VAT on Motorhomes bought in France or Germany

[lennyhb]

Had Enough - 2014-10-02 1:29 PM

 

No, I'm not saying you're foolhardy and have never even hinted at that. I'm saying that you tend to get very evangelical about your choices, that's all. Importing isn't for everyone, and a part of the so-called huge savings melt away when you really add up all the add-on costs and the lower used value in say five years time. Also we always hear about UK sticker prices but ask that dealer for a cash deal as you do with your Germans and they will always come down in my experience.

 

Not true Frank, on my last personal imported van the depreciation was minimal. As for getting a better price in UK for cash that's just not true dealers do not like you paying cash as the customer expects a better price and the dealer looses his commission on the HP. My lastest car I got the best deal by taking out an HP agreement & settling after the first payment got an extra £1000 off that way.

 

Germany is far more a cash based society, hence you get far better prices for cash.

 

Also didn't you recently start a thread about emotion and we're seriously looking at doing it yourself.

 

Eddie (JM) probably has more experience of importing Motorhomes than anyone else on this forum and at times may over react out the sheer frustration of posts by members who have little or no experience of importing.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Had Enough]

lennyhb - 2014-10-02 1:52 PM

 

Had Enough - 2014-10-02 1:29 PM

 

No, I'm not saying you're foolhardy and have never even hinted at that. I'm saying that you tend to get very evangelical about your choices, that's all. Importing isn't for everyone, and a part of the so-called huge savings melt away when you really add up all the add-on costs and the lower used value in say five years time. Also we always hear about UK sticker prices but ask that dealer for a cash deal as you do with your Germans and they will always come down in my experience.

 

Not true Frank, on my last personal imported van the depreciation was minimal. As for getting a better price in UK for cash that's just not true dealers do not like you paying cash as the customer expects a better price and the dealer looses his commission on the HP. My lastest car I got the best deal by taking out an HP agreement & settling after the first payment got an extra £1000 off that way.

 

Germany is far more a cash based society, hence you get far better prices for cash.

 

Also didn't you recently start a thread about emotion and we're seriously looking at doing it yourself.

 

Eddie (JM) probably has more experience of importing Motorhomes than anyone else on this forum and at times may over react out the sheer frustration of posts by members who have little or no experience of importing.

 

 

 

 

By cash, I meant a straight no-part-ex deal and in such cases I've always been offered a discount.

 

And Derek Uzzell does have knowledge of importing and does his research!

 

As I said, I have no doubt that you can sometimes save money by importing, but my point was that not everyone wants to do it. In fact very few do in the grand scheme of things.

 

Yes, I'd do it and I'm looking soon at a Hymer that's being brought in by a specialist who brings in LHD high-end models that are six months old. If we don't like it I'll consider a B Class from Germany, but whatever I do I want to hear both sides of the debate, from those who favour it and those who can see the obvious pitfalls, of which there are a few.

 

Your comments about A Class vans was, by the way, the catalyst to look further and I've gone from a coach-built to a Hymer Starline! If I'd only listened to Judge I wouldn't have gone further than a PVC.

 

[Guest JudgeMental]

Jeez..... of course this is just someones "opinion" for heavens sake....Take it or leave it!lol Obviously importing not for everyone...but why do the grumbles get involved I wonder......

 

while I have the time and enjoy the research the only reason I import is to get higher spec vehicles at better prices. Have never suffered painful depreciation, far from it. have published the sums on here before and been called a liar so that wont be happening again anytime soon.....

 

Mine built on real life experience, not conjecture or OMG! what if's! Applies to whatever motorhome your buying.......I have spoken to many dealers at Dusseldorf when we nearly bought a Hymer all you have to do is ask Frank :D

 

at the end of the day it does not stack up fine..feel free to do.....whatever *-)

 

 

[markov]

 

 

"Yes, I'd do it and I'm looking soon at a Hymer that's being brought in by a specialist who brings in LHD high-end models that are six months old."

 

Hi 'Had Enough',

 

Can I ask which specialist this was, please?

 

Mark

 

P.S. Sorry if I've not 'quoted' properly!

[Guest Had Enough]

markov - 2014-10-03 8:24 AM

 

 

 

"Yes, I'd do it and I'm looking soon at a Hymer that's being brought in by a specialist who brings in LHD high-end models that are six months old."

 

Hi 'Had Enough',

 

Can I ask which specialist this was, please?

 

Mark

 

P.S. Sorry if I've not 'quoted' properly!

 

With pleasure:

 

http://edgehillmotorhomes.co.uk/

 

Bundesvan will also source a LHD motorhome from Germany and for a fee import it and do all the paper and legwork.

 

http://www.bundesvan.co.uk/

 

 

 

[Guest JudgeMental]

all the kit and bigger then Franks :D

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/hymer-s820-luxury-motorhome-automatic-lhd/1082382755

 

Or from Germany - you do the math

 

http://tinyurl.com/kmkk4lf

[Guest Had Enough]

JudgeMental - 2014-10-03 10:24 AM

 

all the kit and bigger then Franks :D

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/hymer-s820-luxury-motorhome-automatic-lhd/1082382755

 

Or from Germany - you do the math

 

http://tinyurl.com/kmkk4lf

 

I did the maths - the UK one is 2004 and has done 58,000 km - it costs £42,500.

 

Most of the German ones are much older, 2001 or 2002 with enormous distances on the clock, like 122,000 km. The nearest is:

 

2005 with 79,000 km on the clock and it's £46,000.

