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Import of lhd 6th generation from USA

GrahamAlder

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Can anyone with bags of Mustang knowledge help please? I've wanted to own a Mustang since I saw the fifth generation and the only way used to be to import one (or buy one that had already been imported.) Happily the S550 is being made in rhd form for the UK but there is a major drawback - the price! I've seen second-hand 2014/15 V6 convertibles for sale for as little as $22,000 - $23,000. I was once told that the additional costs would increase the cost from $x to £x - in other words the final cost in GB pounds would be the same as the initial cost in US dollars; so $23,000 becomes £23,000 approximately. The Ecoboost and GT are far more expensive. Left hand drive doesn't bother me as I had an original twingo from 1994 until 2009. I note that the V6 isn't part of the UK range.
I am wondering what conversion of the S550 to make it UK legal would consist of, and how difficult it would be. I know the fifth generation was a bit involved but it occurs to me that, because the Mustang is now made for the UK, there should be a greater degree of commonality. For example, headlamps for driving on the left side of the road must be manufactured. Does anyone know how much is now common to US and UK versions and how involved conversion of the non-legal parts would be? Does anyone have detailed knowledge of importing either a fifth or sixth generation example? Otherwise can anyone recommend an importer or a Mustang conversion specialist? I am going to the US quite soon and will be renting a Mustang. Can anyone say if there are things that I could be checking while I'm there? Is it mainly the lights? I know that there were other issues with the fifth generation, but I can't remember what they were! Thanks for reading.
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slowhand99

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[MENTION=22082]goldengooner[/MENTION] is importing a new 6G Cali Special.
 

Cati

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i would do the maths add the import duty, the 2K shipping costs, the costs of SVA conversion and the possibility of sJB going bang. the lower desirability of LHD and V6 when there are newer RHD and V8s or ecoboosts around.

I imported my s197 and it worked out primarily due to very good exchange rates - on this one I just cant make the maths even man maths work out.

so in closing if you want an 2014/2015 s197 buy one over here you can get a v8 for mid teens - people advertise high but are not getting those prices. you get a car over here and probably with upgrades so you save money all around
 

croyde

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I was chatting to a Ford dealer in LA a few weeks ago and our spec Mustang ie GT V8 with premium and performance pack were around the $52k mark and that's before California sales tax of 9%

OK I know no one pays the sticker price but at that price and the current exchange rate it makes the pricing of the UK variant a bit of a bargain.

About the same price if not a wee bit lower than the US car.
 

kapiteinlangzaam

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And no warranty.....

Unless its a special edition we cant get here in the EU (i.e. a Cali Special) there is zero point....

By the time its all said and done id be surprised if there was any worthwhile cost saving.
 

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GrahamAlder

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Thank you to the people who have kindly taken the time to respond. I had in mind a used V6 convertible as I have seen online these advertised in the US for $22,000 - $23,000. The amount I'd have to pay out in total to have it in the UK would, I believe, be approximately £23,000. I can't really afford to go much higher and especially not as much as the cost of a new one. The reason why I favour an S550 over an S197 is because the latest version is marketed in the UK and therefore, presumably, will have far more commonality that the S197, which was made exclusively for the US market. For example, it is certain that UK headlamps must be available. I'll make some enquiries when I am in the US on holiday.
 

kapiteinlangzaam

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Thank you to the people who have kindly taken the time to respond. I had in mind a used V6 convertible as I have seen online these advertised in the US for $22,000 - $23,000. The amount I'd have to pay out in total to have it in the UK would, I believe, be approximately £23,000. I can't really afford to go much higher and especially not as much as the cost of a new one. The reason why I favour an S550 over an S197 is because the latest version is marketed in the UK and therefore, presumably, will have far more commonality that the S197, which was made exclusively for the US market. For example, it is certain that UK headlamps must be available. I'll make some enquiries when I am in the US on holiday.
If you are paying $23k USD, I reckon you will be closer to £25-26k OTR here in the UK. Bare in mind that there will be zero parts/knowledge support for the V6 here in the EU.

