Buying an EU spec Porsche in the US to ship to Europe?

nickolas · #1 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 03:50 PM

Given the weak dollar, Europeans can save tons of money buying their Porsche from the US.

I contacted via phone a NY Porsche dealership and the answer on ordering an EU spec Porsche was "NO". When I asked for the reason of their denial they claimed to call me back with a proper explaination but they never did.

So is this possible? Also can somebody avoid having the car transported to and from the US (via the European delivery programme maybe?)

If it is not possible, is there a list about the differences between the two specs?
Like headlights, suspension, emmisions, airbags, instrument pannel etc.

Most importantly: Has anyone done it before?

**supercroc** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 08:57 PM

Porsche AG takes a very dim view of this and will strongly sanction a dealer caught completing a transaction of this nature. Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes it eats you.

nickolas · #3 (**permalink**) 05-25-2008, 09:08 PM

I realize that Porsche "doesn't like this" but on what basis can they refuse such an order?

Furthermore, if someone has a list of differences between the two specs, please right about it!

**beez** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-25-2008, 09:27 PM

Well, it's more than that ("doesn't like this") - Porsche Cars North America is the sole importer (and licensee) of Porsche cars to N.America, and those cars have to be cars that are spec'ed for their market. Each world territory has its own licensed importer, so in this case, PCNA would be taking money out of the pockets of an EU licensee. I don't know the exact differences, they are probably minor. When you do a European delivery of a N. American spec car, you sign a number of documents stating that you will import the car into the US within a certain amount of time - I believe it is 90 days maximum.

The system seems to be set up to make Porsche and it's territory licensees money, not to save you money, unfortunately.

brad

nickolas · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2008, 10:48 PM

Thank you for the reply.

The point is that there is a lot of money to be saved here for European customers. Maybe 40% reduction in price.
So if differences are minor, importing US spec cars and modifying them to meet EU specs should be a big industry by traders.
That is not the case though and the question is, why.
Is it because the differences are so costly to invert in order to meet European laws or because nobody ever dared to do this and find out (maybe the hard way) whether it is worth it or not?

**Bodhii** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 01:10 AM

Last year their was no penalty in keeping the car in Europe. But you would need to register the car before the end of the 90 day period, and pay the normal VAT taxes for that specific EU country. Each EU country will also have some specific equipment as to exhaust/ emission requirements, and fire extinguishers. etc., but these are not a big a problem. Also you must have legal residency ( not citizenship) in an EU country before you can register the car to sell it.

I would think that the EU would need to make new laws because of the huge devaluation in the USD. The USA market pays less for a full retail Porsche, than the German factory workers pay on their special company discount. ( The worker discount requires the employee to keep the car for 1 yr. before selling it.) Last year I know I could ship my car to Europe using my USA /state registration, drive it for a year without registering it in Europe, and then sell it, if I then registered it and paid the VAT tax. I would break even on dollar to dollar with this, even including the shipping coasts, and the VAT taxes, and still have had my own car in Europe for a whole year! ( Sometimes the dollars devaluation can work for us.)

But of course, I would be paying EU prices on everything else for the whole time I'm living in Europe!

I will try to get an update on these laws. Many USA service men do this when stationed in Germany and Italy.

PS.. I found this but I think this only applies when shipper is not a USA owner, who owned the vehicle for more than 6 mo. and is intent on selling, and not just using the car for less than a year... Or maybe it reflects new laws and is now required for all shipped cars.

Quote:

Duty and Tax for shipping a car to Europe

The duty and tax for shipping a car to Europe varies depending on the age of the car. If a new car is being shipped to Europe then there would be at least 17.5% VAT which is otherwise called Value Added Tax and at least 10% duty is to be paid. Since the Value Added Tax is of a larger percentage, many people like not to pay the same. The only reason where they can remain without paying Value Added Tax while shipping a car to Europe is when the person has already lived in USA and the car which is to be shipped to Europe was owned in USA by them for at least 6 months.

SVA

Shipping a car to Europe would require a person to face Single Vehicle Approval Test. SVA is a Department of Transport test which ensures whether the shipped car to Europe validates current requirements and regulations like noise, emissions, seats, speedometer, brakes. The Single Vehicle Approval SVA is required for all new cars and cars less than 3 years old which are being shipped to Europe.

nickolas · #7 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 03:31 AM

Having to pay 10% duty is ironic to say the least.
Though given that it is made in Europe, there may be some way around it.

CityS · #8 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickolas

Having to pay 10% duty is ironic to say the least.
Though given that it is made in Europe, there may be some way around it.

There is no way around it. Only if Porsche brings back the car to the EU there is no duty to be paid (returning goods).

The only way of doing the European delivery is if you buy from a US dealer having a valid US drivers license and address and then while in Europe you register the car in Greece (though you wont have the correct certficate of conformity!).