|
We're moving abroad to Austria. Used car prices there are ludicrously high even privately, so I'm thinking it might be a cunning plan to buy one in the UK. Can anyone recommend an honest place for finding one please - or indeed, pass on any other tips on sourcing one? TIA.
|
There's a place in Basingstoke that I believe HJ has mentioned previously.
I have no personal knowledge of it though.
www.lhdplace.co.uk/
Edited by RobertyBob on 19/06/2009 at 12:48
|
There's a place in Basingstoke that I believe HJ has mentioned previously. I have no personal knowledge of it though. www.lhdplace.co.uk/
I work about 300 yds. down the road from them, give us a shout if you want me to do quick recce / bit of tyre kicking.
|
|
|
|
There's a guy on ebay who supplies UK folks with LHD cars from Belgium at good prices, can't rememebr his ID off the top of my head though. Has a very good reputation. Deals with paperwork, registrations etc. Might be worth searching for him.
There's also a specialist LHD supplier in Amersham if that's your neck of the woods - again can't remember the name but a I'm sure a Google would reveal all.
|
Bear in mind that in Germany, for example, it's not as simple as taking a LHD car there, getting it registered and taxed, and then using it. You have to show that it met (when it was made) their regulations. You might find you have one hell of a time persuading the Austrians that it's OK, and struggle to get the manufacturer's full data on your specific car.
I suggest you ask around first and see how easy it is to import a car into Austria - it might be a false economy.
|
>>Austria - it might be a false economy.
Like Iceland, or Latvia?
|
|
Indeed - they share a border with Hungary, and that's nearly gone to the wall, too...
|
I went through a similar exercise for Germany. I found LHD cars in the UK very expensive for what was on offer, certainly not cheap enough to consider buying, shipping and re-registering.
I know what the annual mileage of the car is going to be so we leased a new car. As used cars hold their value so well in mainland Europe, leasing new can be quite attractive and the deposit is much lower than what you need in the UK.
|
|
Try going on the Autotrader site and put "LHD" in the keywords box and a distance limit from your current location. Never know, there might be something. I tried it for fun as a result of your thread and there were a surprising number of vehicles available around here.
|
|
|
|
I suggest you ask around first and see how easy it is to import a car into Austria - it might be a false economy.
Not too complex - I don't think there is anything really specific about their specifications. My main car is a Saab 9-5 Aero estate, and I'm planning to keep hold of that when I can sort out the headlamps (xenons). I also have an older 9-5 with "normal" headlamps, and I already have a set of LHD units for that (20 minutes to swap them over, with a tea break in the middle!!). However, they are both tuned and I don't fancy the insurance on two modified cars - insurance is a bit steep there as well, mainly due to the requirement for the cars to be insured for any driver. I was planning to get rid of the older car and get something smaller (e.g. Golf sized).
I'm only 40 minutes from Basingstoke, so I'll take a peek at the place that's been mentioned there.
|
Several years ago I was reliably (I think) informed that cars were quite cheap in Germany and that if one could live with a left hooker (No, not you dear) then some quite good bargains could be had. Particular reference was made to MB estates as they were only used by Plumbers etc. and that private folk wouldn't be seen dead in one. Is there any credence in this?
Best regards............MD
|
Cars in Germany are currently about 11% dearer list price for list price over the UK.
Some of that is down to VAT being 19% v. 15% in the UK.
Only MB estates I can remember seeing in any numbers are taxis. A colleague at work has a black C class estate. Everyone calls him the undertaker :)
|
|
|
Probably ten years or so ago, when there were 3DM to the £. Remember a mate buying a 911 and a Corvette there, then we drove down to Le Mans, with me trying to keep up in a motorhome.
|
|
|
Used cars in Germany are relatively expensive compared to the UK. This is because of the thriving export market to eastern Europe for anything that doesn't get through the MOT or meet the emissions regulations. Effectively this puts a floor under used prices as the demand for vaguely roadworthy VWs, BMWs and Mercs remains high.
Quite how the recessions in eastern Europe together with the scrappage scheme in Germany will affect this unofficial recycling system remains to be seen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I bought Ford Fiesta 2007 with 22000 kms from guy in Leeds.
I been there have a test drive looked the car for maybe an hour and didnt find anything.
Car was better than described.
But the best think is, it was cheaper than lhd cars around London area, a lot of cheaper
Its only 170 miles from London and its at least £1000 cheaper what i would pay here and £3000 what i would pay in Spain
OOOh would nearly forget
www.lefthanddriveleeds.co.uk
|
|
|
