German Cars

[chrisbala]

Hi guys

Due to the prices of mercs over here, I was contemplating getting a car from germany - buying it from there and driving it over here.

Apart from the fact it will be LHD what are the pros and cons of this

How would it affect insurance and what would the procedures be once "importing" it

Has anyone done this before? Would appreciate all the help I can get.

Cheers

 

[IanA2]

Honest John's covered this......

 

[grober]

Sounds a recipe for losing a shed load of money to me and LHD will be more expensive to insure. 2 YEAR WARRANTY ALSO. Expect to treated like a leper by UK MB dealers and when it comes to trade in time?????? The only reason to go LHD is to get a model that simply isnt available in RHD IMHO e.g. 4matic Mercedes, Chevy Corvette, Ford Mustang, etc. The rarity/price of some LHD models can then sometimes compensate for their obvious disadvantage. Unless you spend the bulk of your time on the continent of course which I am forgetting some folks do.

 

[crockers]

Are you looking to buy new or secondhand? If new - you can buy RHD abroad....try Dutch dealers..

 

[grober]

Are you looking to buy new or secondhand? If new - you can buy RHD abroad....try Dutch dealers..

Didn't realise you were thinking of RHD abroad sorry. Mercedes introduced an extra RHD tariff to European dealers to try to discourage them from ordering RHD models for UK customers at one point. Don't know if this still applies but tended to cancel out the price differential at the time. Together with the extra paperwork involved plus some lowering of UK prices ( sterling exchange rate etc) meant it was hardly worth the effort except maybe for some high end models.

 

[crockers]

Sterling is looking good against the Euro...

Is the ML still made in USA or are European ones made in Austria.?

Hmm he thinks -- buying in $.....:bannana:

 

[IanA2]

Sterling is looking good against the Euro...

Is the ML still made in USA or are European ones made in Austria.?

Hmm he thinks -- buying in $.....:bannana:

I think they're made in Austria.....

 

[garystu1965]

Apart from the fact it will be LHD

No no no no no don't get a LHD vehicle.

 

[grober]

Sterling is looking good against the Euro...

Is the ML still made in USA or are European ones made in Austria.?

Hmm he thinks -- buying in $.....:bannana:

Dont think the present ML model is made in Austria at present. The previous one was--- in particular the later 5 cylinder diesels. http://www.globalautoindex.com/maker.plt?no=139#current

 

[recycled]

there is a big disadvantage. Insurance is a problem as there are only a few that like LHD . but it depends as well on a lot of factors.
I bought two LHD from den haag in holland , but they were used as track day cars.
Servicing ,fixing not a problem as long as what you get is availalible in the UK as well.

 

[rufman]

I really wouldnt worry too much at all about LHD. Lots of scare stories but in my opinion just stories. I've bought 2 from abroad and now expecting my third. 2 previous were both 911's and apart from the sva test I had no problems. Insurance was with Direct line and Norwich Union. One of them got pinched and Direct line paid out very promptly with very little questions being asked.

The only big problem in ownership is pulling out of some roundabouts or junctions as you have to stretch across the passenger seat for good visibility and parking barriers tend to be on your right!

Parts and servicing were both the same price as rhd and after 30 mins on the road it will feel completely normal.

 

[chrisbala]

I was thinking about the LHD cars - as you can buy some very nice second hand mercs / porsches for much cheaper than you would find here - all with nice AMG mods etc.

But if insurance is going to be a problem then I might as well stick with the RHD