well, ive been in Paris some 16 months now, and it seems i will be moving back to good old Blighty within the next 6 months.

my dilemma is this...i bought my left hand drive S2000 out in france 4 months ago complete with CD changer and hardtop. Its currently got about 5000 miles on the clock. So do i bring this car back with me, and just live with a LHD car in the UK, or sell up and buy a new RHD when i come back?


im reluctant to start again with a new car with breaking in etc, plus i dont want to take the depreciation of selling a new car within the 1st year of ownership...but then again, if i bring a LHD car back with me, when i eventually sell, the depreciation from selling a LHD in the UK will be enormous, plus there might be some advantages of buying a new model (2002 mods, new colours?).

if you were in my shoes, what would you do?

 

If I could afford it, I would take the hit, but that's just me. Then again, it all depends on how long you expect to be in the UK, and where you might go after that. Just some things to think about.

 

I will be hoping to be in the UK for a long time after I come back...certainly long enough to be buying a house etc...

 

In that case, I would say, vas-y, r

 

Paris,

I really don't think you have much choice, a LHD S2000 will be nigh on impossible to sell in the UK, I would say it would be worth 50% less than a RHD version. Also the insurance companies will load the policy for LHD and insurance for the car is already expensive with forecasts of increases of up to 25% in policy premiums this year.

Sell it in France and import a new RHD from Holland/Belgium as you'll save a few thousand on the UK prices and that should help offset the depreciation of your car.

Good Luck

 

Hello mate,

So you are coming back then
You gotta sell, if you add everything together you will be more out of pocket if you keep the car.
Why not trade into your original dealer but ask them to order you a RHD model, cheaper than the UK!

Are you going back to St Peter's or the local area?

Anthony

 

and there Anthony, I think you have the best solution...

I shall have to check with my dealer just to make sure that its possible to order a RHD model through them.

I might even consider changing from Silver/Black to blue..we'll see.

And yes, I am coming back...the timings not certain yet, but its likely to be before the year is out. I was thinking about Windsor as a place to live, since I will be working in Gerrards Cross, and it gives me a good excuse for a reasonable drive each day (I never knew I would design my life so that I deliberately INCLUDED a car commute to work..such is the power of the S2000 )

 

Not sure if you are allowed Windsor as I occasionally go for a drink there, and quite enjoy the exclusivity
Nice area, good neighbours, heard the queen can be a bit noisey sometimes
Nice and close so will be able to meet up and talk stooks - my girlfriend has no interest in this subject at all

Anthony

 

no Anthony...correction...you USED to have Windsor...
you lost it after you became addicted to this forum, leaving the place wide open for a new kid on the block

seems like a really nice place actually...only two problems with it..firstly the house prices, and second all the low flying planes, but i guess you get used to that.
in fact ive recently seen a nice pad just 5 minutes outside Windsor that could be just perfect for me!

as for the girlfriend being a sympathetic ear for S2000 rantings, I have the same problem here. But worse than that, whenever i drive her anywhere in it, she takes her shoes and socks off and puts her feet up on the dashboard...ARGHH!!

 

and puts her feet up on the dashboard...ARGHH!!