Ordering RHD from USA

goz83

I can't find an answer to this anywhere. Can a brand new car be ordered from the states in RHD for our roads? I see lots of conversion companies, but cannot see the option to order RHD. I am specifically thinking of buying a modest Ford Mustang (just the V6). By by guestimate, I should be able to get one landed for less than 30k euro, but would much rather it be RHD. Don't wanna be leaning across the seats when paying those tolls

I'm in no rush, this is about a year away, as cash is tight now. I would also consider a nearly new model if it were much cheaper.

Any input would be useful. Also considering the classic 67 mustang if RHD ordering is not possible.

Mar4ix

check this. http://www.tradecarview.com/ .there is a lot of cars.

pete4130

I'm in Australia and there are lots of RHD built American muscle cars, Mustangs, F150's, Corvettes etc...built here in Australia so look at the cost of shipping one from here rather than buying a LHD converted to RHD. I just lived in London for 15 months and all RHD U.S. cars are conversions as far as I could see in adverts.

Weigh up the cost of a shoddily built american car converted to RHD or a better built Aussie car thats already RHD.

Be prepared for the cost of 2nd hand Aussie cars. Even bangers go for stupid money...I got a '96 Lancer Estate and it cost me $3500 (€2800!) with 161,000K on the clock (which is really low for that year).

Also be prepared for much higher mileage from cars here. In saying that its usually more open road/highway/freeway/motorway but Aussie roads re generally a bit crap. That being said I just got 40mpg from my 1.8l '96 Lancer Estate.

People tend to repair cars here than just scrap them because buying another car isn't cost effective.

Try www.tradingpost.com.au for cars.

firefly08

I'm in Australia and there are lots of RHD built American muscle cars, Mustangs, F150's, Corvettes etc...built here in Australia

They build RHD Mustangs in Australia? I thought they had to be converted just like the ones you see in the UK.

Max_Damage

The only RHD cars I've seen for sale in America are Subaru Legacy's, Jeep Cherokee's, and a few Saturn's, mainly because they are all used by US Mail.

EPM

You won't get a factory example in rhd. You'll have to get it converted.

Big Nasty

First, forget the V6, just forget it - V8 or no dice.

Second, Mustangs / Camaro's etc are designed and built lhd, and lhd they should remain. Don't convert, leave as is and get a zapper for toll bridges.

Lastly, you may land it for for €30k or maybe a little more but the VRT will be the guts of €20k.

Sids Not

http://www.uswd.com/RHDford.htm.....;)


have you your money ready now..............:p

http://www.uswd.com/USWD.htm

Max_Damage

You could get one of these 'cheap' conversion jobs! :

firefly08

http://www.uswd.com/USWD.htm

Christ...$67K for a 2005 Mustang GT...that is at least 4, maybe 5 times the value of that car without the conversion. The new one only costs about $30K and it's a much improved model over the 2005 one.

OP, I'd say your best bet if you really want that car is to get the top spec GT brand new for around $35K, and import it yourself. You can ship it for a few grand but then you will have to pay VAT, possibly import duty, and VRT which will probably double the price altogether. But the only way around all those fees is if the car is imported by someone who owned it abroad for 6 months and then moved to Ireland.

Sids Not

Max_Damage wrote: »

You could get one of these 'cheap' conversion jobs! :

Man..thats really neat..looks factory built...........................:D:D

DublinDilbert

Max_Damage wrote: »

You could get one of these 'cheap' conversion jobs! :

Is it for delivering post?

They use RHD cars in the likes of Canada for delivering post. So the driver can just stop at each post box and pop the mail in. Could be why there is a shelf on passenger seat.

Big Nasty

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Is it for delivering post?

They use RHD cars in the likes of Canada for delivering post. So the driver can just stop at each post box and pop the mail in. Could be why there is a shelf on passenger seat.

:eek::eek::D:D:D:eek::eek:

goz83

MCMLXXV wrote: »

First, forget the V6, just forget it - V8 or no dice.

Second, Mustangs / Camaro's etc are designed and built lhd, and lhd they should remain. Don't convert, leave as is and get a zapper for toll bridges.

Lastly, you may land it for for €30k or maybe a little more but the VRT will be the guts of €20k.

