Author Topic: car related question for US folks (Read 494 times)

bikekil · « **on:** January 19, 2005, 05:02:44 AM »

Guys,

A friend of mine is going to visit US this summer for two months. She (with her husband) were going to rent a car in NY and drive it to LA... leave it there so they could pack it into train and take back to NY. it would cost as she said about 2000$
She checked the prices and it was not worth it.
Then she thought that she will buy a used car for about 1000$ and hit the road wit intention of selling the car in LA of.. just leaving it

But she is not sure if the car for 1000$ would be enought to drive from NY to LA....

So finally they decided to buy a car they wanted to buy anyway, and then ship it to Poland. She... or her husband to be honest, loves the idea to buy a SUV... and here is where i'm askin for an advice for them - where to buy a SUV in US and don't get empty

Which cars are worth to buy, which are not? any advice is welcome

Or maybe there is a car dealer here?

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2005, 06:19:43 AM »

Lots of variables in that bikekil. Import/export laws, engine restrictions, ect. Maybe contacting your embassy in the US would be a better route for information. I'm sure they deal with it on a regular basis. An average economy SUV in the US will cost around $20,000 +/-.

Glas · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2005, 06:28:08 AM »

The US might obviously be different, but in the UK if you are buying a vehicle for export, there is severe restrictions on its use in the UK prior to export.

I imagine the same will apply in the USA, maybe a one month time limit from date of purchase to date of export or something.

bikekil · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2005, 07:46:12 AM »

what about the best pick to buy?
Are chevrolets any good? Where she could get the best price? What dealer would you reccomend? I believe she will land in NY so she's interested to buy something in that area. I'm asking about something designed for US market only, because i think she could buy a "regular" Hyundai (or this kind of car) in Poland as well.
One other question - maybe some of you knows the answer - what about internetional warranty for US cars?

Krusher · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2005, 08:37:21 AM »

Its been almost 20 years since I was in the import export business. Many things have changed, but we used this outfit.

http://www.dasautoshippers.com/default.html

If your friend is mechanical and knows how to check a car out you should be able to get a cheap car from NY to CA. Remember they will need to buy plates and insurance also.

Thats one heck of a drive, just shy of 3000 miles !
Gas is about $1.80 per gallon so I hope they do not buy a SUV

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2005, 11:00:13 AM »

Quote

$1.80 per gallon

here it is over 1 euro per litre

maxxius · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2005, 12:43:31 PM »

even if you could buy one on the cheap...........

the initial border taxes would be so large...

you might as well just buy one in europe.......

just stay away from ISUZU and SUZUKI...

GOOD LUCK

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2005, 01:21:48 PM »

Bike do they want the car for the full two months?
Is it possible they could drive back to NY at the end?
Let me know and I will find some prices. It shouldn't be $2000, should be less.

john9001 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2005, 01:29:01 PM »

don't buy a old junker, get a popular (ez resale) 3 or 4 year old 4 door sedan, drive it for 2 months and sell it when you leave, you should get back what you paid for it.

A_Clown · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2005, 01:33:19 PM »

Just a couple thoughts here....

There are several rental car companies that do 1 way rentals, you might be able to find a car you can rent in NY and return in LA. I would check online with themajor US car rental companies.

As for what types of SUV to purchase should they choose that route, I would think it wise to plan for service/repair availability when the SUV gets to its final operation destination. I am currently looking at the small SUV class, and I am very impressed with the VW Toureg. I would think you would have an easier time finding VW parts in euorope than Chevy, but I have never been there so I am not sure.

I hope this helps, best wishes!

Lizking · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2005, 01:35:11 PM »

Also, buying a car anywhere other than Cali and trying to sell it in Cali may cause problems because of the different standards. Anyone in Cali know how that works?

midnight Target · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2005, 03:26:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lizking
Also, buying a car anywhere other than Cali and trying to sell it in Cali may cause problems because of the different standards. Anyone in Cali know how that works?

If your car doesn't have the CA smog package it needs a pretty pricey upgrade before it can be resold by a dealer or registered by the new owner.

OTOH most new cars now have the CA emissions package as either standard equipment or a common option.

Bottom line, you will pay more for your car in CA than most other States. My bud in Wyoming buys his big ticket vehicles in Canada.

rabbidrabbit · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2005, 05:44:46 PM »

if they just want a car for a month then why buy and sell.. you would be wasting at least 3 days plus going through the trouble. Its a vacation. Just rent what you want either go cheap or go nuts and live it up! Maybe something kinda cheap that you won't find in europe like a mustang gt convertible.

Lizking · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2005, 06:01:01 PM »

Better yet, when you get to New York, steal a nice car, go on a cross country crime spree, and abandon the car the day before you fly home. A vacation that MAKES money! Your friends will probably not even mind watching the slide show.

bikekil · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2005, 12:20:01 PM »

thanks for the links and the advices guys! I've passed all of it to the friend

Funked, they've planned the whole route and according to what they are willing to see (visit) there is no way they could drive both ways. I heard that's where the problem is - renting a car is not that expensive when you are returning it back to the place you rented it in. When you ae willing to lleave it on the far side of the US and the company have to ship it back to his place, the price goes high. Anyway that's what i've heard.