Importing Cars
BaconTheory
Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">to the U.S.</div> OK so I was looking around on the net at some foreign cars (namely Peugeot and Citroen) and I thought about something. Supposing that I wanted to purchase one of the aformentioned vehicles in Europe, I have a few questions.
1. How would I get the car over here to the U.S.?
2. How much would it cost to perform such a transport?
3. Is right-hand drive legal in the U.S.?
4. What kind of stuff would I have to do to make it streat legal?
Just curious. All of you UK people might be able to help me.
1. How would I get the car over here to the U.S.?
2. How much would it cost to perform such a transport?
3. Is right-hand drive legal in the U.S.?
4. What kind of stuff would I have to do to make it streat legal?
Just curious. All of you UK people might be able to help me.
Comments
OK, I can do that thanks man.
I guess...my other concern was with servicing and such. I don't imagine that there are many places in the U.S. that work on Citroens and Peugeots.
1. How would I get the car over here to the U.S.?
2. How much would it cost to perform such a transport?
3. Is right-hand drive legal in the U.S.?
4. What kind of stuff would I have to do to make it streat legal?
Just curious. All of you UK people might be able to help me.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Having worked in the automobile transportation industry for over 30 years, let me throw in my 2 cents.
1. Cheapest mode would be via shipping company, over the water.
2. This you would have to find out from the above.
3. Yes
4. The most expensive part of this process would be converting an auto bought in Europe so it would comply with U.S. emission standards. This alone could make your purchase cost-prohibitive.
1. How would I get the car over here to the U.S.?
2. How much would it cost to perform such a transport?
3. Is right-hand drive legal in the U.S.?
4. What kind of stuff would I have to do to make it streat legal?
Just curious. All of you UK people might be able to help me.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Having worked in the automobile transportation industry for over 30 years, let me throw in my 2 cents.
1. Cheapest mode would be via shipping company, over the water.
2. This you would have to find out from the above.
3. Yes
4. The most expensive part of this process would be converting an auto bought in Europe so it would comply with U.S. emission standards. This alone could make your purchase cost-prohibitive. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Depot is indeed correct, although there is one more little issue.
Most foreign vechiles I think (I could be wrong) do not meet the safety requirements that the US ones do. Due to different driving hazards.
That alone in addtion to meeting emissions requirements (depending upon state) could cost more then the car is worth. Sometimes quite a bit more. I do not know if PA has any emission tests, I know SD does not.
Case in point, we didn't get the Mist Lancer Evo untill recently not because of the emissions those were fine, but because it couldn't hold up past a certain star rating in the crash tests, the intercooler had a bad habit of exploding while crashed, since there was constant air pressure flowing through it.
The majority of situations I was familiar with concerned European autos not available in the U.S., and normally purchased by wealthy individuals (the Porsche 940 comes to mind).
Would that make American cars better?
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Rear indicators are separate to the brake lights and the right colour (this is different to US cars)
Front indicators are the right colour and have repeaters on the side of the vehicle. This may require small indicators added to the side of the car and holes drilled in the wing as appropriate to accommodate them.
A red rear fog light is fitted - US cars often don't have these.
The correct white parking lights are present.
Headlights are pointing the right way - check before you bring the car in that this does not mean a costly set of new headlights!
Tyres match the advertised top speed of the vehicle. Tyres have a code (R, S or T rating) on them which matches a theoretical top speed. If the rating is lower than the manufactirers advertised top speed - you'll need new tyres (for the SVA anyway!)
The speedometer has Kilometer as well as Mile readings.
The right brake fluid level indicator is present on the dashboard or else the reservoir is clear.
The number plate meets UK standards (correct size, shape, lettering)
Protrusion standards are met (ie removing long exhaust pipes, bull bars, mascots etc)
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No one in the UK drives a US "manly" truck. They have no concept of that over there.
No one in the UK drives a US "manly" truck. They have no concept of that over there. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
i hate people with "manly" trucks, mainly cuz they are a **** to work on. (diesels)
J/king
Its European: Aka, bound to break.
<3
<img src='http://dominantspecies.org/offsite/broncoboatyard.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'> heheheheheeheh </span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'> heheheheheeheh </span> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lies! All lies! Do you see a gunrack hangin in it? Are there chewin' tobacco stains runnin down the side of the truck from spit? Is there a dogbox in the back for hunting? Do you see a picture of the cousin I slept with on the dashboard? NO I SAY! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Do you see a gunrack hangin in it?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I can't see the back or inside. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Depot+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Depot)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Are there chewin' tobacco stains runnin down the side of the truck from spit?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You might be very good at washing it. heheheeh
<!--QuoteBegin-Depot+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Depot)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Is there a dogbox in the back for hunting?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Again I can't see inside <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Depot+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Depot)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Do you see a picture of the cousin I slept with on the dashboard?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, I can't see inside the truck.. so you could have a picture of your sister in there for all I know. You old redneck you. Heheh <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Sure it is Caboose. Are you like, even old enough to drive? That Bronco when I got rid of it had 125,000 miles on it and was 13 years old when that picture was taken. Oh yeah, did I mention it hauled that 24' Sea Ray weighin in at over 5000 lbs several thousand miles? Doesn't exactly look like the truck your mother or sister would drive, does it?
Real men don't need bull bars - they're quite comfortable with their masculinity and don't need external toys to make them "appear" manly. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>... has this thread drifted off topic or what ?!?!?</span>
Then she has very good taste. This truck simply doesn't need bull bars to make it tough.
1. How would I get the car over here to the U.S.? You would have to ship it. The easiest (and probably cheapest) would be via ship
2. How much would it cost to perform such a transport? Depends on the shipping company. Consult one.
3. Is right-hand drive legal in the U.S.? I believe so. I had a European guy at my school who brought his Mini over. You would probably be best to consult your DMV.
4. What kind of stuff would I have to do to make it streat legal? Ah, the money question. This is where his case comes in. The Department of Trasportation, in order to make a vehicle legal to drive in the US, must be given so many vehicles to test and see if the car is safe and up to standards (emmisions, crash ratings, etc). If the car company does not do this, there is no way to figure if it is safe or not. So, if the car isnt safe, then you can't legally drive it. However, I am sure there are ways to get a car street legal and such, so I will look it up for you. But this is all I can remember at 1 am in the morning. Once again, I will get the specifics. Why don't you IM me the make model and year of the car you want to ship, or potentially ship.
<img src='http://dominantspecies.org/offsite/broncoboatyard.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You know, when I first saw those pictures and the word "upgrade", I thought you had turned it into the boat...
Heres what you do: Take the car apart. Then smuggle it into the country, piece by piece...
2) cost depends on the weight of the car and the shipping company
3) yes right hand drive is legal in most if not all of the united states. my mr2 was imported from japan and its right hand drive only time i was pulled over was so a cop could ask me about it he had never seen a right hand drive car
4) in my case my car was street legal already because its a regular production car they also sell here in the united states just have to clear a few things with the DMV
what citreon or peugeot were you thinking of?
now the next Q would be ' why god why you silly fool'
~<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> i show no love for the citroen. lol or the other poncy make
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You know, when I first saw those pictures and the word "upgrade", I thought you had turned it into the boat... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
The ultimate transformer, hey? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->