What car to import from the UK?

girishchandra · 23rd December 2009, 01:54

Hi guys,I currently live in England and am planning to shift back to India in late 2010.I plan to get a car with me under the transfer of residence scheme and for that I need to buy that car now.
I want your advice to help me decide what car to get to India as I have a budget of 10lakhs to pay for the duties and other expenses for the car.
A few cars that i have in mind are
1.nissan 200sx (s14a)
2.subaru impreza wrx(already owned)
3.toyota celica last generation
4.mercedes clk(already owned)
5.bmw z3
6.bmw 3series e46 shape coupe
please help me decide which car is the best bet and also is it better to import them or would they be cheaper if I buy them here in India.
all cars that I plan to get are going to be year 2000 model so as to avail max depriciation on duty.
thanks

Mayavi · 23rd December 2009, 02:53

Question is, which of these do YOU love so much that you want to bring it back with you?
If none of these is a 'must have'm then you might as well use the 10 lakhs + whatever you are going to spend on the car now, to buy one of the used cars available in India. You might even get a newer model for that money than a decade old model.

As for the list,
- I would rule out Z3 and CLK right away as they cost more to maintain than it costs to buy.
- Last gen celica and a 2000 impreza - I don't see the allure.
- Nissan 200SX - Not sure
- e46 coupe, I would recommend post 2004 330 if you can afford the maintenance.

iraghava · 23rd December 2009, 03:13

If you can stretch it a bit, why not a nice E46 M3 coupe? They are brilliant vfm right now in the used market and a car to die for!

girishchandra · 23rd December 2009, 11:53

maintenance is not a concern as i can get a continous supply of spares from the U.K and I plan to use the car on weekends only.what i would love to have out of these cars is a subaru impreza or a nissan 200sx as both of them are turbo charged and real fun to drive(plus with some added mods can be tuned to excess of 350bhp very easily).could someone please give me a estimate cost of these cars in India,as most of the dealers i enquired at in delhi had rubbish cars or they were way overpriced.

canonball · 23rd December 2009, 12:16

The budget and the type cars you have mentioned are very generic and can be had for less in India. I would go for a semi rare classic as such car is irreplacable in india not to mention appreciation/inflation proof capital protection over time

Some suggestions:

AMG Mercs of the 80/early 90's
Porsche 911 - going cheap in the UK now as prices have been depressed since last year cars are quoting at 9 to 17K !!
Older jags - E type not sure what they cost now were cheap few year ago
I can go an all day but i guess you get the drift

Hesbee · 3rd January 2010, 05:19

Sorry for my Intrusion but isn't it that u can't import any model older than 3years???

I too had been planning to get home a car and ended up getting a Bentley TurboR 1991, BMW 7series 2006, H2 sut 2005 & GT500 Shelby 2008 but now get nightmares, coz of the 3years Sh*T lol.... i have already sold the Bentley even less than half the tag i got!!

Initially someone told me that it was 6years.. so i thought of TR but now well... Plus to make it worse my Drives are LH & i'm also trying to attain RHD Conversions...

Anyhow..

CheerS

canonball · 4th January 2010, 14:04

You can import cars 3 years and older under TR, I have been advised there is some penalty which need sto be paid (not very high)

Hesbee · 11th January 2010, 12:52

Well not very high PENALTY (that is ??) :-)

Thanks for the info

supercars · 15th February 2010, 08:51

So which car did you import finally ?

canonball · 16th February 2010, 15:04

99% percent of the enquiries end with folks returning empty handed? Unless hesbee really did it

Randhawa · 16th February 2010, 18:19

You can not import a car more then three years old. Penalty is around 200%. If you have a jack in customs then its ok otherwise heft fines. Can not import a car if residing in UK for less then 3years. Can not import a car if ownership period is less then 1 year.

canonball · 16th February 2010, 18:30

what jack even the jack is now only usefull to maybe jackup a car

The DRI and enfrocement have becoem very vigilant!

Randhawa · 16th February 2010, 18:37

Its nothing to do with being vigilant department. You need a inside person to get the paper work sorted quickly and an affordable penalty charges suitable to you instead of 200%, all that done legally.

