Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 12:15 pm, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Okay, I'm just crazy enough to contemplate doing this soon. Currently the prices for a Soarer in WA is on average $15000 for a 92 Twin-Turbo. The prices for later models go up substantially from here, but I won't go into that.
So the little Soarer bug that has bitten me lead me to check out the prices for stock Soarers over on the East Coast. The prices are significantly lower than over here, by at least $5000.
So I'm wanting to know if anybody has done the following (or knows someone that has) that could hopefully provide some insight to what I want to do.
I'd like to purchase a Soarer (let's say in Vic or Sydney) and then move it over to Perth. I could drive it, or send it via train (but the driving would be the cheaper option). When it gets here, I know that it will have to go over the pits. Would I face any major dramas in getting it registered for WA plates being that it's an import? Would the test be easier with a RWC that the East Coast are required to get? Would it be worth it?
Now I could buy the car for a decent price, and fly over there and then drive it back. How much would it be to train it over?
Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 04:34 pm, by: Alfred Heng(Alfred)
Hi Will - long post, you have been warned!
I just bought one from over east and the car will arrive on Wednesday.
Ask Neil of Rush Imports or Mark P to tell you if they know of any decent cars that are for sale.
Ask the seller to send you as many high res pictures as possible, especially the blemishes.
Ask if they will allow the car to be inspected.
Mileage is not so important as most cars would have had the odo readings turned back. Ask for service history and receipts with odo reading documented. The more documentation you get, going as far back as possible would help you determine if the odo readings are as stated.
A good indication of mileage is the wear and tear of the interior - driver's seat, steering wheel, handbrake booth.
Check what work has been done to it. LCA bushes, air con compressor, PS pump, alternator, blinky dash and the list goes on. Read the posts on this forum to get an idea what to look for. The data base of info here is amazing, from details of manufacturing date to how to tell if a particular car has TRC or an LSD diff!
A car with original paint might not look as good as one with fresh paint, but would show if the car was looked after and if it has had any fender benders. Don't expect the paint to be perfect.
How willing the seller is to cooperate is also important. Don't expect an instant response, but the willingness to provide requested info, especially pictures (within reason) will show if the car is as presented.
I had several sellers that would not provide more pics or info then what was posted in the ads. Some of the pictures were months or over a year old and the car at the current time may not be as presented. (if you look at the photo info you will have an indication of the date that was on the camera when the pic was taken - granted, it could just be that the date set was wrong.
Get someone to check it out if possible. Some of the forum members might actually know the car as well and would be a good source of info.
Get in contact with the workshop that serviced the car, they are usually very helpful and should have service details in their PCs. If the car was serviced by Toyota or Lexus them selfs, it could be a pain as they will not release info without written consent from the current owner, as I found out.
Regardless of what you buy, put a couple of grand aside for things that will need to be done - I am sure you will find something and if you don't take it as a bonus.
Shipping from over East would be in the ballpark of $1100-1300 depending on where the car was and if you wanted door to door or depot to depot. it will take 9-14 days.
When the car gets here, you need to call to arrange a 48hr permit to drive it over the pits to be inspected. If all is well you can get it registered straight away.
Most important is to be patient and not rush in. I took 3 months to find a car that I was comfortable enough with, to put money on the table - I have heard that some others took even longer.
As I have said, I haven't even seen my car yet and I could well end up with a lemon, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that all the effort that I put into selecting the "right" car pays off.
Neil Griffiths Trader NSW I have MORE Soarers than Hayden :-)
When you find a car that seems right for you, get a cheap flight and actually see/test the car before you hand over payment. You might get a reasonable freight cost from one of the road transport specialists, as opposed to rail, if you shop hard. If you buy a Vic. car with a RWC, you might be able to have it transferred into your name by VicRoads. You would need a friend who resides in Vic. so that you could claim you live at his/her address. You can own a Vic. car if you live there, but you don't have to hold a Driver's Licence. You would handle this through the mail with the result that the proof of ownership/rego papers would be sent to that address. Armed with those papers, you would then eventually seek to have the rego transferred to WA. Question is . . . . would the car still need to be inspected in WA. If you were doing it in the reverse direction, VicRoads would want to see only a RWC, ie, no inspection for a car that's been previously registered in another State. Maybe WA is different - I don't know. Two other things: Stamp Duty in Vic. is 4% Over time, you can expect WA prices to fall into line with other States. I've bought and sold interstate plenty of times but never because there were price differences. It's so easy and economical to ship cars interstate that any short term price variations would be quickly smoothed out. I know WA is isolated, but a price difference of $5000 minimum can't last when the freight cost is only $1000. Good luck!
Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 04:56 pm, by: Alfred Heng(Alfred)
Actually there is a big difference between the asking price and the selling price. I have found this to be true regardless of where you are.
Will there is a TT in WA for sale and the opening price was $8900.00. Check back in the papers about 4 weeks ago. Might have been a piece of crap, I do not know as I did not look at it - I was only chasing a V8.
Shipping West to East is next to nothing (everything is going back empty anyway), but the other way round is super EX!
Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 06:02 pm, by: Robert Jeffs(Robert)
When I bought one of my other cars in Victoria I transfered the ownership into my name and put my NSW address and licence number on the papers,I had the car registered like that for 2 years. It was good as it saved me having to get a RWC every year as required in NSW.
Friday, March 10, 2006 - 06:14 pm, by: Charlie Hooper(Charlie)
Perhaps if you find a couple that you *really* like post on here asking if anyone lives near the suburb it's located and if they'd like to go have a look over it for you (maybe for some beer?). I'd be willing to go have a look and check a car out for the usual Soarer problems etc if a fellow SoarerCentral person asked.. I'm sure many others would too..
