Any firsthand experience importing a Porsche?

Do you want to order a new one or used ( are we talking about a discount for the shipping or the car)? I am seriously looking into importing a car, probably a 997 as well. But I am more looking at "certified pre-owned"...

Many radios can be switched at the dealers as the receiver is software based.

WRT to the SatNav, how is this true? I have two SatNav devices and they both work in the US, Europe and Africa. Of course, you have to buy the maps but still...

You won't have as much trouble moving a US car to Europe as all US cars have km/h and mph on their speedometers.

I simply spend some hourse reading the stuff posted here and elsewhere. I know that you can buy handheld SatNavs that work globally, so I do not see a technical problem "in principle", but for some models it seems that the companies that professionally "re-import" (German models from abroad back to Germany) exchange the entire units.

Radios: For BMWs for example, switching the radio seems to be some thing which is not so easily done... and there are some specialists offering to do it.

That's odd, as it hasn't been my experience at all. I have switched radios in BMW's all of the time. It is mostly plug and play. You just need the extraction tool like for Mercedes.

Now, I will admit that I only have the experience of owning a "German" Mercedes Benz in the States and all of my experiences with BMWs are for the correct country but the swaps looked really easy.

Speaking of which, how hard would it be to Export a Porsche from here to the USA?

I have decided that I might want to take a 928 or a 911 back when I return at the end of August.

What do all/any of you think about that?

THanks.

certified pre owned sounds good... has to be 997 and a cabrio

i take it you are just looking the official porsche website and preowned ones on there?

No, I was actually looking a AutoScout24, at the moment.

I don't want to spend a ton of money. Maybe I am looking at the wrong cars.

Still I can buy them in the USA for less than 20K so I figured why not try here where there are more options.

I'm also thinking about it - a 997 S convertible with manual transmission would be cool. Alternatively, a nice 993 turbo - they are super expensive in CH, but seem to be cheaper in the US.

my mate does this as a side business - importing classic Porsches's from the US to sell here in CH

If you wanted someone who is doing it regularly and would be prepared to pay him for the time and effort it might save you some hassles in the long run

PM me if you're interested in the link to his site

and btw we're not talking mickey mouse stuff here either - it's a serious business he runs

Just thought to add you might find it cheaper to:

1. look at mobile.de

2. set land to Germany

3. choose MwsT ausweisbar (can take it off)

then find the car you want

you can then import it into CH - as it's Euro car no need for any checks etc. assuming it's relatively new - just get it registered with those papers

you'll pay all up about 11% in taxes/fees

i was looking at a Porsche Cayenne and can get one younger with less kms and better spec and warranty this way than here locally in CH

Germany was hit harder by the financial crisis and the big expensive cars really have taken a price hit - no one is buying them (well not as many as before)

No, I looked at autotrader.com and you can choose "certified" as an option there. This only works with few brands, Porsche is one of them. Only the certified ones sold at official Porsche dealers are shown then.

Sat nav will not be an issue if it is a DVD based unit. If HD based than you will just need to find a friendly dealer (one in Germany is your best bet) and all they would need is a few clicks on their computer. Same applies to the radio freq. All in all it is peanuts even if you have to change the lights. I brought my 6er over and if you are resourcefull and savvy you can get it all done for very little cash.

There are dedicated business' here in Switzerland that import cars from the US (especially Porsches). Thus. it can't be that hard...but I'm sure that google can be of assitance.

...I'll totally approve if you let me take her for a spin.

wait a couple of years...will bring a bimmer of Porsche over..we can share costs

I've lived in US for 18 years and got the needed connections and have some good relationships with the Porsche dealer in the Chicago area

No, I am looking for a European Porsche with the aim of taking it home to the USA. Or am I mad?

I am trying to keeps costs down but still get a good vehicle. So would one from Germany be the best? I have read that the European models tend to have better specs and more "real" options. Any thoughts?

You can drive my BMW 330 station wagon...

Looking at the price levels: Unless you are looking at a very special model you cannot possibly get in the US (which might make it difficult to get it road legal) or some exceptions I did not see.... yes, you are.

Oh, all right.

I just wanted to drive it on the Autobahn.

Also, I have discovered that the Euro versions of the 928 were more powerful and more likely to come with manuals. I don't know why I like the 928, except that it seems to be a combination or Mercedes tank-like construction, BMW grace, and Porsche power and drive. The 928, just rivets me, like very few cars do. Of course, a 911 would be really cool as well.

Valid only for old BMWs

For a few years from 2001 to around 2006, many of the BMWs could be reprogrammed with fingers to the different radio regions

On the newer iDrive cars, the re-programming is much more complicated and requires specialist tools

Heh, you got me there. I guess all of my BMWs (98, 01, 06) are "old".

Reprogramming the iDrive cars is trivial, but you're right, they do charge a fortune for the privilege.

Can be a very expensive business importing cars to the USA unless over 25 years old see

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...list010410.pdf

Euro versions of the 928 were not all more powerful than their US cousins (BTW, they are called ROW = Rest Of the World models not euros).

My 928 was one of many collected direct from the German factory

by the Swiss owners so there are many imported Porsches. People either collected them that way because it was fun or for my car because it was a manual & the Swiss Porsche concessionaire did not import/sell 928 manuals for the first 10 years so the 928 manual is quite rare here in Switzerland.

Not by any means is it trivial! On some iDrive cars you must connect a 40-amp power supply to provide sufficient power when reflashing, and then you must ensure software revisions are correct in multiple modules to ensure compatibility.

Not trivial, and very much full of risk. I looked into it in detail and decided to walk away from the early iDrive cars to ensure I did not have a dead BMW on my hands.....

just for comparison - has anyone leased an 997, if so how much was it?