23rd December 2009, 01:54	#1
girishchandra Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: london,delhi Posts: 5 Thanked: 0 Times	What car to import from the UK? Hi guys,I currently live in England and am planning to shift back to India in late 2010.I plan to get a car with me under the transfer of residence scheme and for that I need to buy that car now. I want your advice to help me decide what car to get to India as I have a budget of 10lakhs to pay for the duties and other expenses for the car. A few cars that i have in mind are 1.nissan 200sx (s14a) 2.subaru impreza wrx(already owned) 3.toyota celica last generation 4.mercedes clk(already owned) 5.bmw z3 6.bmw 3series e46 shape coupe please help me decide which car is the best bet and also is it better to import them or would they be cheaper if I buy them here in India. all cars that I plan to get are going to be year 2000 model so as to avail max depriciation on duty. thanks
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 02:53	#2
Mayavi BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 682 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage	Question is, which of these do YOU love so much that you want to bring it back with you? If none of these is a 'must have'm then you might as well use the 10 lakhs + whatever you are going to spend on the car now, to buy one of the used cars available in India. You might even get a newer model for that money than a decade old model. As for the list, - I would rule out Z3 and CLK right away as they cost more to maintain than it costs to buy. - Last gen celica and a 2000 impreza - I don't see the allure. - Nissan 200SX - Not sure - e46 coupe, I would recommend post 2004 330 if you can afford the maintenance.
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 03:13	#3
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	If you can stretch it a bit, why not a nice E46 M3 coupe? They are brilliant vfm right now in the used market and a car to die for!
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 11:53	#4
girishchandra Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: london,delhi Posts: 5 Thanked: 0 Times	maintenance is not a concern as i can get a continous supply of spares from the U.K and I plan to use the car on weekends only.what i would love to have out of these cars is a subaru impreza or a nissan 200sx as both of them are turbo charged and real fun to drive(plus with some added mods can be tuned to excess of 350bhp very easily).could someone please give me a estimate cost of these cars in India,as most of the dealers i enquired at in delhi had rubbish cars or they were way overpriced.
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 12:16	#5
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	The budget and the type cars you have mentioned are very generic and can be had for less in India. I would go for a semi rare classic as such car is irreplacable in india not to mention appreciation/inflation proof capital protection over time Some suggestions: AMG Mercs of the 80/early 90's Porsche 911 - going cheap in the UK now as prices have been depressed since last year cars are quoting at 9 to 17K !! Older jags - E type not sure what they cost now were cheap few year ago I can go an all day but i guess you get the drift
	() Thanks

3rd January 2010, 05:19	#6
Hesbee Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chandigarh, IND Posts: 24 Thanked: 3 Times	Sorry for my Intrusion but isn't it that u can't import any model older than 3years??? I too had been planning to get home a car and ended up getting a Bentley TurboR 1991, BMW 7series 2006, H2 sut 2005 & GT500 Shelby 2008 but now get nightmares, coz of the 3years ShT lol.... i have already sold the Bentley even less than half the tag i got!! Initially someone told me that it was 6years.. so i thought of TR but now well... Plus to make it worse my Drives are LH & i'm also trying to attain RHD Conversions... Anyhow.. CheerS Last edited by Hesbee : 3rd January 2010 at 05:36.*
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 14:04	#7
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	You can import cars 3 years and older under TR, I have been advised there is some penalty which need sto be paid (not very high)
	() Thanks

11th January 2010, 12:52	#8
Hesbee Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chandigarh, IND Posts: 24 Thanked: 3 Times	Well not very high PENALTY (that is ??) :-) Thanks for the info
	() Thanks

15th February 2010, 08:51	#9
supercars BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 484 Thanked: 27 Times	So which car did you import finally ?
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 15:04	#10
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	99% percent of the enquiries end with folks returning empty handed? Unless hesbee really did it
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 18:19	#11
Randhawa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,192 Thanked: 355 Times	You can not import a car more then three years old. Penalty is around 200%. If you have a jack in customs then its ok otherwise heft fines. Can not import a car if residing in UK for less then 3years. Can not import a car if ownership period is less then 1 year. Last edited by Randhawa : 16th February 2010 at 18:21.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 18:30	#12
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	what jack even the jack is now only usefull to maybe jackup a car The DRI and enfrocement have becoem very vigilant!
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 18:37	#13
Randhawa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,192 Thanked: 355 Times	Its nothing to do with being vigilant department. You need a inside person to get the paper work sorted quickly and an affordable penalty charges suitable to you instead of 200%, all that done legally.
	() Thanks