Yet another on the hunt.

[fectech]

Hello

I am also of the newbie type.

First off great forum - very helpful.

I guess my reasons for being on here are little different in that I’m from Australia and looking to buy a car from the UK.

With our dollar doing OK and having a friend living in the UK I thought it would be a good time to get the car of my dreams.

I have been through the import process before (first Clio V6 in oz) and know all the ins and outs but of course I can't just pop over to check out any cars I’m looking at - therefore any help from you guys would be very much appreciated.

I have phoned and spoken with a couple dealers with CSL's for sale but is always difficult convincing them you are serious when calling for the other side of the world.

This is one car I am interested in - I know it has had modifications and they may seem a little sacrilegious to some on here but I want to use the car for track work. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1575352.htm (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1575352.htm)

I rang and spoke with "Pete" who was a complete tool to me and was offended when I asked about it's history so it would be great if any one on here knows the car and can tell me anything about it.

Once again great forum and I hope to soon be a bonafied part of the CSL crew.

Cheers :beer:

[Yanto]

Welcome dude :thumbs:

wow....all these new people looking will drive up prices. Do you want mine ? .......for £50k ;)

[sailorbaz]

Welcome mate, and don't feel bad about tracking the car, the majority of us on here bought the car for just that. Thrashing the t1ts of it, you want mine? ;-)

They are fantastic cars and good luck with your hunt, looks like a nice example you've selected there with a few choice modification already done at a good price. Shame the seller was a walloper.

Best of luck, and welcome once again.
Baz

[edylcreyob]

Hmmm I had better get a better interpretation of the new rules as post 1989 production cars have become next to nigh impossible to import as an individual unless they are to be used for professional motor sport purposes. Unless your not currently in Australia that is.

If you can import, car cannot be modified from original in any way now.

Thats what i understand anyway.

I just read a newsletter from the Association of Motoring Clubs outlining the issues with the new regulations that have been introduced particularly for Hot Rods which meet the pre 1989 but fail the modified from original criteria.

Even if you can, which I think you can't, don't forget your luxury car tax for any total over $57,500 at 33c in the dollar and they include freight costs all port charges and gst before calculating the tax and your duty !!!!

I have done it several times I guarantee it will cost you more than you budget.

[azrael]

The Car above has been worked on by Thorney Motorsport, might be a good place to ask about it. Ask away we're a helpful bunch

[Kev.H]

396bhp what mods do you need for that ?

[jibm]

396bhp what mods do you need for that ?

cams, zorst, remap & deep pockets :thumbs:

[fectech]

Thanks for the welcome and advise.

I have been in contact with John from Thorney and he has been very helpful but only knows the history on the car from the first owner - not the currently seller.

I know you can't inmport a car into OZ while living in OZ - not possible just like edy said unless it is pre 89. But like I said I have a friend who is living in London and the car will be in his name - just have to wait a year.

Also tax is paid on the redbook (car valutaion site in oz) price and currently CSL's are listed at around $68k so i'm hoping by next year they come down a little more.

This leads me to my next question.

How accurate are the car valuation sites in the UK? - searching on sites such as Parkers.co.uk the prices of CSL's are alot lower than what people are asking - does this mean issurance companies will only pay out this value if the worst happens?

Cheers

[edylcreyob]

Who is importing the car, him or you if its you doesn't amtter one hoot who owns it for the next year you can't import it unless your overseas with the car!!!

If its modified from original that is obvious, body changes etc (engine mods you could probably get away with) you currently have no hope of importing so look for a std one I would suggest.

You have to apply in the importers name with licence/passport evidence of who you are if your a resident one set of rules apply if your not but planning to come to Australia another set apply.

I don't see how someone owning the car in London on your behalf will help you as you will be the one applying.

Tax is NOT paid on Redbook valuation, I can 100% assure you of that.

Having imported more than 6 cars from the USA here is the deal.

Customs value is established first by proven purchase price documentation at the exchange rate of the day its exported.

Failing that or if your numbers are suspicious then Glass Guide (trade bible) or BMW Aust would be consulted to determine the appropriate price which if Customs look Glass's Guide they are listed at $140k and 2 listed on Car Sales at over $120k. Insurance companies happy to insure up to around $140k also.

Having determined the Customs Value then 10% Duty is calculated if not over 30 years old.

Then transport and insurance costs are added to the calculation

Then GST is calculated at 10%

Then luxury car tax of 33c per dollar is calculated on anything over $57180

So lets say you buy at 27,500 UK pounds

Thats $48,500 Aussie (Customs Value)

plus 10% duty $4850

plus transport/insurance say $8000

Total so far $61350

then add GST 10% $6135

Total now $67485

then Luxury Car Tax at .33 of 67485 - 57180 =$3400

plus about another $3k of charges from the company who handles the importation and clearance for you


Grand Total approx $74,000


You can try and lie to make it cheaper but if you get caught out the penalty is as follows...

