What are you going to import now with USD @ 1.09?
- Thread starter Property Meister
- Start date
Good luck with that OA,
Getting vehicles here attracts a very hefty tax, and albeit probably still making it quite viable unless of course you plan to have the vehicle(s) converted to a right-hand drive in which case you'd have to cough up another $30-35K each.
The impala series in show condition will cost something like $30 000 from the states plus tax. However their value in Australia is more than double that. Also (you may not know this) I run an entertainment company, and have long wanted to expand into wedding limousines - not just so that I can drive the cars around, but also, because they rent out for $600 a night plus driver.
Further, unlike, say, a commodore or statesman, they do not depreciate so long as you maintain them (which isn't expensive - just keep them out of the weather, service regularly and keep them clean/treat leather surfaces. In fact they can appreciate.
Besides, what am I supposed to do, buy a holden like everyone else or a sportscar that does 300k/m that I can only ever drive at 100? Nah. I'll take two thankyou
Hahah yeah that’s with the Russian models, the Ukrainian variants are cheaper to run lol
More unemployment.
No I understand that OA, what I'm saying is that it will cost approx. 35K each to convert, unless of course you plan to leave them in their original left-hand drive model. Yes I do remember you saying something about running an entertainment business, and understand you'd want to expand into wedding limo hire but at an annual fee of approx. $18,000 for the taxi licence (without the cost of converting the car to right-hand drive) really eats into the profit margin (especially x 2)!!The impala series in show condition will cost something like $30 000 from the states plus tax. However their value in Australia is more than double that. Also (you may not know this) I run an entertainment company, and have long wanted to expand into wedding limousines - not just so that I can drive the cars around, but also, because they rent out for $600 a night plus driver.
Further, unlike, say, a commodore or statesman, they do not depreciate so long as you maintain them (which isn't expensive - just keep them out of the weather, service regularly and keep them clean/treat leather surfaces. In fact they can appreciate.
Besides, what am I supposed to do, buy a holden like everyone else or a sportscar that does 300k/m that I can only ever drive at 100? Nah. I'll take two thankyou
Militaria from Europe (most places sell via USD).
GBP more important for me, car parts from Britain 4X cheaper than here.
GBP more important for me, car parts from Britain 4X cheaper than here.
No I understand that OA, what I'm saying is that it will cost approx. 35K each to convert, unless of course you plan to leave them in their original left-hand drive model. Yes I do remember you saying something about running an entertainment business, and understand you'd want to expand into wedding limo hire but at an annual fee of approx. $18,000 for the taxi licence (without the cost of converting the car to right-hand drive) really eats into the expense (especially x 2)!!
Taxi licenses are expensive. Private hire car licenses are cheap
and the wedding season is very short in darwin (12-14 weeks) so you don't have to keep them registered as hire cars all year round - but you can claim a rather large deduction based on work done/cleaning done/wear and tear depreciation in that time frame.I've done most of the sums and they work out well. Besides, I love those cars and would get them even without the limo company angle. All of my buddies drive new cars and they're all the same - plastic, plastic, more plastic, subwoofah, plastic, depreciation, depreciation, plastic, plastic. Ech
Yes I have to agree, they have some pretty awesome looking vehicles in the US especially the older ones!! Though (@ just 150cm) I'd hate to try and park one of those babies; they take up a complete postcode all on their own!!Taxi licenses are expensive. Private hire car licenses are cheap
I've done most of the sums and they work out well. Besides, I love those cars and would get them even without the limo company angle. All of my buddies drive new cars and they're all the same - plastic, plastic, more plastic, subwoofah, plastic, depreciation, depreciation, plastic, plastic. Ech
Yes I have to agree, they have some pretty awesome looking vehicles in the US especially the older ones!! Though (@ just 150cm) I'd hate to try and park one of those babies; they take up a complete postcode all on their own!!
You don't park those cars! They're just for cruisin
(I'm okay with parking. I actually designed part of the parking layout with those cars in mind because they're such tanks )No I understand that OA, what I'm saying is that it will cost approx. 35K each to convert, unless of course you plan to leave them in their original left-hand drive model. Yes I do remember you saying something about running an entertainment business, and understand you'd want to expand into wedding limo hire but at an annual fee of approx. $18,000 for the taxi licence (without the cost of converting the car to right-hand drive) really eats into the profit margin (especially x 2)!!
Monopoly,
You don't have to convert cars that are over 30 years old to RHD - they can be registered and driven as LHD on our roads.
I have been looking for a while at improting a late 70's Corvette and it is starting to look even more attractive with the $ at the current rate. You can pick them up for $10-$15k and then it costs about $5k to ship and comply.
Most US Muscle cars from this era are significantly cheaper in the US than here and there is a better choice.
Cheers.
You just have to keep them to historical standard, down to the paintjob, otherwise you will be forced legally to change to RHD.
i'm importing US shares
a martha stewart limited edition duck-egg blue kitchenaid mixer.
not sold in austalia, not posted to australia. i have a few US contacts who will buy and ship.
can be bought in the US for $350 for the LE model, standard are $295.
shipping $60.
here - $750+.
not sold in austalia, not posted to australia. i have a few US contacts who will buy and ship.
can be bought in the US for $350 for the LE model, standard are $295.
shipping $60.
here - $750+.
Aaron: It'll need a power adapter won't it? Because I was looking at getting a Kitchen Aid myself, just don't want to fork out the RRP BS.
im black or red
seriously.
Waaaahh! It takes a lot to make to make me envious but then you go & do this!
One my (very, very) few regrets in life was selling my '58 Chev. It was my first car & I had it for 10 glorious years. A 'some day, one day' dream I've always harboured is to own a white '58 Impala - coupe, not convertible. I am shocked at the $30k sticker.
I remember these babies going for $100k+ in the US fully resto'd.Hey Cham, no I realise that you don't HAVE TO, I was just saying if you WANT TO convert them. My son works in transport logistics and he organises for them to come across, hence why I am familiar with the costs etc. But as for conversions from LHD to RHD we were told by several "experts" that it was generally in the vicinity of about 30-35K to do this, maybe they were overquoting....that'd be a first (not!)
15k+ for a Chev, last time my friend checked (wanted to paint his Chev non-original).
show condition 1962 chevs go for 15-35k in the US, with the 1958 above going for more than that. Then you have shipping, tariffs, compliance, dramas, migraines the works - but in Aus I've seen them go for double so it's worth it unless there's some guy who just wants to get rid of it and start on a new project car (crazy people but they love it. good luck to them
)Just ordered four doorlock actuators for my Honda. Total cost <$150. That's not much more'n 10% of the price at my Honda shop.
My jazz guitarist mate wants a GOOD banjo from the States. (Yea! Seriously!)
