Experiences Importing from Europe

Has anyone here imported a car for personal use from Europe? Years ago I imported a few Porsches from the US, it was very simple, but no shipping necessary, I am guessing that it is MUCH simpler from the states.

If you have imported from across the pond would you share you experience here? What to look out for and how the overall experience was for you.

Thanks

 

Some general comments here... http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mj/import.htm

 

The article is a great guide, I would still love to hear about any personal experiences.

Jay

 

good luck,i do this all day long.from everywhere to canada....

just be careful and no matter what,fly down there.look at what you are buying.inspect it. touch it.

pay for it and take it out of the sellers posession.

make sure all export are feasable.. no money owed ,no leans... can get very complicated...

it is getting more complicated every day...more scams,fraud,.... be very carefull...or shop for a deal in canada is my thought..i have agents in europe that do all the work..i am in touch with them almost 10 years now....

 

Steve,

Did you almost bait yourself in such a scam? I read a long post of yours in the LamboChat forum that you were almost takin in. Just about ready to wire the money when you caught on.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44182

Question: Did you not take your own advice as you are suggesting in your above post. Why didn't YOU fly over to look at it, inspect it, and touch it as you suggested?

You may have "agents" abroad, but can they be trusted? Just like you said above, you MUST check it out for yourself. What kind of lesson did you learn?

I'm not berating you Steve, but I'm just curious as to your approach to this. You say one thing here, but you were about to do something different.

Joel

 

i have an agent there that went opver and touched the car,looked for the tags,confirmed the car existed,the vin was the same as title,drove the car,inspected the car... we just never imagined the guy bought replica plates and put them on the car... truth is the guy is a usa lawyer called ed melik ...registered as a bar assosciation attorney... when i spoke to the replica plates suplier ryan,i fell off my chair when he confirmed he sold a set to a guy from kuwait... crazy... any pro couldnt catch this on...
the real issue is that lambo was closed and i couldnt get through...i went through dealers for info but only got pieces...not full info..
the confirmation of fake plates did it...

yes,indeed a very close call . that is why i suggest he goes...makes sure 3 times...
hope this answers "all" your questions.

I'm not berating you Steve, but I'm just curious as to your approach to this. You say one thing here, but you were about to do something different....

Joel[/QUOTE]

 

if you do this for a living, then,you set up a system and it ends up paying....if it is a one time deal and dont have all resources for a true secure deal, buy here.

by the time you fly down here are the fees:

-flight costs to euorpe 1400$
-hotels for 4 days 1000$
-loss of work here....
-car rental
-etc..

basically 3000$

then,you have to get the car paid for,picked up,do all export paperwork from that country at the registry..........

now,please tell me how anybody without a proper setup can get this done, and done securely where the vendor doenst steal his $$$...... long shot.

i say buy here .

 

i say one thing here and do something else there ??? quoted !!

c-mon, stop this attitiude and leave posts that are not "lambo attitude"oriented...& challenging...

this is ferrari chat line... poeple here are cool. ferrari guys are horsies, not bullies.....

i say something here : meaning for him,being a 1st time importer,not having a setup,might get hurt .

i say something else there in the other posts: i am a importer,i do 60 cars a year on avg. when i act,yes,i have agents and "i " can buy overseas in a secure fashion.

he, cannot unless he buys from a authroised dealership where you can deal with security .... and sleep well......

WHAT IS UP WITH LAMBO OWNERS? i am a lambo owner .i have a few cars, not one.

i manage to keep ferrari owner attitude.

 

Steve,

Who's giving who the attitude? If you read my questions carefully instead of getting all bent out of shape by them, your answers might have turned out differently.

I'm not acusing you of anything. If this is what you do for a living, then that's great! I just hope that the "agents" who you deal with are people who you can trust. That's it.....nothing more.

You can ask anyone around the Canada forums about me, they'll tell you how much I love Lambos. Check out some of my previous posts. I've got nothing to hide here. I have always love the bull, but since joining this playpen, I've developed a love for the F-Car more then I thought I would. I even rented one. The thrill was beyond belief!

Don't lump me in with the rest of the LTalk and LPower folks who may have the attitude problem. I don't own a super car....at least not yet. But I promise you that when I do, I will be very humble about it and the experience. I myself hardly visit those playpens anymore. I really much prefer to enjoy my time and learning experience here. I even support the board. I see you don't. Why?

Joel

 

please let me know how to support the board? what needs to be done?

lets turn the page, too much heat around the scam post.... let everyone get fu...d..... what do i care at this point...

i have time to waste.... no. better enjoy these minutes spent with my kids and family.

this doesnt bring anything to me....i was only here to bring to others.

i agree,the other lambo forums are more complicated.... f-chat is more...as you say....

thought you owned a car.... good luck in getting a car. the more you want one,the faster you will get one...