Car is impounded.

Double tax is assessed and jail time is the worst penalty attached to understating. Customs have a specialist car section now and have begun tracking all cars in and out and are far more dilligent than 3 to 4 years ago.

I believe you would be mad to understate anything especially as your not much over the LCT threshold


None of tha above matters much as from where I sit I don't see how you would legally be able to get it here anyway, you don't have eligibility under the Personal Imports scheme or any other scheme I am aware of but would love to know if you have a loophole that I am not aware of that would allow it to happen as I will quickly follow suit!!!!!;)

[fectech]

He is importing the car - in his name - he is the owner, he lives in the UK, he is Australian returning home in 15 months.

Love to see you are passionate about this and yes I have come to about the same cost as you (little more actually - with insurance in UK and storage) which is still around $50k cheaper than if I was to buy one here.

I too have imported cars (3) from OS with one coming from the UK and it was post 89 (Clio V6). I have paid the taxes and import fees and everything else you mentioned and I’d be happy to pay tax on the purchase price as that would be cheaper again. When determining the tax I should pay on the Clio they were stumped (none in OZ) - in the end they said it fell somewhere between a Laguna and a Clio and I paid tax at that valuation.

I really appreciate the extra info you have provided - one thing that i can't find any reference to is the modification ruling you refer to. As far as I can see as long as the importer has owned the car for more than a year, is a returning Australian resident and has proof that the car could have been driven at any stage during the year of ownership then you can bring anything in. Once it is here it has to pass road worthy and away you go.

If this is not the case can you please point me in the right direction of who can clarify this?

Cheers

[sailorbaz]

Excellent, very informative thread.

[edylcreyob]

OH that makes more sense and he then get sick of it the minute it arrives and sells it to you......should work providing he meets all criteria 12 months ownership, garaged at his address used regularly etc etc.. Better cover the money trail carefully for car payment though.


I will find the newsletter I refererred to and re read but I think it may be more for Special Interest Vehicle imports not Personal Imports which is what this would come under.

Sure can't buy one here for that price as you know, can't buy a damaged one for that actually!!!!!!

[fectech]

Didin't want to say that (who knows who's watching!!!)

But you get the gerneral idea. Edy

Mate, if it was easy to import cars we don't have in OZ we'd all be a lot better off. Kind of like NZ. Noble's, 22b's, etc. every where

CHhers

[fectech]

Another member on this forum - informed me that a CSL sold in OZ for $89k last week. Not happy I missed it - does anyone know any more info on it.

Was it damaged or high k's? Price seems out of line with what most are advertised for.

Cheers

[jonv]

Another member on this forum - informed me that a CSL sold in OZ for $89k last week. Not happy I missed it - does anyone know any more info on it.

Was it damaged or high k's? Price seems out of line with what most are advertised for.

Cheers

Was this for an imported car?

I understand that an imported car will be less value than a non-import. Does this apply to ALL cars? if so, what is the typcal % reduction?
Just wondering about imported a bit of exotica, say a Lambo.

[fectech]

Was this for an imported car?

I understand that an imported car will be less value than a non-import. Does this apply to ALL cars? if so, what is the typcal % reduction?
Just wondering about imported a bit of exotica, say a Lambo.

Not positive but I think the car was a repair job - would love to know more myself.

The simple answer to your other question is Yes - all imported cars are worth less than Australian delivered cars. Having said that there are a lot of different factors and there is no real way of applying a percentage. For example there are a lot of different schemes under which you can import a car - personal import, rally import, import of a car that’s on the SEVS list and has a RAWS workshop, pre 1989 import etc - each of these type of imports have a different set of rules and as such the harder the rules, generally, the higher the cost. The Australian Gov has made it quite hard to import cars in order to protect our local car manufacturers - or so some people say.

If you would like to check prices of cars here (OZ), the best place would be carsales.com.au and if you search for personal import you can make some comparisons. Usually, though, the cars that have been personally imported are cars that never came to Australia and can't be complied - therefore there is no way of determining a percentage. I sold my Clio V6 for about what it cost me to import. I definitely didn't make any money.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

[jonv]

Very informative, thank you for your reply.

Just as a matter of interest, what part of Aussie are you from? I plan to head to Brisbane if all things go to plan.

[edylcreyob]

OP is correct, Australiian delivery carries a premium in my opinion as much as 40% depending on the car. an d collectability.

Biggest issue is LHD v RHD so if its a UK import once rust issues are determined then its not quite so bad but USA imports and European imports suffer badly from either being converted or still LHD

If the car is 30 years old no need to convert to RHD but if LHD it will still restrict its selling price on most cars.