Importing from Germany, LHD resale problems?

hometruths

I am thinking of importing a motorhome from Germany, because the model I want is available there.

It is obviously an additional chunk of hassle to bring in from Germany, and there is the VRT, but I am happy enough with that to get what I want.

What am I concerned about is I wonder if an LHD motorhome will be much more difficult to sell here in a few years time? i.e is there is there a risk of taking a much bigger hit on the depreciation?

niloc1951

schmittel wrote: »

I am thinking of importing a motorhome from Germany, because the model I want is available there.

It is obviously an additional chunk of hassle to bring in from Germany, and there is the VRT, but I am happy enough with that to get what I want.

What am I concerned about is I wonder if an LHD motorhome will be much more difficult to sell here in a few years time? i.e is there is there a risk of taking a much bigger hit on the depreciation?

I don't know about reduced resale value but LHD is no problem to most people, in fact, IMHO it's a better option for those who travel on mainland Europe. It's better to be LHD at home in the land you know that RHD in foreign places where things are unfamiliar.
With LHD there is always the option of selling or trading in on mainland Europe and not being confined to Ireland/UK.

Odelay

Would they build it on a RHD chassis for you?

CJhaughey

Buy what you want, I don't think LHD makes any difference. I bought an Adria PVC from Germany in 2017 because like yourself the model I wanted wasn't sold in RHD.
I actually prefer LHD even here, the only time it isn't better is when you are overtaking on a road and don't have a passenger to see if its clear.
Parking is easier as you have a clear view on the nearside much better than if you are parking a RHD vehicle.
On the Continent it's business as usual.

hometruths

thanks all, its not a new vehicle, its 2015 so obviously it is already LHD. I have no problem with driving LHD personally in Ireland, and we will spend some time in mainland Europe. Just wondering if it was accepted that LHD had a lower value here as it can put some people off.

It's a 2015 Itineo SB740 if that makes any difference - https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=271661238

listermint

CJhaughey wrote: »

Buy what you want, I don't think LHD makes any difference. I bought an Adria PVC from Germany in 2017 because like yourself the model I wanted wasn't sold in RHD.
I actually prefer LHD even here, the only time it isn't better is when you are overtaking on a road and don't have a passenger to see if its clear.
Parking is easier as you have a clear view on the nearside much better than if you are parking a RHD vehicle.
On the Continent it's business as usual.

That.

And paying tolls or carparks

CJhaughey

listermint wrote: »

That.

And paying tolls or carparks

True, but a toll tag works very well for tolls and I try to avoid carparks they usually have height barriers.

Bigus

I'd say LHD will be an advantage when selling as you have the Irish market plus the whole of the European market to resell into if things get tight here.

CJhaughey

OP be very careful with the Itineo, there was a big post on Motorhomecraic where one of the A class with pull down bed collapsed and Itineo washed their hands of it.
It was a pretty big thread and the upshot was the cab bed was built using lightweight ply as the supports which eventually failed.

hometruths

CJhaughey wrote: »

OP be very careful with the Itineo, there was a big post on Motorhomecraic where one of the A class with pull down bed collapsed and Itineo washed their hands of it.
It was a pretty big thread and the upshot was the cab bed was built using lightweight ply as the supports which eventually failed.

Thanks for the heads up, i will certainly look into that

fergiesfolly

For what it's worth, I've been looking online at used campers and I have noticed that the LHD ones tend to be 10-15% and even 20% cheaper than their RHD counterparts.
Now, in saying that, I'm looking mostly at older models,on the likes on donedeal. Specialist sites selling newer models may be asking for the same money regardless.

dubbrin

OP I've had two LHD campers, one vintage, and like that tolls and other 'out the window' activities have been the only issue, but I wouldn't say they would sway me to exclusively RHD. Like you, if it's what I want then LHD/RHD doesn't matter much.

Saying that, I have noted on one or two occasions that my parking has left a door opening onto a road, or some other walkway/access, however this just means I scope out all my parking well before committing

What sites are people using for looking up vehicles on the continent?

CJhaughey

dubbrin wrote: »

What sites are people using for looking up vehicles on the continent?

I used mobile.de for mine.

hometruths

CJhaughey wrote: »

I used mobile.de for mine.

I used mobile.de to search too, but have since decided against Germany and am importing from UK week after next.

Flipperdipper

schmittel wrote: »

I used mobile.de to search too, but have since decided against Germany and am importing from UK week after next.

Make sure you come back and give us all the details about how you got on with the customs and VRT. Try and find out how they arrive at the Irish value they will put on the motorhome. Good luck with your purchase.

hometruths

Flipperdipper wrote: »

Make sure you come back and give us all the details about how you got on with the customs and VRT. Try and find out how they arrive at the Irish value they will put on the motorhome. Good luck with your purchase.

Thanks, will do. Was thinking of starting a thread on it, as have a few queries for those who have done it already before I depart!

Itineoman

schmittel wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up, i will certainly look into that

I think I should chip in here - Clue's in the username:) - I own one of the few Itineo vans bought new in Ireland. Mine's a JB740 that I bought new in 09. Itineo are the budget version of Rapido. Its an RHD but I have clocked up most of it's 60k plus kms on the continent. I had a LHD van before that and driving either isn't an bother.
Back to the issue of the Pull down bed and (it wasn't my van I hasten to add) but I had similar problems. The earlier vans are coachbuilt from wood and like most A Class vans they are essentially a garden shed on wheels. Rapido typically use a seatbelt to fasten the bed to the ceiling. I think we overloaded ours with bedclothes and other bits and bobs and the weight of it on the roof caused the seals between the sidewalls and the roof to leak. (Didn't realise this at the time and nobody ever accused me of doing it but I think that's what happened). The dealer had a go at fixing the problem and when that didn't work out the van got driven back to the factory in Nantes where they did a proper job on it.
I've been into a lot of the later vans in the continent while parked up and I see the build quality has improved dramatically since. The later vans are made from polycarbonate so water ingress or rot is not an issue. The furniture and seating is much improved. The kitchen / bathroom stuff is the usual Dometic/Thetford and there's a really good deep sink in most models.
They are a lovely van to drive - feels like a panel van and I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat if I could afford one. Mine cost €62k new (For an A-Class van!) and you could get a new van for somewhere in the seventies the last time I looked. Hire companies seem to use them a lot in France as well. Downside is the styling which a little odd on the older vans New ones look very nice. There's a long body overhang at the rear and you'd need chassis extensions for a towbar. Payload is pretty low as well. But for the money....
Edit : bought the first LHD van in from Hambourg and Germany is the place to buy from. Best value and excellent quality. Great place to make a holiday on the way home from as it is better ( if such an thing is possible ) then France for motorhoming.

SixtaWalthers

Are you going to import a brand new one? Or would also prefer the used ones as well? In my opinion, to manage shipping fees and other importing costs, it is better to get a used one. Because in this way, you would able to get a near about 20%–30% discount according to the depreciation value of that motorhome. You can check the depreciated values of motorhomes here. Secondly, it would be better to get a motorhome from any public auction instead of the dealership, but real inspection and test drive would be required.