I'm not all that crazy into the size of the cars manhood. The V6 would suit me fine. I just think the car is possibly the best looking (with exception of the 67 model) I have ever seen. The V6 would cost me $26k before shipping and the onslaught of taxes. The V8 would cost me $32k. The full spec GT500 would cost 60k and is a monster, which I would possibly never be able to insure. I'm 27 now with 6yrs NCB and was paying last year around €800 fully comp for a 318iSE, which was nicked. I finally found a car I really like, but I can't take the piss with insurance costs. I have no idea what the V6 would cost to insure, but anything bigger would be much higher i'm sure. I suppose I dont mind if it is LHD, but I figured the lights and all would need to be changed/adjusted for our roads and the RHD factory model would have this sorted from the word go.

I do have a friend in California thinking of visiting Ireland again at some stage and staying for a while. I wonder if that's a way I could avoid paying the extra charges. If she got a free flight and accommodation, I suppose she might be happy with that. Maybe it's too risky though?

philipm

You could try these guys in the UK:

http://www.right-hand-drive.co.uk/

trad

You could always buy a toll tag. Might be a cheaper option.

Big Nasty

goz83 wrote: »

I'm not all that crazy into the size of the cars manhood. The V6 would suit me fine. I just think the car is possibly the best looking (with exception of the 67 model) I have ever seen. The V6 would cost me $26k before shipping and the onslaught of taxes. The V8 would cost me $32k. The full spec GT500 would cost 60k and is a monster, which I would possibly never be able to insure. I'm 27 now with 6yrs NCB and was paying last year around €800 fully comp for a 318iSE, which was nicked. I finally found a car I really like, but I can't take the piss with insurance costs. I have no idea what the V6 would cost to insure, but anything bigger would be much higher i'm sure. I suppose I dont mind if it is LHD, but I figured the lights and all would need to be changed/adjusted for our roads and the RHD factory model would have this sorted from the word go.

I do have a friend in California thinking of visiting Ireland again at some stage and staying for a while. I wonder if that's a way I could avoid paying the extra charges. If she got a free flight and accommodation, I suppose she might be happy with that. Maybe it's too risky though?

The V6 is 4L (210bhp) while the V8 is 4.6 (300bhp) - insurance differnces will be minimal at this level and well worth it for the extra growl and power. When you want to sell the car nobody will want the V6 either.

For your friend to import and avoid VRT she will have to own the car in the states for 12 months before she can import it here.

firefly08

I do have a friend in California thinking of visiting Ireland again at some stage and staying for a while. I wonder if that's a way I could avoid paying the extra charges.

Unfortunately not. The exemption from import fees, VAT and VRT is only for someone moving here. Your friend would, at the very least, have to have the option of residency here (no prob if she's an EU citizen, not so simple otherwise), and would have to satisfy the revenue that she really intends to live here. She would absolutely have to prove, with paperwork, that she owned and used the car abroad for at least 6 months prior to the move. Then she would not be allowed to sell the car in Ireland for at least 12 months - if she did then all the fees would have to be back paid.

MCMLXXV is right about the model - it would pay to have the GT. The V6 is surprisingly slow. It will look and sound good but that's it. The GT will look and sound better, get similar fuel economy, be way, way faster, higher spec'd, and be worth more. Tax will be the same since either one is going to be in the highest bracket anyway.

Look at it this way - it's going to cost an absolute fortune to buy and run. Why spend all that money and then skimp on the specs? The extra $6K will seem like a very small difference by the time you get this car landed and registered etc.

goz83

philipm wrote: »

You could try these guys in the UK:

http://www.right-hand-drive.co.uk/

I'd avoid a conversion kit, because of additional cost and I heard it interferes with the structural integrity of the vehicle. A factory made RHD is really the only consideration, which appears to be not available.

@MCMLXVV

I suppose you're right about the difference in insurance. Resale value would not be on my mind, because I would never sell the mustang. When considering cost of extras in the V6 to the standard V8, it might be worth a second look. Thanks. Now you've got me thinkin about the GT500

goz83

firefly08 wrote: »

Unfortunately not. The exemption from import fees, VAT and VRT is only for someone moving here. Your friend would, at the very least, have to have the option of residency here (no prob if she's an EU citizen, not so simple otherwise), and would have to satisfy the revenue that she really intends to live here. She would absolutely have to prove, with paperwork, that she owned and used the car abroad for at least 6 months prior to the move. Then she would not be allowed to sell the car in Ireland for at least 12 months - if she did then all the fees would have to be back paid.

