Discussion
What about the cost of making the car UK compliant? e.g. I'm sure the indicators would have to be switched from their on-off-on to off-on-off pattern. I know nothing about it, but have heard it can be expensive to make a car UK compliant when brought in from another jurisdiction. I'm sure others on here will know much more and can confirm or deny this.
JohnV said:
What about the cost of making the car UK compliant? e.g. I'm sure the indicators would have to be switched from their on-off-on to off-on-off pattern. I know nothing about it, but have heard it can be expensive to make a car UK compliant when brought in from another jurisdiction. I'm sure others on here will know much more and can confirm or deny this.
Indicators or their bulbs have to be changed as in the US they are red. I bought a CGT back and the cost to comply with SVA (rear fog light, new rear lights) was circa £2.5k.US spec. Porsche cars have "side marker" / position lights in the front wings (fenders!) but over here, they are wired as indicator repeaters. That is the main difference IIRC and relatively easy to re-wire as some US folk try do to the opposite to make their cars look more European.
I think there are extra bulbs in the rear lights too but these do not have to be disconnected.
I think there are extra bulbs in the rear lights too but these do not have to be disconnected.
If you want a 997 GT3 from the US you'll have to get a Used one as the new allocations are long since accounted for.
But you can get used with delivery miles. Unfortunately they will cost you more than new
Retail price for a 997GT3 is $107,500. You will not be able to buy one for under $120k, mark ups stick but that's they way of the world.
So by my reconning a $120k GT3 imported to the UK will cost SVA'd to your door around £85k at current exchange rates and HM Customs taking their unfair share. A delivery mileage GT3 is gonna be around £95k which isn't realistically worth the hassle, you can get UK cars for that money.
But you can get used with delivery miles. Unfortunately they will cost you more than new
Retail price for a 997GT3 is $107,500. You will not be able to buy one for under $120k, mark ups stick but that's they way of the world.
So by my reconning a $120k GT3 imported to the UK will cost SVA'd to your door around £85k at current exchange rates and HM Customs taking their unfair share. A delivery mileage GT3 is gonna be around £95k which isn't realistically worth the hassle, you can get UK cars for that money.
You can't fail to notice the price differential between european and US cars. This is theoretical for me because I have a favourite Porsche dealer and will always buy from them, but I am intrigued by this.
Put aside GT3's for the minute due to availability issues. You can buy a used 997 from a US OPC, here are two examples, some options not mentioned for speed :-
05 C2S 35,900m,19",Bose,Rear Wiper $66,900
06 C2S 6,707m,Aerokit,19",Bose,Sport Chrono,Sportshift,PSE, $81,900
That is a cost spread at $2=£1 from £33,450 to £40,950 base cost.
Lets say you buy at the dearer end, I believe the following costs apply:-
Base Cost £41000
Import Duty 10% £ 4100
VAT on Duty £ 718 No VAT on used vehicle over 6000 miles
Transport Cost £ 2500
Total Cost £48318
Am I wrong or am I wrong? Equivalent cost of a hi-spec low mileage 06 C2S in UK? As far as I can see around £69,000. A saving of £20,000. Why should the brothers not take advantage of this? Obviously you have also bought unseen from an official dealer in the States, but in a location where it will be hard to take the car back for warranty issues. Would they honour a US warranty over here? Also cost of conversion of lights etc unknown.
Bit of a risk but good value?
What I have never got to the bottom of was what is meant by 'Federal Spec'. It may be the issues mentioned above. Someone on PH suggested at one point that the suspension is set up differently in the States, but the cars don't look any higher off the ground. That I find hard to believe though. Anybody throw any more light on this?
Put aside GT3's for the minute due to availability issues. You can buy a used 997 from a US OPC, here are two examples, some options not mentioned for speed :-
05 C2S 35,900m,19",Bose,Rear Wiper $66,900
06 C2S 6,707m,Aerokit,19",Bose,Sport Chrono,Sportshift,PSE, $81,900
That is a cost spread at $2=£1 from £33,450 to £40,950 base cost.
Lets say you buy at the dearer end, I believe the following costs apply:-
Base Cost £41000
Import Duty 10% £ 4100
VAT on Duty £ 718 No VAT on used vehicle over 6000 miles
Transport Cost £ 2500
Total Cost £48318
Am I wrong or am I wrong? Equivalent cost of a hi-spec low mileage 06 C2S in UK? As far as I can see around £69,000. A saving of £20,000. Why should the brothers not take advantage of this? Obviously you have also bought unseen from an official dealer in the States, but in a location where it will be hard to take the car back for warranty issues. Would they honour a US warranty over here? Also cost of conversion of lights etc unknown.
Bit of a risk but good value?
What I have never got to the bottom of was what is meant by 'Federal Spec'. It may be the issues mentioned above. Someone on PH suggested at one point that the suspension is set up differently in the States, but the cars don't look any higher off the ground. That I find hard to believe though. Anybody throw any more light on this?
