buying a lhd car abroad

[johnycarper]

I suspect this has been asked many times but here goes anyway,we wish to buy a second hand car next month and having looked in france they are expensive.Has anyone got any suggestions of companies that import cars from the cheaper countries like germany. 

[thunderhorse]

Do you mean import into France from other EU countries, or import into the UK for taking back to France?

[goose]

We have been looking for an lhd too, have you tried Kilrush cars ( http://www.kilrushcars.com/cars.asp) in Surrey. They have lhds from all over the place, sadly we haven't found one to suit our needs yet but are ever hopeful. Good luck.

[AnOther]

Several UK companies specialising in LHD cars but at a premium although I do not know of any French companies doing this and if they

did it they would likely hike the price up to French market levels

meaning you'd save little if anything so it's almost certain to be cheaper to buy direct from another EU country.

I'm sure there are opportunities for buying cars in distressed countries, like Latvia for instance, or one or the others which have not yet adopted the Euro and are suffering because of exchange rates, and bringing them back to France, registration should be a doddle.

[Will]

We bought an ex-lease one year old Peugeot imported from Belgium from these people a few years ago, at a significant saving on normal French prices.

http://www.ouestfrance-auto.com/annonces-pros_automobiles-neel-import_375_manche.htm

[Mme poivre]

hi i got my left hand drive car from looking at e bay

[NickP]

AnOther said, "I'm sure there are opportunities for buying cars in distressed countries, like Latvia for instance, or one or the others which have not yet adopted the Euro and are suffering because of exchange rates, and bringing them back to France, registration should be a doddle.

ther, "

Tell you what mate I had the pleasure of working in Latvia, Lithuania and most of the eastern European countries, you definitely dont want to be buying a car from there.

[johnycarper]

yes i mean to bring back to france as i must be a big saving looking at french prices.

[AnOther]

[quote user="NickP"]Tell you what mate I had the pleasure of working in Latvia, Lithuania and most of the eastern European countries, you definitely dont want to be buying a car from there.[/quote]Why ?

[NickP]

[quote user="AnOther"]

[quote user="NickP"]Tell you what mate I had the pleasure of working in Latvia, Lithuania and most of the eastern European countries, you definitely dont want to be buying a car from there.[/quote]Why ?

[/quote]

I saw their driving "skills" and also noticed that in countries where people are cash strapped their maintenance tends to be financially driven, no pun intended, rather than what is needed or neccessary. Having said that, the ingenuity of their mechanical skills was wonderfully interesting but not what you would want on your car.

[AnOther]

So it is your contention then that it is impossible to buy in Latvia a decent 2/3 year old car with a genuine service history and which does not look like it has spent it's short life on the front line in a warzone !

[Anton Redman]

Was researching another subject when this came up :

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2009/gb20091224_283935.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories

Until last summer there were a a steady stream of car transporers registered in the Baltic States with loads of second hand French and Spanish cars and vans  heading up the A10. Not huge numbers but enough not to be suprissed when you saw them.

[NickP]

[quote user="AnOther"]So it is your contention then that it is impossible to buy in Latvia a decent 2/3 year old car with a genuine service history and which does not look like it has spent it's short life on the front line in a warzone !

[/quote]

Your words not mine. I would have thought that my earlier posts conveyed my opinion clearly. But as you seem a little confused, I will state categorically I would advise against buying a second hand car from Latvia.

[AnOther]

Confused no, curious yes.

My words or yours it seems to be pretty well what you were, and are, intimating but I thank you for the advice/opinion which is noted and filed appropriately [;-)]

[Sunshine]

We are also looking for a Good economical car less than 3 years old. The above sites have been noted but we have no links to the Uk so not interested in those, but still great sites!.

I have also noticed the large number of cars from Spain with spanish plates in department 46. Does any one know where they are coming from? there is an obvious financial advantage for the dealership so how is it done. What about the spanish build quality? I heard this is not good.

I would prefer to buy from a local dealer but they are so pricey. If any one has any other sites they can recommend I would be grateful.

[bigears]

hi

when importing a car into france, especially a new/next to new one work out the cost of the new polluting tax, so as not to get stung.

[johnycarper]

Thanks for the advice but where can you see the list of cars and the costs of the tax.

thanks.

[AnOther]

HERE

Not a list, you have to find out the emissions for whatever you are considering and then see which band it falls into.