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#11 | |
S2 - Picking it up
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
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#12 | |
S2 - Picking it up
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Casino cash: $490 ![]() |
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#13 | |
S4 - Getting the hang of it
![]() Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 135
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The Mercedes 190 2.5 Evo, which has recently gone into the stratosphere, the Mercedes CLK63 AMG black Series, M3 E36 GT's, Evo's and so on - basically small family saloon cars which have been extensively and thoroughly updated with integrity and real passion to produce a drivers car. There's quite a good selection of RHD CSL's on the market at the moment, so I'm guessing they aren't easily reaching the prices being asked. My view is that RHD prices will pick up again as people get used to the new reality of older cars being investments now (like it or not) and that the current prices is the new, firm base price for cars. Some cars might be in a bubble but, the CSL is not one of them. In short, if you're considering buying a RHD car, go for the best you can afford now, as the £ is cheap and prices / exchange rates will not be like this forever. |
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#14 |
S2 - Picking it up
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Casino cash: $490 ![]() |
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I'm sorry OP, I hope I'm not hijacking your thread too much with this discussion!
I'm in a LHD country, and if a LHD option is available for a particular car I do feel the RHD counterpart will be valued quite a bit less than the LHD car. It's not like the older Nissan Skyline where they only came in RHD. I have to consider that. So in the U.K., let's say someone gets a LHD CSL from Germany and decides to sell the car 6 months later in the U.K. Is that person going to take a major hit in trying to sell that car in the U.K. because people don't want LHD? Or does it still command that premium and people see LHD as being a positive? Is there enough cross-border transactions that they could still offer a higher price compared to the RHD counterpart? I'm not familiar with car sales and impacts on cross border transactions. |
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#15 | |
S6, Sport On, Traction Off
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Location: Norwich
Posts: 1,584
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You would have to be a nuggart to buy a LHD car (at a premium) and then sell it at a loss in the UK, when just re-selling it back to the European market it came from, would see you either re-coup your money (at worse), or make a profit due to the values (slowly but surely) climbing during your ownership. As you state, it would indeed be harder to sell a LHD one in the UK, as who would want to pay a premium for a LHD car, when a RHD car is better suited to our roads AND cheaper LOL? It's the same scenario you state about buying a RHD car for your LHD market. While we are still in the EU and providing the car is purchased from another EU country, there are no additional import costs to add to the purchase. This is the whole point of the EU - no crossborder taxes what-so-ever. I think deep down you know the answer, but due to the price disparity between the two versions, you are finding it a bitter pill to swallow. However, it is a simple black and white choice that is down to you on whether you believe the price difference in the initial purchase is going to justify the lower residual when you decide to move the car on. My personal opinion would be to take a deep breath, dig deep and buy the LHD. It will cost you more, but I think it will be a better bet when coming to sell the car later. You Yanks are very fickle, so you know in your heart that if there were two identical cars in the different drive formats, the more expensive LHD car will be easier to sell on, as everyone will know why you picked it over the LHD version in the first place and will try and hammer you on the price on that basis ![]() However, saying that, as more and more RHD cars are being exported (we recently lost one to New Zealand) and I have seen Swiss registered RHD one at the Nurburgring, the price differences will begin to narrow, but at the same time climb, so I would jump on that bandwagon before it's (financially) too late ![]() What you should have done is bought one a few years ago when the prices were at rock-bottom and stored it for the period until it exceeded the US age related import restriction - you would have been laughing all the way to the bank ![]() ![]()
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Mike R Sarcasm is just a free service I provide. Nordschleife, there's only two barriers to worry about - the ones on the left and the ones on the right ![]() CSL number 044 |
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#16 | |
S2 - Picking it up
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Casino cash: $490 ![]() |
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My mindset is that I would sell both of my current vehicles (1995 BMW M3 LTW and 2005 BMW M3) to own just a CSL. The CSL is the "Dream Car" for me and would never go to another home, unless financially a complete disaster occured. Speaking of which, what are everyone's thoughts on our M3....and particularly the LTW. Garbage? Awesome? Ahhh don't get me started on hindsight. I have e-mails from several years ago on the RHD car I want. More than double the price now. *sigh* |
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#17 |
Driving it like I nicked it
![]() Join Date: Mar 2009
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The thing is that LHD cars have better weight distribution, they feature the lightweight CSL carpet (RHD cars do not have this) and have better exhaust manifold.
Plus, being a German car, the 'right' side of the steering wheel is the left. I would sell my CSL only for ridiculous money. But then, I would have no idea what to buy to replace it. |
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#18 | |
S6, Sport On, Traction Off
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Location: Norwich
Posts: 1,584
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You can't see to overtake on normal roads, and if you get stuck behind something, you will need a very brave, co-operative and understanding passenger ![]() I don't understand this "Unicorn" spec you are looking for (please clarify ![]()
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Mike R Sarcasm is just a free service I provide. Nordschleife, there's only two barriers to worry about - the ones on the left and the ones on the right ![]() CSL number 044 |
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#19 | |
S2 - Picking it up
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Casino cash: $490 ![]() |
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All valid points. Regardless of how much the car will be driven, the experience will be hampered.
Regarding the unicorn, I think it just comes down to the raw nature of the car and taking it down to the bare minimums as intended from the factory. I wouldn't track the car and I know those parts like AC and radio and xenons could be taken out but I like the idea of having a factory build sheet of no (or minimal) options added. It's weird, I've always felt that way with any M3. That being said, know any bare bones LHD cars around?! ![]() Quote:
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#20 | |
S6, Sport On, Traction Off
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Location: Norwich
Posts: 1,584
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You then get the added benefit of the Supersprint sound track as well as having the luxury of aircon and decent lights. You will not notice 20kg difference in driving on the road.
__________________
Mike R Sarcasm is just a free service I provide. Nordschleife, there's only two barriers to worry about - the ones on the left and the ones on the right ![]() CSL number 044 |
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