What are the predictions on what a used EcoBoost cabrio will be worth in a year? Might make sense to wait and pick up a RHD EB with a guarantee and steering on the correct side?
 

goldengooner

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Thank you to the people who have kindly taken the time to respond. I had in mind a used V6 convertible as I have seen online these advertised in the US for $22,000 - $23,000. The amount I'd have to pay out in total to have it in the UK would, I believe, be approximately £23,000. I can't really afford to go much higher and especially not as much as the cost of a new one. The reason why I favour an S550 over an S197 is because the latest version is marketed in the UK and therefore, presumably, will have far more commonality that the S197, which was made exclusively for the US market. For example, it is certain that UK headlamps must be available. I'll make some enquiries when I am in the US on holiday.
Its not as bad as people are making out on here
You go to a good importer and all the work is done for you, as for the SJB?? Seriously, there was problems on the S197 with bad conversions from certain dealers who used cheap slave bulbs a good importer will do a much better job. And the engine on the S550 is way more advanced than the S197
My car works out 45k that's 3k more than the UK Prem Vert Auto, but i have 5k worth of extras, all the fancy tech they took off the UK ones. And when you add in my tax is 230 against 500 each year I keep her, the price evens out more
As for warranty Fords give a 3 year, I get a 3 year. I do find it interesting that all the people who were happy to import the older Mustang's now will not do it, because of the warranty issue.
As for resale valve, that's a difficult one to guess, really you see the price 2nd hand 2015 RHD Mustangs are starting to go for. For me it depends what the buyer is looking for
if they don't mind driving a LHD than I can offer a very rare car in the UK, full of tech that are not on the UK cars.
For me, when I started looking into the differences between the UK and US I was pretty shocked.
As for the US exchange rate, yes its pretty crap, but then you get a Canadian Spec car, other then the speedo its the same car, and save yourself 5k
All depends how much you want to spend, how long you plan to keep the car, and are happy driving a leftie in the UK
 

Enoch

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Based on the numbers £££ and the hassle, it doesn't seem to make much sense to me.....

"All the fancy tech" what is that exactly??

The difference in tax? Even after 10 years that only adds up to £2700 and if the OP where to buy an EB, it would be nowhere near that figure anyway..

The V6 he's looking at will not have as much support in the UK as an EB or GT

And then we come to resale....LHD may suit some, but there's little doubt in my mind that it'll restrict the pool of buyers...

If I were the OP I'd hang on and save a bit more for a second hand EB..:)
 

kapiteinlangzaam

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Centurion07

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As for warranty Fords give a 3 year, I get a 3 year.
You spoken to any UK dealers about that?

Also, the thing about the car being exactly the same bar the speedo, I wouldn't be so sure.
 

Twin Turbo

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Whilst importing a LHD S550 into the UK wouldn't scare me, I would think very, very carefully.

The V6 only comes in non-premium spec, so no leather and no nice 8" touch screen. It will be a rare beast in the UK (I've only seen a couple for sale over here so far)......and you may find it a struggle to sell on here. Although, being LHD you do have the rest of Europe to market it to.

With regards the lights......swapping from US to UK is NOT plug n play. You'd still need to have front side lights fitted (they're not in the headlamp) and the rears, even if you wanted to swap to Euro "clear" lamps, will require modification.

For £23k, you could get a nice 2011+ 5.0 GT S197 (try one, it might just surprise you!)

Or......wait a while for UK spec cars to come down in price.

Of course, at the end of the day it's your money. Just think very carefully :)
 

Cati

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I I do find it interesting that all the people who were happy to import the older Mustang's now will not do it, because of the warranty issue.

GG - no it is not due to warranty..... left hookers are worth a lot less if there is a right hand driver one available. I know there is hard core of moaners who believe a mustang should be left hand drive... but they are also probably tight and wont pay premium for a left hooker.:frusty:

My decision is purely based on economics and practicality! only to be overcome by looking at GT350s :headbonk:
 

Cati

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For £23k, you could get a nice 2011+ 5.0 GT S197 (try one, it might just surprise you!)

:lol::lol::lol::lol: that much -- no prices are crashing
 
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GrahamAlder

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Many thanks to all of the people who have kindly added a post to my thread. Can I just repeat that what put this into my head and the reason why I am looking at a V6 LHD is because I have seen used convertibles on sale on US dealers' websites for about $23k. The second hand V8 and Ecoboost are far more expensive. I drove an LHD twingo in the UK from 1994 until 2009 and I wish to have driving holidays in mainland Europe - hence LHD is not a problem for me. Also, what I wanted to try to discover was whether, because the S550 was made in both LHD and RHD formats, there would be a degree of commonality that would make the conversion to UK-acceptable specification a bit simpler. Also, I intend to keep my Focus and so the Mustang would not be in use all the year round - only in summer.
Thanks again for your help, everyone!
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