Coupe prices - what's happening?

[Guy]

UK process have always been cheap, I guess due to being RHD.

Even with Irish VRT a lot of people here would buy a UK car as the spec was always better and they were cheaper if a bit more hassle. That all went when the UK dropped out of the EU which allowed individual EU countries to apply whatever import duties they thought fit, the Irish adding a straight 23% VAT charge as a starter. This equivalently killed imports from the UK in any great numbers. This has had an effect of firming up prices here as there is really no alternative, UK with 23% plus import duties or elsewhere in Europe but LHD and higher starting prices.

There is one anomaly, Japan, for some reason Japanese cars don't have the same import duties, most of the cars available are RHD and prices seem good, however the downside buying blind and the delay in it arriving put most people off.

Catch 22

or buy from my friend David Morris at https://valleycarsandclassics.com/cars-for-sale/ who sells about 100 Japanese imports a year about half of which seem to sell pre order or on the boat. You do have to wait 3 months but the typical 10 - 20 year old cars are incomparable in condition to the UK equivalents as the Japanese treat European cars like luxuries for special occasions so they cover low mileages and are garaged and driven without salted roads. The really interesting stuff (Maserati/Ferrari etc) is mostly LHD due to a quirky fashion in Japan. The current bargains seem to be Q car Volvos with 350 bhp twin turbo sixes and 4 wheel drive. The UK seemed to only buy the chuggy diesels so they are quite hard to find here. He has also imported a ;lot of Alfas (156/9/166) and the owners are shocked to buy a 20 year old Alfa with no rust!

 

[Scaf]

My 1600 Sport the same Phil. It was a cheap car with a little bit more power than a standard Escort.
Slightly off topic but it does make me laugh when you read on that Pistonheads " My dad could've bought a Ferrari Daytona for £12000 in 1975" me thinking you could've bought 4 houses for £12000 in 1975.

I had a 1600 gt Capri back in the day and nearly killed myself in it - but I always fancied a 3.0 to finish the job

 

[Scaf]

or buy from my friend David Morris at https://valleycarsandclassics.com/cars-for-sale/ who sells about 100 Japanese imports a year about half of which seem to sell pre order or on the boat. You do have to wait 3 months but the typical 10 - 20 year old cars are incomparable in condition to the UK equivalents as the Japanese treat European cars like luxuries for special occasions so they cover low mileages and are garaged and driven without salted roads. The really interesting stuff (Maserati/Ferrari etc) is mostly LHD due to a quirky fashion in Japan. The current bargains seem to be Q car Volvos with 350 bhp twin turbo sixes and 4 wheel drive. The UK seemed to only buy the chuggy diesels so they are quite hard to find here. He has also imported a ;lot of Alfas (156/9/166) and the owners are shocked to buy a 20 year old Alfa with no rust!

Just visited his website - the pictures of the underside of some of those cars are remarkable.

Will keep an eye on his classics

 

[mjheathcote]

I had a 1600 gt Capri back in the day and nearly killed myself in it - but I always fancied a 3.0 to finish the job


View attachment 122383

I've got a similar photo of my Opel Manta 1.9 SR Berlinetta.
The black box for new drivers isn't such a bad idea really!

 

[Cyclone1]

Just visited his website - the pictures of the underside sit some of those cars are remarkable.

Will keep an eye on his classics

I’d buy a Japanese import again. The last one I bought I’ve now had for just over three years and yes the underside is in incredible condition.

 

[gb-gta]

I had a 1600 gt Capri back in the day and nearly killed myself in it - but I always fancied a 3.0 to finish the job


View attachment 122383

Looks same colour as the one my dad had. Did it look like this before you crashed it?