Friday, March 10, 2006 - 09:26 pm, by: Justin McLernon(Zz32)
Nice post Alfy!
My $0.02 -
EYEBALL THE CAR As Alfy has pointed out, if you know anyone who is willing to inspect the car (be it RAC, family or, better still, someone who knows/owns a Soarer) you ought ask them to look at it for you. Photos can be very deceiving (as can unscrupulous sellers! )
GRAB A BARGAIN! For us sandgropers, there are serious cost savings to be had. Most 2nd hand cars are typically 5-10% cheaper over East (and sometimes more). I paid close to half the cost of what I would have paid here in WA!
PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER! In my opinion patience is the single best insurance policy against landing a lemon! Look carefully, ask questions and be alert (but not alarmed) But always bear in mind that when you buy a car sight unseen you roll the dice so accept that you may not end up with exactly what you thought you had bargained for...
Monday, March 13, 2006 - 08:20 am, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Thanks for the really useful information there all. I (the nominated grasshopper) will bide my time and just be patient in picking up a car over here in WA at this stage. Working it all out, I would probably end up paying the same amount that I would have paid from just buying a car here.
There just seems to be a lack of Soarers happening in Perth, and my specific requirements are starting to disappear (being a white GT-TL turbo).
Will there is a TT in WA for sale and the opening price was $8900.00. Check back in the papers about 4 weeks ago. Might have been a piece of crap, I do not know as I did not look at it - I was only chasing a V8.
If I remember correctly that Soarer was a dark green one with a heavy dent in the front of the front quarter panel. Looked expensive to fix, so opted out of that one.
I will let you all know as soon as I can lay my hands on a nice Soarer.
Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 04:43 pm, by: Adam Peterson(President)
I bought my V8 Soarer from Brisbane a month ago and picked it up off TNT on friday. TNT snapped my door lever off on me but are paying for that to be repaired. I had battery problems when i picked the car up which later revealed to be loose terminals. I got the 48 hour interim permit with the intention to go straight over the pits but couldnt as i then got a flat tyre and was still plagued with battery issues. So I missed my window of oppertunity and now have to get another permit for monday
However, which pits would be the best to inspect an unregistered car (previous owner degistered the car in QLD)in Perth. Would I expect many hassles ?
Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 04:48 pm, by: Adam Peterson(President)
I'll also add. I saw the car on carsales.com.au. contacted the seller - seemed very honest and genuine and actually introduced me to this site. He sent me lots of pics and gave me lots of time and info with my questions on the car. I got a good deal and organised TNT to bring it over to Perth. That took 16 days at a cost of $1220. Im happy with the car !
Now i have to register it, pay stamp duty and try to get some custom plates done.
Anyone know how much stamp duty on a 91 V8 soarer GT is ? + registration ?
Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 07:58 pm, by: Alfred Heng(Alfred)
Adam you can get a permit over the phone, so if the cops got you for that I doubt if you will get off.
You want Welshpool look for Geoff former multi Soarer owner now with 2 Celsiors, or Warrick, look for George. Go very early in the morning. The line starts art about 6.45am or so. If you are the fist couple of of cars there you will be able to get to work on time. Don't go without the permit as they will ask for the permit number. If you don't have it, it won't get inspected and you could get fined.
Stamp duty depends on the cost of the car and reg is about $400.
If I am not wrong, if the car has no rego, you may need a RWC and worst if it has not had insurance for more then a month, you may have trouble insuring it.
Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 10:17 pm, by: Adam Peterson(President)
I will go to Welshpool tomorrow (monday) and get there at 7am. It had QLD plates and rego which the previous owner cancelled when he sold the car to me ~ about 3 weeks ago.
Monday, April 24, 2006 - 02:03 pm, by: Alfred Heng(Alfred)
If the amount of light going thru (think it's 70%) does not meet the WA rules, the tint will have to be removed, I have not heard of any legal way around that yet.
But why did you bring the car down while it had items that would fail it? The fog lights are a no no and the broken door handle would be a safety issue and no immobiliser??
I know that some folks have gotten away with no immobiliser, but the trick will not work if it is a reinspection as they are more through then.
You should check - I think there will be no or a reduced charge for a reinspect. You went to Welshpool right? Did you look Geoff up?
Monday, April 24, 2006 - 02:08 pm, by: Adam Peterson(President)
The car had a RWC and had no problems with it Alfred. It was passed in QLD with the tint and no immobiliser. I went to Welshpool and no you arent allowed to choose inspectors.
Shaun from DCI is getting everything all ready and fixed for me.
Monday, April 24, 2006 - 07:27 pm, by: Justin McLernon(Zz32)
Hi Adam, a couple of points:
When a WA resident purchases a vehicle from interstate, it makes no difference whether the vehicle is registered/unregistered in its home state - you will need to obtain a temporary (48hr) permit to drive it and that is only for the purposes of repairs and/or pits.
In fact, it's generally better (cheaper) to buy an unregistered vehicle from interstate (unless that vehicle is unregistered because it is unroadworthy) because the registration isn't factored into the price. If you buy an interstate vehicle with 12 months rego, you cannot get the value for that registration because it cannot be used here in WA and you (being a WA resident) cannot obtain a refund for the balance (only the resident owner can).
You cannot drive after 6pm on a temporary permit -that is why you have been cited by the police.
My Soarer looked PRISTINE when i took it to the pits and they failed me for: a. little bit of moisture in LHS headlight; b. 2cm dogear in rear quarter window tint; and c. immobiliser armed after 45 seconds rather than 30 seconds
Talk about pedants! The good thing is that you ought be passed nexttime as long as you rectify those specific defects (ie. they will not - or at least ought not - redo the entire inspection).
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But always bear in mind that when you buy a car sight unseen you roll the dice so accept that you may not end up with exactly what you thought you had bargained for...