MCMLXXV is right about the model - it would pay to have the GT. The V6 is surprisingly slow. It will look and sound good but that's it. The GT will look and sound better, get similar fuel economy, be way, way faster, higher spec'd, and be worth more. Tax will be the same since either one is going to be in the highest bracket anyway.

Look at it this way - it's going to cost an absolute fortune to buy and run. Why spend all that money and then skimp on the specs? The extra $6K will seem like a very small difference by the time you get this car landed and registered etc.

Hmmmm. So, friend owns car for 6 months in the US, runs up a few k miles and then moves here for a year. She wants to come here and live for a year, so would be working. When returning home, or 12 months after registering vehicle here, the car gets signed over to me and the fees (excluding shipping) don't need to be paid. I would go for the better spec GT if I could avoid paying VRT. I would even insure her on the car here if I needed to, but I wouldn't see myself letting her drive on our roads might get scratched.

stevenmu

goz83 wrote: »

I would even insure her on the car here if I needed to

I think you would while the car is still in her name and you'd need to be a named driver.

firefly08

Hmmmm. So, friend owns car for 6 months in the US, runs up a few k miles and then moves here for a year. She wants to come here and live for a year, so would be working. When returning home, or 12 months after registering vehicle here, the car gets signed over to me and the fees (excluding shipping) don't need to be paid. I would go for the better spec GT if I could avoid paying VRT. I would even insure her on the car here if I needed to, but I wouldn't see myself letting her drive on our roads might get scratched.

Yes I think that sounds like it will work, and it's perfectly legal. Read all about it here

One thing I didn't realize but I see it now reading the web page is that the owner not only cannot sell, but also cannot lend the car for 12 months. So, basically if you do this it will be 18 months from the time the car is purchased before you can get behind the wheel. But you will still have an unbelievably cool car for a good price.

Big Nasty

goz83 wrote: »

Hmmmm. So, friend owns car for 6 months in the US, runs up a few k miles and then moves here for a year. She wants to come here and live for a year, so would be working. When returning home, or 12 months after registering vehicle here, the car gets signed over to me and the fees (excluding shipping) don't need to be paid. I would go for the better spec GT if I could avoid paying VRT. I would even insure her on the car here if I needed to, but I wouldn't see myself letting her drive on our roads might get scratched.

I don't see anything wrong with that if you can manage it. You give her the money, she buys car, moves over here 6 months later and then sells you the car 12 months later on her departure. Perfectly legal too!

stevenmu

firefly08 wrote: »

One thing I didn't realize but I see it now reading the web page is that the owner not only cannot sell, but also cannot lend the car for 12 months. So, basically if you do this it will be 18 months from the time the car is purchased before you can get behind the wheel.

Ouch. With a car like that, knowing that it's 'yours', seeing it sitting there, maybe even getting in and giving it a rev, but not being able to drive would be agony.

firefly08

There is one other thing you'd want to be aware of though - the revenue could refuse the exemption (presumably they would do this is they thought someone was trying to pull a fast one), and in that case, you can appeal, but:

The VRT due in such cases must be paid before an appeal can be entertained

So you would have to be very careful to make sure everything is done above board. I sense a lot of research in your future

goz83

firefly08 wrote: »

Yes I think that sounds like it will work, and it's perfectly legal. Read all about it here

One thing I didn't realize but I see it now reading the web page is that the owner not only cannot sell, but also cannot lend the car for 12 months. So, basically if you do this it will be 18 months from the time the car is purchased before you can get behind the wheel. But you will still have an unbelievably cool car for a good price.

I would have to park it in the garden, put four wheel clamps on, Post the keys to my mother in Spain, remove the battery and cover the car up to keep me from taking it for a spin.

I'm going to really look into this now. As a company owner/director, I would possibly be able to supply some work for my friend if she had any trouble finding some. I'm guessing it would not need to be full time anyway. Setting her up on a mobile phone contract would be a good way to prove she was living here too, as I wouldn't be charging rent and so wouldn't say otherwise.

If I wasn't tied here, I would definitely be living in America for the year and would be taking home a gem.

For all the hassle involved, I think the V6 would be a waste of time. Tactics changed. Thanks everyone for your comments. Very helpful.