…By means of a thoroughly unscientific survey of Pistonheads & Autotrader
You’re right, the price a car is advertised for and what it ultimately sells for can be very different and won’t be known to the casual observer of ads.
There’s an element of wishfulness amongst owners here obviously (including myself), but really everybody knows you can’t escape the dreaded depreciation. Better just get on and enjoy the thing and try not to think about it too much.
Sorry to hear of you selling up - Mustang sounds mega though! Very different experience.
I am just about to order a new Ford Mustang from the US
Mark - can I ask whether you are importing directly yourself or using an agent/dealer. Looked at several on a recent visit to the states and test drove a nice Rouse example. For the sticker price there it was tempting to do a personal import.
There is a grand plan - I have relatives in Baltimore, so the idea is to find a helpful Baltimore based Ford dealer, get my uncle to buy it (solves any problems with social security numbers etc - Americans can be very arsey about foreigners buying high value items) then he can drive it to a shipping company in Baltimore and get it sent back.
On a new car, this stacks up as follows:
Mustang V8 GT Convertible with suitable options:
List Price (inc options and sales tax) $35,000
At current exchange rates �20,000
Shipping Costs �1,000
VAT at 17.5% of purchase price �3,750
Import Duty at 10% of purchase price �2,000
SVA Testing �400
TOTAL LANDED COST �27,150
The problem I have at the moment is that this is not very favourable compared to buying an imported car at circa �28K, but it does seem that if you are an American Citizen that you can get the cost of a new car discounted by about $4K with rebates from dealers etc. This would bring down the cost by another �2.5K and make it very worthwhile.
Also, secondhand Mustangs from Ford dealers with the right spec are down at about $28,000 ($16,000), so this is also an attractive option.
So that’s the plan - just need to work out how much dosh I can save on the above before I commit the money.
No specific knowledge of the SVA other than this is the figure that a couple of reputable import firms seem to be quoting for a Mustang. Don’t think it’s too hard for a US car as the Speedo is already in MPH. Mainly the provision of a rear foglight and sorting the indicators to look like Euro spec rather than the US style where the rear lights flash.
P.S. for another �400 you can get the ECU and airfilter modded by Litchfield to give 370BHP instead of 300BHP as standard - this is simply as the US cars are tweaked to run on their regular unleaded (91 octance) rather than our 95 or 97 octane. Litchfield are claiming no adverse effects to engine life due to them being much less stressed than European engines.