 

I agree with you advice, I would not dream of spending this much cash and not going to see it, touch it and drive it! Can I ask what shipping company you prefer to use? Do you use a customs broker or do it yourself?

I agree the costs for travel seem high, yet if I could combine a nice holiday and pick up a car that would be great.

There simply do not seem to be many (any for all intents and purposes) Daytonas here in Canada. So my search will expand.

I appreciate any info you can share.

 

Makes me feel relieved that the 308 I bought was literally only 20 city blocks away from where I reside.

BTW Steve, Marco Caprini says hello!

 

yes,we use a customs broker...we use different ships.. the agents overseas is what is very important..they handle all...yes,if you go on vacation,that is a +...
i had 2 daytonas 6 months ago sitting in my home garage for months... too bad !

i can help locate a car...let me know if you need my help.

 

At the top of most if not all pages, is a "subscription info" button. Click on it and it will tell you the rest. Very easy.

As for the rest of the other stuff, I didn't really know you were a broker too. Just thought you sold cars from your shop. So yes, I agree with you. Touch and feel your way around your potential car. After all, you will have to live with your decision, so make it a good one.

Good luck with your other rare purchases....but be careful!

Best,

Joel

 

marco ,how is he doing...i needed his tel #, ask him to call me please.... he called me on a 512 bbi,we were supposed to meet....tell our friends in st leonard f40 on the way.....montreal ferrari community is growing every day,nicer cars... we are catching up to toronto.... did we ever meet?

 

done,i am now a member..used paypal.... all that thanks to you.....

i usually dont broker cars....i will get a request and pre-sell it if i locate the car....i keep 15 cars on avg..... another 5 for wholesale to supply dealers in canada...will keep their names private... not a huge operation but a fun one... enough to keep me busy and give me the freedom to have a family life..

 

When will the F40 arrive? 2 weeks?, 1 month?

 

did you buy marks 308 carb 79' ? he had a nice car there he used for awhile...

you should come by the shop someday,i have some nice cars, 512bb with 7000 kms,many others ...incredible 308 with 23000 $ invested... a crazy 308 race car with 288 body,race everything on it... come down with mark...

 

Steve, I am really quite new to this, I only decided on the Daytona about 3 months ago. So I am on a steep learning curve and trying to get a feel for all things Daytona.

Would you fill me in on the Daytonas you had, what kind of condition,miles, restoration, what you sold them for,(I know a personal question beased on your clents privacy but even a small range would assist me in getting clear on landed in Canada prices) where you found them (I assume you imported them from the states maybe Europe).

If you had pics and were willing to post them that would be even better.

I know I am pushing it but you are the first person in Canada that I have connected with who has actually sold a Daytona recently.

If you EVER come across a solid car that is good value please let me know.

Jay

 

Last I saw him in October, he was doing fine. I forwarded him your co-ordinates.

That sounds like a line from the Sopranos! LOL!!!

No, but we did speak once regarding some parts that I was looking for from that parted 308 you have.

Yes, and in passing, it's a '78.

 

both cars came from over the pond. italy/france.

one car was very nice...sold to a local montreal collector...
the other sold to detoit, then apparently to the dupoont registry,under prestige motors ltd. ,bill zuggensti....something...he took my clients car under consignement and got i hear 160 usd...

1st car sold for ??? i cant say... a few days after i sold,jacques duval had it on television at the car tv show in quebec..le guide de l'auto i think it's called...

that car that was on tv came in as a nice quality driver...original,very well kept...still showing very nice..

the other car sold to the usa,i was keeping in my collection of persnal car..i took it apart,everything off the car...doors,glass....had a 1st quality paint,re-chorome all,new everything,carpets,rubbber,leather,exhaust,wheels, tires, etc... car was really nice... cost me a fortune...we did it ourselves and sub-contracted a few items....like the paint.etc,....

for me it is a hobby,i love the sport,i dreamed about this since i was a kid ..to have a place where i could fix my car...now,we are doing a real race car project here in montreal, new diamond plate floors,drivetrain in pieces,all new...all new paint,aluminium work etc.... great !!!

best is to call me and i can give you a little direction....there is a car i can buy...i have been debating...maybe it can do the trick for you...

 

i think in 30-40 days...it leaves it's origin destination wednesday...

will take her to the usa on "dry" road for a road test !!! you can bet on that...i aint waiting till the snow goes away !

 

Steve, was that the red Daytona coupe? If so, I know the owner personally. He's also a member of one of my car clubs.

 

yes,red daytona cpe. 15102 vin if i remember right..car was at autolux for some poilishing etc.. name is r p

 

BINGO! Did you hear about his 246 Dino?