Edited by cardigankid on Wednesday 29th August 17:42
If anyone has more expert knowledge than please correct me but from my limited research on the Customs & Excise website, I beleive that the only way to avoid vat and duty is to import second hand, the definition from HMCE is that it must be a minimum of 6 months old on the date of import to be classed as such. However, the catch is you are then required not to sell the car for a further 12 months otherwise you would then be eligible for reassessment.
The best advice would be to get some professional guidance, given the costs involved. I think there are a few specialist USA importers who can help with the admin.
The best advice would be to get some professional guidance, given the costs involved. I think there are a few specialist USA importers who can help with the admin.
cardigankid said:
You can't fail to notice the price differential between european and US cars. This is theoretical for me because I have a favourite Porsche dealer and will always buy from them, but I am intrigued by this.
Put aside GT3's for the minute due to availability issues. You can buy a used 997 from a US OPC, here are two examples, some options not mentioned for speed :-
05 C2S 35,900m,19",Bose,Rear Wiper $66,900
06 C2S 6,707m,Aerokit,19",Bose,Sport Chrono,Sportshift,PSE, $81,900
That is a cost spread at $2=£1 from £33,450 to £40,950 base cost.
Lets say you buy at the dearer end, I believe the following costs apply:-
Base Cost £41000
Import Duty 10% £ 4100
VAT on Duty £ 718 No VAT on used vehicle over 6000 miles
Transport Cost £ 2500
Total Cost £48318
Am I wrong or am I wrong? Equivalent cost of a hi-spec low mileage 06 C2S in UK? As far as I can see around £69,000. A saving of £20,000. Why should the brothers not take advantage of this? Obviously you have also bought unseen from an official dealer in the States, but in a location where it will be hard to take the car back for warranty issues. Would they honour a US warranty over here? Also cost of conversion of lights etc unknown.
Bit of a risk but good value?
What I have never got to the bottom of was what is meant by 'Federal Spec'. It may be the issues mentioned above. Someone on PH suggested at one point that the suspension is set up differently in the States, but the cars don't look any higher off the ground. That I find hard to believe though. Anybody throw any more light on this?
You've got the figures wrong.Put aside GT3's for the minute due to availability issues. You can buy a used 997 from a US OPC, here are two examples, some options not mentioned for speed :-
05 C2S 35,900m,19",Bose,Rear Wiper $66,900
06 C2S 6,707m,Aerokit,19",Bose,Sport Chrono,Sportshift,PSE, $81,900
That is a cost spread at $2=£1 from £33,450 to £40,950 base cost.
Lets say you buy at the dearer end, I believe the following costs apply:-
Base Cost £41000
Import Duty 10% £ 4100
VAT on Duty £ 718 No VAT on used vehicle over 6000 miles
Transport Cost £ 2500
Total Cost £48318
Am I wrong or am I wrong? Equivalent cost of a hi-spec low mileage 06 C2S in UK? As far as I can see around £69,000. A saving of £20,000. Why should the brothers not take advantage of this? Obviously you have also bought unseen from an official dealer in the States, but in a location where it will be hard to take the car back for warranty issues. Would they honour a US warranty over here? Also cost of conversion of lights etc unknown.
Bit of a risk but good value?
What I have never got to the bottom of was what is meant by 'Federal Spec'. It may be the issues mentioned above. Someone on PH suggested at one point that the suspension is set up differently in the States, but the cars don't look any higher off the ground. That I find hard to believe though. Anybody throw any more light on this?
Edited by cardigankid on Wednesday 29th August 17:42
There is no import duty to pay on a car that is returned to the EU (providing it was manufactured in the EU) within three years of it's departure. There is VAT to pay on any car that you import to the UK from the USA at the rate of 17.5%. There are some exceptions to this that apply to race cars.
Kieran said:
If anyone has more expert knowledge than please correct me but from my limited research on the Customs & Excise website, I beleive that the only way to avoid vat and duty is to import second hand, the definition from HMCE is that it must be a minimum of 6 months old on the date of import to be classed as such. However, the catch is you are then required not to sell the car for a further 12 months otherwise you would then be eligible for reassessment.
The information above relates to imports from one EU member state to another. If you personally import a 6 months old / 6,000kms car from the very south of Germany to the UK for example, there would be nothing to pay (again you have to keep it for 12months thereafter).However if the same car is sourced from 5kms further south (over the border in Switzerland, an enclave outside the EU!) or the US, this concession does not apply and VAT would be payable.
This is raising an old chestnut again, but check this out ....
http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/usa/clients.show_p...
£38000 retail in USA
http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/usa/clients.show_p...
£38000 retail in USA
Edited by cardigankid on Thursday 6th September 20:49
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