11-D Golf LHD

colm_c

I was stopped in traffic yesterday evening, and the car in front of me was LHD Golf, nothing strange in that, but it was on Irish plates, had all the stickers from a local dealer (so didn't look like an import).

I've been trying to work out why someone would go to the trouble of ordering a LHD Golf in Ireland, what with extra vehicle costs, extra insurance costs, blind spots etc.

Surely if the purpose of the LHD is to drive in europe for long periods (or be it's final destination), it would be cheaper and more efficient to buy it in a LHD country?

Anyone any insights?

L-M

Wasn't dark blue by any chance?

galwaytt

Well, technically, it should be cheaper, not more expensive, because........being LHD has a lower OMSP, and thus lower VRT.

Being a 'std' LHD product, made in larger no's, it should also be cheaper from the dealer as well.

And, maybe it's someone who's doing the reverse of what we do, i.e. moving home to a LHD country under a 'change of residence' to avoid some tax in THEIR country ?

cml387

Handy for kerb crawling.Otherwise I can't think of any reason.

colm_c

Limerick man wrote: »

Wasn't dark blue by any chance?

White.

galwaytt wrote: »

Well, technically, it should be cheaper, not more expensive, because........being LHD has a lower OMSP, and thus lower VRT.

Being a 'std' LHD product, made in larger no's, it should also be cheaper from the dealer as well.

And, maybe it's someone who's doing the reverse of what we do, i.e. moving home to a LHD country under a 'change of residence' to avoid some tax in THEIR country ?

That's the only logical explanation that I can think of, that and maybe with the scrappage scheme they got a good deal.

Daegerty

Could it be an unmarked garda car?

galwaytt

I would actively consider a LHD car for my next 'nice' one. Got the opportunity to drive one last year, and found no issues driving it at all.

If you were looking at something tall: SUV, Van, Pickup, it's even easier, tbh.

RedorDead

To build it in LHD can sometimes cost more. More than likely diplomatic staff that will take the car home with them when finished their contract here. Have come across it alot.

galwaytt

RedorDead wrote: »

To build it in LHD can sometimes cost more. ...

You must be joking. With the bulk of Volkswagen's world market being LHD, and also the majoirty of the sales, not to mention it's designed and built in a LHD country - it's less for LHD, not more.

Atlantic Dawn

Strange, could it have been a new model not released in the country or was it a bog standard Golf? Sometimes manufacturers have tested cars over here because the roads are so $hite but normally they keep their original plates.

andyseadog

Possibly someone who's a native of a LHD country, who plans on returning home at some point in the cars ownership

mondeo

Maybe some hardcore german fanboy wouldn't dare sit their arse in the RHD version so the purist within them bought a LHD version instead.

andyseadog

mondeo wrote: »

Maybe some hardcore german fanboy wouldn't dare sit their arse in the RHD version so the purist within them bought a LHD version instead.

then they forgot all that and bought a golf.

Marlow

Something, where you sit high enough, that is LHD, is absolutely no problem in this country (I have a VW Caravelle, no issues).

But I think the explanation, that it might be somebody working for a consulate of a country, that is LHD, that is driving it here and then maybe is bringing it back in a year or two, is your best bet.

As for LHD, if I recall correctly, there's a VRT discount when it's LHD. Can't confirm though, as it was pointless when I VRT'd my Caravelle. Being a '99.

/M

Daegerty

or just one of those crazy LHD fanboi nutters

"I'll drive any ould hape as long as tis a LHD!"

he's prolly on boards now getting a great laugh out of this thread with people wondering why he got a LHD, exactly the kind of thing he was hoping for befor ehe bought it

RedorDead

galwaytt wrote: »

You must be joking. With the bulk of Volkswagen's world market being LHD, and also the majoirty of the sales, not to mention it's designed and built in a LHD country - it's less for LHD, not more.

So would you think. Read this from automotivenews

Volkswagen AG says European customers importing lower-priced Passats built in its new U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee will end up paying more than if they buy a more expensive German-built Passat.

VW has done a test calculation to prove that importing the U.S.-built vehicle into Europe would not pay off.

According to the calculation, an American-built Passat SE model with a 140-horsepower diesel engine will cost $25,995 (18,459 euros) in the U.S.

A comparably equipped Passat 2.0 TDI Comfortline from VW's Emden or Zwickau factories in Germany is listed at 30,100 euros.

But other expenses have to be considered when importing a Passat from the U.S. to Germany. They include $600 to transport the vehicle to the port, and $950 for the actual overseas shipment. Transportation insurance adds another $669 to the bill.

In Europe, import sales taxes of 4,122 euros would be due. There would also be the freight forwarder's charge of 450 euros for import processing and 400 euros for transport to the customer. Customs duties totalling 1,972 euros would be added to those sums.

The private importer would have to pay about 1,200 euros for the exhaust gas measurement and testing required in Germany. The special approval of technical modifications to the main headlights would cost 900 euros.

The cost to appropriately retrofit vehicle parts such as blinkers and rear fog lights would be 2,000 euros. The technical assessment by the TÜV, a German testing and inspection agency, would add another charge of 3,000 euros.


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110525/ANE/110529940/1495#ixzz1NNNk9MZQ

Marlow

RedorDead wrote: »

So would you think. Read this from automotivenews

That article has NOTHING to do with pricing LHD vs. RHD. Germany build cars are LHD mostly, as well are american build cars.

That article only refers to the production location, not to the placement of the steering wheel.

/M

Daegerty

Are most of the VW out of germany not also LHD?

Marlow

Oh, and just to add, traditionally some Volkswagen models weren't manufactured at all in RHD as they deemed there was no market for them.

Examples: VW Jetta Coupe, VW Bora Estate, VW Multivan II (T4, 2000-2004), etc.

If you go back into the 80's, like my Audi 200 from 1989, you'll find that parts of the dash slightly turn away from the driver, because they didn't bother designing all parts of the dash for RHD.

Ergo, less priority and more cost on RHD cars.

/M

dell1211

Marlow wrote: »

Oh, and just to add, traditionally some Volkswagen models weren't manufactured at all in RHD as they deemed there was no market for them.

Examples: VW Jetta Coupe,

Do you mean mk2s? There are a few of these knocking around in RHD. Fairly rare though, farmers in the 80s had trouble getting the dog in the back seat

Marlow

dell1211 wrote: »

Do you mean mk2s? There are a few of these knocking around in RHD. Fairly rare though, farmers in the 80s had trouble getting the dog in the back seat

Mk2 Jetta Coupe, yes. None of them in RHD. The ones in existance could be conversions from using the dash out of the 4 door. There might also have been a few maybe build, but there's virtually no RHD ones in existance.

The Bora Estate wasn't build at all in RHD. RHD countries only got the Mk.3 Golf Estate.

/M