Buying car from US eBay

[croyde]

I think that there was a recent thread on this but I can't find it.

I have been idly thinking of getting a Crown Vic for a long time but they are as rocking horse doo doo over here and unless it's a real or pretend cop car or taxi, virtually non existent.

Quite a few bargains on the US eBay site so I looked at Shipmycar.com who do everything from collecting, shipping and all the stuff to get it on the UK roads.

Now the quote I have for a $5000 2005 car is around £3000 including VAT and import duty. Does that sound about right?

Cheers.

[croyde]

Cheers Viper. Yep! that quote includes all with container shipping (2 cars to a container apparently).

[croyde]

Cheers again.

When you say that you picked up the car and did the IVA yourself do you mean that you personally turned up with a trailer and sorted all the changes for UK law yourself?

Ta.

[croyde]

My maths is bad Just looked at the quote again and it's £3200 for everything BAR imports duty and VAT.

So north of £4000 would be the final figure. Add the purchase cost for an unseen car and it's a £7k gamble in order to get a 10 year old Crown Vic.

There is a '94 Mercury Marguis on eBay for £2995. Maybe I should go for that as it's only 20 miles away.

[croyde]

PM sent. Thanks

[croyde]

Thanks mate. I do spend (too) much time drooling over the cheap heavy metal over on the US eBay site but regardless of the mega low prices it looks like the whole caboodle to get the car over here, converted, tested, taxed etc is about £4k.

Tempting as it is when a 2007 model can be had for £2500 in the US, it's a big gamble when you can't actually see the car and then have to depend on someone else picking it up and taking it to the nearest port.

Was going to ask you but I see that you are over here

ETA The shipping cost is around £1.2k so the same as flying over and a couple of nights in a hotel, plus fuel, hire car etc.

Maybe I should just do that, rent a Vic and finally scratch that itch

Edited by croyde on Monday 17th March 17:49

[croyde]

Thanks mate. So does that mean no mucking about with lights and indicators. IE the flashing red rear lights would suffice in the UK if 10 years + old?

Cheers.

[croyde]

£27k!!! Surely that will never sell.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/58-Ford-Crown-Victoria-4...

[croyde]

OP here.

I eventually found a year 2000 black Mercury Grand Marquis here in the UK.

Only 32k miles.

It was absolutely perfect and such a joy to drive it quickly got upgraded to my daily. Commuting across central London at 12mpg lol.

Then the 2015 Mustang prices were released so the Marquis went to pay the deposit.

It sold for 50% more than I paid for it.

I still miss it, especially as I no longer have the Mustang.

Edited by croyde on Friday 22 June 15:24

[croyde]

In my limited experience of the marque, I'd say that £7k with it all legal over here is ok for a 2011.

Not £12k though.

I might of posted about this one before, on eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Crown-Victoria-200...

I think it's too much.

I paid £3200 for a 2000 better specced Mercury Grand Marquis with all the P71 extra bits.

I did advertise it for £5500 when I sold it on, just to see if there would be any takers but in the end accepted £4500.

The ad says accepts offers. Try a cheeky one.

Edited by croyde on Thursday 5th July 15:56