to 6 times for maximum of 2 weeks at a time (including transit time of about 3-4 days). Would they keep their GT4 in the UK, to be used whenever they come home to the UK or sell it. The option of shipping the GT4 has been ruled out

Also, it is true that a newer model ICE cayman GT4/GT4RS is being planned to be produced?

I had a colleague import an average Mercedes to Australia when she returned there in 2012. Worth maybe £15k here but she said it would cost more than double there.

I have no idea how the currency and import taxes worth now. Also she had to own the vehicle maybe a year or two prior to be exempt of taxes IIRC…

[GTS_uk]

While you're away her tyres will get saggy, she'll get bored, will need some kind of 'servicing' and will ultimately cheat on you - likely with your best friend after asking him to "pop over and take a look at things".

Get rid now before she breaks your heart.

There will be a younger model waiting for you when you return!

[bigmowley]

I will buck the trend here. Keep it would be my choice. A GT4 is a very low depreciating car which is actually not that easy to buy in the spec that you want. I assume that yours is the “perfect spec” for you? Having a car which you know the provenance off and in the right spec is well worth the money invested in looking after it. The buying vs selling delta on a GT4 is probably £5 - £10K so that’s needs factoring into the man maths equation. There will be a great big grin of satisfaction every time you come back and take it for a blast, thats worth a few quid a year in my book.

I have owned many cars over the years that I wished I had never sold, assuming that you can afford to keep it without compromising lots of other things then why not keep it? They will not make another like it as the regs get tighter and driver aids more intrusive. For me the GT4 will always be a high water mark for affordable fun.

[TrevorHill]

Is taking the GT4 with you an option? I know in places like Australia that they are much more expensive than in the UK. I think you can avoid most of the import duties if it’s your own car and have owned it for a set amount of time.

[LamedonM]

The car is paid off. However, I am leaning more toward selling with expected annual leave of 5 weeks and professional leave of 3.6 weeks per annum. That is maximum of 8 working weeks per annum. At most 4-5 visits to the UK. And during the visits, I will run through Newcastle, London, Oxford and Margate. I am not sure the GT4 will be suitable for this. I have another car for this, which I will keep. If things are easier than I envisage, I will rebuy the car, at the same price or extra few thousands more or few thousand less. Of course there are must have options, the leather interior/yellow stitching with carbon, bucket seats, PDLS are the minimum. I believe the GT4 has the best interior of the GTs. I prefer the leather to race tex in the GT4rs

[GRD_72]

I work overseas and have and also have a 718 GT4. Financially, it's not a big cost to keep it, the depreciation is really low on these cars after the initial 2 years. It's a pittance to insure (my renewal is £314). It's a reliable car and should be ready to roll each time you come home, it's a Porsche so on a 2 year service schedule & does not have the maintenance commitment that some other cars do. It's also a blast to drive and as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder, etc, etc. If you will have the time to do it justice, keep it.

[JPC63]

If I bought a car with a gap in servicing because it was laid up, it wouldn't bother me at all.

[LamedonM]

TrevorHill said:

Is taking the GT4 with you an option? I know in places like Australia that they are much more expensive than in the UK. I think you can avoid most of the import duties if it s your own car and have owned it for a set amount of time.

I have checked, the only exemption is Duty tax, if at all. I still have to pay GTS and 33% Australian value luxury tax , despite owning the car for more than 12 months. The value of imported car is about 75% of the local cars. Their current websites, actually says no exemptions: https://www.eur-relocation.com/customs/australian-...

[LamedonM]

GRD_72 said:

I work overseas and have and also have a 718 GT4. Financially, it's not a big cost to keep it, the depreciation is really low on these cars after the initial 2 years. It's a pittance to insure (my renewal is £314). It's a reliable car and should be ready to roll each time you come home, it's a Porsche so on a 2 year service schedule & does not have the maintenance commitment that some other cars do. It's also a blast to drive and as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder, etc, etc. If you will have the time to do it justice, keep it.

Thanks. This is nice to hear. How often do you come home?