 

[Delmonte]

or buy from my friend David Morris at https://valleycarsandclassics.com/cars-for-sale/ who sells about 100 Japanese imports a year about half of which seem to sell pre order or on the boat. You do have to wait 3 months but the typical 10 - 20 year old cars are incomparable in condition to the UK equivalents as the Japanese treat European cars like luxuries for special occasions so they cover low mileages and are garaged and driven without salted roads. The really interesting stuff (Maserati/Ferrari etc) is mostly LHD due to a quirky fashion in Japan. The current bargains seem to be Q car Volvos with 350 bhp twin turbo sixes and 4 wheel drive. The UK seemed to only buy the chuggy diesels so they are quite hard to find here. He has also imported a ;lot of Alfas (156/9/166) and the owners are shocked to buy a 20 year old Alfa with no rust!

Wow those unrusty pics are amazing. And some interesting stuff there (hidden among the volvos lol) just a shame nearly all the stock is Auto boxes

 

[Scaf]

Looks same colour as the one my dad had. Did it look like this before you crashed it?
View attachment 122384

no, mine did not have the black roof and bonnet……..

 

[Guy]

Wow those unrusty pics are amazing. And some interesting stuff there (hidden among the volvos lol) just a shame nearly all the stock is Auto boxes

Sadly the Japanese heavily favour autos (and LHD for high end models) but if you live in cities with up to 70 million people I guess that's what happens!

 

[RussBird82]

Sadly the Japanese heavily favour autos (and LHD for high end models) but if you live in cities with up to 70 million people I guess that's what happens!

Speaking of Japanese, this looks like an interesting rust free Jaguar XKR 'Black Knight' Edition

 

[Guy]

Speaking of Japanese, this looks like an interesting rust free Jaguar XKR 'Black Knight' Edition

That does look nice. Ironically, given how badly Jags have historically rusted, my importer friend has given up bringing them over. It would seem your average Jag buyer is happier with something rusty from the UK than risk an import from a country that is more diligent about servicing and where they don't salt the roads. I think it took him a year to sell a couple of rust free XJSs!

 

[urquattrogus]

Always fancied buying an X308 XJR Japanese import, tried to enquire with that Jag west London place twice, but they never seem to get back to you and the car is always “due in soon”

On another note it is a bit sad seeing so many mint Japanese import Alfa 147 GTA’s for sale, but all with the awful Selespeed gearbox! I think one selller had about 10 for sale!

 

[Guy]

Always fancied buying an X308 XJR Japanese import, tried to enquire with that Jag west London place twice, but they never seem to get back to you and the car is always “due in soon”

On another note it is a bit sad seeing so many mint Japanese import Alfa 147 GTA’s for sale, but all with the awful Selespeed gearbox! I think one selller had about 10 for sale!

I've not driven one but it is part of this 'auto' box requirement they have. Is it that bad? I read many -ve reports about SMG and MC Shift boxes but those of us who have driven 1000s of miles with them know they can be great. If they are truly that bad, can they be changed for manuals. I met someone today who has just swapped the SMG box in his V10 M5 for a manual so I guess anything is possible?

 

[Guy]

Is it as bad as this?

 

[urquattrogus]

It’s a fair point, not driven a selespeed but I would definitely want a manual.

What’s that trans from?

I like an auto too, have a push button Chrysler torqueflite in the Facel, have also had the same 727 trans in a Plymouth, it’s good for its time in that it doesn’t get in the way of fun.

Maybe Nathan has driven a Selespeed?

 

[Harry]

Speaking of Japanese, this looks like an interesting rust free Jaguar XKR 'Black Knight' Edition

Front grille looks all wrong to me.

 

[Harry]

And the wheels…

 

[Guy]

And the wheels…

both grille and wheels original but oem the number plate is attached to the grille (you can see the fixing holes).

 

[Guy]

It’s a fair point, not driven a selespeed but I would definitely want a manual.

What’s that trans from?

I like an auto too, have a push button Chrysler torqueflite in the Facel, have also had the same 727 trans in a Plymouth, it’s good for its time in that it doesn’t get in the way of fun.

Maybe Nathan has driven a Selespeed?

Some Chrysler I believe.

 

[Harry]

both grille and wheels original but oem the number plate is attached to the grille (you can see the fixing holes).

The design was ruined in the later models, earlier ones look a lot better, in my opinion. But I’m prejudiced because we have one.