August 2007
Any views on the pitfalls of a Jersey, Channel Islands, resident buying from the UK mainland and personally importing a car, given that the local market prices don't seem to play fair with VAT?
Now here's another issue: if I were to move to the UK mainland within the next 12 months am I liable for VAT to be levied when I bring the car back?
If I do not take the car out of the UK for 12 months (therefore not permanently exporting according to DVLA) can I still claim the VAT relief as a Jersey resident?
The car UK mainland dealer will not deduct the VAT at source that will be down to me to claim that back, is that correct?
Does anyone know the process and the likely fees charged by agencies that claim VAT back on my behalf?
I have the rates of duty to import into Jersey as well as costs to register the car here (although registering is unesessary if the car is in the island for more than 6 months but less than 12 months.) On the basis that I do not sell the car for 12 months after importing into Jersey and subsequently bringing it into the UK.
Grateful for any answers to the above or your own experiences and lessons learned.
Thanks
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Hello...can anybody tell me, is it an easy job to relpace the rear coil springs on my BMW 318?...thank you...Ray
{Car details added to header as per the usually ignored sticky requests - DD} Read more
What's your most ridiculous breakdown experience when just about everything seems to go wrong?
Mine was:
Morris Minor (my first car!) and me a mechanical numpty.
A38, Devon. Getting dark and raining.
Car overheats. Pull in to layby.
Used to this scenario, so fetch water in bottle from boot.
No torch (not clever enough for that) so peer under bonnet for place to deposit water.
Glasses slip off nose and tinkle into engine bay.
Now blind, grope about feebly for glasses. Find them unbroken.
On withdrawal from engine bay, touch unspecified hot bit with hand. Leap backwards.
Sooth pain in back of head from sharp contact with bonnet.
Replace glasses, hold on with one hand, attempt water pouring game with one hand. Most goes where it's supposed to.
Sigh with relief, re-enter car. Have nothing to remove oil from glasses with so vision much reduced until shirt pressed into service.
All sorted now. Engine starts. Put in gear and move forward two yards. Odd noises from below vehicle.
Decide it must be the exhaust. Get out of car.
Lie in layby in puddle, scanning another small quadrant of underneath bits in the headlights of each passing car.
Get wetter and crosser as nothing is found.
Notice passenger seatbelt is hanging out of door. Buckle was making noise.
Get back in car, seatbelt now safely in car.
Put in gear and move forward, get onto carriageway, hear whooshing noise.
Look over the see passenger door is ajar.
Nowhere to stop now so reach over and pull door closed with leather strap.
Leather strap comes off in hand.
Engine overheats.
Reach next layby.
Now no water. Police car pulls in behind.
Ask them if they can help. "No mate. are you sure it's yours?"
Persuade police that have not stolen own car, aware of smeared glasses and oil stain on shirt.
Walk quarter mile to find phone and call AA. Join over the phone at exorbitant cost.
Get taken 200 miles in AA tow truck.
Am told car has cracked engine block.
Clueless and skint, so fix it myself with Polyfilla.
Car runs another two years before being sold, and MBM 559G is apparently still on road.
Have been member of AA ever since.
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"I can only imagine that on presenting my bananas to the checkout person I was charged for a pair of slippers."
That has actually made my day - thanks, I will have that image with me for some time.
www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/22/impounded_maserat.../
note his point that its cheaper to park in the tfl pound than central london Read more
Westminster Council are £40 per day.
Having purchased a new A4 4 years ago from local Audi dealer, I am looking to replace upgrade the car.
Why is it you are treated with absolute distain by the salesmen. Unless you want to pay the price they decide to place on the window they treat you as though you are a time waster. They then get out that stupid little book and give you some ridiculously low figure on the car you are trading in. Snide comments about it's age and condition and 'it's so last year'.
It's pathetic, there is no loyalty, the sales people have changed three fold, you can never see the same chap twice, I find the whole experience unpleasant. I much prefer to shop by internet and cut out these middlemen. There's money in my pocket, but I just don't feel inclined to waste my time at these 'stuck up' dealerships.
Is it just me or do others feel the same. Read more
A certain VW dealer tried to patronise Mrs P when she bought the Golf...I wonder whether he's slept since..?
For pumping air in the tyres. In a reasonable cost.
How good are the battery operated ones? Or the foot operated pumps will be better?
Thanx Read more
Thanks, Billy. That sounds like good advice - mineral oil is not good for leather. The "Kismet" pump cost less than a new Chinese one and will probably last another lifetime.
659.
Perhaps I'm missing something here, but an eBay seller is offering cars in various states of write-off, but in addition has some that are stolen / recovered, but unrecorded.
How would it be known that the vehicle had been stolen / recovered, and what's in it for the seller to admit this if it's unrecorded?
Example: tinyurl.com/36qxb8 Read more
That Y plate Merc looks a bit of a bargain even with its history.
I recently bought a vw bora and the engine management light was on. Forecourt owner got the light sorted as agreed before I bought it. Three days later it came on again and forecourt guy said its not covered by warranty. The question im asking is whether the light is a common fault, and can it be sorted easily? Read more
The MOT wasn't relevant to this problem - just a basic safety check, really.
Could this get serious if left - yes.
Take it back; the law now effectively covers faults for six months from the date of sale - warranty terms and conditions are not applicable to the Act. HJ covered this in his latest column.
www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motor...l
was wondering if any one can help I'm looking at buying some tyres for my Zafira
and was looking at getting the dunlopwintersport m3 tyres was wondering if any one can help as to if they are a good tyre or not
{header made less vague - DD} Read more
I had a set on Porsche 'design 90' alloys which I had on my Audi RS2. They are fantastic in winter conditions but they aren't true full snow tyres. That said I had no problems ascending the Alps to 3000M+ with them on and the aid of Quattro 4WD,
I have a focus V reg my remote key has stopped working I got a second hand remote the same as mine with 3 buttons does anybody know how to programme it to my car Read more
tells you in the car handbook


Yep not bad at all, if its got antiroll bars its a fiddle i think its the 318is which has very stiff antiroll bars that is quite tight