 

Did you fail maths Eddie? ;-)

 

And of course the UK one is here with the right headlamps and speedo and no worries about getting it to the UK. Who on earth could consider one of the German ones? Makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Guest JudgeMental]

Frank admit it you sound bitter..its bigger then yours. (lol)

 

No I did not do look at the figures, just pulled out of the air as a quick guide. Have looked again just now and the first German one looks good to me, 78000 miles reasonable for a 12 year old vehicle..at least ist been used. it has all the kit plus leather, ALDE heating which is desirable. (surely yours has leather Frank)

 

Are the differences between a 10/12 year old van of this class and type significant.....

 

Do you play sticker price for everything.... a mug if you do. Factor in my negotiating skills and VAT fiddling expertise and you could have a very nice van on the road here. You mentioned the UK one has KPH speedo, I would insist on that being changed........also aren't A class headlights switchable

 

Anyway.... all a bit of fun :D

[Guest Had Enough]

JudgeMental - 2014-10-03 1:06 PM

 

Frank admit it you sound bitter..its bigger then yours. (lol)

 

No I did not do look at the figures, just pulled out of the air as a quick guide. Have looked again just now and the first German one looks good to me, 78000 miles reasonable for a 12 year old vehicle..at least ist been used. it has all the kit plus leather, ALDE heating which is desirable. (surely yours has leather Frank)

 

Are the differences between a 10/12 year old van of this class and type significant.....

 

Do you play sticker price for everything.... a mug if you do. Factor in my negotiating skills and VAT fiddling expertise and you could have a very nice van on the road here. You mentioned the UK one has KPH speedo, I would insist on that being changed........also aren't A class headlights switchable

 

Anyway.... all a bit of fun :D

 

No, I converted the British one to kph for a fair comparison, it's an mph speedo. And I wouldn't pay sticker price and would always haggle and there's no reason why the British one at £42,500 might not come down if you make an offer. I suspect he's put it on Gumtree at £42,500 to give haggling room and would probably settle at £40K.

 

There's no doubt that in this case the UK one is a far better buy. They're all private sales and I can't think that anyone would buy one of the German ones, which are dearer, in Germany and need a bit of alteration.

 

I know you're joking but the last thing I want is a big 'van. The Starline we're looking at soon is a bug's whisker over seven metres, and if we don't like that we'll go for a B Class 594, which is about the same length.

 

I may well be tempted to do what you did and look for a LHD six-month-old one and avoid the VAT complications. And whilst I'm saving a few bob I may well use Bundesvan or Edgehill to do all the work and bring it over. We'll see.

 

If I decide to do it myself I'll read your previous advice.

 

Ps The Starline has Alde heating, three leisure batteries, 1500 watt inverter, all factory fitted. An electric front blind, sat nav, 85 cm Oyster, 19" TV, the list goes on!

 

Pps Forgot the really important stuff! 3 litre Mercedes engine, rear wheel drive, seven speed auto gearbox and about one ton of payload!

 

[Guest JudgeMental]

This recent van the first used van I have bought in a long while, only got it as it was in new condition and barely run in....Only did this due to my health and a bargain price...did not want to be laying out lots of money if I needed to sell it soon, which was looking likely back in Feb with 2 operations in front of me....VAT not really an issue easily sorted DVLA another matter!

 

wish I could drive a beast like that (with panel van on a trailer :D) Still prefer the German one if i could get it a hell of a lot cheaper....you can get a DEKRA inspection on vans in Germany for £100 ( I did with last one)

[Guest Had Enough]

JudgeMental - 2014-10-03 3:10 PM

 

This recent van the first used van I have bought in a long while, only got it as it was in new condition and barely run in....Only did this due to my health and a bargain price...did not want to be laying out lots of money if I needed to sell it soon, which was looking likely back in Feb with 2 operations in front of me....VAT not really an issue easily sorted DVLA another matter!

 

wish I could drive a beast like that (with panel van on a trailer :D) Still prefer the German one if i could get it a hell of a lot cheaper....you can get a DEKRA inspection on vans in Germany for £100 ( I did with last one)

 

I hadn't really thought about an inspection. Would you consider it essential on a six-month old Hymer bought from a dealer for instance and what does it cover?

 

This thread is an example of what threads should be like when the usual suspects don't come in with their deliberate stirring. We've disagreed but without arguments. I've learned a lot, as has the OP I'm sure.

 

I really do wish that the mods would do something about the two or three people who just won't let go and perhaps more threads could be like this.

 

 

[Stitches]

This thread is very interesting. Just bought a hymer from UK, but will definitely look abroad when time comes around again now that I have read this post. There certainly appear to be more options than I thought and failsafes built in.

[Guest JudgeMental]

Had Enough - 2014-10-03 3:41 PM

 

JudgeMental - 2014-10-03 3:10 PM

 

This recent van the first used van I have bought in a long while, only got it as it was in new condition and barely run in....Only did this due to my health and a bargain price...did not want to be laying out lots of money if I needed to sell it soon, which was looking likely back in Feb with 2 operations in front of me....VAT not really an issue easily sorted DVLA another matter!

 

wish I could drive a beast like that (with panel van on a trailer :D) Still prefer the German one if i could get it a hell of a lot cheaper....you can get a DEKRA inspection on vans in Germany for £100 ( I did with last one)

 

I hadn't really thought about an inspection. Would you consider it essential on a six-month old Hymer bought from a dealer for instance and what does it cover?

 

This thread is an example of what threads should be like when the usual suspects don't come in with their deliberate stirring. We've disagreed but without arguments. I've learned a lot, as has the OP I'm sure.

 

I really do wish that the mods would do something about the two or three people who just won't let go and perhaps more threads could be like this.

 

 

Believe it or not I am as risk adverse as the next man, but most risk manageable...Always worth getting a pro check, on any age van especially such an expensive one....Could be crash repaired..abused....whatever. Sorry don't trust any dealers ;-)

[markov]

Thanks for the details, 'Had Enough'. I agree with 'Stitches' - all this info is invaluable from you Guys...