Hi Guys, thought I would just add another dimension to this thread!
Believe it or not I am in the middle of importing my Corrado VR6 Storm and my MK 1 Golf GTI into SA. We couldnt leave them behind as they are both great cars and the Corrado is a beaut of a car to drive!
The Storm for those of you interested was the final run of 500 Corrado's ever made by VW (Karman) and was for the UK market only. It had special paint and leather interior and different wheels.
They have just cleared customs and I have a days permit to move them tomorrow from the shippers to our home on their euro plates.
We have emigrated on permanent visas and owned the cars in the UK for years, so the VR6 was a personal import and the GTI was a pre 89 import.
Our Storm is one of the Classic Green ones with the optional A/C fitted (they made 250 Classic Green and 250 Mystic Blue ones).
If you can get am import licence then you still need to consider the following:
Shipping costs approx $3000 or so per car?
Import Duty and GST - Our Corrado was valued independently at $18000 (a bit high I thought) and the Golf at $5000 (way low I thought as it has full ECU injection and ignition plus a Turbo Technics hybrid kit and lots of mods).
We had to apply to Canberra for a CFC import excemption licence as the Rado has A/C. Also had to state to them that we went going to sell them on to make a profit. Well not sell them in the immediate future. Like we are going to sell them after all this effort!!!!
Customs and Quarantine Duties.
Compliance testing.
Modding a LHD or fixing up a bad example might leave you crying and broke. Good second hand parts are hard enough to source in the UK, and dealer stuff that is Rado specific can be eye wateringly expensive. Dont forget that in about 92 the car got a subtle but extensive face lift that affects the dash, bumpers, door locks, slam panels, grill, bonnet and loads of minor trim parts. Although most are interchangeable, you will end up with a mongrel.
So far it has cost about $5300 in duties etc and this doesnt include the shipping and obviously the purchase price.
We still need to get them modified to meet the Statement of Requirements isued to us by Regency Park (SA testing station), so more money involved.
No one here in SA we have spoken to so far seems to know who or how you get the compliance stuff fitted/added/modified/done, eg rear child restraints. Thats our next hurdle. If anyone else out there knows someone in SA that can help then please tell me
Anyway, I am not trying to put you off, if you can do it then go for it, they are beautiful cars.
Thing to remember is that there are routes given by the government to allow you to import, even if they make you jump through hoops! As Carpoid said and all the people I have spoken to, the government are making it hard so they protect their own industry. Daft really as what threat are my 2 old cars to that?
Anyway, run out of things to say for moment, but if you think I can help then just post here or contact me directly.
Look at my post last year titled importing my VW's to Oz, you can see some piccies of our cars on Photobucket.
Regards & sorry for typos.
Vr6 Storm
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